Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dirk Dirksen Alley topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors hear mixed reaction to proposal to honor Dirk Dirksen with North Beach alley name
Summary
At a Rules Committee hearing, neighbors, musicians and Dirk Dirksen’s partner praised the late promoter’s cultural contributions while nearby residents raised concerns about wayfinding and nuisance impacts; the committee continued the item and said it will pursue further neighborhood outreach and staff follow‑up.
At a San Francisco Rules Committee hearing, Supervisors reviewed a proposal to commemorate music promoter Dirk Dirksen by adding his name to a small alley off Broadway in North Beach rather than renaming the full street.
Supervisor Tom Amiano, who introduced the item, presented a brief biography of Dirksen’s influence on the city’s punk and alternative scene and said the proposal would follow precedents elsewhere in the city — for example adding a secondary name or plaque rather than removing an existing street name. He asked Public Works whether affected agencies had raised objections; a department representative said fire and police had no issue, and that MTA Parking and Traffic had not yet responded.
Speakers at the public‑comment period included longtime friends, musicians who played the Mabuhay Gardens and the Fab Mab, and Damon Malloy, Dirksen’s partner, who described Dirksen’s volunteer work producing videos for a local recreation center and organizing a long‑running annual toy drive. Supporters cited petitions and letters of endorsement and urged supervisors to honor Dirksen’s cultural contributions to North Beach and San Francisco’s music scene.
Several nearby residents and at least one property owner urged caution. One resident said renaming an occupied street felt like changing the name of his home and urged alternatives that would honor Dirksen without causing confusion for mail delivery or visitors. A property owner raised concerns about past nuisance behavior by people associated with the Mabuhay scene, including drug use and poor unit maintenance, and asked the committee to weigh those impacts.
Supervisor Amiano said the office will convene neighborhood stakeholders and staff to seek a compromise about the name form — for example an alley designation or commemorative plaque — and to confirm agency sign‑offs. The committee did not vote to rename the alley at the hearing; rather, Amiano said the item would be continued to the call of the chair for further neighborhood outreach and staff follow‑up.
The next procedural step is further meetings between the supervisor’s office, Department of Public Works and affected neighbors to refine the proposal and report back to the Board of Supervisors.
