Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Chair of California’s Downtown Recovery Committee, hosts international leaders in nightlife, culture, and tourism to highlight the nightlife economy’s impact on downtown recovery.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D–San Francisco), Chair of the Downtown Recovery Committee, convened global leaders in nightlife, culture, tourism, and economic development to launch the first coordinated statewide effort to revitalize California’s nighttime economy.
For the first time in state history, lawmakers are developing a comprehensive strategy to restore economic activity after dark as a pathway to downtown recovery. While cities around the world have adopted formal night-time strategies, California has never mounted a unified statewide approach.
“Downtowns don’t come back by accident, they come back with intention,” said Haney. “Cities around the world are investing in nightlife, music and entertainment because it works. When we activate our streets when the sun goes down, we bring people back, create jobs and culture, and rebuild community. California cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.”
Haney has introduced legislation to support the effort. AB 342 (Hospitality Zones) would allow local governments to opt into a pilot program extending “last call” to 4 A.M. on select nights. AB 1720 (California Fans First Act) would cap ticket resale prices at 10% above face value to support independent venues and ensure fans can access live entertainment.
The effort comes as California faces new economic headwinds. The state is forecast to see its first year-over-year decline in visitors since the pandemic, with total visits down 0.7 percent in 2025. International visits — historically among the highest-spending travelers — are projected to drop 9.2 percent, alongside a 4.3 percent decline in international visitor spending. Downtowns statewide continue to struggle with vacancies and reduced foot traffic.
Cities such as New York City, where nightlife contributes roughly $35 billion annually and supports 300,000 jobs, and London, which sustains more than two million night-time jobs, have made nightlife central to post-pandemic recovery. In Seoul, city-backed night markets and cultural programming have fueled economic revival. Globally, 97 percent of cities support night-time initiatives and 59 percent have adopted dedicated strategies.
Here’s what the experts said during the hearing:
“No single policy measure can change the trajectory of the nightlife economy — we need an ecosystem of policies,” said Sam Mathys, Senior Policy Officer at the Greater London Authority. “Well-regulated nightlife can actually decrease crime rates and increase workforce development all while bringing vibrancy and economic returns to localities.”
“Nightlife is a vital part of a thriving city. As we all navigate a post-pandemic reality, a healthy nightlife ecosystem is necessary to ensure cities and states can be revived,” said Ben VanHouten, Director of Nightlife Initiatives for the City and County of San Francisco. “We need this coordinated effort from the state to bring cities together on a path toward full recovery.”
“The nightlife economy is not just peripheral to the tourism industry, it is central to it,” said Emellia Zamani, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy at CalTravel. “If we want to continue attracting global events, we have to examine whether our policies are supporting international visitors.”
“If you want to be a 24 hour hub, you need to have a nighttime economy strategy. The competition between cities is now about their nighttime vitality and opportunity,” said Raheem Manning, Senior Director of the Philadelphia Nighttime Economy Unit. “People are choosing where to work, live, visit and do business based on where they’re going to enjoy living.”
The convening marks the first formal step toward building a statewide framework that treats nightlife as a core economic driver.
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