San Francisco crews wearing uniforms labeled "Encampment Resolutions Teams" or ERT undertook another sweep of homeless encampments, this time in the city's Tenderloin district on Wednesday as advocates continued to criticize the city for not providing sufficient alternatives for unhoused residents. This follows yesterday's dramatic sweep that took place under the Central Freeway, wherein an SFPD officer was recorded by the SF Standard seemingly telling a homeless individual that Mayor Breed and Governor Newsom have decreed, "No more encampments. It's no more."

According to NBC Bay Area, the ERT crews are a part of the city's Department of Emergency Management, and they cleared a total of 27 tents in the area of Willow and Polk streets early Wednesday, hauling off truckloads of broken furniture and various other items before power washing the sidewalks. During the cleanup, other city staff were seen offering the unhoused residents shelter and instructions on what was happening

San Francisco is intensifying its efforts to clear encampments as August approaches, stemming from a statement Mayor London Breed made recently, promising a "very aggressive" approach beginning in August, potentially including criminal penalties. The unhoused residents involved cooperated, though one tent took longer as police worked to wake the tent owner. No citations were issued, nor were any arrests made.

The director of the operation, David Nakanishi, who has had decades of experience addressing homelessness in the city, told NBC Bay Area that even with the recent Grant’s Pass decision from the Supreme Court, he remains cautiously optimistic. "From my perspective, very little is going to change," Nakanishi said, "We were already doing enforcement to the best of our ability, but also doing that with a compassionate approach, so I think the tools for enforcement will increase slightly but not a huge amount."

Nakanishi began his work with the city’s homeless back when Gavin Newsom was mayor. On Wednesday, Governor Newsom announced a $94 million budget for infill housing projects and signed an executive order to streamline development. According to ABC7, there are currently 793 permanent supportive housing units open, with 398 offline needing repairs, and another 229 in the process of being filled, leaving 166 units available for use.

Video captured by NBC Bay Area Reporter Sergio Quintana shows the extent of the operation carried out by the Encampment Resolutions Teams, which includes members from the DPW, SFFD, DPH, and SFPD. As captured, several truckloads of items were removed, and the sidewalks were then power washed. Public reaction to the sweeps has been mixed, with some calling for more humane solutions and others supporting the city's strong stance.

The Coalition on Homelessness has been vocal about protecting the rights of those being displaced. Their "Know Your Rights" flyer were photographed around the corner from the location of Wednesday's sweeps, as a resource to inform individuals what they should be aware of if they find themselves in these situations, providing information on legal rights, city policies, and what to do if their belongings are seized by the city.

This sweep comes on the heels of other videos showing a so-called 'aggressive' encampment sweep under the Central Freeway where an officer explained to a homeless individual that Mayor Breed and Gov. Newsom directed there be "no more encampments." The enforcement surge aligns with the Supreme Court decision allowing cities to dismantle such encampments more assertively. While city officials maintain that offers of shelter were made, accounts from the affected residents tell of a less coordinated and more disorienting experience.