Supes seek to limit bar, dining space in North Beach

By Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer 10/2/08

SAN FRANCISCO – A ban on new restaurants and bars in North Beach is intended to create balance in a neighborhood plagued with nightlife crime, according to its author, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, but critics of the proposal say it will lead to vacant storefronts.

Although the North Beach neighborhood is known for its restaurants and nightlife, in recent years the area has attracted groups of rowdy partygoers set on drinking to excess and igniting trouble in the streets.

Peskin’s legislation prohibits new bars and restaurants, only allowing new ones to replace old ones, which would help ensure the survival of businesses in the area that serve local residents.

President of the North Beach Merchants Association Kathleen Dooley praised the bill.

“We lost a lot of retailers to places like Hayes Valley and Fourth Street in Berkeley because they have a great mix of types of businesses that attract day shoppers,” she said.

Marsha Garland, executive director of the North Beach Chamber of Commerce, said proponents of the bill are “incredibly naive to think that this is going to solve the problem. They’ve done this without any market analysis.”

The Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on whether to adopt the legislation.

The legislation also restricts new automated teller machines in the area from popping up on neighborhood walls, as well as change a slew of citywide definitions in the planning code, including what constitutes a meal and a grocery store.
jsabatini@sfexaminer.com

4 Comments

Reader Comments:

POSTED Oct 2, 2008

: "Good luck catching the wind on this one, Supes."

POSTED Oct 2, 2008

Gretchen: "And the board of supervisors is qualified to make these decisions? I don't think so. And, if Peskin recommends it, I know it's a bad idea - consider the source. The answer to the crime situation is to fight crime and have a zero-tolerance attitude toward criminals."

POSTED Oct 3, 2008

: "Economist Peskin strikes again. God help us all."

POSTED Oct 5, 2008

Cody L.: "The arrogance of San Francisco's board of supervisors rears its head yet again. This isn't your job fellas. Who are you to determine who can and cannot start a business? Fill the potholes boys. That's what you've been elected to do."