Last Saturday my hubby and I decided to drop in on Bootie's triumphant return to the DNA Lounge. We got dropped off by a friend, and noticed two odd things: first, several police cars parked in front of Butter, and lots of officers on the street. The next thing I noticed was that there was no line at the DNA, even though it was midnight, prime time for people to show up for Bootie. Knowing what I know is going on with SF nightlife, I just chalked it up to some SFPD BS. Sure enough, a quick check of the DNA Lounge blog told me the whole ugly story. The DNA is in for weekly harassment, Butter got shut down, and the cops also pestered the patrons of Mist down the street. Larry Bertrand waved his proverbial nightstick around, and evidently intends to keep doing so till all the clubs on 11th street are driven out of business.
I've testified in front of the board of supervisors on this issue, and now I have written to the mayor as well. Newsom calls San Francisco an event-positive city. Evidently, Larry Bertrand and the SFPD are attempting to prove him wrong. Here is what I said to Mayor Newsom. If you are reading this, please write to him as well.
"Hi Mayor Newsom,
I will get to the point quickly. Why are the SFPD officers conducting Gestapo tactics at some of the best run nightclubs and bars in San Francisco? What on Earth is happening in South of Market? Is there anything you can do to reign in officer Larry Bertrand's one-man campaign to kill nightlife in San Francisco? How do tourists who have heard of Bootie, or other world-class nightclub entertainment in SF, react when the see a police mob? NOT SPEND MONEY is what. What's more, why do I even know officer Bertrand's name? The horror stories I have heard of his tromping on the Constitutional rights of both patrons and club owners is chilling. And where the Hell was Officer Bertrand during the Suede club killing? No doubt harassing clubs South of Market.
Are you powerless in the situation, or do you simply not care? Do you really want the death-knell of nightlife in San Francisco to be your lasting legacy to the city as mayor? Don't talk to me about Suede. Badly-run clubs that tolerate thugs are going to have such problems. But the DNA? Slims? Butter? What is particularly fiendish about the targeting of the DNA is that they are a very gay-friendly, nightclub and provide a safe and fun environment to dance and have fun after 10pm. If this is the way a place like DNA gets treated, (ie, police harassment and weekly "sidewalk-blocking" tickets that get thrown out by a judge), what hope is there for the other legitimate nightlife businesses in San Francisco?
Please do something. We need leadership from the Mayor's office on this.
Sincerely,"
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Well said! We're gonna tweet a link to it.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how the SFPD continues to get away with the harassment of its own citizenry, resulting in an ongoing campaign against business, tourism, and overall general well being of the City. This is not making citizens safer, just poorer—-in quality of life and in the local economy.
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