While multiple city agencies concentrate resources at and around the 16th Street BART plazas to address drug dealing and poor street conditions, merchants close to the plazas at 24th Street say they need help; illegal vending there is booming.
The city’s temporary vending ban on Mission Street, which will likely be extended, has failed to work, they said.
Instead of abandoning vending, the unpermitted vendors simply plan their hours to coincide with the absence of Public Works employees and police officers near the BART plazas. That means vending hours are as regular as a brick-and-mortar store: 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and after 10 p.m. On weekends, hours are unlimited.
Like clockwork on Wednesday, a couple of dozen vendors started to arrive at the 24th Street BART plaza as noon approached. Carrying large suitcases, duffle bags and full backpacks, they were easy to spot and chatted casually among themselves while they waited for opening time.
Sure enough, a few minutes before noon, police officers and Public Works employees left the BART plaza and, in less than a minute, suitcases, duffle bags and backpacks reopened for business. Suddenly, the sidewalk filled with their wares: Toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, coffee, nail clippers, socks, shoes, pants, frozen shrimp, bacon, glasses, hats and salmon.
“I’ll take $5 for the 2-pack of deodorant,” said a vendor in her mid-thirties. “$5 for the large Head and Shoulders, too … It’s good to cure dandruff.”
“They bring the product, and we buy it from them,” said the vendor about her suppliers. “We don’t know if it’s stolen or not.”
“I don’t fuck with Mission Local,” said another nearby vendor selling frozen shrimp, bacon and salmon. No, he did not want to talk to a reporter, he said as he counted a stack of bills at least two-inches thick.
Within 15 minutes, the two dozen vendors stretched along Mission Street from 24th Street to the entrance of El Farolito Bar.
“It’s always gonna be a cat-and-mouse game. I see it all day,” said Nancy Sanchez, who has worked at Silver Stone Coffee at the edge of the northeast BART Plaza on 24th Street for five years.
“Give the cops their authority back,” she said in reference to Senate Bill 276, which is slowly moving its way through Sacramento and would allow police to cite illegal vendors. In the meantime, “Park one here,” she said, referring to the police Mobile Command Unit parked at the 16th Street BART Plaza for more than two months.
A 2018 state law decriminalized vending in California, meaning that police cannot cite vendors. In San Francisco, Public Works employees are in charge of enforcement. But the workers, the Vendors Association and others have made it clear that they want police back in charge.
Sanchez said the illegal fencing and poor street conditions hurt business. “It takes money from us,” she said.
Across the street from the northeast 24th Street BART Plaza, at 2790 Mission St., where a warren of shops do business, Angelica Quiroz and Mirna Hernandez sat at a table in the back, having coffee.
“I’d say they should not only take those who are selling, but also those who are buying as well,” said Quiroz. “They see the police as their little toys … the cops have to demand respect.”
Hernandez took a sip of her coffee and jumped in.
“I almost fell the other day, because one of the vendors packed everything so quickly when they saw [Public Works and police officers coming], that the suitcase almost hit me.”
Manuel Vargas, who works printing shirts at a small booth inside 2790 Mission St., said the illegal fencing has also affected his business. Customers don’t want to come, he said.
“This last holiday [Memorial Day] they were there all day,” said Vargas, referring to the unpermitted vendors. “Why can’t the cops just park a bus here, too?”
Meanwhile, outside and across the street, the vendors who had arrived at noon continued to sell their wares.
“I’ve only sold $5 today,” said a woman who was trying to unload deodorant, Advil, and toothpaste in front of El Farolito. “I get depressed. I have a disability and I can’t work … but I gotta pay rent. It’s a sad story.”
The woman said she arrives at the BART plaza at 7 a.m., seven days a week, and sells until city employees arrive a couple of hours later. She then returns close to noon for a second shift, and stays until 1 p.m.
Nearby, Alicia Salazar sold hair ties, lip balm, rosaries and portable fans. She sometimes arrives at 5 a.m.
“The cops have taken my stuff three times already,” she said as she unpacked her cart. “You see. It’s all used clothes and accessories my family and friends give me, so I can work and survive.”
Salazar said she’s tired of judgmental looks and assumptions, of packing and unpacking. Mostly, she added, of not being treated with dignity and respect by police.
“More people have come to 24th Street since everything went down at 16th, a lot of them are not even from here. They come from Oakland.” said Salazar about her competition.
As she spoke, a fellow vendor wandered by holding a can of deodorant up in the air and addressed Salazar and another vendor.
“Give me $1 for it, mama,” he asked.
They shrugged the vendor off and he continued on.
“See, sometimes they don’t like it if you don’t buy their stuff,” Salazar says. “People here have stolen my merchandise.”
Shortly after, a man rushed past Salazar with a large suitcase.
“They’re coming back,” he said.“Pack! quick!” It was 12:45 p.m., time to close up shop.
“ Salazar said she’s tired of judgmental looks and assumptions, of packing and unpacking. Mostly, she added, of not being treated with dignity and respect by police officers.”
I can’t imagine why people are suspicious that the sealed lip balm and hair ties with their original packaging she’s selling are stolen goods.
Always nice to see the the “community leaders” at Calle 24 showing solidarity with residents and businesses who must contend with illegal vending.
What, there’s no grant or contract for that?
Seriously. My kids and I always avoid 24th and mission, walking around on alternate streets. it’s gotten so much worse in the last 10 years.
What is Jackie Fielder’s plan to stop this?
Thanks for reporting
Tragic that residents and businesses who pay taxes continue to bear the brunt of those who destroy the city .
The money and resources spent on on persons with behavior issues and who are selfish and dont respect the neighborhood or public spaces is getting old
Citizens are really getting tired of all their hard earned monies going to others rather then to help those that contribute .
Where do the vendors go when it rains?
What about the regular weekend sidewalk vending at 15th and Mission. I work on 15th near Valencia so ride or drive by 15th and Mission every Monday morning. It looks like a tornado blew through with garbage and debris scattered everywhere. No vending, no garbage. Seems an easy fix. I guess it jerks the DPW workers employed.
Campers,
Are you listening ?
The answer is to bring back the Police Kobans that Feinsten brought from Europe and Asia about 40 years ago.
The cops were there all the time and it was the same cops rotating and it should be tht way again 24/7/365.
What part of that don’t y’all understand ?
It worked !!
And, the cops weren’t inside cars, they did rotating Foot Patrols when they weren’t in the ‘Cop Box’ …
You’re seen these things in old European and Asian movies.
Sometimes they’re in the center of the street and the cops direct traffic by hand.
go Niners !!
h.
you are right, the kiosks can work if staffed properly