A police car with flashing lights and a mobile command vehicle are parked in a city plaza near buildings and street art.
5:53 a.m. 5/31 southwest plaza, Photo by Lydia Chávez

For many weeks now, it’s been clear that the southwest 16th Street BART plaza, where the San Francisco Police Department has parked a mobile unit, is close to pristine. The northeast plaza, however, sits worlds away. The nook at the north entrance of BART is basically an encampment without tents.  

Often, the men and women there are using drugs, pipes out. Others are just hanging out or slumped over. At 6 a.m today, it appeared that many had been there all night. 

When I asked a man wearing a black Pismo Beach hoodie if he had slept there, he said, “This is where we are,” and punctured the bottom of a cannister that then spewed what appeared to be nitrous oxide. He declined to say. 

He sat in a circle of three men, two with glass pipes. Another man behind the circle stretched out his arms as if he was just waking up, and then bent over and vomited into a decorative planter. It’s no surprise that fewer transit riders appear to enter BART from the northeast side.

No pictures, the man in the Pismo hoodie said. Unless, of course, I wanted to offer some money. 

It’s been 81 days since Mayor Daniel Lurie made 16th and Mission streets ground zero for his efforts to clean up the city, and readers are correct in wondering what the strategy is here.

Essentially, the city has gained control over the one plaza, where it has parked an RV-sized mobile unit with flashing lights. From the start, that was the least problematic plaza, simply because the businesses around it remain open. 

The officer working at the mobile unit on the southwest plaza slid open his window to talk this morning. He’d been there since 9 p.m. Officers, he said, do visit the northeast plaza, but those inside the unit have to remain in the unit. 

In three visits to the plazas and side streets today, I saw one police car driving down Wiese Street and another (empty) police car parked near the mobile unit. No uniformed police were on patrol. But storekeepers who are there daily say they see more of a police presence. They’re unsure it is working. Once the officers leave, the activity resumes, they said.  

The northeast plaza was always going to be more of a problem because of the abandoned Walgreens that runs along the north and eastern sides of the plaza. Could the mobile unit do more good there? 

Vending starts slow, picks up at noon and, by 6 p.m., it’s mostly about drugs

At 6 a.m. today, one young man with pinkish hair said he had just gotten off a bus to sell two items on the east side of Mission Street. One of the items was a packaged brush. Otherwise, there was little going on. 

When I returned at noon, more than three dozen vendors packed the west side of Mission street. They sold everything from packaged chicken to batteries and cauliflower; they covered the sidewalk from 16th Street, across 15th Street, and all the way to the entrance mid-block of a flea market run by Arriba Juntos.

A few pupusa stands gave Mission Street the feeling of a legitimate market, but the random nature of the goods made it more likely that they were stolen, picked up at food banks or maybe scavenged from elsewhere. Inside the permitted market run by Arriba Juntos, everything seemed orderly and less frantic than the street.  

The east side of Mission Street remained fairly quiet at noon. Gustavo, who works at Medithrive, said the vendors switch sides without any apparent reason, and the vending can go on all night. Mark, who works next door at  a liquor store, said that when he leaves at 2 a.m., vendors are still there.

When I returned at 6 p.m., it quickly became clear that there was more activity. Julian Avenue and Wiese Street were fuller. I turned north at Mission Street to walk through the vendors again, but most had picked up and left.

Still, the place was buzzing. This time with misery. It seemed like every fourth or fifth person had a glass pipe out, a few smoked openly (no, they did not want their photographs taken). Some slumped over. Trash from the earlier vending abounded. The pupusa stands were long gone. 

I again knocked on the door of the mobile command unit. The officers there are friendly and helpful. I asked about their strategy. The officer paused, explained that they do confiscate drug paraphernalia and write citations, but the users are just back out again. Then, the officer suggested I talk to the captain.  We will try to do that this week. 

I stopped in to see Adam Manson, the owner of the Big Finish wine tavern, who hosted the first 16th Street Alliance meeting with Mayor Daniel Lurie back in mid-March. He remains positive about the mayor, but says the city doesn’t seem to be “treating the problem holistically” and instead putting out fires here and there: “There’s just no consistency.” 

Visits at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.

