Two San Francisco supervisors want zoning laws to limit new convenience stores from opening in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, part of an effort to curb illegal activity that proliferates outside the shops.
The legislation, led by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who oversees SoMa, would not affect existing convenience stores, but would eliminate the automatic approval of any new ones.
New applicants would be scrutinized based on the concentration of similar stores in the vicinity and whether they serve a “demonstrated neighborhood need” or contribute to a “balanced mix” of commercial uses.
Supervisors unanimously approved the proposal at the Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting today. It will go before the full board for approval.
Corner stores take up much of the ground-floor retail space in these areas, especially on the Sixth Street corridor and in the Tenderloin. According to the proposed legislation, over 75 such stores exist now.
It is not uncommon to see stores shutter and reopen under new names and management within days in the Tenderloin. The city attorney’s office has forced many to shut for allegedly hosting illegal gambling machines or selling drugs or paraphernalia.
The proposed legislation is only the latest in a series of measures to restrict bad-actor stores: In 2024, the city imposed a curfew on many Tenderloin shops, and this year extended and expanded the curfew to SoMa.
Also in 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved legislation restricting new smoke shops from opening in the Tenderloin and Lower Polk areas. Dean Preston was then the supervisor of District 5.
“These retail food and tobacco establishments in effect facilitate the nighttime drug market by providing a lighted gathering point for drug users and dealers,” the proposed legislation reads, and enable people to “take cover indoors to avoid police patrols.”
Kate Robinson, director of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, said at today’s meeting that the neighborhood has regressed in recent years as certain bad-actor stores have become “a part of the drug trade.”
“We know exactly who we’re talking about when we talk about these stores,” said Robinson. “They’re not supportive contributors to the neighborhood. They sell chips and sodas and meth pipes and run illegal gambling rings.”
District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who oversees the Tenderloin District, said he wants to incentivize different types of stores in the Tenderloin. The neighborhood has no pharmacy or full-service grocery store, for example.
The Office of Economic & Workforce Development last year offered $100,000 grants to encourage the opening of a full-service grocery store or pharmacy, but told Mission Local they received no applicants.
“This is a neighborhood of 3,500 children, and yet … we don’t have a toy store. We don’t even have an ice cream store,” Mahmood said.
The zoning restriction would be in effect for 18 months if approved. During that time, the city would conduct a planning study on possible permanent regulations.
If they “know exactly who we’re talking about when we talk about these stores” according to Robinson — why aren’t these stores shut down and their owners arrested for running “illegal gambling rings”?
Here’s an idea HOW ABOUT ARRESTING THE PEOPLE DOING ILLEGAL THINGS ON THEVSTREETS! And enjoy normal life and stores like a civilized society
More racist, anti-poor nonsense from Dorsey and Mahmood with the war on drugs as an excuse. They’ll try anything except for what’s proven to work to address addiction: harm reduction, a supportive environment (affordable housing!), and voluntary treatment available on demand the moment someone requests it.
Preston passed a similar measure before he was voted out.
I don’t believe that’s true that he ever voted for a measure banning new corner stores. If you mean the 2024 curfew, it’s my understanding Dean reluctantly voted for it after amendments were agreed to to make it temporary and less harmful than originally proposed by then-Mayor Breed.
“The Office of Economic & Workforce Development last year offered $100,000 grants to encourage the opening of a full-service grocery store or pharmacy, but told Mission Local they received no applicants.”
No kidding. Anyone with common sense knows that they’ll get robbed blind if they go in there. They call these places food deserts for a reason. Likewise with this Ice-cream shop and toy-store talk. Pure Woke foolishness…
How about finding a way to stop shops from selling food items at 30-100% markups higher than most grocery stores outside the tenderloin. Buying food in the TL cost more than buying drugs.
Please no Chronicle-style click-bait headlines!
Maybe there needs to be engagement with the small business community who would’ve thought
Many “convenience stores” are convenient mostly for buying hard liquor and cigarettes.
The TL is a food desert where corner shops sell mostly junk food and real groceries prices can be as much as 100% more expensive than at grocery stores outside the TL. Having quality healthy inexpensive foods improves how healthy its neighborhood is and a healthier body means healthier minds. Even if shops aren’t catering to the drug use outright having junk food as the main source of nutrition contributes to addictions.
Increase the crime penalties in the tenderloin for all illegal activity
Theft Selling drug paraphenalia, drug usage and sales
To the person who said harm reduction .
That is so outdated and a fail
Please update your mind
See nytimes article
It doesnt work
Where are the jobs
Enough has been spent for those who want to live on the street , never work, take drugs and refuse help.
Time to focus on the citizens and residents who contribute to society and pay taxes
Their requests have be ignored for too long
By now there should be zero open druggies And sidewalks clear of trash and encampments
Sidewalks are not place for persons to live on or use as their own
The babysitting is getting old