January 11, 2026
Attention SFMTA:
See conditions for this past weekend:
Friday January 9, 2026
Saturday January 10, 2026
This marks Week 57 of documented noncompliance on the 400 block of Hayes Street and Week 7 under the renewed permit term (Permit No. 1316522).
Observed Conditions – No Compliance
During both closure days this weekend, no material permit conditions were met. Observed conditions included:
- Unpermitted commercial activity, including the presence and operation of the Signature branded tent on Saturday, without authorization under the permit.
- Prohibited activities occurring within the closure area, including skateboarding, in direct violation of permit terms.
- No visible enforcement, intervention, or corrective action.
- No on-site management present.
- No evidence of permit oversight or active administration.
These conditions are not isolated. They are consistent with, and additive to, the documented violations submitted week after week.
Administrative Breakdown
This weekend follows two prior weekends in which the street was opened and closed without notice, documented criteria, or neighborhood communication. Taken together, these conditions demonstrate that the permit is not being administered at all, neither as a regulated closure nor as a consistently enforced program. At this point, the issue is no longer limited to permit holder noncompliance. It is the continued failure of SFMTA to explain why this permit remains active despite a sustained record of violations and operational breakdown.
Public and Taxpayer Accountability
This closure occupies a public right-of-way, is administered by a private nonprofit, and persists under City authorization. The public and the taxpayer are entitled to a clear explanation as to why Permit No. 1316522 has not been revoked, and why repeated violations, including unauthorized vending and structures, continue without enforcement. The absence of any response, corrective plan, or enforcement rationale now constitutes agency acquiescence, not oversight.
Record Status and Escalation
As previously stated in public testimony and written correspondence, brief reopening of Hayes Street resulted in immediate restoration of economic activity for small businesses. Meanwhile, closure periods continue to operate in violation of permit terms and without lawful administration. This correspondence should be understood as part of a formal and escalating administrative record documenting both permit failure and agency inaction.
Prolonged agency inaction has also created downstream consequences for the community. In the absence of enforcement or corrective action by SFMTA, residents and merchants who have documented permit violations are increasingly exposed to conflict and retaliation for performing functions that properly belong to the City. This dynamic is neither appropriate nor sustainable, and underscores the urgency of restoring lawful administration of this permit.
—
After 57 consecutive weeks of noncompliance, including unauthorized commercial activity, zero corrective enforcement, inconsistent operation, and continued silence from SFMTA regarding revocation, further continuation of Permit No. 1316522 is indefensible. We again urge SFMTA to revoke Permit No. 1316522 immediately and restore Hayes Street to its intended, lawful 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.