Hayes Closure

The Question No One Is Asking: Why Is Restoring Hayes Street Not Even Being Considered?

A new proposal for a year-long weekly farmers market on the 400 block of Hayes Street (Gough to Octavia) is being framed as simple community activation. But the real issue is deeper. Every new “activation”, whether a market, event, or shared space extension, is being decided on the assumption that the street must remain closed. No one in City Hall is revisiting the fundamental question:
 Should Hayes Street be reopened at all? This is not about opposing a farmers market. …

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Formal Administrative Complaint — Hayes Street (SFMTA) Shared Spaces Permit

April 10, 2026 Dear Director Kirschbaum and SFMTA Shared Spaces Management Team, We submit this formal administrative complaint regarding the administration of the Shared Spaces permit for the 400 block of Hayes Street, including sustained noncompliance, lack of enforcement, and related procedural concerns. This complaint is intended to establish a formal administrative record and to request corrective action. 1. Sustained Noncompliance and Failure to Enforce Over the course of approximately 70 weeks, we have documented repeated and ongoing noncompliance with …

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A Study Without a Decision: Why Has Hayes Street Never Been Allowed to Reopen?

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 not a minor administrative step. It is a coordinated, interagency effort to evaluate and potentially lock in the future of …

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Who Set the Direction on Hayes Street?

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 us? What the records show Public records reveal a clear, predetermined sequence that bypassed the community: This follows the same …

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The Gap Between Law and Practice on Hayes Street

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 Says California law allows cities to temporarily close streets under specific conditions (see California Vehicle Code §21101.4). Closures are intended …

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A Closer Look at the HVNA Coordinated UC Berkeley Hayes Street Closure Study

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 become a “thriving public space.” However, it was developed amid ongoing efforts to justify the continuation and potential permanent expansion …

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HVNA and UCBerkeley Coordinated Study of the Hayes Street Closure Debrief

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 of the Hayes Valley closure.” The authors worked directly with the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA) to align the research …

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SFMTA Correspondence: On-Site Operator Visibility & Engagement Concerns – Shared Spaces Permit 1316522

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 the suitability of the current designated Responsible Operator for the Hayes Street weekend closure (SFMTA Permit No. 1316522). This is not …

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Who Enforces a Permit in the Public Right-of-Way?

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 — from operational issues to questions about whether the conditions of the permit are being followed. Yet a basic question …

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