Meeting Notes from 04/05/2016 – Western SoMa Voice

Quick Update on the past month’s efforts:
* VMD park
* Sharps Disposal

* library interested in disposal
* conrad house as well

* Eileen Loughran of DPH will be addressing the sidewalk sharps disposal program and its role in addressing the problem of discarded needles https://data.sfgov.org/City-Infrastructure/Heat-Map-of-Needle-Reports-in-District-6/9dgg-nd38

* Daryl Fong, the new Southern Station Police Captain, will introduce himself and discuss law enforcement in the area. He is joined by Officer Campos who patrols our area.

* 1532 Howard development presented by the project’s engineer, Brian Kenny

* Discussion of cameras proposal that has been discussed here: https://folsoma.nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=22544813

Notes:
1) Introductions of neighborhood attendees. 7:30

Some object to sharps disposal at Conrad House as well as other places on Grace Street
We need an approach that improves steadily
Petition to remove the 9th and Mission bus stop
Grace Street and Washburn Street have needles and unsafe areas.

2) Update from past month on Victoria Manolo Draves (VMD) Park

Patrick Valentino 7:52
- efforts to increase foot traffic
- intercontinental hotel paying to add lights to the park
- Talking with commissioner to see feasibility of enclosed dog park for both small and large dogs
- ambassadors in the park
- Friends of VMD park would like help in getting increased attendance at movie nights at the park

3) Captain Daryl Fong and Officer Campos 7:55

Hotspots should be addressed 9th & Mission, Washburn, Grace Street, etc.
Has been increase in enforcement at VMD and Homeless outreach in the park in the last two weeks (since coming into the position of Captain of Southern Station)
Cpt. Fong responds to question regarding Drug Acticvity at 9th and Mission 8:09
- Attendee statement :Not a homeless problem, there is a criminal problem. Is there such a thing as a beat cop?
- Cpt. Fong responds: Since redistricting between Tenderloing and Southern Station lost 14 beat officers. Taking initiative to split shifts Thursday- Sunday and as possible putting patrol officers on foot to combat increased activity.
- Attendee statement: There was a time when more car patrols came through
- Daryl: Visibility is important
- Attendee question: How do we as a group help the police?
- Non-emergency number gets backed up
- - Officer Campos said most helpful is good descriptions of people enganged in activities. Including specific clothing and any identifying marks.
  - Activate area through neighborhood use and have SF SAFE do a site assesments of improvements property owners and residents can do.
  - Community advocates for Bus shelter removal through MTA or other city department
  - He and Officer
  - Cpt. Fong stressed importance of reporting crimes. Money and resources allocated through data. So calling 911 for active crimes, Police non-emergency and 311 for other issues (nuisance and quality of life) is very important. If there is no record of issues then city will not respond.
  - Officer. Campos have taken notes through evening about issues they were unaware of and will take action.

Eileen Loughran 9:10

Outdoor disposal boxes – but where?
20-22,000 Injection drug users
150 Golden Gate at St Anthony’s
- 4 months to start
- Now 250 needles per week

Focus groups have said a lot of users clean up after themselves
Walgreens sells syringes – they will also accepts disposal (via bio-bins)
City has the Syringe Access and Disposal Program
HIV dies in the discarded syringe within a day. HEP C lasts “a little longer”.
Don’t want it on Washburn Street
Safe injection rooms in Canada as a model but SF Dept. of Health neutral on the issue
Is there a way to safely pick up needles if citizens want to take initiative? The health department or a provider could give that training. AIDS foundation gives this training when they do Community Clean Up days
Conrad House and Public Library both possible locations for pilot program.
Nothing will occur without community input and can be removed if prove to be problematic.

Brian Kenny 9:39

Planners discouraged retail
Who was the city planner?
Not conducive for long term growth (agreed)

Things we can do

More police to enable foot patrol
More call to allocate services
SEPTEC? Prevention via environmental design
We can get security through CBD
SF Safe assessment
Get the supervisor and SFSafe into the meetings
“Four corners Friday” (Eileen mentioned) as a model to do in our neighborhood
Connect with AIDS foundation re. organizing training, cleanup
1532 Howard – find out who the planner was – Niki taking on

For Captain Fong (from our other List of things we would like considered)

There is an epidemic of car break-ins (and similar property break-ins). We need
- better, more uniform, street lighting;
- ‘warning signs’ on the light poles telling people that break-ins happen and not to leave material in cars
- more police foot and cycle patrols at peak hours (just a note: I’d say “peak hours” for car break-ins are late night early mornings, at least in my neighborhood. I’ve never seen foot or cycle patrols other than daylight, and even sighting that is very rare).
- Police drive-bys in alleys – lots of places to hide in our alleys, having police drive through could help deter some crimes of opportunity.
- better statistics: there is no way to report a car break-in unless the car is yours, and many owners don’t bother. We need a 311 section for reporting crimes like this.
- drug dealers arrested, prosecuted, moved on, and generally harassed until they give up on dealing in this neighborhood.
- More foot / bike patrol
  - particularly around securing areas that have specific public purpose (e.g. VMD park and its bathrooms)
- car window breaking traps
- building breakins, mail theft
- bike theft traps

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