The GrowSF Report: Scott Wiener's new bill targets illegal street vending
PLUS: Supes approve Mayor Lurie’s plan to fast-track fentanyl response
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of February 2, 2024:
- Scott Wiener's new bill targets illegal street vending
- Supes approve Mayor Lurie’s plan to fast-track fentanyl response
- Speed cameras are finally here—and tickets could cost you $500
- Mayor Lurie has the votes to remove police commissioner Carter-Oberstone
- Housing finally approved for long-vacant Divisadero car wash
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Draymond Green to open late-night Ethiopian, Afro-Latin SF restaurant
Scott Wiener's new bill targets illegal street vending
Ever wonder why stolen goods are so easy to buy in SF? California law allows resellers to operate without proof of purchase, so we see it all the time in SF, where goods are all laid out on the sidewalk for sale.
Now thanks to Senator Scott Wiener, with the support of Mayor Lurie, SF may soon have the power to confiscate stolen goods and crack down on illegal street sales. The SAFE Streets Act—introduced by Wiener this week—plans to close a loophole in state policy by allowing San Francisco to require vendors to obtain a permit to sell merchandise.
The bill would affect SF specifically, and it’s still in its early approval stages; the next step is taking it to the committee level in Sacramento.
“By taking on fencing, we are addressing retail theft, improving public safety, and adding another tool to help us clean up our streets,” Lurie said Monday.
Supes approve Mayor Lurie’s plan to fast-track fentanyl response
The Board of Supervisors just took decisive action for faster response to the city’s fentanyl crisis.
In a 10-1 vote (Only Supervisor Shamann Walton voted against), the Supes approved Mayor Lurie’s ordinance to give him the ability to bypass red tape and speed up contracts. The plan grants emergency powers for procurement, contracting, funding, and hiring to speed up new treatment facilities and neighborhood safety teams.
It also aims to make the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMACC) permanent for 24/7 fentanyl enforcement, create a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) as an alternative to ERs and jails, and establish a Hospitality Zone Task Force to keep key areas like the Tenderloin and Union Square safe and clean.
While not strictly part of the plan, a new pilot program will also open in a Stevenson Street parking lot, where police and public health workers will coordinate enforcement and treatment efforts in one place.
Thank you to Supervisors Sherrill, Sauter, Engardio, Mahmood, Dorsey, and Mandelman for co-sponsoring the bill, and to Supervisors Chan, Melgar, Fielder, and Chen for voting in favor. We expect all ten will vote for final approval on February 11.
Speed cameras are finally here—and tickets could cost you $500
SF’s speed cameras are finally here, and they’re part of a major citywide effort to crack down on reckless driving. Starting next month, 33 cameras will begin ticketing drivers who exceed the limit by 11 MPH or more, with fines reaching $500 for extreme speeders. They’ve been placed in areas with high rates of speed-related collisions, school zones, and locations known for sideshows, with the full list here.
MTA is stepping up traffic enforcement several ways alongside the speed cameras. More red-light cameras are coming, along with the installation of 400 automated license plate readers. We hope these efforts will finally make a dent in San Francisco’s Vision Zero goal, which has struggled to bring down traffic deaths despite years of policy changes and infrastructure upgrades. 2024 marked the deadliest year for traffic deaths in more than a decade.
Mayor Lurie has the votes to remove police commissioner, clearing the path for reform
Mayor Daniel Lurie is setting the stage for meaningful reform at the Police Commission, starting with the removal of Max Carter-Oberstone. A holdover from the Breed administration, Carter-Oberstone was known for stalling decisions and fueling infighting. Now, Lurie says he wants a commissioner “who will work collaboratively to make our city safer.”
The Board of Supervisors still has to approve the move, but Lurie has the votes. Board President Rafael Mandelman supports Lurie, according to Mission Local, and could push it through quickly. Carter-Oberstone says he’ll fight to stay, but his removal would open the door for a commission that actually gets things done.
Housing finally approved for long-vacant Divisadero car wash
After sitting vacant since 2019, the former car wash at 400 Divisadero is finally set to become housing. The eight-story, 203-unit apartment complex obtained approval due to a state law called AB 2011, which allowed the builder to side-step the City’s byzantine process and get their permits..
