If you have walked through San Francisco lately, you might have noticed a few things—like how 6th Street has become less of a street and more of an elaborate obstacle course, complete with unpredictable human hurdles and the occasional sidewalk surprise. It is no secret that the city has been grappling with its fentanyl crisis, and now, with Mayor Lurie’s first big legislative swing, titled: Core Initiatives to Strengthen City’s Responses to Homelessness, Drug Abuse, Mental Health Needs, and Related Crises or for short, The Fentanyl Ordinance, the hope is that things might start looking up. Or at least looking a little less like a hot mess!
Lurie, in all his fresh-faced optimism, is relying on this ordinance to be the magic bullet—or at least a very stern talking-to—that San Francisco needs. It is meant to crack down on dealers, clean up the streets, and somehow, in the process, put a dent in the looming budget deficit, because what is a crisis without a side of financial ruin?
Can We Actually Clean Up 6th Street?
If you have ever walked down 6th Street, congratulations. You are brave. Or lost. Or both. It is the kind of place that makes you clutch your bag a little tighter and reconsider your life choices. Cleaning it up has been on the city’s to-do list since forever, somewhere between “fix potholes” and “figure out why that guy on Market Street bit the head off of a pigeon.”
But now, with the new ordinance, the city is going to try for a real push to reclaim the area. Plans include:
Increased enforcement, which is a subtle way of saying there will be more police officers around to make sure your morning walk does not include dodging a drug deal.
More outreach teams, to convince people that there are better places to spend the day than sprawling across a bus stop, a store front, or any place on the sidewalk.
Even more street cleaning, which, in theory, means less garbage and fewer questionable puddles, we hope at least before the next street cleaning round happens.
Collaboration with local organizations, because nothing says “we’re serious” like a well-meaning non-profit handing out pamphlets nobody in the fentanyl fold will read.
But Can the Police Keep Up?
Here’s where things get tricky. For all the talk about enforcement, one small, nagging issue remains: We are running out of police officers.
San Francisco has been facing a serious police staffing crisis, and expecting officers to swoop in and save the day when they are already stretched thin is, at best, optimistic and, at worst, laughable. Between the long hours, low morale, and a general sense of “why am I even doing this?” among officers, the city’s ability to enforce the ordinance hinges on recruitment and retention.
So far, efforts to attract new recruits have included everything short of putting up a “Help Wanted” sign outside City Hall. The city has partnered with us and the department on some of the following:
Reviving the signing bonuses, which are nice but do not make up for having to break up sidewalk brawls at 7 AM and the bonuses are nowhere near what other areas are offering, like $100K in one bay area city or another $75K down in southern California. Competition is fierce!
Better pay, though it is still not competitive enough to keep officers from heading to less stressful gigs in other cities—or the suburbs, where the biggest complaint is a noisy HOA meeting instead of the Groundhog Day that 6th Street is.
Community engagement, because nothing builds trust like a friendly neighborhood police officer reminding you to please, for the love of God, not use the public library as a shelter.
Without more officers, enforcing the Fentanyl Ordinance will be like trying to clean the ocean with a sponge—ambitious, but futile.
But What About Immigration? Not the Abuelas.
Another fun subplot to all this is the concern over immigration enforcement. Some folks are worried that cracking down on fentanyl dealers means a broader sweep of the immigrant community. But let us be honest—nobody is coming for your abuela.
Federal immigration efforts are focused on individuals with serious criminal records, not the grandma making tamales or the guy running the corner store. San Francisco’s sanctuary policies remain intact, which means law-abiding undocumented residents can breathe easy—unless, of course, they have been moonlighting as drug kingpins. In that case, well, all bets are off.
Civil Liberties: For Whom, exactly?
San Francisco has always prided itself on its progressive values, but sometimes, you must wonder—who exactly are we protecting here?
The ongoing debate over civil liberties has left many wondering whether the city’s policies are prioritizing criminals over the public. Are we so concerned about rights that we have forgotten about basic public safety? When someone sets up a makeshift fentanyl lounge in front of your apartment, it is hard not to feel like the balance has tipped a little too far in the wrong direction.
Mayor Lurie’s ordinance attempts to walk that fine line—enforcing laws without trampling on rights—but in a city like San Francisco, that is easier said than done. For every new policy, there is a lawsuit waiting in the wings, ready to argue that someone’s personal freedoms are being stomped on.
So, What’s Next?
San Francisco is in a transition period, and whether the Fentanyl Ordinance will be a turning point or just another well-intentioned policy doomed to fizzle out remains to be seen. What is clear is that it is going to take more than simply good intentions and press conferences to turn things around. It is going to take:
Enough police officers to enforce the rules.
Real support for those struggling with addiction.
A community that is willing to work together instead of just pointing fingers.
In the meantime, we will keep stepping over sidewalk tents, sidestepping “mystery liquids,” and hoping that, just maybe, this time the city will get it right.