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Addressing the Fencing Crisis in the Mission
While I wish the law allowed us to move faster, we have made great strides to enact and implement the new street vendor law to finally bring order to Mission Street. The new program, which will require vendors to show proof of ownership of goods or face confiscation, will go into effect on June 16th and be managed by Public Works with the support of SFPD, BART, and Calle 24 Cultural District staff. We are in the process of coordinating, creating infrastructure, and getting additional resources to the three City departments and the community organization to successfully enforce the law.
Prior to the June 16th start day, I have talked to Captain McEachearn who will instruct Mission Station officers to enforce existing laws like nuisance and sidewalk obstruction in order to improve the out of control situation at the 24th Street BART Station and on Mission Street. In addition, the Police and District Attorney are working to address the larger criminal enterprise fueling the illegal markets.
While we build the infrastructure to fully implement the vendor law, staff from the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District is outreaching to vendors so no one is caught off guard that they will have their goods confiscated if they cannot prove ownership. Calle 24 staff is also helping vendors who do own their products get a permit to sell and set up an orderly, clean, non-obstructive marketplaces under the “Calle Limpia, Corazon Contenta” program (Clean Streets, Happy Heart Program). This program includes the implementation of the vendor law but also includes regular street clean-ups and neighborhood beautification projects and officially launches May 17th! Stay tuned on ways to get involved in making the Mission clean and even more beautiful.
Street vending artisan and used goods has a long history in the Mission that not only adds to the character of the District but also allows low-income residents to earn a living. The fencing operation has destroyed this rich culture and history and long time street vendors are as anxious as brick and mortar business owners and Mission residents to see an end to the current chaotic and dangerous street conditions.
Finally, BART has agreed to mimic our new vendor law on its property as well as work with Calle 24 to permit vendors at the BART Plazas.
I know your patience is wearing thin as is mine. We finally have firm dates when enforcement will begin and we will finally see an end to the fencing crisis on the Streets of the Mission.
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Photo above: Calle 24 vendor orientation: where vendors are educated on the new law and explained the new standards and expectations to sell only legally acquired good and maintain a clean and orderly operation. Photo Credit: Calle 24
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These are photos of illegal vending and conditions at the BART plaza on 24th Street. This is what we intend to put an end to: the illegal market of stolen goods.
If the people selling these items can't show proof of ownership or authorization they will be confiscated. Accessible permits will be granted to those who have legitimately acquired goods.
Photo credit: Santiago Lerma |
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Legislation to prevent SFPD from storing and using Victim DNA for criminal investigative purposes passes unanimously!
Last week the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed legislation that prohibits the SFPD Crime Lab from storing any victim DNA for criminal investigation purposes in their databases. It came as a shock to most of us to learn that DNA from a rape kit taken 6 years ago was used against a victim in a robbery case. This legislation will protect victim rights and ensure this never happens again. Thank you to District Attorney Chesa Boudin for bringing this issue to light, my team for working diligently to get this legislation together, and the Board for supporting this legislation.
To read a recent Chronicle article on this issue, go here.
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Join us in conversation...
Equitable Local Government Repayment Programs
I will be co-hosting a panel discussion alongside Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez with Phaedra Ellis Lamkins and Mayor Michael Tubbs, focused on devising local government repayment programs that work for all members of the community, particularly low-income individuals.
Historically, local government agencies have faced challenges getting fee and service payments from low-income individuals. Each year approximately 20% of transportation debt, such as parking and traffic fines, goes uncollected. Utilities face even greater challenges, typically 50-80% of their customers are unable to meet a traditional payment plan. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the income divide in the Bay Area and highlighted the self-perpetuating and penal nature of fines and fees. This situation has prompted many public leaders to investigate new solutions to promote affordable repayment options. Our conversation on April 29th aims to explore how municipalities, transportation agencies, and other governmental entities can effectively, equitably, and compassionately expand repayment and increase agency revenue recovery. Join me on April 29th to learn more about scalable payment solutions to address government debt.
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S.F. police responding to fewer mental-health calls, but officials call for quicker action
“We all agree police should not be the primary first responders to incidents of people experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder or just not having a place to live,” she said. “We’re investing so much time, money and energy. By this time next year, we’ve got to see movement…. "'
Link to article here.
SFPD rate of solving crimes — already well below national average — gets worse
A February letter of inquiry from District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen to Police Chief Bill Scott was extensively discussed at the meeting. That letter expressed concerns that a “political rift” between the SFPD and the DA’s office was “causing a deliberate work stoppage” by the police.
“It is absolutely unacceptable for police officers to just stop doing their jobs because they don’t like the way another department is doing its job,” Ronen wrote. “It is time to stop using the district attorney as a scapegoat for broken morale in your department and start taking responsibility to solve the difficult problems in our City under your jurisdiction.”
Link to article here.
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| Photo: carnivalstudios.com |
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"We will not fix homelessness until the federal government believes that housing is a human right," Ronen said. "Hopefully we will not need [a program like] this in the future, but right now we do."
Link to article here.
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In January, I held a hearing on PG&E’s ongoing delays and obstruction with our City’s projects and access to clean power. PG&E executives attended and provided testimony on delays and increased costs affecting 68 City projects, from public housing to water facilities, that have not been able to access clean Hetch Hetchy power due to PG&E obstructing access to the electric grid. My office, in coordination with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, is continuing to monitor progress. For more information, go here. To read the article, go here.
The Board unanimously passed a Resolution on April 19th that I introduced Requesting Federal and State Funding Level Increases for Special Education to fulfill their obligations to local school districts for special education funding. See the full resolution here, article here.
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"The government has starved local districts,” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who called for the report and hearing at the Youth, Young Adult and Families Committee. “It’s just wrong, and it impacts the entire district, every kid and teacher.
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We want to thank Arthur Koch for beautifying our City Hall office with his paintings and photograph featuring the people and neighborhoods of District 9. We co-hosted the opening of this extensive exhibit on April 4th.
This exhibit will be on display through the summer. Please come by the office to check it out: Room 279, City Hall. Contact: ronenstaff@sfgov.org to find out open office hours.
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Pictured above: Artist Arthur Koch in the D9 City hall office, April 4, 2022.
If you are a local artist from District 9 and are interested in applying for our D9 City Hall Art Exhibition program, contact: jennifer.ferrigno@sfgov.org
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