Hisashi Sugaya Apologizes for Suggestion Grocery Store Sell Crack

No joke in the Tenderloin

​Last week, we reported about another instance in which Planning Commissioner Hisashi "Bill" Sugaya shoved his foot in his mouth in a desperate attempt to be funny. Instead of drawing chuckles, Sugaya was hissed after he made a remark, suggesting a Tenderloin market "should just sell drugs."

Sugaya is quickly learning something others already knew -- his sense of humor leaves much to be desired. After Supervisor Jane Kim, who represents the Tenderloin, heard about the comment, she went straight over to Sugaya to give him a lecture on sensitivity. Seeing how he had riled up the residents, Sugaya publicly apologized to the entire Tenderloin community during the Planning Commission meeting this afternoon.

"I am very, very sorry," Sugaya said. "I truly apologize."

Sugaya offered some insight as to why he made the comment. On Jan. 20, the commission was holding a hearing to consider allowing Tip Top Market on Turk Street to sell beer and wine on a limited basis. One by one, community members stepped up to the podium saying they did not want to have one more liquor store in a neighborhood that's a breeding ground for crime. Commissioners listened to lengthy testimony before making their own comments. When it was Sugaya's turn to talk, he blurted out: "Maybe he could just sell drugs or something."

Sugaya said he was just riffing off a comment another commissioner had made when she suggested the market owners could find something else to sell as a way to make money --  like clothes. Seeing that clothes probably wouldn't be a big money-maker in the Tenderloin, Sugaya nonchalantly suggested drug peddling as a profitable business for that area.

It hit a real nerve with Tenderloin residents, especially the hardcore activists who have been working to turn the Tenderloin around.

So are they going to accept Sugaya's sincere apology? Jeff Buckley, executive director for the Central City SRO Collaborative, said they will under one condition -- the commissioner must take a tour of the neighborhood to see for himself that the Tenderloin is more than the fodder for misdirected humor.

"I told him we would accept his apology if he comes and sees how liquor stores impact the community," Buckley said.

Sugaya's walk of shame. Now that's funny.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly