SF street vendors would need permit to sell certain goods under new bill

Local officials are backing state legislation that would create a new, San Francisco police-enforced permitting system in an effort to tackle the sale of stolen goods in the Mission, Tenderloin and other neighborhoods.

Mayor London Breed and state Sen. Scott Wiener joined a coalition of city officials, community leaders and merchants Monday to announce Senate Bill 925, legislation that would allow The City to require street vendors to obtain permits and a proof of purchase in order to sell items on officials’ list of frequently stolen goods. City officials said that fencing — the selling of stolen goods — has created harmful street conditions in multiple San Francisco neighborhoods and posed health and safety risks.

Vendors in violation of the legislation would receive an infraction for their first two offenses, and an infraction or a misdemeanor and up to six months in county jail for their third offense.

During a press conference at City Hall to announce the bill, Breed said legal street vending has been part of The City’s fabric, with vendors giving senses of vibrancy and support to their respective neighborhoods.

“Sadly, what we’ve seen in recent years is a change where we know that there are challenges around those who are going into various retail establishments, stealing items and taking them out onto the streets,” Breed said Monday.

Previous attempts by city officials to curb illegal vending included issuing a temporary moratorium on street vending in the Mission through August, as well as permanent vending moratoriums in U.N. Plaza and Hallidie Plaza.

Wiener, the bill’s author, told Monday’s crowd that addressing the issue of illegal street vending with state legislation was a “top priority” for Breed. He said that SB 925 was written to avoid immigration consequences for misdemeanors and that the bill does not apply to vendors selling prepared food —with or without a permit — nor does it apply to people selling goods with permits.

Under SB 925, The City would draft a list of items it deems commonly stolen through local data, as well as information gleaned from police department and Public Works enforcement operations.

“This bill is not about our beautiful and diverse array of street vendors,” Wiener said Monday. He called illegal street vending “organized crime” that “harms not only the surrounding neighborhood, but legitimate street vendors as well.”

“A blanket ban on all street vending is not the outcome any of us want,” Wiener said at the press conference.

He described SB 925 as an “additional tool” in San Francisco’s efforts to address the issue.

Police Chief Bill Scott spoke in support of SB 925. He said that the police department has spent this past year cracking down on both retail theft and the illegal fencing of stolen goods, leading to the recovery of thousands of items. Overall, Scott said that theft in The City is down by 40% over this time last year.

“We have a lot of momentum but we still need to do more,” Scott said, adding that he was “optimistic that this momentum will continue because of this legislation."

Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who worked alongside Breed to implement the Mission Street vending moratorium, said that she would introduce a resolution at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting in support of SB 925.

“This state bill provides San Francisco an essential tool in tackling the rampant sale of stolen goods and bringing order and renewed vibrancy to our neighborhoods,” Ronen said in a statement.

City officials said they are working on a phased pilot program that will allow a limited number of permitted street vendors to return to Mission Street while continuing to assess how to keep the area safe and clean. Officials did not say when the pilot would begin.