Photos After 2 months, no clear rhyme or reason to 16th St. alley clean-ups

San Francisco police deployed a mobile command unit to the 16th Street BART plaza two months ago to combat drug-related issues. While residents report cleaner conditions in the plaza, drug activity in nearby alleyways remains a concern. Locals, including business owners and bus drivers, describe unpredictable patterns of drug use, with one stating, “It’s hell every single hour of every single day. ” Mornings are generally quieter, but afternoons see increased crowds. Police have periodically cleared the alley, yet users return shortly after.

Two months of observations show that the alley can be empty one hour and crowded the next. Mayor Daniel Lurie’s initiative aims to reduce drug dealing and usage in the area, but the results remain inconsistent. Continued monitoring will be essential to assess the long-term effectiveness of these efforts.