SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — It’s been three years since downtown San Francisco was transformed into a ghost town when the pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders and social distancing. The city struggled to rebound post-pandemic, and foot traffic levels are still far lower than pre-2020.
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said the city needs ways to make its downtown more attractive. “The COVID-19 pandemic devastated foot traffic to downtown businesses. Cities in California vary widely in their recovery trajectories, but none has yet reached the levels of foot traffic seen in 2019 in their downtowns. This reduced activity threatens to stymie economic recovery in San Francisco,” Wiener’s office wrote.
‘Death of Downtown’ study: San Francisco ranks last
Some city and state political leaders think serving more alcohol outdoors in public will make downtown more attractive and exciting, and give local bars and businesses a boost.
According to Wiener, serving booze in targeted spaces will “responsibly activate downtown streets” where activity has struggled to rebound since the onset of COVID-19.