Multiple plans for this site have fallen through before, but this latest effort has city officials feeling optimistic. The next step is securing permits and locking in construction. If all goes as planned, the long-empty lot could soon bring much-needed housing to the Lower Haight.
Love the GrowSF Report? Share it
Help GrowSF grow! Share our newsletter with your friends. The bigger we are, the better San Francisco will be.
Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Draymond Green to open late-night Ethiopian, Afro-Latin SF restaurant
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green is opening Meski, a high-end Ethiopian and Afro-Latin fusion restaurant in San Francisco this March. Partnering with chefs Nelson German (Top Chef alum) and Guma Fassil, Meski will serve dishes like berbere-coffee rubbed T-bone steak, yucca sambusas, and teff churros with mango curd. The bar will feature berbere-rimmed margaritas, flaxseed milk punch, and bottomless tej mimosas. With a swanky dining room upstairs and a vibey lounge downstairs, Meski aims to be a late-night hotspot celebrating Black culture in SF.
WHERE: 1000 Larkin St., San Francisco. Opening March 7
The Spirit of San Francisco
There’s a lot to love about our city and the Bay Area. Here’s what makes it great. Brought to you by The Bold Italic.
What we’re doing this week
After Midnight: A Chappell Roan Valentine’s Day Dance Party
If your Valentine’s Day plans don’t include glitter, heart-shaped sunglasses, and a full dance floor, are you even living? After Midnight: A Chappell Roan Valentine’s Day Party is taking over Rickshaw Stop for a night of pure, unfiltered pop euphoria. DJ Alex Jay will be spinning all things Chappell Roan, plus plenty of danceable anthems from your other favorite pop icons. Whether you’re single, cuffed, or somewhere in between, this is the place to celebrate love, heartbreak, and everything in between—with no bad vibes allowed.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 14, 2025, 9:00 PM
WHERE: Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
TICKETS: Starting at $35.83 (21+ event)
Get crafty (and maybe a little sappy) at Hearts & Crafts
If store-bought valentines aren’t your thing, Hearts & Crafts is here to help you get creative before Valentine’s Day. Hosted by Youth Art Exchange, this drop-in event is a chance to make heartfelt, DIY gifts—whether it’s for your crush, your bestie, or just yourself. Expect a relaxed, fun space with plenty of craft supplies, plus light refreshments to keep the inspiration flowing.
No experience? No problem. Whether you're a pro with a glue gun or just here to mess around with some glitter, all are welcome.
WHEN: Monday, February 12, 2025, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WHERE: Youth Art Exchange, 2330 San Jose Avenue, San Francisco
It’s free, no RSVP required—just show up, make something cute, and embrace the Valentine’s chaos.
Also coming up: Late Night Revelry at Grace Cathedral
The magic of Grace Cathedral’s Carnivale gala doesn’t stop at dinner—The Late Night Revelry brings a whole new vibe. Expect an open bar, live beats from The Chris Clouse Project, and a Vanity Portrait Studio to capture you looking your best—with a masquerade twist, of course.
This is the after-party where the crowd lets loose, and the grandeur of Grace Cathedral transforms into an upscale, after-hours affair. Tickets start at $100 for one to the after party, and $165 for a duo. Every dollar supports the cathedral’s community initiatives—so you can party with a purpose. Read our review of the gala last year.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 8:45 pm – 11:00 pm
WHERE: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Francisco
What we’re writing about
Your relationship might be a mess, but this SF show roasts it
At Your F*cked Up Relationship, real-life relationship disasters become the fuel for spontaneous, no-holds-barred comedy. Each night, audience members volunteer their messiest breakup stories, which the cast then twists into absurd, unscripted scenes that quickly spiral into chaos.
‘Manon’ at SF Ballet is a beautiful nightmare
Manon follows the rise and fall of its namesake heroine, a naive young woman who quickly enters a world of deception, lust, and opulence — before being discarded like yesterday’s Champagne. If Swan Lake is about transcendent love and Giselle is about romantic betrayal, Manon is about what happens when love and survival are at war with each other.
Want more positive news? Subscribe to The Bold Italic
Get some good vibes in your life by subscribing to The Bold Italic. It’s the sister project to GrowSF which focuses on what makes San Francisco a great place to live.