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Three San Francisco community benefit districts report rising trash and needles, plan renewals
Summary
At the April 4 Government Audit and Oversight Committee meeting, executive directors for the Castro/Upper Market, Yerba Buena and Union Square districts reported increases in trash and discarded needles, described safety and cleaning programs and said they are preparing renewal campaigns; the committee forwarded their annual reports to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
At a Government Audit and Oversight Committee meeting on April 4, 2018, executive directors from three San Francisco community benefit districts told supervisors their neighborhoods are collecting more trash and discarded needles even as they pilot programs intended to improve cleanliness and safety.
"We picked up 109,625 pounds of trash," said Andrea Aiello, executive director of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, while describing the CBD's cleaning budget, partnerships with Recology and special patrol contracts. Aiello said her district also abated more than 15,700 instances of graffiti and runs the Castro Cares program and Live in the Castro events to activate public space.
Chris Korgas of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) told the committee OEWD reviewed the districts under the Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994 and the city's Article 15 of the Business and Tax Regulations Code and that the CBDs met OEWD's four benchmarks for the 2016–17 review period.
Kathy Maupin, executive director of the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District, said her district responded to more than 61,000 service requests and performed roughly 10,000 graffiti abatements. Maupin reported a sharp recent rise in needles picked up in the district: "for the year we averaged picking up less than 100 needles a month," she said, and then noted December had just under 3,000 pickups and January about 2,500.
Karen Flood, executive director of the Greater Union Square Business Improvement District, said her BID increased 'big belly' trash can placements from five to 25 with sponsorships from local businesses, noted a recent private donation supporting holiday police presence, and said the BID is conducting a merchant survey as it prepares for renewal.
Supervisors pressed directors on coordination and cost. Chair Jane Kim asked whether Recology could change pickup times to reduce overnight pilfering; Aiello said the CBD will follow up and that paying merchants to install locks is currently beyond the district's budget and that some locks have been vandalized. On the big belly pilot, Maupin and Flood said the cans had reduced staining and debris at pilot locations, but they emphasized ongoing rental and maintenance costs.
Public commenters asked for greater transparency in CBD funding. Michael Nolte said some district spending comes from other city departments and asked for a clearer breakdown of outside funding. Nolte also raised concerns about air pollution tied to rideshare vehicles and asked about ADA accessibility for leased trash cans.
After presentations and public comment, a supervisor moved to forward items 2–4 (the three annual reports) to the full Board with a positive recommendation; Chair Kim said the motion passed without objection.
The committee's action sends the CBDs' annual reports and OEWD recommendations to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration as part of the renewal and oversight process.