The northeast plaza and east side of Mission Street

  • Urban plaza with scattered pigeons, a few people, palm trees, street art on building walls, and empty benches on a mostly deserted city street.
    5:55 a.m. 5/31 northeast plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Urban street scene with several people, some sitting or standing near graffiti-covered walls and trash cans, and one person walking with a cane on a paved area.
    5:55 a.m. 5/31 northeast plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People walk through a sunny urban plaza with palm trees, a food cart, murals, and market stalls in the background.
    11:55 a.m. 5/31 northeast plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A person walks across a plaza while a group of people gather near a fenced area with graffiti and a wheelchair in the background.
    11:55 a.m. 5/31 northeast plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People walk along a sunlit urban sidewalk lined with buildings, graffiti, and palm trees; some individuals stand or sit by the wall with bags and belongings.
    11:55 a.m. 5/31 northeast plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A group of people sit and lie on a city sidewalk surrounded by litter, with graffiti-covered walls and metal fencing in the background.
    6:12 p.m. 5/31 northeast plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city sidewalk with scattered litter, a painted mural on the left wall, and a few people walking in the distance next to parked cars.
    6:12 p.m. 5/31, east side of Mission Street, Photo by Lydia Chá

The southwest plaza and west side of Mission Street

  • A city street intersection with a patterned crosswalk, a street cleaning vehicle, and people waiting at a bus shelter in an urban area with colorful buildings.
    5:53 a.m. 5/31 southwest plaza, Photo by Lydia Chávez
  • A city sidewalk with scattered litter, a person standing beside belongings near a building, and graffiti visible in the background.
    6:02 a.m., 5/31 west side of Mission Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city street scene with pedestrians walking, a parked white truck, string lights overhead, and buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
    11:54 a.m. 5/31 southwest 16h Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Assorted packaged food items, drinks, and toiletries displayed on a blue tarp on the ground, with bras and other items on a separate cloth to the right.
    11:59 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street, north of the plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People browse various items, including food, toiletries, and clothes, laid out on blankets and tarps for sale on a city sidewalk.
    11:58 a.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street near 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A pile of assorted personal belongings, clothing, tools, plastic bags, and miscellaneous items scattered on a sidewalk.
    12:01 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the 16h Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Bottles of cleaning products and plastic tumblers are displayed on the sidewalk, surrounded by litter and people's feet.
    12:01 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street, north of the 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A group of people gather on a sunny city sidewalk, some with belongings or blankets, and others standing or conversing near a building.
    12:02 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Two women prepare food behind a table covered with large bowls under a canopy at a busy outdoor market while people sit and eat nearby.
    12:02 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People browse items for sale laid out on blankets and in suitcases on a city sidewalk, next to market stalls and palm trees.
    12:03 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the plaza
  • People sit, stand, and gather along a city sidewalk on a sunny day, with buildings, parked cars, and a bus visible in the background.
    12:03 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Outdoor market with vendor tents on a sunny day; people are sitting and shopping along a sidewalk beside modern buildings.
    12:03 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A woman cooks food on a griddle covered with foil on a busy sidewalk as people walk by, and a man with a green jacket stands with a bicycle.
    12:05 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the plaza
  • A person sits on a stool outside with bags and containers filled with groceries, including jars, bottles of oil, and packaged goods, arranged on patterned mats.
    12:05 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street north of the 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People walk through an outdoor market with vendor tents selling clothes and other goods on a sunny day, with colorful murals on the building walls.
    12:05 p.m.. 5/31, entrance to Arriba Juntos market. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People line up on a city sidewalk next to a street, with some sitting and others standing; various items are placed on the ground nearby.
    6:04 p.m. 5/31, west side of Mission Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A busy urban sidewalk with several people standing and scattered litter on the ground. One person in a blue hoodie is leaning over a bicycle.
    6:07 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People are sitting and lying on a littered sidewalk next to a building; part of a wheelchair and stroller are visible in the foreground.
    6:07 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Litter, cardboard boxes, and plastic packaging scattered on a city sidewalk paved with blue and red tiles; several people’s legs visible in the frame.
    6:07 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A red road bicycle with missing wheels lies on the sidewalk near two people standing, one barefoot, and one holding a phone.
    6:07 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People standing and sitting on a littered city sidewalk beside a yellow wall; various items, bags, and scattered trash are visible on the ground.
    6:07 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Two people sit and stand on a sidewalk with scattered items, including coloring books, paper, and bags, next to tiled pavement.
    6:07 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city plaza with people sitting on benches, a police SUV parked nearby, colorful murals on a building, and a bus on the right, under a clear blue sky.
    6:18 p.m. 5/31, southwest 16th Street BART Plaza. Photo by Lydia Chávez.

Caledonia Street

  • A man in dark clothing stands on the left side of an empty urban alley with colorful graffiti murals on a fence to the right.
    5:51 a.m. Caledonia Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A narrow urban alleyway with graffiti-covered walls on the right, beige building on the left, and a clear blue sky overhead.
    11:51 a.m. 5/31 Caledonia Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A narrow urban alleyway with graffiti-covered walls, a sidewalk, and a distant person walking away under a clear sky.
    6:02 p.m. 5/31, Caledonia Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.

