San Francisco nightclubs that continue to allow violent behavior could be subject to having their permits revoked by the city’s Entertainment Commission, under proposed legislation to be considered Monday.
The Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee on Monday morning will hold a hearing to consider expanding the powers of the Entertainment Commission.
The issue arose after a Feb. 7 gang shooting outside the Suede nightclub near Fisherman’s Wharf left one man dead and four others injured.
At the time, the Entertainment Commission said they had limited authority to revoke Suede’s operating permit. However, the club has since agreed to a temporary shuttering, and the city attorney’s office is pursuing a permanent closure.
Violence has erupted at other San Francisco nightclubs recently as well. On July 11, a man was fatally shot early in the morning outside Jelly’s, a restaurant and dance cafi at Pier 50. The club agreed the next day to a seven-day temporary closure.
The Entertainment Commission currently can only revoke a club’s permit based on ownership making false statements on a permit application; failing to pay permit fees; or failing to surrender the permit during a change of ownership. For public safety issues, it can only suspend a permit for up to 90 days.
Legislation proposed by Supervisor David Chiu would allow the commission to revoke permits for clubs with a history of failing to curb violent behavior, or where operation of the venue is an ongoing public safety concern.
Monday’s hearing begins at 10 a.m. in Room 250 at City Hall. The hearing will also include a presentation by the Entertainment Commission and Police Department on violent behavior at various venues.
