The San Francisco Police Department has intensified its efforts at the 16th and Mission BART plaza, deploying its Mobile Command Unit No. 2 in mid-March. This strategic move has resulted in a notable spike in drug-related arrests and citations: over one-fourth of the city’s total drug incidents in March originated from this one-and-a-half block radius.
In March 2025, San Francisco police officers made 520 arrests and citations related to drugs, the highest monthly total since 2018. A significant portion of these—140 incidents—occurred near the 16th Street BART Plaza, an area Mayor Daniel Lurie has specifically targeted for crackdowns on drug dealing, drug use, and street vending.
Despite constituting just 0.2 percent of San Francisco’s total geographical area, this small section accounted for nearly 27 percent of the city’s drug incident reports culminating in arrests or citations that month. The nearby alleys, including Weise and Caledonia streets, have gained notoriety for rampant drug use, leading long-time residents to describe the scene as a “zombie graveyard” and a “drug carnival.”
Residents report that the increase in police activity has not effectively diminished the problems they face. They describe the situation as “hell every single hour of every single day,” highlighting a sense of frustration that arises despite the uptick in arrests and citations.
Mission police captain and San Francisco’s police chief have recognized that intensified policing efforts in areas like the Tenderloin might be driving drug dealers and users to the Mission district.
Before the SFPD’s renewed focus on the plaza, drug-related arrests and citations from this area comprised only five percent of the citywide total from January 2018 through January 2025. However, by March 2025, that figure escalated dramatically to 27 percent, indicating a significant shift in law enforcement priorities.
The rise in reported cases isn’t solely tied to the observed arrests; it also encompasses a marked increase in disorderly conduct citations and warrants. Evan Sernoffsky, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department, indicated that this surge is a direct reflection of the SFPD’s strategy to proactively address drug use and dealers in the area.
The uptick in drug-related incidents is not isolated to the 16th Street BART plaza. Similar increases have been noted in other neighborhoods where policing resources have been heavily focused on drug activity.
For example, drug-related offenses from Sixth Street, where SFPD has set up a “triage center” to assist and arrest offenders, accounted for 44 percent of the citywide total in January 2025, a stark increase compared to 8 percent the prior January. This suggests that dedicated resources can lead to substantial reporting increases in drug-related incidents.
However, experts caution that merely increasing police reports does not necessarily indicate a sustainable long-term solution. Former SFPD sergeant Carl Tennenbaum, with over three decades of experience in narcotics enforcement, expressed skepticism about the sustainability of such high numbers, calling drug enforcement “low-hanging fruit” that can easily inflate statistics without creating genuine improvements.
Critics also point to the disconnect between arrests and meaningful follow-up measures. Although the SFPD promotes its successful raids and arrests, questions remain regarding the subsequent actions taken by the district attorney’s office and the overall effectiveness of the measures implemented.
A significant March 25 raid at Market and Van Ness, for example, led to 40 arrests but resulted in zero filed charges, raising concerns about the efficacy of aggressive policing tactics. Dallas Augustine, an assistant professor at San Jose State University, noted that while officers may encounter individuals without drugs, the presence of outstanding warrants can quickly lead to arrest, contributing to higher citation numbers without addressing root issues.
In a recent police commission meeting, Chief Bill Scott emphasized the department’s commitment to tackling low-level crimes, responding to the residents’ frustrations over ongoing illicit activities. He expressed optimism regarding the gradual progress, asserting that even with displacement, the groups involved in drug activity are becoming smaller and fewer.
Nonetheless, Tennenbaum and others highlight the broader public safety concerns being neglected amid the focus on drug enforcement. The complex interplay of social issues, such as homelessness and mental health needs, also requires attention from city resources.
Residents like John Andrade and Michael Johnson argue that police presence alone is insufficient to tackle the public health crisis tied to addiction and drug use. They propose the involvement of public health outreach workers instead, suggesting a more compassionate approach that engages individuals where they are, rather than relying on strict policing measures.
“The police can’t ‘bother to get out of their cruisers,’” commented Johnson, calling for a more direct engagement between outreach services and those affected by addiction. Andrade echoed this sentiment, advocating for immediate support from the Department of Public Health and crisis intervention teams to provide much-needed help.
As Lurie’s efforts to make the city safer continue, questions linger about the sustainability of this approach. The extent to which resources will be allocated to the area surrounding 16th and Mission remains uncertain, yet the ongoing challenges highlight the need for a more holistic solution to the city’s pressing drug crisis.
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/04/sf-drug-arrests-citations-16th-street-mission-data/