Julian Avenue

  • A city street with parked cars on the right, several people near a building on the left, and multi-story buildings lining both sides.
    5:52 a.m. 5/31, west side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A sidewalk lined with trees and parked cars, with a green electric scooter and a person pushing a stroller in the distance.
    6:14 a.m. 5/31 west side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • People are sitting and sorting belongings on a city sidewalk near parked cars, with buildings and a hotel visible in the background.
    6:12 a.m. 5/31, east side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city sidewalk runs alongside a row of parked cars and multi-story buildings on a sunny day, with shadows cast on the ground.
    11:52 a.m. 5/31, west side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city sidewalk with parked cars, pedestrians, and a storefront in daylight; a blue glove and some litter are visible on the ground.
    11:52 a.m. 5/31, east side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city sidewalk with people standing and walking, cars parked along the street, and residential buildings in the background on a clear day.
    6:03 p.m. 5/31, west side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A city sidewalk with parked cars on the left and buildings on the right; one person is sitting alone near the end of the block.
    6:03 p.m. 5/31, east side of Julian Avenue. Photo by Lydia Chávez.

Wiese Street

  • Narrow urban alleyway with metal barricades on both sides, graffiti on walls, litter scattered on the ground, and buildings in the background.
    5:52 a.m. 5/31 Wiese Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Two people stand and talk in a narrow alley lined with yellow and gray buildings, metal barricades, and graffiti, under bright sunlight.
    11:52 a.m. 5/31, Weise Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Street view with parked cars, a pink building with restaurant signage, yellow and red buildings, and a crosswalk under bright daylight.
    12:20 p.m. 5/31, Wiese Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A narrow urban alley lined with metal barricades and graffiti, people standing along the sides, with closed storefronts and a crosswalk in the foreground.
    6:03 p.m. 5/31, Wiese Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • A narrow urban alley with metal barricades, people walking and sitting along the sides, and litter scattered on the ground near a closed restaurant.
    6:04 p.m. 5/31, Wiese Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.

Capp Street

  • A man with a backpack waits at a crosswalk on 16th Street; the traffic light is red and cars are parked along the street.
    5:57 a.m. 5/31 Capp Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Intersection with traffic lights, cars waiting, pedestrians crossing, and buildings with murals and signs on a sunny day.
    12:17 p.m. 5/31, Capp Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Intersection with yellow crosswalk lines, cars stopped at a red light, and buildings lining both sides of the street under a clear sky.
    6:16 p.m. 5/31, Capp Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.
  • Two cars are parked across a crosswalk at an intersection in an urban area, blocking pedestrian access. The traffic light is red, and the street is mostly empty.
    6:16 p.m. 5/31, Capp Street. Photo by Lydia Chávez.

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Founder/Executive Editor. I’ve been a Mission resident since 1998 and a professor emeritus at Berkeley’s J-school since 2019. I got my start in newspapers at the Albuquerque Tribune in the city where I was born and raised. Like many local news outlets, The Tribune no longer exists. I left daily newspapers after working at The New York Times for the business, foreign and city desks. Lucky for all of us, it is still here.

As an old friend once pointed out, local has long been in my bones. My Master’s Project at Columbia, later published in New York Magazine, was on New York City’s experiment in community boards.

At ML, I've been trying to figure out how to make my interest in local news sustainable. If Mission Local is a model, the answer might be that you - the readers - reward steady and smart content. As a thank you for that support we work every day to make our content even better.

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2 Comments

  1. Just a few days ago, I was at the Northeastern plaza at the 16th BART station and I saw several people doing drugs with pipes and tinfoil. There was a cop car parked just a couple of feet away. The two cops inside were scrolling on their phones. I knocked on the window and told them there people doing drugs just a few feet away. They said they’re going to wait for homeless outreach to come by and rolled up their windows. Why can’t they get out of their cars and enforce the laws that are currently in place? If the public doesn’t agree with the laws in place, okay let’s change them, but it’s still their jobs to enforce the laws that have been put in place for a reason. They’re letting folks do drugs right around an elementary school and on top of a bus stop and BART entrance. SFPD please do better!

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  2. Put a Feinstein era Police Koban at the BART stops like Mayor Feinstein did.

    Gangs shot em up (no cops hit) and SFPOA engineered abandoning them to Walter Wong’s back yard.

    24/7/365

    I actually drew out a Foot Patrol Route and Schedule for 3 officers working out of the Koban and presented it to the Police Commission to blank stares …
    I get that alot.

    go Niners !!

    h.

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