Since news broke about the proposed “Entertainment Zone” in Hayes Valley aka the Booze Zone we’ve been fielding a lot of questions. So here’s a straight-up explanation of what’s going on, and who’s behind it.
This didn’t come from the neighborhood. It came from HVNA leadership and a first-term Supervisor who seems more interested in celebrating with the street closure permit holder than responding to the rest of us. Hayes Valley Safe and the Hayes Valley Small Business Association were never looped in — in direct violation of our 2021 Notice to be Included.
Regretfully, we have to warn our neighbors in Hayes Valley Proper that democracy here is not thriving. It’s being hijacked especially when it comes to the everyday decisions that shape how we live. What we’re seeing is a deeply compromised system, where policy is being co-written by City Hall and a single nonprofit with narrow interests. That became clear when we caught wind of this legislation only after it was promoted at a photo op on the closed 400 block, then quietly advanced through committee with no public notice and no explanation to the broader community.
Let’s be real: behind all the festive branding and feel-good headlines, this is a strategic maneuver — one that benefits a few connected players, not the neighborhood as a whole. And for what? Because the closure already exists. And because HVNA wants to host events like wine walks without having to pull permits. But what they’re not acknowledging is that this isn’t just a fun little activation …it’s a high-impact shift in how public space functions in a neighborhood that already carries more than its share of strain.
That’s the part that makes the least sense. Hayes Valley has already endured five years of a “temporary” street closure. Businesses are still suffering. Residents are still raising concerns. And now, instead of resolving it, the City wants to build on top of it? Let’s be clear: the Entertainment Zone isn’t a standalone idea it’s a legal mechanism to cement the street closure permanently. By embedding the 400 block into a citywide framework, HVNA no longer needs to justify the closure annually. They no longer need individual permits for events. They get a blanket entitlement — one that transforms a failed experiment into a permanent fixture, with expanded privileges and reduced oversight. That’s not just a policy change. That’s a transfer of control.
For those familiar with our five years of advocacy at Hayes Valley Safe, we’ll be blunt: this is alarming overreach. Especially given how many warnings have already been ignored. This isn’t long-term planning it’s a fast-track workaround. Codifying a flawed closure while the community is still grappling with its consequences. Calling it “entertainment” doesn’t make it benign it makes it harder to question. What started as a pandemic-era exception is now being quietly embedded into law. If this is really about revitalization, what exactly were the last five years for? That’s not compromise. That’s escalation.
Hayes Valley has long been a local-serving commercial corridor not a destination district. It’s home to some of San Francisco’s longest-standing independent retail businesses. And yet those same retailers increasingly opt out of even the annual holiday block party, citing public drunkenness, safety concerns, and the fact that the event doesn’t drive sales. It just brings in crowds they’re expected to manage without support.
For years now, HVNA hasn’t been serving the neighborhood they’ve been serving themselves. They’ve been granted access to public resources, fast-tracked legislation, and favorable permitting all with little accountability and even less return to the community. Let’s call it what it is: economic development malpractice. HVNA is acting as a middleman for City Hall using its nonprofit status to reshape the neighborhood in their image, even when the broader community says no.
All of this is happening despite:
- A five-year closure that’s done real harm to business
- A new living alley project on Ivy that already raises concerns
- Public safety issues along Hayes, Octavia, and the alleys
- Underutilized parklets that prove the issue isn’t lack of activity — it’s imbalance
Let’s not forget: Hayes Valley is home to over 9,000 people. With downtown emptied out, this is where San Franciscans live and work. And now, somehow, the plan is to turn it into a permanent party zone? Codifying a failed closure. Ignoring what neighbors have said for years. Sidelining small businesses. Using limited city resources to serve a few bars while real safety and planning issues go unresolved.
We see this sweeping legislation not as progress but as a deterrent. A distraction from addressing the real challenges facing our neighborhood. And we’re not alone. This party-zone model is popping up in cities across California, and the pattern is familiar: more nightlife doesn’t solve deep-rooted problems. It just moves them around.
