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Commission tightens permit conditions for Recess at 443 Broadway after crowd and safety concerns
Summary
After reviewing citations, police CAD reports and reaching the permit holder, the Entertainment Commission adopted additional conditions on Recess’s permit including a limit on live entertainment until 1:30 a.m., an amended video‑retention period, and a set of crowd‑control and security measures.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on Jan. 21 voted to further condition the place‑of‑entertainment permit for Recess (doing business at 443 Broadway) after staff presented a series of citations and police Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) reports linking several crowd‑control incidents to the venue.
Staff recommended up to 14 additional permit requirements to address crowding, sidewalk obstruction and insufficient security control. The permit holder’s representatives said they have increased staffing (typically five security staff on most nights) and disputed some of the staff characterizations, but acknowledged past citations and said they would work with the commission to resolve outstanding items.
Public safety officials described a mix of calls — fights, intoxicated persons and crowd complaints — and provided a targeted breakdown of CAD entries staff had associated with the venue. Several neighbors and a landlord testified about crowding on narrow sidewalks, blocked entries and a New Year’s‑Eve incident that resulted in an ambulance call.
After discussion, the commission adopted staff recommendations with changes: it excluded staff suggestion #9 (a particular sound‑proofing condition staff thought redundant given recent improvements), amended the video‑retention requirement (item #8) from 30 to 15 days, and limited live entertainment (DJ or live band) to end at 1:30 a.m.; the venue may continue to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. as permitted by ABC. The commission emphasized that the Good Neighbor Policy and the security plan must be followed and noted that unresolved citations remained an issue to monitor.
The motion passed on roll call with all present commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners said additional enforcement steps would follow if the venue fails to meet the conditioned requirements.
