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
For more than 60 consecutive weeks, residents and small businesses have documented permit violations on the 400 block of Hayes Street and submitted them to SFMTA. Over that same period, conditions have not improved. They have persisted, and impacts have escalated rather than been resolved. Repeated concerns about economic harm to neighborhood retail and increased traffic congestion on surrounding streets … Read post
A transparency update from Hayes Valley Safe Over the past year, residents and small businesses in Hayes Valley have repeatedly asked basic, good-faith questions about the future of Hayes Street — including whether the current temporary closure was being evaluated neutrally, and whether public funds were being used to advance a predetermined outcome. Those questions went largely unanswered. In January … Read post
On December 16, the San Francisco Entertainment Commission approved a year-long amplified sound permit for the 400 block of Hayes Street. The approval authorizes recurring amplified sound on Fridays and Saturdays for up to six hours per day, tied to the ongoing Hayes Street closure. While the approval has now been granted, the hearing and application record raise serious concerns … Read post