New legislation prohibits new smoke shops opening in Tenderloin District

(KRON) — In response to community concerns, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation restricting the opening of new Tobacco shops in the Tenderloin District on Tuesday.

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The new legislation prohibits new tobacco shops from opening and selling in the north of Market residential space and Lower Polk Street neighborhood commercial district. This legislation mirrors controls in place in nearby areas that, according to San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston, have been effective in curbing illicit street activity.

“More smokeshops means more drugs,” said Aref Elgaali to KRON4, president of the Tenderloin Merchants Association and owner of Zoul Cafe. Elgaali specifies that tobacco isn’t the problem, but rather the paraphernalia that many of these smoke shops sell.

By prohibiting new smoke shops from opening and reducing access to drug paraphernalia, SF supervisors believe the passing of this legislation will reduce the numbers of drug abuse in the Tenderloin District as a whole.

Preston believes the passing of the legislation will not impact many of the immigrant-owned businesses already residing in these areas. “Our legislation, as requested by Tenderloin residents, prevents more of these smoke shops from opening up in a neighborhood that’s already saturated. We are proud to deliver this change for our constituents,” said Preston.

Throughout his six years as a Tenderloin District business owner, ElGaali believes that crime and drug abuse in the area have improved, but the U.S. economy as a whole has been struggling. “Every city has a Tenderloin. It’s the media that overinflates the reputation of this place,” said ElGaali.

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