SF Planning Commission Nixes Peskin
Supervisor Aaron Peskin's attempt to place a 5 year moratorium on all on-sale & off-sale liquor licenses in North Beach was rejected by the Planning Commission last night. The other portion regarding the alcohol ban regarding the Excelsior district (onto which Peskin piggybacked) was approved. Lack of community outreach in North Beach by Sup. Peskin was cited by the commission for giving this idea thumbs down. Members of the public who spoke in opposition to the North Beach portion of this measure spoke of the over reaching aspects of this proposed legislation which would: financially block new enterprises to lease/buy unused retail space, create chaos for failed businesses trying to transfer their existing liquor licenses, create a panic for landlords to fill vacated spaces within 2 months or lose the ability to have a restaurant (serving alcohol) as a tenant, penalize any restaurant that wanted to move into larger retail spaces by taking away their existing liquor license.
The current reality is that every one of these proposed liquor license deals in the land of the highest order of NIMBY, North Beach, is meticulously scrutinized. The way the current process works allows for government oversight and participation via the SF Planning Dept, SF Planning Commission, the SF Appeals Board, SFPD and the State Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), as well as the public through landlords, business owners, neighborhood associations, and the general public's right to speak against or for the issuance of a conditional use permit. Peskin's clear disdain for all of the unpredictable participation wasn't good enough for him.
Peskin's attempt to exceed his 8 year district reign and to impose heavy handed control over North Beach for the next 5 years via alcohol license prohibition didn't fly. This is now the second straight big loss for Peskin at the Planning Commission. A very interesting turn of events for the once invincible Peskin.
Will this set back embolden otherwise cautious/cowardly factions and does this signal the official onset of lame duck status for Peskin?
You can be certain that Peskin will be trying hard to make sure that he does not become obsolete, but for those who've been crossed by Peskin this could be the opportunity to remind him that indeed, "Payback is a bitch!"
Supervisor Aaron Peskin's attempt to place a 5 year moratorium on all on-sale & off-sale liquor licenses in North Beach was rejected by the Planning Commission last night. The other portion regarding the alcohol ban regarding the Excelsior district (onto which Peskin piggybacked) was approved. Lack of community outreach in North Beach by Sup. Peskin was cited by the commission for giving this idea thumbs down. Members of the public who spoke in opposition to the North Beach portion of this measure spoke of the over reaching aspects of this proposed legislation which would: financially block new enterprises to lease/buy unused retail space, create chaos for failed businesses trying to transfer their existing liquor licenses, create a panic for landlords to fill vacated spaces within 2 months or lose the ability to have a restaurant (serving alcohol) as a tenant, penalize any restaurant that wanted to move into larger retail spaces by taking away their existing liquor license.
The current reality is that every one of these proposed liquor license deals in the land of the highest order of NIMBY, North Beach, is meticulously scrutinized. The way the current process works allows for government oversight and participation via the SF Planning Dept, SF Planning Commission, the SF Appeals Board, SFPD and the State Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), as well as the public through landlords, business owners, neighborhood associations, and the general public's right to speak against or for the issuance of a conditional use permit. Peskin's clear disdain for all of the unpredictable participation wasn't good enough for him.
Peskin's attempt to exceed his 8 year district reign and to impose heavy handed control over North Beach for the next 5 years via alcohol license prohibition didn't fly. This is now the second straight big loss for Peskin at the Planning Commission. A very interesting turn of events for the once invincible Peskin.
Will this set back embolden otherwise cautious/cowardly factions and does this signal the official onset of lame duck status for Peskin?
You can be certain that Peskin will be trying hard to make sure that he does not become obsolete, but for those who've been crossed by Peskin this could be the opportunity to remind him that indeed, "Payback is a bitch!"
