Day 73 of the 16th St. Plaza crackdown: ‘Es un cagadero todas las noches’ (It’s a shitshow every night)

Today marks 74 days of San Francisco Police mobile command unit’s presence on the 16th and Mission Plaza. Yesterday, Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a new power-washing initiative in the MIssion.

But Mission locals are apprehensive about the new $3 million dollar project.

“He can say whatever, but I want to see action,” said a man working the counter at The Sandwich Place on 2029 Mission Street. The man who identified himself as the “Sandwich Man”, said he wants the city to come everyday and wash the streets. “We need to have clean and safe streets,” he said.

“It’s a shit show every night. Every night they come and shit right in front of my house,” said a frustrated resident of Julian Avenue in Spanish who wanted to remain anonymous. The man was cleaning his driveway with a leaf blower, and said he’s lived on Julian Avenue for the last 30 years. When asked about the mayor’s new street cleaning initiative, he responded “I’ve been to meetings with the mayor, he’s even stood right here.” The man pointed to the sidewalk on Julian Avenue “And nothing has changed,” he said. The resident said things have gotten a lot worse on Julian Avenue. He believes the police and the city need to find a permanent solution. “The police will come and the people move, but they always come back,” said the Julian Avenue resident.

“I’d like to see the police be more proactive”, said a man who went by Will on 18th and Mission streets. “They know who the “bad guys” are and they choose to do nothing about it.” Will said mobile command has very much improved the situation in the 16th and Mission area. “Before there were alot of crimes, gangs, and murders going on,” said Will. He believes more undercover police officers would improve the area even more.

On Capp Street the police held a man in handcuffs on the hood of an SFPD unit. Two officers one in the car and another placing objects into a manilla folder were on the scene. The sidewalk of Capp Street was littered with debris, and a dumpster overflowed with garbage. An abandoned wheelchair was stationary and a stained white thin blanket lay on the ground.

Weise street was empty and clean today. There were no people standing outside the Kailash Hotel. A couple of people made their way in and out of the Gubbio Project on 15th and Julian Streets. At Caledonia Street a large truck blocked the east side of the street. A group of people on the other side huddled around, a couple bicycles on the ground, one man held a small glass bong. “Make sure we’re not in the picture,” a woman asked.