Underneath a stairway in a parking garage on a recent Friday, Vile and three friends were seen passing around a pipe while shopping center visitors hurried past them. Many shoppers, noticing the group, quickened their pace, while others seemed oblivious to the activities unfolding around them.
Potrero Center’s parking lot has long been a secluded spot for drug users, according to local maintenance worker Manuel Diaz, who has witnessed the escalation firsthand during his eight years on the job. He expressed concern about safety, noting incidents of violence and a wide variety of drugs being consumed in public.
“Everyone comes here … it makes one feel unsafe,” Diaz said. “People have pulled out weapons, and they consume all kinds of drugs.” Longtime employees at the center have observed an uptick in the number of individuals frequenting the area, particularly following the increase in police presence at 16th and Mission streets.
Maria Sanchez, who has worked at Noah’s Bagels for eight years, echoed this sentiment, saying, “There’s always been people smoking drugs here, but we have seen an increase recently.” According to her, drug users are often spotted outside local businesses such as Safeway, and some even resort to stealing drinks.
Vile shared that the intensifying police efforts on 16th Street have influenced his behavior. “It’s definitely been a deterrent for me wanting to go there. I don’t wanna get in the middle of a hot zone when I can avoid it,” he remarked.
Another member of Vile’s group, who moved from Nevada seeking better support programs, voiced feelings of harassment at 16th and Mission. He has since opted for alternate routes to attend the Gubbio Project, a social service organization that provides resting space and free coffee.
“The HOT [homeless outreach team] and places like the Gubbio Project are part of the solution,” he stated, noting his new path to access those services involves deviating through 14th Street.
The response to the situation involves the Mission Street Team, a collaborative effort comprising personnel from various municipal departments, including the sheriff’s and police departments, as well as Public Works and the Department of Health, Homeless and Supportive Housing. Santiago Lerma, the head of this team, reported an increase in drug activity around Potrero Center that began six months ago, alongside an increase in neighborhood complaints.
In an effort to provide services, Lerma’s team started meeting at Martin De Porres House of Hospitality, located on the east side of Potrero between 16th and 15th streets. Offering lunch, showers, and social space, this location caters to local homeless residents during specific hours throughout the week.
Lerma noted some positive changes occurring in the area since their engagement began three weeks ago. “We’re gonna keep coming back,” he pledged, emphasizing the importance of connecting individuals to shelters and essential services.
Recent interactions with city officials have also taken place. A volunteer at Martin De Porres mentioned that Mayor Daniel Lurie visited the center about two weeks prior. Additionally, a local man living in a bus on 16th Street shared that the mayor knocked on his door to inquire about potential city-provided services.
Despite efforts to improve conditions, challenges persist. A security guard at Parkside Hardwoods on Utah Street mentioned that the area’s problems are longstanding. He routinely intervenes when individuals engage in public urination, graffiti, drug use, and tent setups.
Notably, the security guard identified Martin De Porres as a magnet for loiterers and drug users, asserting that many congregate nearby while waiting for the center’s free meal service to commence each morning.
On a recent Monday evening, a sizeable group gathered outside Martin De Porres, obstructing the sidewalk and prompting pedestrians to walk around them in the street. As some members of the group enjoyed ice cream and shared snacks, others circulated a pipe.
Ruby Lopez, one of the individuals outside, defended Martin De Porres against neighborhood complaints, stating, “This is a great place. There’s no other place that offers you the resources they have.”
Pointing toward the parking garage entrance, she described it as a secluded area that individuals often utilize as a hiding spot for drug use. When asked about police operations at 16th and Mission, she shook her head and sighed, saying, “It’s definitely pushing people away. It keeps me from going now. You never wanna have a confrontation with the police.”
Meanwhile, underneath the same stairway where Vile had been earlier, a man named Reese B. displayed a small piece of aluminum foil while discussing his usage of fentanyl and methamphetamine with Mission Local. After being arrested twice since Mayor Lurie took office—once at 6th and Market streets and again at 15th Street and Julian Avenue—Reese noted that he was released after 48 hours on both occasions due to the absence of pending warrants.
“It all depends on what you got on you,” he commented, indicating a complex interplay between law enforcement and substance use.
At the back door of one of the Potrero businesses, Emmanuel Quiñonez, a young worker at an auto parts store, described an increase in issues since he began his job in January. “When they’re smoking, the smoke comes in,” he remarked, observing that more than 20 individuals frequently gather outside.
His colleagues nodded in agreement as he recounted an incident where another coworker spotted stolen goods from their store being sold at 16th and Mission on his way home. “At least we’ve seen more police presence recently,” Quiñonez concluded, highlighting the ongoing concern for safety in the area.
image source from：missionlocal
