San Francisco supervisors on Tuesday approved a list of commonly stolen goods that the city’s police can now use to cite people suspected of illegal street vending, a pernicious problem for the Mission and other neighborhoods since the pandemic.
“With this vote, San Francisco can finally rein in the sale of stolen goods that has disrupted our streets and pushed out legitimate street vendors,” wrote Sen. Scott Wiener, who authored a state bill clearing the way for street vending enforcement, in a text after the vote.
“This is a terrific step forward for public safety and I applaud the Board for standing for safe streets and thriving communities today,” he wrote.
State legislators voted in September to approve Wiener’s SB 276, which amended 2018 legislation that had restricted California police departments from enforcing street vending regulations. Curbing illegal fencing was left in the hands of other city workers, like Public Works employees, who faced physical and verbal abuse.
As part of the new legislation, which applies only to San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors was required to approve a list of commonly stolen goods in the city. Police officers will only be able to cite — and, after three offenses, arrest — people suspected of selling items on that list.
The list is long: It includes about 100 items, from “meat products” to “dishwasher pods” to “jumper cables.” It is divided into 11 categories, including “Food and beverages” or “Cosmetics and skincare,” and it is based on Public Works data of stolen items recovered between 2023 and September of this year.
The legislation will not affect permitted street vendors, people selling prepared food or people selling prepackaged food items, like chips or soda, “that [are] sold along with a food item that is prepared for sale onsite.”
Despite the new legislation, Public Works’ employees will still be part of enforcement. They will be the ones to give the first written warning to anyone found in possession of goods on the list who cannot provide a receipt.
Public Works will then record the violator’s name in a database that will be shared with the police department. It is unclear what will happen if a person refuses to provide their real name.
Police officers could then issue infractions if a second or third offense occurs within 18 months of the written warning. A fourth offense within 18 months of the warning could lead to a misdemeanor, a fine and six months of jail time.
From the start, the Mission Street Vendors Association, a collective of Mission permitted street vendors, has supported the law.
On Tuesday, District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who had not publicly endorsed the legislation and had expressed concerns over how its implementation would affect immigrants, also joined in support.
The mayor’s office said full implementation will likely not start until the beginning of next year. Under the law, the city needs to launch a publicity campaign at least 30 days before the legislation’s enactment to raise awareness. It has already held at least one public meeting on the law.
How many city workers need to interact with an illegal vendor before they get arrested for selling stolen goods?
If the cop is motivated, zero. They’ll just say they obstructed an investigation, resisted, gave false information or other reason for arrest. Cops can say anything.
Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Tagalog (Filipino) languages should also be included as a part of this notice and legislative by Senator Scott Weiner. I know this because I do see several Asian elderly women vending on Sixth Street hotel ghettos corridor who would be at a great loss and confused why what they’re doing now is illegal. Dated 12/3/2025.
Don’t worry, Lurie will “direct enforcement away” from any political bloc that he wants to protect for obvious reasons. (Votes)
Hallelujah. Scott Weiner (& Mandelman) to the rescue. This guy has to do everything. He makes it happen. Thank you Scott. We are so lucky to have him.
I hope this cleans out the mess at both Bart plazas. 24th is mess too.
@Jackie Fielder, Constituents here are crying out loud for CHANGE to these atrocious and illegal conditions. Clean it up. The law applies to everyone, immigrant or not.
Hopefully we can stop the lawlessness.
Thank you ML for keeping us informed.
Laughing out loud.
“The law applies to everyone, immigrant or not.
Hopefully we can stop the lawlessness.”
-Trump voters. Just lol.
A great day for the Mission, for San Francisco, for sanity, and for the tens of thousands of law-abiding residents who call D9 home.
A horrible day for the criminal class and the underground economy. Pack your bags and get the Hell out of our city!
You don’t understand the law has no teeth.
Why the need for this complex legislation? Why can’t all un-permitted vendors simply be prosecuted?
Because Wiener’s solution to every problem is another piece of knee-jerk, ham fisted legislation.
As long as it hits the poor and nobody else, he’s on board.
Yuppie uber-alles.
Doing something about this issue has been long overdue, so looking forward to seeing this legislation be implemented.
Excelsior & Crocker corridor has to be included there are sellers every morning along Mission Street District 11 supervisor.
Too bad BART officials won’t cooperate with the city on this issue.
Jackie Fielder is supporting this legislation now??? Dear lord. Who are the legitimate vendors? This is a classic divisive tactic. “Bad” vendors and “good” vendors.
Honestly, can we put this much effort into addressing the root problem? As in the reason why people have to sell these items to survive!
I wonder if enforcement will include the people selling all sorts of stuff in Dolores Park. It is like a drug store and bar in the park most nice weekend days.
Sounds great. Next “problem”?
File this under “only in San Francisco”. Somehow no other cities in the region or across the country need efforts like this to stop obvious sales of stolen goods outside of transit stations, but here we are, hoping that maybe after a publicity campaign and awareness raising and public meetings something will happen.
And yet something is done and you still complain, eh? Figures.
I still don’t understand why all of this was necessary. Selling stolen goods is illegal. Full stop. Let the vendors vend. If they are hawking stolen goods, act on it.
Companies need to find a way to infuse an identifier throughout their products so a cop can use a handheld device to find out what’s stolen and what isn’t.
Strange. Most garage sales sell items in at least 50% of the categories above. Will people who have garage sales have to “provide a receipt” as well?
People with garages = voters. Lurie will protect that bloc for sure.
Indigent poor don’t vote.
Banning and prosecuting street vendors is so short-sighted and completely misses the reality of what’s occurring. The problem is POVERTY. Illegal street vending was actually a neighborhood/grassroots mitigation for the poverty: a black market of stolen goods for poor folks to make money selling on the street, and a source of low-priced household essentials for poor people in the neighborhood to purchase at rates lower than retail.
This ban essentially takes money from the pockets and food from the mouths of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents. A solution would solve the poverty that lead to these black markets.
That may be true in some cases. But when people break into stores or homes and sell the items that they’ve stolen, we’re looking at criminal acts. Much of this activity supports drug use. San Franciscans are not wrong to want our homes and businesses safe and to want our streets free of stolen-goods sales. If you’ve ever been robbed or had your home broken into, you’ll understand.
I had a backpack full of baby stuff stolen from a stroller that was left unattended for 5m in front of the house.
Looking at the camera images and later recognizing the perpetrator still around the neighborhood, I can tell with 99.99% certainty that he was *not* stealing to put food on the table for his family… Someone who literally steals from a baby deserves nothing but well, nvm.
Btw I called the cops with the guy on my sight and guess what, they never came…
The vast majority is coming from shoplifting, not burglary. Both are crimes but let’s get real.
Scott Wiener prefers criminals to steal and sell other items instead.
Like housing from the low-income who have rights to live there.