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Commission approves 'Into the Streets' monthly downtown street‑party series with conditions
Summary
The Entertainment Commission approved a series of monthly First Thursday street‑events beginning May 2, permitting live music and cultural programming in SoMa/East Cut with staggered stage end times and conditions after staff review and mixed public comment.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted April 16 to approve a one‑time outdoor event permit with extended duration for Into the Streets to run a monthly 'Downtown First Thursdays' series, beginning Thursday, May 2. Staff recommended approval with the Good Neighbor Policy and other standard conditions after the applicant provided an outreach plan and site map.
Into the Streets manager Javier Sanchez said the program will primarily use Second Street between Market and Howard with four main performance areas, and described staged shutdowns to reduce late‑night sound: main stage planned to shut down at 9:00 p.m.; two DJ areas around 9:30 p.m.; and a busking/rotating stage to close around 9:45 p.m. Organizers estimate roughly 10,000 attendees per day and said they will post a real‑time contact number on poles along the route to take and respond to complaints.
Staff noted the application dossier included three letters of support and 15 letters of opposition; the majority of opposition asked for earlier end times (many asking specifically for an 8 p.m. end). Multiple business and neighborhood benefit district leaders (East Cut CBD, Yerba Buena CBD) spoke in favor, citing downtown revitalization and support for small businesses; residents living on Second Street and at 199 New Montgomery urged earlier end times and expressed concern about late‑night breakdown noise and impacts on children and shift workers.
Commissioners discussed the downtown economic case for more activation, the applicant’s outreach, staged shutdowns and operational controls (barricade monitors to permit resident access to garages, monthly coordination with SFMTA and SFPD). After discussion, a motion to approve with staff conditions passed with affirmative votes recorded. Staff will set a sound limit at the first event and work with organizers on monthly scheduling and post‑event monitoring.
Next steps: Into the Streets must provide monthly schedules 10 days prior to each event and maintain the required community and SFPD/SFMTA coordination; staff will monitor complaints and may adjust conditions for future events.
