Committee backs liquor-license finding for The Independent music venue

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted May 25 to forward a resolution to the full Board recommending that the issuance of a Type 90 on-sale general music venue liquor license to The Independent, at 628 Divisadero, would serve the public convenience or necessity.

Officer Salmasen of the SFPD Alcohol Beverage Control liaison unit told the committee there were "0 letters of protest 0 letters of support," that the location sits in a high-crime plot and a high-saturation census tract, and that the liaison unit "recommends approval with the following conditions" including active monitoring of adjacent property and at least one state-licensed uniformed security guard between noon and 2 a.m. while entertainment is offered.

John Gunton, general manager of The Independent, described 20 years of neighborhood service and asked the committee for approval to allow the venue to compete in a challenging market. No members of the public offered comment on the item.

Chair Supervisor Catherine Stephanie moved that the clerk prepare a resolution making the required public-convenience-or-necessity finding and forward it to the Board; the committee approved the motion unanimously (Vice Chair Angadio and Member Dorsey voted aye). The resolution will proceed to the full Board for consideration on the June 6, 2023 agenda.

No amendments or conditions beyond the ABC liaison recommendations were recorded in committee. The full Board will receive the committee's positive recommendation and the clerk's file.