The fix was in...

Several businesses on the 800 block of Columbus have been trying for two years to get the City to address the fact that tour buses idle in front of their shops and pollute the air. I spoke with Darryll White recently from Bike and Roll, who has explored all channels, including the office of Supervisor Peskin to no avail.

He would like to see a solution, a loading zone on Columbus where the buses could load and unload tourists without interfering with businesses on Columbus. This year there are more tourists and more tour buses, which have further frustrated the small business owners. Perhaps the City could regulate tour buses and create a new revenue stream...

On another note, I testified at the Land Use Committee meeting this morning regarding the new controls for the North Beach Special Use District, the 318-page legislation that Supervisor Peskin has written with little regard or input from residents, neighborhood groups or small business owners. No surprise there, it sailed through the committee and is on to the Board of Supervisors.

Stay tuned.

Next up: A ban for Chinatown

Just a note regarding my previous post on Thursday’s Planning Commission hearing: the vote was 4 to 2 in favor of the new ultra-restrictive legislation creating the North Beach Special Use District to ban any new bars, cafes and restaurants. Many projects not in the pipeline will die on the vine and we can expect more boarded-up buildings in North Beach.

It will be heard next by the Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee; soon, maybe next week.This is a committee that Supervisor Peskin sits on...

On another note, there are economic woes in Chinatown and have been for years. The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development has held several forums to try to address the issues affecting merchants and restaurant owners. The downturn in the economy just makes matters worse.

Looking to expand his restrictions beyond North Beach, Supervisor Peskin has now introduced a retail chain store ban for Chinatown. I would hope that he consulted with merchants and community leaders in Chinatown. I said hope; there's no guarantee.

Enough with the Plywood!

A new kind of "bona fide" meal

Beware of legislation bringing glad tidings with names like North Beach Special Use District, the latest attempt by Supervisor Peskin to say a great big farewell to North Beach and the health of the business climate.

This legislation goes so far as to give new meaning to the phrase bona fide meal:

A place which is regularly and in a bona fide manner used and kept open for the service of meals to guests for compensation and which has suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith, containing conveniences for cooking of an assortment of foods which may be required for ordinary meals.

(a) “Meals” shall mean an assortment of foods commonly ordered at various hours of the day for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Incidental food service, comprised only of appetizers to accompany drinks is not considered a meal. Incidental, sporadic or infrequent sales of meals or a mere offering of meals without actual sales is not compliance.

(b) “Guests” shall mean persons who, during the hours when meals are regularly served therein, come to a bona fide public eating place for the purpose of obtaining, and actually order and obtain at such time, in good faith, a meal therein. Nothing in this section, however, shall be construed to require that any food be sold or purchased with any beverage.

Can things get any worse for North Beach for restaurants, cafes and bars?

On September 18th, this legislation will be heard before the Planning Commission. The legislation is over 300 pages; needless to say I haven't read the entire thing, only what pertains to the North Beach Commercial District.

The Planning Department has recommended approval of this draconian legislation under duress as usual.

Stay tuned for another battle……….

Action Must Be Taken Now

I recently attended a police community meeting at Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center that usually has six people in attendance. This time there were 36 people with Officer Fred Crisp leading the meeting of unhappy neighbors who had the frightening experience of hearing gunshots late at night only to realize that their cars had been hit as had the building they lived in. It was very lucky no one was killed.

A nearby club owner had trouble at his club that same night, had to call in the police and, while it was difficult to prove that the troublemakers at the club were the same people who shot the rounds of bullets along the 400 block of Francisco Street, the neighbors were up in arms. One man brought the bullet in a plastic bag, said it was going to cost $500 to fix his car. Another man put the club owner on warning that the neighborhood would not tolerate another incident.

After much talk and not a lot of solutions, the neighbors were still not happy. I asked the owner of the club if he would consider paying for the damages incurred by the residents on Francisco. He agreed to look into his insurance policy and he will report back at the meeting this month.

It is clear to me that the practice of club owners subletting their clubs out to promoters who offer to bring in big crowds is risky. One, the promoter is not liable, the club owner is, and two, certain promoters are not as responsible as others. This same problem exists on Broadway and there have been many incidents of violence on the weekends including bullets fired and stabbings. On Saturday, a man was shot in the face on Broadway and there were numerous other arrests made.

Action must be taken now.

There is discussion at the Entertainment Commission about having all promoters be required to obtain a business license before they can work in the City. That certainly makes sense to me.