Thread by @_fruchtose

How are things going on San Francisco? Well, the Planning Commission is hearing a Discretionary Review filed by an ice cream shop to prevent a different ice cream shop from opening across the street.

Discretionary review applicant says that the competing ice cream shop is part of a chain, which the project sponsor deliberately hid—calling it perjury. The project sponsor rebuts that the DR applicant deliberately hid his identity in the filing.

Project sponsor was accidentally disconnected. So we're going to public comment... over an ice cream shop.

First caller says that the Planning Commission shouldn't even be dealing with this kind of issue.

Second caller supports the DR applicant, who runs Garden Creamery.

Third caller supports project sponsor Matcha n' More.

Fourth caller is on board of Mission Merchants Association. This is a principally permitted use for the storefront. He supports the project sponsor.

Fifth caller is a customer of Garden Creamery and asks they deny the application of the other ice cream shop—because they have not consulted the community [the ice cream community?]

Sixth caller supports Matcha n' More, saying we shouldn't deny their application for petty reasons.

Seventh caller is a small business owner, asks they support the DR. "Community is more important than ever." MnM "has made that impossible" by serving ice cream topped w/ 24K gold

Eighth caller supports MnM. They're serving an innovative style of ice cream.

Ninth caller supports MnM. "They have room for multiple ice cream shops" in the Mission.

Tenth caller: what are we trying to put up extra hurdles to open a business? The planning process is being weaponized against a competitor.

11th caller supports Garden Creamery because we need economic diversity. Caller is a customer of DR applicant.

12th caller supports MnM. They're a delicious dessert store from the East Coast. Support local businesses.

13th caller lives in the Mission, supports Garden Creamery. Eight ice cream shops around her. She loves ice cream, but another one would be ridiculous.

14th caller is an SF native. Mission is losing its identity. Matcha n More is "sneaking through the cracks" so this small business shouldn't be allowed. They've pulled the race card, and their high-priced products are not welcome.

15th caller is an SF resident & supporter of Garden Creamery. SF needs to focus on small local businesses, not those from New York.

16th caller lives a block away from the stores. Many small businesses have closed down due to bigger places coming in. "We have 3 ice cream stores w/in a block." Garden Creamery is interested in the community & allows community meetings. MnM wants to "undermine the community" 😳

17th caller supports MnM

18th caller supports Matcha n More. It should be easier to open small business, and we deserve choice in area. Loves Garden Creamery—ice cream doesn't have to be a binary choice.

19th caller is @MikeChenSF, I think? Supports Matcha n More. DR requestor's concerns are w/o merit. It's not a chain store. Ironically, in 2016, Garden Creamery opened the store next to 3-4 pre-existing ice cream shops and it was fine.

20th caller supports Matcha n More. It's not easy to open a new business—SF is competitive, so competition is no excuse. A Japanese-inspired store enhances neighborhood vibrancy.

We've passed the 20-caller mark over the fight to open a soft serve dessert shop.

21st caller lives in the Richmond supports Garden Creamery and their DR. Caller knows the store owners personally and they are community advocates.

I just called but got accidentally disconnected. That makes me caller number 22.

Caller 23 supports Garden Creamery. They support the Mission and its residents. The project sponsor have slandered Garden Creamery. It's disappointing.

Caller 24 supports Garden Creamery.

Caller 25: this is a sad attempt to stifle competition. We need to ask, "Is this a good use of our time?"

Caller 26: I need calories to support my training. I support Matcha n More so I can bulk up.

Caller 27: I support Garden Creamery. Matcha n More was dishonest in their application.

Caller 28 supports Matcha n More. It's not a chain store. It will help unemployment.

Caller 29: Garden Creamery is trying to stifle competition. It's outrageous.

Planning Commission Secretary Ionin is pausing public comment so the Commissioners can open a new teleconference meeting because the meeting has gone for 8 hours. He sounds exasperated. "Everybody wants to call about an ice cream shop," he sighs.

Caller 30 is a small business owner speaking in support of Garden Creamery. They help other small businesses, especially minority-owned. Matcha n' More has been racially insensitive.

31th caller lives in Mission, supports Matcha n More. Garden Creamery is doing community a disservice blocking a new business from coming in. MnM has nothing but good intentions.

32nd caller lives in Richmond District, supports Garden Creamery. They went from food truck to brick+mortar. Concern is that the new store misrepresented themselves. This isn't just about ice cream—it's about a business coming in from New York.

33rd caller supports Garden Creamery. Matcha n More has made appalling comments about Garden Creamery. Ice cream shops in the area are already struggling.

34th caller lives in Portola district, supports Matcha n More. Opening a business right now is a feat, they deserve support.

35th caller lives in the Mission supports Matcha n More. Small businesses help the community + economy. It will bring diversity and value to the community.

36th caller is president of the Small Business Commission, speaking personally. We don't need to make it more difficult to open a small business. Encouraging Garden Creamery to "focus on customers and not their competitors." Deny the DR.

37th caller lives in Mission, supports Matcha n More. New concept. She loves ice cream and this process is being weaponized. Storefront has been vacant for 10 years.

38th caller lives in the Mission, asks Commission to deny the DR. This is a waste of time.

39th caller lives in Portola District, supports Matcha n More. People should be able to open a business, but it's impossible. Garden Creamery is the height of the gentrification process.

