Day 124 at the 16th St. Plaza East side of Mission St. resists change

For the second consecutive weekend, the San Francisco Department of Public Works and the police maintained a clear west side of Mission Street, aided by the outreach team Ahsing. On Sunday, the team successfully picked up trash and encouraged vendors to vacate the area. However, as cleaning crews departed, unpermitted vending and open drug use took over the northeast plaza and the east side of Mission Street, demonstrating the challenges of sustained enforcement. Police made an arrest on Caledonia Street Saturday morning, indicating ongoing law enforcement involvement in the area. Earlier, the presence of BART trucks and cleaning crews contributed to a temporary calm, but their absence allowed disorder to resurface.

The situation reveals the complexity of managing public spaces and the need for continued efforts to address these challenges. Local stakeholders are likely to remain vigilant as the city grapples with maintaining safety and cleanliness in the area. The ongoing conflict between enforcement and community activities highlights the need for effective long-term solutions.