SFLDC’s Concerns on the SAFE Cities Act
Why is SFLDC opposed?
The SAFE Streets Act is another punitive measure that ignores the root causes of poverty and safety issues on Mission Street. Granting police more unchecked power to enforce against illegal fencing, when they have already struggled to enforce the existing ban, is another poor policy attempt to throw paint at the wall and see what sticks. Similar to how then-Mayor Feinstein’s lowrider ban led to Latino harassment without improving safety, this bill will create an atmosphere for police to target Latinos- whether fencers, vendors, and bystanders, further heightening the current fear in the Latino community.
The vendors are in a difficult place, and should have been allowed to return to Mission Street as soon as the ban was implemented. As of now, only a few have been allowed to return to Mission St, the SFLDC sees this bill as a forced compromise made out of desperation to get back selling on the streets. The vendors' livelihoods should have not been used as a wedge issue by politicians looking to force bad policy.
Lack of Transparency:
Senator Wiener has failed to publicly share bill language with community leaders, including the district supervisor. A vague press release claiming it addresses immigration concerns isn’t enough—actual immigrant advocates must vet it.
Harmful Policing & Latino Harassment:
The bill will encourage more aggressive policing for any street activity, normalizing a culture of harassment against Latinos, which SFPD has a long history of. More police presence doesn’t mean real safety—it escalates fear and potential violence. Street vendors will inevitably be mistaken for illegal fencers, causing widespread harm.
Threat to Immigrants & Increased Deportations:
The Laken Riley Act mandates the federal detention of immigrants who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury. With the Laken Riley Act coupled with a passed SAFE Streets Act, Latinos caught selling stolen goods face heightened detention and deportation risks. Immigrants arrested for minor crimes can now be detained and deported, even if they are not found guilty. Migrants are already not afforded the same constitutional protections of due process, and the SAFE Street Acts will likely further exacerbate that. We fought for immigrant's rights to due process against Angela Alioto's failed 2018 ballot measure which would have allowed the City to coordinate with ICE for those accused of serious crimes, and the SAFE Streets Act opens a pathway for ICE to target immigrants accused of crimes.
While SF’s sanctuary law limits local coordination with federal immigration, the SAFE Streets Act will help federal immigration officials spotlight immigrants accused of minor offenses, making them more visible targets for deportation.
Better Solutions Than a Blanket Ban:
The previous supervisor’s neglect led to street deterioration, and a blanket ban has failed to deliver results, rather demonstrating a lazy policy approach to our street conditions. Instead, SFLDC proposes:
Expanding DPW to a 24/7 City Agency, creating pathways for jobs & imploring BART to expand its Cleaning Crews: DPW city workers are on a traditional weekday schedule; Continuous plaza sanitation and monitoring for illegal fencing, calling police only when necessary will immediately change street conditions.
Permanent Vendor Infrastructure: Metal stands bolted to the ground (like in Mexico City's Chapultepec Park) for legal vendors, plus expanded vending spaces in BART plazas.
Active Plazas: Regular events like music and dance classes (similar to Portsmouth Square in Chinatown) to foster community engagement and push out illegal fencing through competition for space.
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