Muni, coffee, and a sign

Good afternoon. Wow, this is a lot of weather!

We ride the 14 Mission and dig into the data to understand how many San Franciscans are actually paying for their rides––on the bus by Clipper card, via prepaid monthly passes, or with mobile apps. Some passengers told Mission Local that they seldom or never paid; others had free passes, and one said he paid his fare on principle: “I’m pro-transit, I like giving money to transit agencies to do their jobs.” Pete Wilson, vice president of the Transit Workers Union, admits, “We don’t really know who’s paying and not paying.”

It’s clear, however, that fewer riders are buying prepaid passes than ever before. Single-ride revenue is also down. And fare inspectors don’t seem to be making a large difference in the fare evasion rate. The solution? Some advocate for free Muni, others argue for expanded enforcement, and the SFMTA board makes a familiar suggestion: more study. “Fare evasion patterns warrant greater investigation,” says the SFMTA report from last month. Indeed. We’ll let you know what they find out.

By bus or on foot, do stop by this Sunday the 19th to celebrate the opening of Cafe de Olla’s new home, at 3388 19th Street on the corner of Mission. The owners, Eduardo Antonio and Francisco Camacho, have been through a grueling small-business slog: they opened in the MEDA incubator space just three months before the pandemic hit. They were closed for the next three months, then operated out of a service window for eight, cooking tlayudas at a kitchen on Folsom Street and delivering coffee to customers themselves. Cafe de Olla has yet to get any federal, city or state pandemic assistance. “In the beginning, it was because we had no tax history as a business, and we didn’t have payroll setup,” says Francisco. “But afterward, we are not really sure why.” Nonetheless, the café retained a loyal customer base, and with a GoFundMe campaign and a lot of work, the owners are finally ready to open their new doors. “We are so grateful for our customers,” says Antonio.“We’re not just a coffee place or just another restaurant; we are connected to the community and we want to keep it that way.”

A few blocks south on Mission, check out the historic Grand Theater’s neon sign, lit up for the first time in more than 30 years. Gray Area, the digital arts nonprofit occupying the theater, raised money to fix the display, buy a bunch of neon gas, and switch on the giant pink and white sign. “The re-ignition of this sign,” says the executive director, Barry Threw, “is a small moment to be proud of San Francisco.”

Stay safe out there,

Sara