San Francisco Recreation and Parks commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to negotiate with someone new to operate Coit Tower. It will be the first change since 1992 and it comes just a couple of weeks after the city's voters approved Prop B, a measure to limit private parties inside the landmark.
But the vendor selected to potentially take over has proposed holding a special event every month, outraging backers of Prop B.
"Today Rec and Park has moved forward with a program that directly violates that by going from an occasional special event to every single month; that's going to turn it into a private party venue," one Prop B supporter said.
But the city and the potential vendor say everything is open to negotiation.
Park officials say special events generate needed money.
But there is a unique issue at Coit Tower -- the wear and tear on the landmark and the protection of the Depression-era murals. Prop B voters clearly voiced concern. But what they passed was an advisory policy, not a law.
"But I mean it's the voice of the people," the Prop B supporter said.
San Francisco's supervisors will ultimately decide how that policy will be implemented.
