In light of recent developments regarding the closure on Hayes Street, we’re answering the two top questions we ask and have been asked as of late:Who does a Supervisor really serve?And have you even talked to Bilal about the closure?Yes, we did. Once. It was a meeting that left the room stunned and the community even more demoralized. What follows … Read post

A reflection on advocacy, frustration, and the failed policy behind the Hayes Street closure. We never imagined we’d have to fight this hard for fairness. Like many others, we simply cared about our neighborhood-its businesses, its streets, and the people who live and work here every day. But once the aim evolved to keeping the street closed, and the impacts … Read post

A Street Closure That Fails the Climate, the Community, and Common Sense You’ve probably heard the pitch: closing streets is good for the environment. Fewer cars, more walk-ability, climate wins. But here’s what actually happens when the 400 block of Hayes Street is closed and why it undermines the very goals it claims to support. Let’s be real: Hayes Valley … Read post

The Public Space Power Play in Hayes Valley Hayes Valley boasts some of San Francisco’s most expansive and elaborate parklets. Many occupy multiple parking spaces, are outfitted with semi-permanent structures, some so large they’re jokingly referred to as “boat-sized”…and were originally installed during the pandemic to help businesses stay afloat. Most bars and restaurants in the area have since expressed … Read post

Why One Permit Holder’s European Fantasy Is Hurting a Real San Francisco Neighborhood 1. Barcelona is the wrong comparison. Barcelona has entire districts designed around walk-ability with multi-modal transit, wide boulevards, and dense, mixed-use zoning. Hayes Street is one small commercial corridor. Shutting it down without a network of supportive infrastructure doesn’t replicate Barcelona…it isolates it. Key Points: 2. This … Read post

Update (Dec 2025):This piece was originally published in May 2025. More than six months later, the issues raised here remain unresolved — and in many cases have intensified. Subsequent permit renewals, “activation” programming, and political messaging have reinforced the same pattern described below. Hayes Street is more than just a place to eat or stroll, it’s a working commercial corridor … Read post