Picture it: Chinatown. San Francisco. California. 2008. The proposition: A formula retail (a.k.a. "chain) ban in Chinatown, adding the neighborhood to a list of other anti-retail nabes that includes Hayes Valley, Bernal Heights, and the Mission. And North Beach, of course. The defense: Quoth Aaron Peskin, who introduced the legislation on Tuesday: “The concern in the community is that the unique character of Chinatown not be turned into cookie-cutter Anywhere, USA.” Of prime concern to Peskin and his supporters is a proposed 7-Eleven at Kearny and Clay streets. Interestingly enough, given that he did pitch the damn thing, Peskin admitted to being uncertain that an outright ban is the answer to the sorts of problems generally associated with such stringent laws (boarded-up store windows, perpetual vacancies, general urban blight— the positive stuff one hopes to see in one's 'hood). The verdict: *sigh.*
· Chain-store bills move to new areas [Examiner]
· Shut Down: Commissioners Oppose Chain Bans [Curbed SF]
· No More Chains in the Mish, Bernal [Curbed SF]
[Image courtesy Flickr photog Mike Schmid]
