LionDanceMe announces to end Grant Avenue weekend street performances starting June after hosting 3rd annual Inter-League Dragon Dance Competition

(SAN FRANCISCO) As a result of the recent ruling by the San Francisco Board of Appeals, LionDanceMe announced the ending of its regular outdoor lion dance performances on Grant Avenue on all weekends in June.

Norman Lau, founder of LionDanceMe, announced his decision with his team members and supporters at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) Assembly Hall on April 20.

Before the conclusion of the street lion dance performances in June, Lau announced that the 3rd annual Inter-League Dragon Dance Competition would be held at the same venue, 700 block Grant Avenue in Chinatown, on May 11, Saturday afternoon. The award ceremony for the winning teams at the competition would be held on May 18, Saturday.

The final event hosted by LionDanceMe at the same venue would be the 2nd annual Youth Dance Revolution on May 25, Saturday.

The 700 block Grant Avenue has been a performance and practicing stage for LionDanceMe team members, who are mostly the students from K-12 schools, on all Saturdays and Sundays since the pandemic in 2020.

LionDanceMe also was granted annual yearlong permits from both the Entertainment Commission and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to close three blocks of Grant Avenue, 700, 800, and 900 blocks, for parking and vehicular traffic on both days of all weekends from 10am to 7pm.

During the past three year prior to submitting the permit applications, LionDanceMe did not reach out to the merchants and neighbors about the street closure, according to the merchants who filed a joint appeal against the permits on March 19, 2024.

Merchants only learnt about the street closure permits in early March this year when they witnessed vehicles being towed by SFMTA for parking along the Grant Avenue under the newly-installed street signs which said no parking on all Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 7pm (for lion dance performances) and on all second Fridays each month from 3pm to 10pm (for Chinatown Night Market).

Merchants filed the joint appeal to the City's Board of Appeals on March 19 based on the long lasting noise pollution and street closure which were harmful to the merchants and residents in Chinatown.

The Board of Appeals heard the arguments from both sides on April 17 and ruled after a 4-hour public hearing to grant the appeal from the merchants and amended the permit, which was issued by the Entertainment Commission, for limiting lion dance performances on Saturday afternoons only on 700 block Grant Avenue until June 30, 2024. The SFMTA street closure permit is still valid due to the expired deadline for appealing.

"It's important to note that the Shared Space Street Closure permit remains valid until March 2025," Lau said at the CCBA press event. "However, regarding our next steps, the committee proposes a collaborative approach within the Chinatown community to collectively identify and address our community's needs."

"I sincerely thank everyone for their attention, especially the students and supporters who participated in the hearing process. The input of merchants is valuable, as it allows us to consider various perspectives and find solutions," Lau added.

"We apologize to businesses and residents affected by shared space closures," Lau said. "Our aim is to bring positive effects to businesses, promote tourism, and provide opportunities for youth in Chinatown. They are the future protectors of Chinatown and its rich history."

Lau launched the first high school lion dance competition three years ago to celebrate Asian Heritage Month at Grant Avenue. He said the tradition would continue this year on May 11. The winning team would be announced on May 18.

"This year presents a unique opportunity as it may be our final chance to showcase our cultural richness on Grant Ave. We warmly invite all of you to join us in celebrating AAPI month. Please come together to honor our heritage and create unforgettable memories," said Lau.

In addition to the lion dance, Lau said his team would showcase dragon dancing during the month of May, since it is the year of the dragon in 2024. A total of 7 teams from SF public schools, Balboa, Burton, Galileo, Lincoln, Lowell Wallenberg and Washington, will participate in the 3rd annual lion dance competition.

In regards to the SFMTA yearlong street closure permit on Grant Avenue, SFMTA spokeswoman Erica Kato responded to Wind Newspaper and wrote, "The Entertainment Commission permit, which was brought before the Board of Appeals, only governs public entertainment and amplified sound. That permit is now valid only for reduced hours/frequency and a shorter duration than originally approved."

"The decision by the Board of Appeals does not affect the permit issued by ISCOTT (street closure permits are approved by an inter-departmental committee, not by SFMTA, though SFMTA administers the program on behalf of that committee). Activities that are not governed by Entertainment Commission permitting are still permissible under the terms of the ISCOTT permit. Norman Lau did indicate that he was going to request a reduction in that permit," Kato stated.