Ordinance to Fight Crime, Drug Usage In Tenderloin District Passed By SF Supervisors

A new pilot program that will ban all businesses excluding restaurants and bars from operating between 12 A.M. and 5 A.M. in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District was approved by the Board of Supervisors earlier this week, with supporters saying that the change will help fight crime and high drug usage in the district.

For years, San Francisco officials have been at odds over what to do about the growing drug and crime problem in the Tenderloin district. Mayor London Breed’s crackdowns on crime in the district in late 2021 only had limited effects and were opposed by many other lawmakers, including then-DA Chesa Boudin. Court rulings the next year actually reversed bans on drug dealers in the area. However, by the end of 2023, fighting against fentanyl once again became a main concern, with the state personally going in on fentanyl busts.

This week, the city began their latest plan by Mayor London Breed in increasing the number of mandatory closed hours for all businesses besides bars and restaurants in the district, going from 12 A.M. to 5 A.M., expanding it from the current 2 A.M. to 5 A.M. window. The pilot program was created to stop congregations of people in the district at night, as they “impede law enforcement operations, leave behind significant debris and unsanitary waste, and lead residents of the area to feel unsafe and reluctant to venture outside during nighttime hours.” In addition, San Francisco’s Public Health Department can fine individuals up to $1,000, as well as give those affected “private rights of action”.

Board passes new Tenderloin measure

While the proposal had received the support of most lawmakers, residents, and business owners of the area, some rallied against it as it came closer to the Supervisor’s meeting. Supervisor Dean Preston characterized the proposal as “overly broad” and actually punishes businesses there, adding in April that “Yesterday, I visited Tenderloin shop owners, including corner stores that have served the community for decades. Most are immigrant-owned businesses. Small businesses in the Tenderloin are struggling and deserve to be at the table for decisions impacting them.”

Despite some opposition, sentiment quickly swung back towards passage as more drug usage was reported in the district in the past several months. As a result, the final vote was unanimous, with the temporary ordinance passing. The Tenderloin Housing Clinic, one of the main supporters of the pilot ordinance, said “There are good store owners in this neighborhood that we love and that care about the community. Most of our business owners are immigrant business owners and we are proud of that. But what we did not want is people opening up shops left, right and center and feeding into this ecosystem.”

However, security experts said that while the ordinance was a positive step, it was by no means a replacement for a great police presence in the area and a comeback of stricter penalties and more jail time.

“The solution is obvious,” explained Bay Area Security consultant and former policeman Frank Ma to the Globe on Thursday. “Look at what happened when the California Highway Patrol came in. Look how much fentanyl was swept up. That isn’t a coincidence. More police and an easier way to arrest and prosecute dealers and other criminals is what is needed. Shutting down businesses an extra two hours won’t do much. You need police officers out there and ready to do their jobs. That’s how you’ll clean up the district, if not the city.

“Sadly, they just are not seeing this right now. But it is the obvious solution.”

More on the ordinance is to come out soon.