San Francisco leaders are banking on proposed state legislation to help boost downtown’s economy by attracting more bars and restaurants to open in that area of the city.
State Senator Scott Wiener on Tuesday introduced Senate Bill 395 in Union Square with Mayor Daniel Lurie, Assemblyman Matt Haney, and District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. The bill would allow for the creation of 20 “low-cost” liquor licenses for the city in areas defined as a “hospitality zone.” The existing state law limits the number of on-sale general liquor licenses for bars and restaurants based on the city’s population.
Wiener’s office said the city had reached the limit of on-sale general liquor licenses nearly 80 years ago.
At the press conference, Wiener said the city was coming off one of its biggest weekends as host of the NBA All-Star game and its annual Chinese New Year Parade.
“We need to continue to build on the progress that we are making,” Wiener said. “We know that downtown, Financial District, Union Square, South of Market, Yerba Buena, is absolutely essential for San Francisco’s recovery, our economic vitality, and for our city’s future.”
The Board of Supervisors will determine the boundaries of the hospitality zone, but Lurie said it would most likely include areas around Union Square, Moscone Center, and Yerba Buena.
“We should be making it easier, not harder, for businesses to set up here,” Lurie said. “The message from our administration is San Francisco is open for business. That’s the message we are sending with this bill.”
The city has worked with Wiener before in revitalizing the downtown area, including on state legislation that allowed the city to have entertainment zones where bars can serve alcohol for outdoor consumption on certain blocks of the city during specific outdoor events.
“We know that this neighborhood is changing, the office use is changing, the retail use is changing, Sauter said. “There’s nothing more San Francisco than more restaurants, more bars, more nightlife.”