The 400 block of Hayes Street is closed off on Fridays and Saturdays to project an Instagram version of urban joy. Little music setups sprout up, chalk boxes appear, tango lessons unfold, and bubbles drift through the air between Octavia and Gough; meanwhile, playgrounds, parks, living alleys, and public parcels within blocks in each direction sit underused. But that’s apparently … Read post
đź“‹ Closure Permit Status UpdateNovember 20, 2025We’ve issued a statement summarizing what occurred at the SFMTA Board hearing this week and our takeaways.—> Read our full statement on the outcome more updates to come The closure of Hayes Street has affected small businesses, residents, and the whole neighborhood. But most people only know one side of the story. This page … Read post
What began as a temporary pandemic closure in 2020 has stretched into its fifth year. Somewhere along the way, the City stopped asking if the street should reopen and started inventing new reasons to keep it closed. The most powerful of those reasons arrived in 2023 under a single word: “activation.” The Turning PointWhen the permit came up for renewal … Read post
For years, the Hayes Street closure has been described as an “experiment.” But experiments are meant to teach us something — not divide a neighborhood or drain the lifeblood of its small businesses. After five years of trial and error, the lesson is clear: this hasn’t worked. It’s time to move past the talking points and start telling the truth … Read post
Last updated: November 15, 2025 At‑a‑Glance What’s New Since Our Last Update ? Since our prior review, several new issues have surfaced during the SFMTA renewal process: • Manipulated sales-tax data in SFMTA’s slide deck.The agency presented aggregated revenue figures combining the 300, 400, and 500 blocks, masking the 400 block’s underperformance and creating a misleading impression of economic health. … Read post
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 … Read post
What breaks our heart isn’t just the policy failures. It’s the way real people have been dismissed, week after week, through the Hayes Street closure. Take Viktor. For years, he’s poured everything into his Hayes Valley shop, Cotton Sheep, one of those rare places that gives a neighborhood its soul. When he spoke up in the early days about how … Read post
August 6, 2025 Attention SFMTA:See street conditions for this past weekend:Friday August 1, 2025Saturday August 2, 2025 This marks the 34th consecutive week of documented noncompliance under Permit No. 1091787. As with previous weeks, the street was barren and lackluster, with nothing justifying the continued disruption to the corridor.We want to direct your attention to the traffic cluster at Hayes & … Read post
There’s been a quiet but calculated effort underway to turn Hayes Valley into the next Abbot Kinney. If that reference doesn’t hit right away, let us explain. Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach was once a quirky, eclectic strip filled with independent shops, creatives, and community culture. But over time thanks to a toxic mix of real estate speculation, political … Read post
