SF State Sen. Mark Leno

San Francisco’s (D) State Senator,  Mark Leno, has introduced a new bill, SB 635, that would allow bars and clubs to serve alcohol until 4AM. The Castro, chock full of bars and restaurants with full bars who’s economy and reputation is often tied to its nightlife fun, would be greatly affected by this law change

For years those within the SF Nightlife/Bar/Entertainment Industry have bemoaned the early shut down of fun in the City. Most major metropolises in the US and worldwide have a much later last call. They’ve stated that the current 2 AM cut off point for alcohol enacted under the administration of former CA Governor than President Ronald Reagan is draconian and equates to millions of dollars of lost revenue and taxes for the City and State.

Many others disagree and think the time should remain static. Sen. Leno expects resistance from groups and organizations concerned about late-night noise, drunk driving and general debauchery. He also, points out that if the measure becomes law, it would serve only to create an option. Each community within the State could choose wether or not to extend hours rather than be dictated to.

SF’s famous Irish Coffee

“The bill offers cities an opportunity to create jobs, expand business and increase tax revenue. It imposes nothing on anybody; it merely authorizes the opportunity.” He said.

The fact is, according to a 2012 San Francisco Nightlife Economic Impact Report Sup. Scott Wiener commissioned, the SF Nightlife Industry produces nearly 4.2 billion dollars worth of revenue yearly, employs 48,000 people and served 80 million customers in 2010. That kind of tax base and revenue shouldn’t be ignored and if this law expansion goes through we can expect to see those numbers seriously rise.

At a town hall meeting held this past January on Safety in the Castro many neighbors came and voiced concerns, anger and a few even unbridled outrage around the behavior some patrons of local bars and restaurants exhibit on a nightly basis. Many also blamed increase in crime on bar patrons and others point to the environmental impact of a louder neighborhood and increased litter, human waste and general human mayhem that ensues as a result of the bars presence.

SFPD Chief Greg Suhr is also skeptical about extending the last call deadline. He has been trying to initiate a plan to deal with habitual drunks and out of control drinkers for some time. It’s estiamted that corralling booze hounds in the City costs the taxpayers millions. He wants chronic drunks arrested five times in 30 days to be given the option of jail or treatment. The SFPD also worries how two more hours of drinking would translate into criminal incidents and how that would impact the department and the City economically.

LA Dist 8 Supervisor Bernard Parks

Those who support Sen. Leno and SB 635 have started a Change.org petition and a Facebook page. Those opposed have also wasted little time organizing as well. LA Supe and former LAPD Chief, Bernard Parks, has led the charge organizing ‘Stop Leno’s 4AM Bill’.

The bill will soon come up for a vote. We will keep an eye out for details and pass on the results.

UPDATE: as the bill stands it will only immediately apply to establishments who currently have an after hours license in communities that choose to extend hours-it is not mandatory. No bar in the Castro currently has one of these special permits. These conditional licenses however are not like finite SF alcohol permits. Any bar could apply for one and, if conditions are met, receive one after paying the required fee. If SB 635 becomes law and established bars see after hours clubs reaping the benefits of extended hours of sales associated with after hours permits more will apply to get their share of this new revenue stream.