ODC theater license recommended with loitering condition; committee recesses amid technical problems

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee considered an application from ODC to obtain a Type 64 special on-sale general theater liquor license for the ODC Theater at 3153 17th Street in District 9. Officer Salmasen, the SFPD ABC liaison, reported no letters of protest or support, said the site is in Plot 423 ("low crime") but in Census Tract 22801 ("high saturation"), and recommended approval with one condition: that the petitioner actively monitor the area under their control to prevent loitering as depicted on the ABC 253 form.

Garth Grama, chief of staff at ODC, told the committee, “ODC has been in the mission since 1980, and we've been an organization since 1971,” described the theater as one of the organization's two buildings, and framed the license as consistent with providing live art opportunities for patrons. He said Executive Director Karma Zisman was attempting to join via Zoom.

There were no public commenters on the item. Chair Supervisor Catherine Stephanie moved that the clerk prepare a resolution finding issuance of the Type 64 theater license would serve the public convenience or necessity and asked that it be sent to the full Board as a committee report with a positive recommendation. Before the committee completed action on the item, the clerk announced intermittent SFGov internet connectivity and advised a short recess. The chair announced the committee will reconvene Monday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. to continue Item 2; the committee intends to forward the matter to the full Board after continuation.

Details recorded by SFPD: Plot 423 (low crime), Census Tract 22801 (high saturation), Mission station has no opposition; ABC recommended approval conditioned on active monitoring to prevent loitering. The clerk stated the committee's intention to continue item consideration on Sept. 18 and to seek placement on the Board agenda for Sept. 19.