A two-year pilot curfew on certain stores in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district has shown promising results in reducing street loitering and crime, according to police officials.
Commander Derrick Lew presented a heat map to the Board of Supervisors’ Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, illustrating a decline in criminal incidents in the 20-square-block area where the curfew has been enforced for nearly a year.
“My recommendation would be to absolutely keep it going,” Lew stated, acknowledging the curfew’s efficacy.
While the desire exists among officials to eventually lift the legislation, Lew indicated that the situation still requires monitoring and assessment.
The curfew, implemented last July, mandates a midnight closing time for several corner stores and smoke shops; however, liquor stores remain unaffected.
The Tenderloin lacks a full-service grocery store and has a high number of small liquor stores, smoke shops, and convenience stores that previously operated late at night.
As a result, loitering and illicit activities had become prevalent in the area during those late hours.
Store owners have voiced their frustration over declining business due to the curfew’s restrictions.
Despite the challenges for some businesses, the curfew appears to be having a beneficial impact, evidenced by a slight drop in assaults and narcotics-related incidents.
Alongside this, non-fatal shootings declined from four to one, with only one homicide reported within the curfew zone compared to none in the previous six months before the pilot program began.
Interestingly, police dispatch call volumes showed little variation, remaining consistent before and after the curfew, although overall police service did decline due to fewer officer-initiated actions.
In the broader Tenderloin police district, there was a significant decrease in non-fatal shootings, while homicides remained unchanged and other shootings saw an uptick.
Additional crimes, including assaults and drug-related offenses, registered a slight decrease.
The Department of Public Health is responsible for enforcing the curfew; stores that violate it can face fines of up to $1,000.
Jennifer Callewaert, the assistant director of environmental health at the department, reported that eight violations have been issued to stores breaching the curfew, with four violations originating from a single store.
Supervisors are considering the possibility of extending the curfew to areas like Sixth Street, though this would necessitate an increase in police staffing to ensure compliance.
Public support for the curfew was expressed by approximately 20 individuals, who highlighted improvements in street conditions.
However, local business owners expressed grievances about the regulations favoring liquor stores while penalizing their operations.
An employee from Rainbow Market and Deli on Larkin Street shared that the store’s early closure at midnight has led to a nearly 20 percent drop in business, limiting access to essential groceries and fresh food.
The clerk from another store, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that many residents with anxiety struggle to visit during the day when the store is open, and the early closure has further restricted their access to necessary food items.
As discussions continue regarding the future of the curfew, the balance between community safety and business viability remains a central concern.
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/04/sf-police-tenderloin-store-curfew-success/
