Category Archives: politics

8 Reasons why an entertainment zone won’t help 11th Street

The Western SoMa Task Force worked long and hard on its Arts and Entertainment element and overall I think we produced some very positive changes for the entertainment industry. But some people are not satisfied with what we achieved and are arguing, once again, for the establishment of an entertainment zone (a so-called “special use district”) to be established along the 11th Street corridor.

There’s gonna be a little meeting to plot strategy on Wednesday night at the Beat Box, and guess what? The neighbors aren’t invited. How ironic. Gavin Newsom did the very same thing to us about fifteen years ago, for the very same reason, at the very same location.  Continue reading

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No SoMa Leadership Council meeting this month

Thanksgiving is coming and everybody has a ton of things to do in preparation for the holidays so there will not be a meeting this month. In the meantime, send in your suggestions for future agenda items. Continue reading

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District 6 redistricting meeting set

The first District 6 community meeting to discuss next year’s redistricting process will be held on Saturday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Tenderloin Community School, 627 Turk Street.

Because the 2010 Census found that population growth was uneven across the city’s Board of Supervisor districts, the boundaries must be redrawn based upon the City Charter. The majority of population growth has occurred in the southeastern portion of the city, leaving little room for District 6 to adjust boundaries in that direction. Treasure Island, Hayes Valley, South Beach and the Tenderloin are more likely to fall into the crosshairs of the bureaucrats. Continue reading

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Revisiting entertainment: new nightclubs, okay … new housing, not?

At this afternoon’s Planning Commission presentation of the Western SoMa Community Plan, it was suggested during public comment that the light  industrial zoning south of Harrison Street be extended into the 11th Street area because, under that new zoning category, entertainment would become a permitted use. The Task Force liberalized the zoning because new housing in the SALI (Service, Arts and Light Industrial) district would not be allowed.

That would be an interesting switcheroo. Housing, currently as-of-right, would suddenly find itself a non-permitted use and entertainment, grandfathered in as a legal, nonconforming use, would become a fully permitted use. The Planning Commissioners, often sympathetic to fun sounding notions — particularly if they are not personally impacted — might very well consider making the swap. Continue reading

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Neighborhood notification required for “limited live performances”

You have the right to request notification of all applications for the new Limited Live Performance permit within your neighborhood. The stated purpose of the legislation is to allow principally permitted uses such as cafes and restaurants to supplement their current business model with accessory entertainment. Supervisor Mark Farrell amended the ordinance to require that the Entertainment Commission “provide a copy of all Limited Live Performance Permit applications and the corresponding public hearing notices within a specified geographic area to any Person who, in writing or by email, requests such and identifies the area. Continue reading

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Long anticipated WSoMa Plan finally heading to Planning Commission

The Western SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force is preparing to introduce the Proposal for Adoption of the Western SoMa Community Plan to the Planning Commission. This is the beginning of the final stage in the adoption process. The Task Force is scheduled to make informational presentations to the Planning Commission on September 8 and October 13. The first presentation will focus on the Community Plan itself, along with public benefits policies and implementation measures. The October 13th presentation will concentrate on the Design Standards, Community Stabilization Policy, Social Heritage Districts and Planning Code changes. Continue reading

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Herrera steps in it

In a campaign characterized by shameless pandering to the entertainment industry, Mayoral candidate Dennis Herrera has upped the ante by reviving the oft-discredited idea of creating an entertainment zone in South of Market. Twice before in the last thirty years, outsiders have promoted the notion that SoMa should become the party destination for the Bay Area.  Continue reading

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The limits of “Live Performance”

Supervisor Jane Kim has backed off from her earlier enthusiasm for opening up the entire South of Market to live entertainment permits and has proposed an extension of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi’s legislation that will only impact South Park and the Sixth Street corridor for the time being. If the Western SoMa Community Plan is adopted as currently written, the legislation will also encompass the Folsom Street Neighborhood Commercial District, the area south of Harrison Street and possibly 9th and 10th Streets, Continue reading

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You ain’t gonna recognize District 6 when redistricting is done with it

District 6, which saw a 35% increase in population since the last census, is going to experience the most dramatic changes when the boundaries of the city’s 11 supervisor districts are redrawn. A special nine member task force will have until April 15 of next year to complete its work. At stake is the progressive majority, for what it’s worth, on the Board of Supervisors. Continue reading

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