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Commission approves several entertainment permits; police conditions adjusted or struck after discussion
Summary
The Entertainment Commission approved multiple entertainment and place-of-entertainment permits (Wix/Third Floor, Luke's Lounge, Aunt Charlie’s, OMG/43 Sixth Street, Local Edition) while debating and tailoring several police-recommended conditions to address enforceability and neighborhood concerns.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission took action on a batch of entertainment permits and debated which police‑recommended conditions should be included in individual permits.
On the consent calendar the commission approved items A and B. The commission pulled items C and D for separate consideration because of problematic police-condition language. After discussion, the commission approved the Wix/Third Floor limited‑live permit with conditions narrowed to address indoor use and to remove language that would improperly vest veto power in the police department for permanent permit revocation.
The commission approved Luke's Lounge with conditions 2, 4 and 5 after Mission Station permit officer Gary Buckner told the commission there was no legal basis to deny the permit and clarified that his intent was that the police could close an event for a single evening in the face of an immediate public-safety threat rather than void a permit permanently.
Aunt Charlie's Lounge (133 Turk Street) was continued from April and approved after Tenderloin station staff said the revised application addressed earlier omissions. The commission praised Aunt Charlie's community role and noted SFPD support.
For the proposed venue at 43 Sixth Street (called OMG in the application), applicant representatives and counsel described outreach and additional security investments; Southern Station Captain Charlie Orts explained the high-crime context of the block and presented an 18-condition package focused on hours, surveillance, promoter notification and no-loitering provisions. Commissioners debated pat‑down/search policies, promoter notification windows, taxi-stand suggestions and what conditions are reasonable and enforceable as permit terms. The commission approved the permit with adjustments to hours and strike of an unenforceable taxi-stand condition, while retaining safety-focused conditions the commission can enforce.
Local Edition (691 Market Street) — an underground cocktail venue — was approved with no additional SFPD conditions after staff reported neighborhood outreach and SFPD indicated no objections.
Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the commission and staff retain authority to revisit permit conditions and to bring permits back for reconsideration if public-safety issues or neighborhood complaints arise.
