SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — More than a year after San Francisco imposed a curfew on corner stores in the Tenderloin, the city is looking at expanding the program.
“This is a strategy that’s working. And it’s not just displacing or pushing the problem around it’s actually reducing crime,” said San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey
San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey is explaining why he wants to see the so-called “corner store curfew” expanded.
First implemented in July 2024, the curfew allows the city to fine certain stores within a 20-block radius of the Tenderloin that aren’t closed from midnight until 5 a.m.
A strategy that some in the SoMa neighborhood hope would help them clean up their streets.
MORE: Data: Crime is down in SF’s Tenderloin after business curfew, which may expand to other districts
“What else are you going to do? You going to let this keep on going and going and going further and not take any action? It’s working in the Tenderloin. Make it work in South of Market,” said Henry Karnilowicz, the president of the South of Market Business Association.
Though many people disagree with Dorsey’s proposal.
ABC7 News reporter Tim Johns spoke with several businesses in the area and many of them say they worry about the impact it’ll have on their bottom line.
That includes for Abdulwahab al-Mehdhar who owns Habibi Market in SoMa.
“Not just for me for example, the business owner, but also even the workers. We’re going to lose a lot of workers. A lot of workers, they’re going to lose their money,” said al-Mehdhar.
A new study by an Italian university found that the Tenderloin’s curfew reduced drug-related crimes in the area by over 50% in it’s first nine months.
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A statistic al-Mehdhar has difficulty believing.
“That’s not true. I have another business in the Tenderloin and that’s not happening at all,” he said.
Dorsey says he understands the pushback coming from concerned businesses.
And for those impacted, he sends this message.
“It’s not fair, and I get that. But I’m asking you to do it anyway for 18 months because I think it’s going to work to improve conditions on the 6th Street corridor and else in South of Market,” said Dorsey.
Dorsey hopes to get the curfew implemented by the start of next year. If passed, it will be in effect for 18 months.
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