SAN FRANCISCO — A group of residents and businesses in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood is planning to file a federal lawsuit on Thursday, accusing the city of allowing open-air drug markets and crowded encampments to persist. This legal challenge reflects long-standing frustrations over the street conditions in the area. The lawsuit comes at a time when the city is grappling with how best to address its homeless and opioid crises. This tension is also playing out in the difficult re-election campaign for Mayor London Breed, who has made these issues her top priority.
The lawsuit, filed by the Phoenix and Best Western hotels and four unnamed Tenderloin residents, does not seek monetary damages but rather court orders requiring the city to end brazen drug dealing and use in the neighborhood. The plaintiffs want the city to ensure that sidewalks and public spaces are “clean, safe, and accessible.” The legal action also alleges that the city’s policies have created a “containment zone” for the drug market in the Tenderloin, while tolerating other criminal activities such as violence, theft, and sales of stolen goods.
This is not the only lawsuit targeting San Francisco’s oversight of the Tenderloin. UC College of Law San Francisco has filed a separate motion accusing the city of violating a 2020 settlement agreement that required officials to make efforts to eliminate homeless encampments in the neighborhood. City officials are reviewing the complaints and plan to respond in court. However, they argue that the flurry of lawsuits is not helping to solve the crisis on the streets.
San Francisco has concentrated its housing for formerly homeless residents and social services in the Tenderloin for decades. However, businesses and residents in the neighborhood have long felt that the city ignores their concerns. The street conditions have worsened during the pandemic, prompting Mayor Breed to declare a state of emergency in the area in December 2021. Since then, the city has attempted to crack down on encampments and open drug markets.
Despite these efforts, residents and business owners in the Tenderloin argue that not enough progress has been made. The number of tents in the area has increased, and the neighborhood continues to grapple with drug addiction and related issues. The new lawsuit seeks positive change and equal treatment for Tenderloin residents, employees, tourists, and businesses.
The city’s response to the lawsuit and the broader challenges facing the Tenderloin will be closely watched. The outcome of these legal actions will have implications not only for San Francisco but also for other cities dealing with similar issues of homelessness, drug addiction, and public safety. The Tenderloin’s street conditions have been described as a “catastrophe” from a public health perspective, but finding effective solutions is a complex task that requires collaboration and comprehensive strategies.