What began as a temporary COVID-era street closure is now being treated as something permanent. Recent public records show that District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood directly requested and drove the City’s initiation of a Public Life Study on Hayes Street, with the Planning Department leading the technical work in coordination with SFMTA, SFCTA, and the Supervisor’s own office. This is … Read post
Over the past year, a small group centered around the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA) and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood quietly set the direction for the future of the 400 block of Hayes Street.A study was launched.Funding was secured.Agencies were coordinated. For the small businesses and neighbors who actually live and work here, one question stands out:How did this happen without … Read post
For years, the conversation around Hayes Street has been framed as a question of preference…whether one supports it or not. But that framing misses something more fundamental. Because underneath the debate is a different question entirely: Is the current use of Hayes Street aligned with the legal and policy framework that governs street closures in California? What the Law Actually … Read post
A Deep Analysis: Scope, Limits and Its Use in Justifying a Permanent Closure The study was developed in coordination with the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA), the permit holder for the closure. A recent UC Berkeley study examines activity patterns during the weekend closure of Hayes Street. The report has been cited by supporters as evidence that the street has … Read post
A summary of key findings, limitations, and omissions A group of UC Berkeley students produced a study comparing user behavior on the 400 block of Hayes Street under non-closure, closure, and event-based conditions. Closure supporters have cited the report as evidence that the street has become a “thriving public space.” The study was explicitly created “to support the long-term continuation … Read post
December 2025- March 2026This thread documents follow-up communications with SFMTA regarding practical challenges in community documentation of public street conditions during the Hayes Street closure. The focus is on clear identification of the on-site representative to support neutral, safe oversight. December 2, 2025 – Initial Email to SFTMA Shared Spaces Team We are writing to raise an operational concern regarding … Read post
Over the past several years, residents and businesses have been repeatedly encouraged by SFMTA staff to document and report conditions, impacts, and potential violations related to the Hayes Street closure and the permit governing the use of the street. Many people have done exactly that. Photographs, written reports, and formal correspondence have been submitted documenting a wide range of concerns … Read post
Understanding the process behind a critical neighborhood issue Responsible civic participation requires understanding how policy decisions are made — and explaining them clearly to the public. At its core, that means examining the process: how decisions develop and how policies are implemented over time. For the past five years, our coalition has focused on documenting and analyzing the decisions surrounding … Read post
In August 2025, HVSafe began raising concerns with City agencies regarding ongoing vendor activity operating within the Hayes Street closure area without visible permits or compliance with Shared Spaces requirements. Follow-up correspondence was sent in September 2025 and again on January 13, 2026, documenting continued violations and requesting clarification on enforcement. On March 9, 2026, a formal follow-up was sent. … Read post
Under Shared Spaces Permit No. 1316522, the permittee is responsible for ensuring: These are not optional guidelines. They are enforceable conditions of operation. Over the past year, we have documented repeated violations of these terms, including: When residents have attempted to inquire about permits in the past, operators responded with verbal hostility. As a result, neighbors now document from a … Read post