Committee backs Super Bowl 50 impact fund amendment; limits initial $100,000 seed to street artists and permittees

Supervisor Aaron Peskin and Supervisor Jane Kim introduced two measures to (1) establish a Super Bowl 50 Impact Fund and (2) appropriate $100,000 from the general reserve to seed the fund for FY2015–16. Peskin described temporary displacements resulting from Super Bowl City operations—setup, event days and takedown totaling about 22 days in some zones—and said the purpose is to make “a modicum of compensation” available to small street artists and certain permittees who were unable to operate.

Peskin offered an amendment (subsection D) to narrow administration rules for the first $100,000: eligible street artists licensed through the Arts Commission who document loss tied to covered events would be eligible for awards up to $600; DPW‑licensed vendors (food trucks, permitted businesses) would be eligible for grants equivalent to lost permit fees, not to exceed $600 per grantee; utility permits would be ineligible. The Comptroller’s office was assigned to develop the application and disbursement process in consultation with DPW and the Arts Commission, and to proportionately reduce awards if total validated claims exceed available funds.

Committee debate centered on scope and fairness. Supervisor Scott Wiener pushed for clarity about the universe of eligible merchants and warned that narrowing eligibility could exclude other merchants (e.g., Castro businesses) who reported losses; Peskin and Kim said the amendment focuses the initial seed appropriation on verified permittees and street artists because a broader program would exceed the $100,000 appropriation and administrative capacity. Deputy City Attorney John Gibner confirmed subsection D effectively entitles street artists and permit holders to grants up to $600 and that surplus or future funds could be allocated for broader use by subsequent action.

Public comment: More than two dozen street artists, vendors and merchants testified about lost revenue, late notice of displacement and inadequate alternate locations. Reported impacts ranged from sharp percent declines in sales to examples such as one vendor reporting seven sales total for a day during the event. Representatives from the Arts Commission described outreach and alternatives the host committee negotiated (limited alternate spaces and a lottery for participation).

Committee action: Members voted to adopt the Peskin amendment (roll call: Tang aye; Yi aye; Kim aye; Weiner no; Farrell absent). The committee agreed to forward Items 2 and 3 to the full Board without recommendation so the full Board can consider the ordinance language, appropriation and any potential expansion of eligibility.

Next steps: The ordinance establishing the fund and the appropriation will go to the full Board. The controller’s office was directed to develop program rules consistent with subsection D and the amendment; if claims validated by controller exceed $100,000 awards will be proportionally reduced.