San Francisco's Mission Street corridor has seen improvements in public safety and street cleanliness since the city implemented a street vending moratorium last November. Officials champion these early results as a significant stride in the right direction. The moratorium, aimed at unauthorized vendors and illegal activities, has yielded a reported 30% decrease in assaults and robberies, a 22% decrease in assault incidents, and a 46% decrease in robbery incidents in the affected area, according to a statement from the city.
Announced by the City on November 27, 2023, the temporary ban was introduced after a sharp rise in safety concerns typically linked with unpermitted street vending activities, such as the sale of stolen items and blocking sidewalks, which troubled everyone from small business owners to public workers attempting to navigate the busy transit corridor. The push to create a safer environment for both the public and city inspectors has been supported by the San Francisco Police Department and Public Works.
Feedback from local businesses, primarily positive, highlighted the advancements attributed to the moratorium. In a survey of 192 merchants conducted by the city, 76% of participants expressed their wish for the moratorium to continue. "We feel that the vending ban has made the streets surrounding our business feel safer," Vanessa Porras and Dolores Ruiz, owners of Born Again Thrift, told the San Francisco government news outlet. Additionally, 67% of businesses have noticed a positive change on Mission Street, and 73% reported significant improvements in the accessibility and cleanliness of the BART plazas.
Besides law enforcement, the city has extended a helping hand to affected, previously permitted vendors through the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). Initiatives like El Tiangue and La Placita have been established to provide legitimate vendors with alternative spaces for commercial activities. The City has also routed resources as a part of a comprehensive plan devised by Mayor London Breed's, Supervisor Hillary Ronen’s offices, and various agencies to support these vendors with enhanced workforce training, marketing support, and emergency funding. "I feel more secure in El Tiangue, protected from rain and sun and many things outside," stable and legally where Maria Huacal Magan, owner of Jorge and Maria’s Toy Land, due to the efforts of the city, but with a note of nostalgia for the days of more bustling street trade.
Amid these interventions and heightened street cleaning efforts before and during the moratorium, Public Works has seen a 23% decrease in 311 service requests for street cleaning between 14th and Cesar Chavez streets.
