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Tenderloin residents push back on parking removals; claim disabled-placard abuse
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the Police Commission they oppose planned parking removals in the Tenderloin and said an employee advocating the changes blamed residents for abusing disabled placards; neighborhood groups warned such removals displace residents and move crime to other blocks.
Several Tenderloin residents and neighborhood advocates told the Police Commission on May 13 that planned parking removals on the 100 and 200 blocks of Eddy and Turk streets could displace residents and businesses and that the removal proposal was driven by claims that disabled-parking placards were being abused.
At a public-comment slot, a longtime neighborhood resident identified as Clyde asked whether the OCC produced a complaint breakdown by race and urged more community-involved policing; he said he had not seen a racial breakdown for complaints and wanted that data made available. Director Hicks replied that the OCC annual report appendix contains a racial/ethnic breakdown and gave 2014 percentages for complainants.
Michael Nolte, executive director of Alliance for Better District 6, said he was "personally offended" that a San Francisco Safe employee suggested residents were abusing disabled placards as a rationale for removing parking. He said the Tenderloin includes many seniors and disabled residents who legitimately use placards and warned that removing spaces on one block only shifts problems to the next: "So this is a very important issue, and this is not how you handle crime in San Francisco."
John Multi and other commenters raised concerns about loss of parking and the effect on visitors and local businesses. The Commission acknowledged the concerns and took public comment under advisement; no formal action on parking was taken during the meeting.
