Day 82 at the 16th St. Plaza Pipes, vending, and overt drug use

The northeast plaza at BART has become a site of open drug use and encampments, starkly contrasting the cleaner southwest plaza where a mobile police unit operates. Mayor Daniel Lurie's cleanup efforts have focused on the southwest, leaving the northeast largely unmonitored despite rising concerns. Local storekeepers observe more police presence but express doubts about its effectiveness, noting that drug activity resumes quickly after officers depart. The mobile unit stationed in the southwest plaza has limited engagement with the northeast, which is complicated by the presence of an abandoned Walgreens. By noon, vending activity picks up but is dominated by potentially stolen goods.

As evening approaches, the atmosphere shifts to one marked by drug use, with many individuals visibly impaired. This situation raises urgent questions about the city’s strategy to manage public safety and drug-related issues. The ongoing crisis reflects broader challenges in urban management and community well-being.