Local Dem Leaders Weigh in on Nightclub Issues

At their May 14 meeting, members of the Democratic County Central Committee are expected to vote on a resolution calling for reform of the state's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control as well as asking the city's supervisors to conduct hearings on how much street fairs, bars and entertainment venues must pay for city fees and permits.

Nightlife issues have made headlines for months as the ABC has cracked down on numerous venues, both gay and straight, for code violations. At the same time city and police officials have cracked down on outdoor events for not addressing complaints about nudity, public drunkenness, and lewd behavior, and have grappled with how to reign in violence associated with nightclubs and bars.

Of particular concern to the LGBT community has been the notice Dore Alley fair organizers received from the police last month that their event could be in jeopardy due to complaints about public sex acts at their fetish fair. LGBT event promoters have also been outraged at the ABC's seeking to terminate the license of the DNA Lounge, a straight-owned club in SOMA that hosts many gay-themed parties.

The resolution also notes that increased costs for police staffing have "threatened the survival of critical community events like the Trans March, the Dyke March, and Pink Saturday."

Pushed by out DCCC members Scott Wiener and Debra Walker , the resolution calls for the local party to support efforts by openly gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) to "reform the ABC to ensure that the ABC is able to enforce the law effectively and ensure public safety while also promoting, rather than impeding, safe and responsible entertainment."

It also calls on the supervisors to examine "unreasonable fees and regulatory obstacles" the city is imposing on entertainment and culture venues and events. It would also put the local Dem Party in support of empowering the Entertainment Commission to address violence at entertainment venues "by suspending or otherwise taking action against" problematic clubs and bars.

Wiener and Walker, who are both expected to run for supervisor seats next year (in Districts 8 and 6, respectively), state in their resolution that the city needs to protect its nightlife and cultural events because they are "essential to the city's identity" and contribute "to the city's economic vitality through jobs, tax revenue, and destination travel."

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Unite HERE Local 2's office at 209 Golden Gate Avenue.