Hayes Closure

Taxpayers Footing Over $100,000 a Year for Hayes Street Closure Noncompliance

While SFMTA faces a $307- 322 million budget deficit, the agency continues to subsidize a street closure that delivers minimal public benefit and clear fiscal harm. Direct Costs to SFMTA and Taxpayers Combined direct cost: Well over $100,000 per year borne by SFMTA and San Francisco taxpayers — for a program riddled with noncompliance. These figures also do not include the Hayes Street Public Life Study, which public documents suggest will cost nearly half a million dollars and includes evaluating …

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When the Rules Stop Mattering

For almost two years now, we’ve been telling City agencies about the same problem on the closed block of Hayes Street: vendors setting up shop without following the rules. It started back in June 2024. What began as one clothing vendor with a tent has turned into a regular scene: a big branded truck, sidewalk displays, and more vendors showing up. This isn’t a one-off anymore. It’s become part of the closure. The permit that closes the street says the …

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