Neighborhood small business issues we advocate for.
How San Francisco’s “Activation” Agenda Is Gutting the Neighborhood Economy Again Hayes Valley once set the bar for protecting small business. Its 2004 formula retail ban was designed to block chain stores and preserve a local-serving economy. But over the years, City Hall has quietly chipped away at those protections first by making exceptions, then by ignoring them outright. Now, … Read post
The small business perspective on the gatekeeping, intimidation, and broken politics behind the Hayes Street road block. When speaking up comes with consequences, staying quiet becomes a form of protection. That’s the reality for many small business owners in Hayes Valley who have been navigating the fallout of the prolonged Hayes Street closure. In Part 1, we explored the operational … Read post
An account from merchants navigating the fallout. What began as a temporary pandemic-era street closure has now stretched on for years, disrupting commerce, dividing the community, and placing growing pressure on the small businesses that helped build Hayes Valley in the first place.For many people, the weekend closure of the 400 block of Hayes Street looks like a feel-good policy. … Read post
Permit history 2023 Permit History 2025 permit update UPDATE: July 10, 2024 Despite all the feedback and letters of opposition regarding the process and lack of oversight and representation to defend the needs and positions of our small mom and pop business operators SFMTA/ISCOTT and the office of Small Business did the predictable and approved the 4th date. While we … Read post
LAST UPDATE: SAT OCT 7th > Neighbors and businesses on and around Page and Gough have been stressed with the ongoing encampment crisis at this location. This morning the City instructed the encampments to move around the corner while a new street light was being installed. A representative of HVSafe was on the scene and spoke to SFPD and an … Read post
Permit history 2024 Permit History 2025 permit renewal update Communications May 10, 2023 Read our pre hearing letter to SFMTA and ISCOTT UPDATE: May 9, 2023 Dear Neighbors: A SFMTA ISCOTT hearing is slated for this Thursday at 9 am for a proposed Head West event venue change. If approved 2 more event dates will be added for this year. … Read post
We’re sharing our recent correspondence to the Planning Department regarding the housing development plan for 618 & 630 Octavia. We recognize taking a position is often fraught with apprehension, but we believe it’s critical for the health of civic dialogue, advocacy and the right to redress. Attention San Francisco Planning Commission: HVSafe supports the proposed project for 618 & 630 … Read post
It is increasingly evident that justification for the Shared Street Closure on Hayes Street has run its course. The program, hastily enacted under emergency policy, has not been subject to community review since its initial roll out in August of 2020. This lack of process has allowed the permittee, HVNA (Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association), to control the closure without input … Read post