Violent Chess Players Kicked Out of San Fran

From e San Fran Chronicle: It may finally be “checkmate” for the chess players of Market Street.
For more than 30 years, chess games have been a staple in the Mid-Market neighborhood. But earlier this month, the San Francisco Police Department confiscated the playing equipment, chairs and tables where dozens of people, mostly homeless, would gather every day to play between Fifth and Sixth streets.
Police said regular chess players aren’t the problem. They said the area has become a hotbed for illegal gambling and drug use.
“It’s turned into a big public nuisance,” said Capt. Michael Redmond, contending complaints from nearby businesses and arrests for sale and possession of narcotics have increased over the past six months. “I think maybe it’s a disguise for some other things that are going on.”  http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2013/09/17/police-shut-down-chess-games-on-market-street/
Typical liberal response, just like gun control.  Instead of going after the criminals, the cops go after the innocent chess players and then confiscate their games.  Why?  Were they fully automatic chess games with cop killing chess pieces?