In preparation for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott and Supervisor Chyane Chen visited Ingleside merchants to ensure their support for safety and security during the festive period. This outreach is set against the backdrop of the Ocean Avenue Lunar New Year Celebration, which is just a fortnight away. Chen highlighted the significance of bringing the community together, noting the relevance of this year's zodiac sign, the snake, as a symbol of "resilience, transformation, and refreshment," as per NBC Bay Area.
Wanting to face local businesses' concerns directly, Chief Scott led a merchant walk along Ocean Avenue, discussing public safety measures ahead of the celebrations. One local business owner, Merrill Jung of the Korean Martial Arts Center, expressed approval of the initiative. Jung told NBC Bay Area, "It's good to have a face-to-face. I really appreciate it." While daytime safety seems satisfactory, Marilyn Lee, owner of GoGo 7 restaurant, communicated her concerns about nighttime security to Scott. She stated, "Daytime is okay. We trying to clean and support all the merchant here, but night time its always break in, [and] last year [it happened ] three times already."
Featuring routine reminders of the perception of safety in the neighborhood, Sarah Wan, executive director of the Community Youth Center, emphasized the importance of confidence in public safety, especially in light of past anti-Asian hate incidents. "During Covid, there was a lot of anti-Asian hate. People have fear related to public safety, so we keep doing this on Ocean Avenue celebration throughout Covid. This is a neighborhood for our youth and families. It's actually safe," Wan told ABC7.
Despite the recent turbulence in the world affecting how safety is perceived, Chief Scott reassured the community of his department's readiness to provide security. "I think it's critically important right now, even after what we've seen in the world attacks, safety is on everyone's mind," Scott said, as cited by ABC7 interview.