The truth is, HVNA is taking more from Hayes Valley than it’s giving back. And this can’t drag on another five years. We need the closure resolved not expanded. We need public policy not nonprofit shadow deals. We need policies that serve everyone not just those with political access. Because this is our home. Not their playground.
And here’s what really sets this apart: it’s not unusual for nonprofits to get city support when they deliver real public benefit and are held accountable. But HVNA isn’t doing that. They’ve secured access to city-owned land, signage, special-event privileges, and favorable legislation all without real oversight. They’ve turned public assets into private leverage to advance their own agenda. In a city already reeling from broken public trust, nonprofit scandals, and misspent funds, we take serious issue with HVNA being allowed to operate like an unaccountable political arm.
This isn’t public service. It’s unregulated influence. And the rest of us are paying the price.
This needs to end before Hayes Valley loses more than it already has. What happens next will define this neighborhood. Let’s not stand by.
I supported the weekend closures to help businesses thrive, but I cannot support a permanent closure. The Bay to Breakers (before alcohol was banned) once a year was more than enough to endure the drunken hoards peeing in every hidden nook and cranny of our neighborhood. Imagine that happening every single day. Unbearable for those of us who live there. The study should also study the impacts to residents.
Bilal needs to be stopped from rolling this out. Where are the checks and balances for turning our neighborhood into a party zone? We’ve got enough issues in this zone. Has he not walked from Market down to Octavia. Clearly he’s out of touch.
This is all part of a larger plan to eradicate cars in San Francisco. The “entertainment zone” itself is crazy enough, but even worse – the map of the “entertainment zone” includes the vital traffic corridor of Gough and Franklin street. Are those streets also going to be subject to street closure? The city administrators really are trying to strangle the businesses and residents of San Francisco in the name of “revitalization.” Autumn Looijen would have been a much better representative for Hayes Valley than Bilal Mahmood.
The only way this trend is going to stop is when District voters in San Francisco finally stand up and start recalling their supervisors. SF supervisors say what constituents want to hear during the election process and then ignore what those of us who live, vote and pay taxes here want once they’re voted into office. The role of a supervisor in our city has become an easy way to slide into a position to push their own personal agendas, and it’s been this way for the last few years. “Public hearings” during BOS meetings are nothing but a formality and have become useless. District 4 has shown they’ve had enough of Joel Engardio and I’m hearing rumblings from District 7 re: Myrna Melgar as well. It’s high time for people to get angry, pull together and let City Hall know that we’ve put up with being ignored long enough.
Yes, and the car-eradication nuts can’t even offer believable climate models, as “Unsettled” by Steven Koonin shows.
Right on. Very good information & investigative journalism. Once again HVSafe is on the ball of exposing City Hall flaws of process & neighborhood politics going awry. Hopefully it’ll catch the eyes & ears of our Mayor.
This is insane! While I had my issues with Dean I have to say Bilal is priming himself for a recall.No I do not want to live in an entertainment zone. Stop the street closure and let business resume and for f— sake tell HVNA to find their way to the park, Page street or to the zoo cuz right now they’re acting like a gang of crazed organgutans with this crazy plan.This is so disrespectful to suggest that we residents have to put up with this. The bars have enough space and most of the time the parklets sit empty! You guys are on the right path stay the course and keep pushing.I’m letting my neighbors know about this s—fest waiting to happen. Let me know what I can do to stop this!
So far I’m not impressed with Bilal and have to say HVNA has lost their minds thinking this is what the neighborhood wants or needs. This needs to be stopped and leadership needs to focus on providing stability and sanity to Hayes Valley. Enough with the street closure for a few people blowing bubbles and what not. I bet anything this is being pushed by Mr Silverspoon who thinks we are an event venue for him to monetize on. This is all terribly absurd. Looking at the map this will impact the day to day lives of many residents in a dense area. It’s bad enough we have people blitzed out on fentanyl roaming around and trash issues. I feel for our merchants who as you keenly point out are being drown out by a few people who think this is their playground. Imagine having people drunk on your street and having to accept it because leadership put this policy in place. Bilal and city hall are demonstrating how out of touch they really are with this asinine idea. A big thanks to you guys for informing and raising awareness to this disaster of a plan.