San Francisco Mayor London Breed's latest ploy to get people back downtown to spend money is a proposed new “entertainment zone” of establishments that could sell to-go alcohol to city patrons. , its first location could be on Front Street in the Financial District. .
Thursday night saw the first Downtown First Thursday Party, which KPIX reported drew “thousands” of people to frolic on Second Street in SoMa. extra large mirror ball. Saturday is the first show in the SF Live Concert Series, featuring DJ Galen, Doc Martin and DJ M3 at the Golden Gate Bandshell from 2 to 6 p.m. These are both civic efforts to get people out and about again, and on Friday during these kickoff events, SF Mayor London Breed announced another program to get people back into a slowly recovering downtown. It was just announced.
According to a report in the SF Business Times, Breed is proposing legislation for a downtown “entertainment zone” where bars and restaurants would be able to sell open containers of alcohol to passersby on the street. The proposal features state Sen. Scott Wiener's “Refreshment Area” bill, which would allow open container sales to local governments that wish to install such open containers. It is.
We're excited to announce California's first entertainment zone here in San Francisco.
Under my legislation, the city's first entertainment zone would be located on Front Street in downtown San Francisco, allowing local bars and restaurants to sell drinks and participate in outdoor events… pic.twitter.com/2kO3troVDE
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) May 3, 2024
Breed's tweet above references this KGO report, which describes her proposal as an “ambitious plan to revitalize downtown.” However, as you can see below, the plan was not initially very ambitious. It would simply create an “entertainment zone” on one block of Front Street. But his 200 block of Front Street is home to proven block party hosts like Schroders, Royal Exchange, and the newly reopened Harrington's, so he figured those locations could probably be used to their full potential. You can
“We are excited to be the first city in California to take advantage of this new law and bring joy to our residents, workers and visitors,” Breed said in a press release Friday. Ta. “Our message is clear: San Francisco is fun, thriving, and open for business.”
This is still only a proposal and no actual event has been scheduled yet to allow the sale of such alcohol. However, the Business Times reports that the Downtown SF Community Benefits District and the SF Building Owners and Managers Association are “planning new regular events on the block with live entertainment and other activities to take advantage of the new permit.” “We are in the process of launching it.” ”
And such events may be subsidized. The city's Department of Economic and Workforce Development will work with the nonprofit SF New Deal Grants, which could award up to $50,000 to host such an event. It's called the Downtown Entertainment & Nightlife Revitalization Grant Program (ENRG), and you can apply for the grant online. According to the mayor's press release, the grant money can be used for “permitting costs, planning costs, marketing materials and design, event coordination, food and beverages, artist stipends, equipment, and on-site staff.”
However, as mentioned above, the “Entertainment Zone” proposal has not yet been passed into local law. The matter is currently scheduled to go before the SF Oversight Board on Tuesday, May 7th.
Related: Civic Joy Fund hopes to revitalize downtown SF with Downtown First Thursday launch [Joe]
Image: Chris F. Via Yelp