San Francisco buzzed with life and reverberated with the collective energy of tens of thousands this past Friday as the city unveiled a series of events designed to beckon visitors and reinvigorate local businesses. NBC Bay Area reported a free concert featuring Portugal. The Man at Civic Center Plaza. The show drew an immense crowd, with some 25,000 RSVPs, a testament to the city’s push toward reclaiming its vibrancy post-pandemic.
Mary Conde of Another Planet Entertainment underscored the dual purpose of these gatherings, stating to NBC Bay Area, “also to let visitors know it’s clean, it’s safe, it’s a great place to come hang out.” Compelling locals and tourists alike, the city’s jam-packed itinerary welcomed punk rock veterans Green Day at Oracle Park, marking an eclectic musical night not seen in years. Furthermore, the city made strides to address the safety concerns with the presence of state and military police, notably in the struggling Tenderloin district, which has been grappling with the fentanyl crisis.
NBC Bay Area notes that the city’s first-ever “Entertainment Zone” was introduced at Oktoberfest, where Robbie Silver, president of the Downtown SF Partnership, highlighted the newfound freedom for patrons, saying, “If you’re 21 and over you can walk into Schroeder’s or Harrington or Royal Exchange, grab your beer to go and drink it in the street.” It’s a bold move intended to foster a more convivial atmosphere in the city’s streets, and the Downtown SF Partnership plans to replicate the entertainment model monthly.
Adding to the city’s allure, Mayor London Breed voiced her vision at Oktoberfest, telling participants that change was imminent. “San Francisco has to become the city of yes,” she conveyed emphatically, acknowledging the need for City Hall to pivot towards a more permissive attitude, as CBS Bay Area shared from her. This approach seems to bear fruit, as businesses like Chao Pescao experienced bustling service with wait times stretching to an hour, starkly contrasting office vacancy woes, which CBRE indicates continue to spike. “Business has been really nice,” Anabella Valdiviezo of Chao Pescao told CBS News San Francisco, “The Civic Center shows have definitely been helping.”
The concerted effort to reanimate San Francisco’s streets and erase its negative image is already resonating with attendees. The events showcased safety and vitality by drawing visitors from the Bay Area and neighboring regions. “I think it’s important to understand that every big city is going to have its problems but there is a lot of city to give to the people,” Vanessa Gayton, who traveled by BART from Concord, explained in a statement to CBS Bay Area.
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