Tables and Chairs Go Missing from Jane Warner Plaza

Facebook tipsters Tiger and Richard let us know that there were some missing red tables and chairs from Jane Warner Plaza (17th and Castro in front of Twin Peaks) yesterday. We headed out there to confirm and lo and behold there were only four red tables with three chairs each as opposed to the 8-10 sets of tables and chairs that are usually out there. We gave the Castro Community Benefit District, the organization that maintains the tables and chairs, a call to find out what was going on. We spoke with Executive Director, Andrea Aiello, who said that they have temporarily removed the other tables and chairs at the suggestion of the San Francisco Police Department as an “experiment” after issuing citations to the seemingly homeless youth who have camped out there regularly for the past couple of weeks. The idea is that if there are fewer places to sit, they would not congregate in large groups and take over groups of chairs and tables. When we went out to Jane Warner Plaza, there were, indeed, no homeless, but Aiello said the amount of calls she has received from people who are upset about the tables and chairs being removed indicated that the experiment is probably not in the best interest of the many community members and visitors that enjoy soaking in the sun and the sights of the Castro.

Though removing benches from Harvey Milk Plaza (across the street from Jane Warner Plaza) back in November seems to have “fixed” the problem of the homeless hanging out there, the idea was not very popular and the homeless have just migrated to JWP across the street. The removal of all the tables and chairs from Jane Warner Plaza would be a very unfortunate solution to this recurring issue, so the CBD will be meeting tonight with District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener to discuss alternative solutions. Aiello said that one possible way they can curb homeless from dominating the plaza is to add additional community events to the plaza’s schedule. Every summer the CBD hosts “Live in the Castro” which is an event held in Jane Warner Plaza several Sundays a month featuring live music, Litquake readings, and other activities. Aiello said the CBD may receive a grant to help expand this and other kinds of entertainment in Jane Warner Plaza, but details on the amount of the grant and what additional programs will be brought in will not be known for sure until the grant is finalized. The CBD did not mention when the chairs would be brought back, but we will know more by tomorrow afternoon and will let you know how the CBD decides to act.