40th caller: Matcha n More aims to make use of a vacant spot. Putting up barriers is appalling. There's no information about Matcha n More in the DR—it's not a chain store. Deny the DR.

WE HAVE CROSSED 40 CALLERS ANGRY OVER DESSERT

41th caller: I support Garden Creamery. Ed Lee Democratic Club supports Matcha n More and they've weaponized race.

42nd caller: I've lived in Mission since 2005. I support Garden Creamery. Matcha n More is a chain coming from New York to gentrify the Mission. They're opportunistic quote-unquote "businessmen." Make them submit honest paperwork.

43rd: I support Matcha n More. It's a unique and delicious dessert store. We should support small business in a pandemic like this.

44th caller: I'm a small business owner. I support Matcha n More. If you deny their permit you're sending a message to other businesses that they should go to another city if there's another like theirs within 1000 feet.

45th caller lives in Sunset District, supports Garden Creamery. Once worked at boutique in Hayes Valley. Neighborhood totally changed due to accepting chain stores. Doesn't want that in the Mission.

46th caller: Garden Creamery's DR is based on bogus claims. They want to delay Matcha n More so they can have more business.

47th caller lives in District 5. Ashamed at Garden Creamery for what they're doing. They're scared of the competition. Matcha n More is a good company. And the Mission has already been gentrified.

48th caller supports Matcha n More. Allowing new ice cream shops will create a more diverse menu to support the community.

49th caller: I live in Ingleside. I support Matcha n More.l Deny the DR. It does not make sense. I love ice cream, so any more ice cream in the area would just be better.

50th caller: I've lived in SF for 10+ years. I support Garden Creamery. It's not about blocking small business. Matcha n More did not submit a proper application.

FIFTY CALLERS. OVER ICE CREAM. I HATE THIS. WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC. OUR PRESIDENT IS A FASCIST.

51st caller: approve the discretionary review. There are too many ice cream shops in the Mission. The community won't benefit. "Space ice cream stores throughout the Mission District so everyone has access to ice cream."

Oh God kill me now

52nd caller: I agree with @Sharkyl. If there's too much ice cream in the area, business won't do as well.

53rd caller: I support the discretionary review. Matcha n More should have filed the correct paperwork. Culture in the Mission "is mostly Latin-based" [???????]

54th caller: I live in Dogpatch. In a global pandemic and protest against police brtuality San Francisco is waging a fight over ice cream.

55th caller: I support Matcha n More. We should be doing as much as we can to support new employers.

56th caller: I live in Noe Valley. I support Matcha n More. Site has been dead for a decade. Community benefits include more foot traffic and improvements to local rea.

57th caller: I support the DR. Garden Creamery has supported multiple small businesses in the Mission.

58th caller: I support Matcha n More. Garden Creamery is already a staple in the community. MnM would add diversity to the community.

59th caller: I live 2 blocks from the block. I oppose the discretionary review and the entire concept of it. We should allow businesses to open. Don't allow random citizens like me to have a voice when businesses follow all the rules.

60th caller: I support Matcha n More. Oppose the discretionary review. "Ice cream brings happiness to everyone"

[EXCEPT ME RIGHT NOW]

61st caller: I know the project applicant. He's helped register voters in the Richmond District a while back. He deserves a chance. Deny the discretionary review.

62nd caller: I used to live in SF but now I live in LA. I support Garden Creamery. The owners of Garden Creamery are being slandered by Ed Lee Democratic Club calling them Karens. They have no ill intentions. This isn't about competition. It's about economic diversity.

63rd caller: I live in Mission, strongly support Matcha n More. It's ridiculous that a business trying to open an ice cream store should save money on lawyers. The whole process is ridiculous.

64th caller: "Hi, I support the new business. The whole process is dumb as shit."

Public comment is over after 64 opinions over a cold, sugary dessert.

Secretary Ionin: "I don't know about you, but after this I'm going to have some ice cream." 😭😭😭

Project applicant calls the discretionary review disingenuous. DR filer used a fake name for three months then filed declaration claiming it was in error.

Discretionary review filer: Matcha n More willfully misrepresented the project to avoid public scrutiny. Bad players should not be rewarded for misrepresenting the Planning Department.

Me: [staring in 64 public comments]

Secretary Ionin: the matter is before you, Commissioners. I'm going to get some ice cream.

Commission President Koppel supports Planning Dept's recommendation not to take the discretionary review. Commissioner Sue Diamond seconds.

Commissioner Kathrin Moore agrees, makes the motion.

Roll is being called. Commissioner Deland Chan asks for a pause to get ice cream. Everyone laughs [INCLUDING ME, BUT I'M ALSO MAD AND CRYING].

The motion to reject the discretionary review and approve Matcha n More passes unanimously, 7-0. This was...

[pregnant pause]

a cold decision.

It's been an hour and 15 minutes to get to this point, but the decision in this food fight has been rendered. Thank you for reading.

Wow, this thread is getting some response! I want to clarify one thing I said. The meeting agenda had 20 items. Ice cream wasn't discussed the WHOLE time.

Of course, there's something to be said for the politics which result in 9-hour commission meetings.

Based on the everyone's reactions to this thread, I've written another explaining some of the background behind this madness. Garden Creamery vs Matcha n' More is just the tip of the iceberg, folks.

https://twitter.com/_fruchtose/status/1271517264248860674