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Small Business

Neighborhood small business issues we advocate for.

Hayes Street Farmers Market Activity

400 Block of Hayes Street Hayes Valley Farmers Market Monitoring Beginning in June 2026, HVS commenced weekly monitoring of the Hayes Valley Farmers Market operating under Temporary Street Closure Permit No. 1493851. Reports document observed conditions, permit compliance, vehicle activity, parking pass usage, traffic conditions, public-space impacts, waste conditions, permit modifications, and other operational changes over time. June 6 2026 Activity Report Correspondence to SFMTA

The Question No One in City Hall Wants to Answer: Why Are Business Corridors Left Unprotected?

San Francisco has spent years making it easier to close streets than to keep them open for the businesses and residents who actually use them. On the 400 block of Hayes Street, we are watching this play out in real time: a Shared Spaces permit already under formal administrative complaint for 71 weeks of sustained noncompliance is now being layered with a proposed year-long weekly farmers market. On Saturdays, this would effectively close the corridor from 7:00 AM to 10:00 …

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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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Bilal in January 2025: Abdicating the Role of Representative

The earliest evidence of undue influence and eroded process. In January 2025, just two weeks into Supervisor Bilal Mahmood’s term, a SFMTA/ISCOTT hearing was held to consider the Head West street closure permit. This for-profit marketplace had begun seeking a higher frequency (4x) of dates in Hayes Valley during the early pandemic — compounding the impacts of the already contentious Hayes Street weekend closure. HVS and local businesses had raised concerns for years, and Head West’s expanded footprint only intensified …

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What We Learned From Engaging SFMTA on Pay or Permit Parking

Over the past two years, Hayes Valley has been used as the first large-scale test case for the City’s Pay or Permit Parking (PPP) program. The idea is simple: residents with permits can park for free, while visitors must pay at meters instead of following two-hour time limits. In theory, PPP is meant to increase parking availability, reduce circling, and improve air quality. In practice, Hayes Valley has experienced something very different. Our direct engagement with the San Francisco Municipal …

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A 20 Year Hayes Valley Merchant Forced Out

This month, Hayes Valley will lose one of its most cherished small businesses. After 20 years at the corner of Hayes and Octavia, Miette is relocating to the Fillmore. While their story continues elsewhere, Hayes Valley is losing a piece of its heart. For many, Miette was more than a candy shop — it was a place of celebration, of family traditions, of birthday cakes and wedding desserts made by hand. Its departure is not just about one store; it …

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49 Reasons the Hayes Street Closure Needs to End

The Hayes Street closure was supposed to be temporary. Instead, it’s become a politicized experiment with no accountability one that hurts small businesses, fuels division, and defies logic. Here’s why it’s time to reopen Hayes: 1. It was never meant to be permanent.The closure began as a short-term pandemic response. Those conditions no longer exist. 2. Use of the space has dwindled (outside of events).Outside of a handful of programmed events, the closure sees minimal foot traffic and very little …

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