North Beach Hearing About Public Decency

KRON-TV news footage from March 25th 1965 featuring scenes from a public hearing in North Beach with San Francisco Mayor John Shelley and Chief of Police Thomas J. Cahill, who listen to a request from the Rev. Larry Byrne (1908-1987) to do something about the "situation" in North Beach, which is known for the topless bars and night clubs on Broadway. Cahill acknowledges these concerns but emphasizes how: "We have to enforce the laws but we cannot make illegal arrests." Byrne ran the Salesian Boys Club and was urged by Shelley to form a select committee to work with him and Chief Cahill, over the next 2-3 weeks. One month after this hearing the SFPD launched raids on North Beach topless bars, claiming they were in violation of US obscenity laws. A court case followed and Judge Leo R. Friedman found that the topless bars were not breaking obscenity laws in May. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.