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Commission staff report multiple permit violations; Castle SF suspension heads to hearing
Summary
Inspectors issued citations to several nightlife venues for exceeding sound limits and operating without required permits; director says a 15-day administrative suspension of Castle SF was appealed and will be heard by the Entertainment Commission on Oct. 7.
San Francisco Entertainment Commission staff reported multiple permit enforcement actions and cited three businesses this summer for sound or permit violations, and staff announced that an administrative suspension of Castle SF will come to the commission on Oct. 7.
Senior staff described on-the-ground inspections that led to citations and an administrative suspension. Inspectors documented measured sound exceedances and repeat permit breaches at several locations and issued citations under the city—s permit-enforcement process. Director Caitlin Weiland told commissioners that Castle SF—s place-of-entertainment and extended-hours permits had been conditionally granted in August and then were the subject of an appeal to the Board of Appeals; because the appeals board split 2-2, the permits were reinstated by default.
The commission heard a summary of three enforcement cases. Inspectors visited Majang (260 Kearny Street) after an Aug. 9 3-1-1 complaint and recorded a sound measurement above the venue—s authorized limit; that location received a citation and staff advised management about monitoring levels and crowd behavior. Chambers Eat and Drink / Phoenix Hotel (601 Eddy Street) was cited after inspectors measured indoor and outdoor levels above the approved limits during an Aug. 16 event; staff said on-site personnel unfamiliar with permit conditions complicated the inspector—s efforts to bring sound into compliance but that the permit holder has since identified on-site contacts for inspectors.
Inspectors also said they observed Castle SF (550 15th Street) operating entertainment and admitting patrons after 2 a.m. during an appeal that had placed a stay on its extended-hours operations. Staff reported visits on Aug. 24, Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 that resulted in three citations for operating entertainment or serving beverages after allowed hours and for hosting entertainment without an appropriate place-of-entertainment permit. Using the violations recorded, staff issued a 15-day administrative suspension on Sept. 5; the permit holder, identified in staff remarks as Chris Yaslik, appealed that suspension and the appeal hearing is set for the commission—s Oct. 7 meeting.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that future enforcement and any deliberations on the suspension must occur at the Oct. 7 hearing so the commission can hear both appellant and respondent arguments. Staff indicated the respondent will be represented by commission staff and by the assigned city attorney, and that additional procedural instructions are forthcoming.
Clarifying details recorded during the hearing include the appeal case number (25-031) and the permit number at issue (EC1862); staff said the permits were issued Aug. 8, inspectors observed after-hours activity Aug. 24 and Aug. 30, and the 15-day suspension notice was issued Sept. 5 and scheduled to take effect Sept. 12 pending appeal. The commission did not discuss the merits of the pending appeal at the Sept. 16 meeting.
The commission took no enforcement votes at the Sept. 16 meeting on these matters; the Castle SF suspension hearing remains scheduled for Oct. 7.
