Statement by Supervisor Joel Engardio
San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting
May 16, 2023

No Step Too Small To Help Small Businesses in San Francisco

My legislation to waive awning installation fees in the month of May might seem small but most small businesses have awnings, especially in the Sunset. Anything to make things easier for our small businesses could be the difference when it comes to survival. The profit margins are that thin.

It’s important to note that small businesses were closing in San Francisco long before the pandemic. 500 restaurants closed in 2019 – and that was boom times. A big reason was City Hall’s excessive fees and regulations.

Starting a business in San Francisco can range from maddening to impossible because the bureaucracy at City Hall often stifles good ideas. We need to roll out the red carpet and cut the red tape for entrepreneurs and artisans.

We don’t know which good idea will be the one to save our local economy. That’s why we need to make San Francisco the place that provides a long runway for an idea to take off. A place that encourages and incubates ideas. A place that fosters creativity and innovation.

These lofty goals start with simple steps, like waiving a fee to install a new awning. There are hundreds and perhaps thousands of more steps we can take. And I look forward to introducing more. Stay tuned!