By MARCUS WOHLSEN, Associated Press Writer Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 27 mins ago
SAN FRANCISCO – Lawmakers agreed unanimously Tuesday to snuff out new shops that sell pot-smoking paraphernalia in the heart of San Francisco's one-time hippie district.
The Board of Supervisors approved a three-year moratorium on new businesses in the Haight that sell the smoking equipment.
At least a dozen businesses sell rolling papers, roach clips and glass water pipes along Haight Street, a popular destination for tourists nostalgic for the Summer of Love.
The ban does not affect existing shops.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said the shops have a place in his district but were crowding out other businesses that serve the needs of neighborhood residents.
Mirkarimi, a Green Party member, supports medical marijuana and has proposed that the city sell and distribute pot to San Francisco dispensaries. But he claims the Haight's head shops have led to street dealing, loitering and littering.
Owners of existing shops have been supportive of the measure as a way to prevent more outlets from glutting the already crowded marketplace.
The board must vote on the legislation a second time before it moves on to the mayor for approval. The next vote is scheduled next week.
Mayor Gavin Newsom will consider signing the bill, his spokesman said.
"When even the Green Party politicians are opposing head shops, you know it's a legitimate issue," Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard said.
Businesses in the Haight still trade on the street's psychedelic past, selling tie-dyed T-shirts and classic rock posters commemorating the Flower Power era.
But the neighborhood has more recently attracted middle-class families and young professionals drawn to its picturesque Victorian homes and relaxed vibe.
The gentrification of the Haight has led to typical tensions over preserving the neighborhood's character.
One recent fight has pitted residents against one another over a proposal to build a Whole Foods market and condominiums on the site of a defunct grocery store.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090623/...ght_head_shops
Linear Mode
