Attention SFMTA:
Friday November 6, 2026
Saturday November 7, 2026
This weekend’s observations included an organized Friday evening bingo event in the closed roadway, advertised by the permit holder with a designated host and merchant gift certificates. The event illustrates a larger concern that has remained unresolved throughout this permit’s history: a functioning commercial corridor is being removed from normal circulation to accommodate recreational programming organized by a private association, while existing public spaces in Hayes Valley remain available for such activities.
Why is closing a public commercial street necessary to accommodate this programming, and who determined that it should take precedence over the street’s ordinary function? The businesses along Hayes Street operate year-round. They pay rent, employ people, receive deliveries, and depend on customer access. Yet the permit holder continues to determine that the street should remain closed for recreational activities rather than function as a public roadway serving those businesses.
For 100 consecutive weeks, HVS has documented conditions associated with the closure of the 400 block of Hayes Street. We want to acknowledge and thank the residents, merchants, and members of our coalition who have contributed photographs, observations, and countless hours to this ongoing effort. Their contributions have made possible an extensive public record of conditions that might otherwise have gone undocumented.
Our request remains unchanged: revoke Permit No. 1316522 and restore the 400 block of Hayes Street to normal public use.
This correspondence has been edited for clarity and conciseness. Routine greetings and contact details have been omitted; the substance of the communication remains unchanged.