Committee forwards ordinance to expand Tenderloin retail‑hours curfew into SoMa, extend pilot 18 months

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Jan. 22 voted 3‑0 to forward to the full Board of Supervisors an ordinance amending the police code to expand a pilot restricting certain retail food and tobacco establishments from being open during late‑night hours in the Tenderloin and a defined area of South of Market (SoMa) and to extend the pilot’s duration to 18 months from the ordinance’s effective date.

Supervisor Matt Dorsey, committee chair, said the expansion builds on an existing pilot adopted in July 2024 to address persistent late‑night challenges driven by drug activity, violence and street disorder. The ordinance, as read into the record, would prohibit specified food and tobacco retail from being open to the public from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., or from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. for establishments regulated by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The ordinance includes administrative fines of up to $1,000 per violation.

Captain James Ahern of the San Francisco Police Department’s Drug Market Agency Coordination Center presented the pilot’s data to the committee. He said city comparisons of the pre‑pilot period (Jan–July 2024) and the pilot (July 27, 2024–Jan 2025) showed a 14% reduction in violent crime and narcotics incidents, a 17.9% reduction in total calls for service during curfew hours, and a 43.6% reduction in on‑view calls for service during curfew hours. He also cited an independent peer review covering a longer period that reported a 56% reduction in drug‑related incidents during curfew hours.

Vice Chair Mahmoud, a cosponsor, and Supervisor Ellen Wong both urged the committee to forward the ordinance. Mahmoud described the curfew as a temporary, targeted tool to disrupt late‑night markets while the city pursues mitigation for compliant businesses; Wong said the pilot produced significant public‑safety benefits and asked to be added as a co‑sponsor.

Multiple business improvement districts, community benefit districts and neighborhood residents spoke in support during public comment. Fernando Pujols, executive director of the Mid Market Business Association, said his association supports expansion and appreciates coordinated city efforts. Rhiannon Baylard of UC Law San Francisco and speakers from the Civic Center, Mid Market and SoMa West Community Benefit Districts described observable improvements — particularly at 77 McAllister — and urged extension and expansion of the pilot. Small business owner Sunita of Benny’s Kitchen said staff were scared to come to work after recent incidents and urged more help for businesses.

Committee members asked SFPD and city staff about staffing and mitigation strategies. Captain Ahern pointed to recent increases in staffing priority, the newly sworn chief, the pending reset center opening, coordinated cleaning and vending abatement partnerships with DPW, and consistent enforcement as reasons for optimism that conditions can improve over the next year to 18 months.

After public comment, Chair Dorsey moved to forward the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded aye votes from Member Wong, Vice Chair Mahmoud and Chair Dorsey and the motion passed 3‑0. The clerk noted items acted on today are expected to appear on the Board agenda on Feb. 3, 2026. The committee’s recommendation will allow a full Board hearing and final action on the ordinance.