Committee forwards Leather & LGBTQ CHEST report to full Board; four liquor-license requests also advance

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on June 13 heard a presentation on the Cultural History, Housing and Economic Sustainability (CHEST) report for the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District and voted to forward the document to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.

The report, presented by Bob Goldfarb of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District and Grace Lee from the Office of Community Development, maps community priorities and strategies for historic and cultural preservation, land-use and tenant supports, arts and workforce development, and cultural competency. Goldfarb said the district completed extensive community engagement—interviews, eight focus groups and two surveys—and compiled 34 recommended strategies the district hopes will guide stabilization and sustainability.

"This is a really forward-looking view at what the vision of the community can be," Goldfarb told the committee, noting the district’s history in SoMa, the role of the Folsom Street Fair and ongoing efforts such as banners, commemorative street signs and a proposed sidewalk plaque project. He asked committee members to support the resolution and invited Chair Stephanie to cosponsor the item.

Several public commenters backed the report. Bob Brown, president of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District, called the CHEST document "an integral part of the fabric of San Francisco" and urged adoption. Joe Ramirez of PRC Workforce Development described how district events have supported thousands of first-time jobs; Paul Dally, chair of the district’s land-use committee, warned that gentrification and rising rents have reduced queer and leather spaces and said the district helps provide guardrails for neighborhood culture. Maxine Holloway, one of the report’s authors, described leather culture’s role in community support and recovery.

The committee moved, on a motion by Member Dorsey, to forward the resolution adopting the CHEST report to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded three ayes from Vice Sharon Guardio, Member Dorsey and Chair Stephanie. The item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on June 25 unless otherwise noted.

Votes at a glance

The committee also considered four liquor-license matters and voted to forward all four to the full Board with positive recommendations. Each ALU (Alcoholic Beverage Control liaison unit) report cited zero letters of protest and zero letters of support in the file and recommended approval with standard conditions (noise not audible beyond the licensee’s control area except as provided, active monitoring to prevent loitering per ABC requirements, maintaining adjacent areas free of litter, and additional security staffing when live entertainment is provided).

- EW by the Glass LLC ("Embark Wines") — Type 42 (on-sale beer & wine) for premises at 2 Embarcadero Center. Applicant representatives (co‑owners Adam Lovingood and Richard Garcia) said they will comply with ALU conditions, noted Embarcadero Center’s 24‑hour security and groundskeeping, and indicated planned hours Monday–Friday 1 p.m.–8 p.m. Motion to forward carried, 3 ayes.

- GST LLC (Great Star Theater) — Type 90 (on-sale general music venue) for premises at 636 Jackson Street. Applicants Paul Nathan (artistic director) and Roger Picome (executive director) described the theater’s 1925 history, its role as a home for Chinese opera and local performing arts, and economic benefits to Chinatown (applicants reported past attendance figures of thousands per week and a prior three‑month period that drew approximately 40,000 visitors). ALU recommended two uniform licensed security guards on the premises when providing live entertainment; motion to forward carried, 3 ayes.

- Miran and Zilal Incorporated (Zevi Cafe and Bistro) — Type 90 for premises at 67 Fifth Street. The owner said the restaurant, opened in February 2022, seeks the music-venue license to attract more customers, hire additional staff and help cover rising costs. Manager Feroz testified that the venue would add jobs and activation to the SoMa corridor. ALU conditions were accepted; motion to forward carried, 3 ayes.

- AH and GLCC LLC (August Hall) — Type 90 for premises at 420 Mason Street. ALU recommended approval with the same standard conditions (noise, loitering prevention, litter control, and licensed security for live entertainment). No public protest was recorded; motion to forward carried, 3 ayes.

Why it matters

Supporters said the CHEST report offers a community-driven plan to preserve the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District’s history and economic role in SoMa at a moment of increasing development pressure. The license approvals, if adopted by the full Board, would allow a mix of small businesses and performing-arts venues to operate with conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts such as noise, loitering and litter.

What’s next

The forwarded CHESS report and the four liquor-license resolutions are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on June 25. The committee did not take final Board action; the full Board will consider each item at that time.