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Dear Neighbor,
When I ran for this position, I campaigned on getting the basics of our city right – on delivering safe and clean streets because it’s what our neighbors deserve. In the past weeks, our office has fielded an increase in concerns around a drug market popping up in Jefferson Square Park.
I listen and take these concerns very seriously so I escalated this to the City’s Drug Market Agency Coordination Center, or DMACC. On Tuesday, I joined SFPD and DMACC to see firsthand what is happening at these open air drug market hotspots across the city. I also saw how DMACC’s interagency task force has led to cleaner streets in SOMA and in the Tenderloin. This is an exemplary team that includes members from across public safety, public health, and public works departments into one single task force for impactful results.
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However, limited staffing is hindering DMACC’s abilities to expand their impact. Once DMACC shifts end after midnight or on weekends, the dealers return. As a result, officers noted that what we’re seeing is the displacement of drug markets to other neighborhoods, including Jefferson Square Park and the Mission.
We must do more to prioritize addressing this drug crisis impacting the very fabric of our neighborhoods. That’s why I’ll be introducing a resolution urging for the implementation of a Drug Market Intervention (DMI) strategy to address our city’s fentanyl crisis at Tuesday’s board meeting. The resolution will urge the Board of Supervisors and Mayor to implement a 3-step model based on a Drug Market Intervention strategy — a framework of incapacitation, deterrence, and prevention of open air drug markets in partnership via contracting Professor of Criminal Justice David Kennedy, who pioneered the program and expanded its use during the Obama Administration to curb violent crime and drug trafficking nationwide.
Professor David Kennedy’s DMI strategy has worked in cities across the US and it’s time to bring his approach to San Francisco because you simply can’t put a price on the safety of our residents.
To close, I’d like to thank all the residents who engaged my office to elevate the situation at Jefferson Square Park – please continue to do so, we’re here to help.
In service, |
In the Heart of the Community
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On Friday, I joined Mayor Lurie and Public Works for a merchant walk down Lower Haight.
On our walk, we spoke to one business owner who told us it took 8 months and multiple permits to open his business, compared to in Denmark, where it took 1 permit in 3 months. Stories like these showcase why we need initiatives like Mayor Lurie’s PermitSF to make it easier for our vibrant small businesses to open shop.
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I visited Kinmon Gakuen this week, a historic Japanese language school that has been at the heart of Japantown for over a century.
The school has a long and storied history. It was formed at a time when school admittance was refused to children of Japanese ancestry. After operating for several decades, it was closed during WWII amidst the internment camps.
After the end of the war, it reopened and expanded its operations to become a cultural hub. The site has shown Japanese movies, and now hosts karate classes and continued educational services.
It is now going through a renovation project to revitalize the historic building which should begin construction later this year.
I'm honored to support Kinmon Gakuen's work, and ensure it continues to serve the community for years to come.
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This weekend I also had the honor of celebrating Korean Lunar New Year at the Korean Center. The center is a mix of past and present, merging history with technology to represent the Korean American community.
Congratulations to the Center and to Dr. Kim on his second tenure as President!
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I'd like to hear more from you! I'm starting a Community Coffee Chat series on the first Saturday of every month starting this upcoming March 1st from 10am-11am.
This is an opportunity to share your thoughts, ask questions, and discuss community issues in an informal setting directly with me. Sign up now to reserve your spot and engage in meaningful conversation about the future of our district.
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I would like to highlight a win for one of our neighbors, Susan. This week, Susan spotted an overflowing trash can and gave us a shout — and we rolled up our sleeves. Our office reached out to Public Works to get it cleaned up because no one likes a littered sidewalk! Big thanks to Public Works for jumping in — keeping our streets tidy is a team effort, and together, we’re making our neighborhoods shine.
Still waiting on a fix? Send us your 311 case number, and we’ll nudge the right folks. You can also submit requests through SF311 or download the SF311 mobile app here to report issues on the go!
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Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at MahmoodStaff@sfgov.org. We’re here to help!
Let’s work together to make District 5 a better place for all.
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