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At some point, the grant money doesn’t matter. Vandalizing San Francisco restaurants is a new normal. Our of 47 restaurants, only 3% didn’t experience vandalism or some kind of property damage last month. The city has dispersed a million dollars in grant funds since 2021 to try to help reimburse businesses. Almost 800 of them have received $1,000 or $2,000 to clean up or repair vandalism damage.
Some restaurants had to close
The city’s 311 call center has received 10,000 calls of graffiti on buildings or sidewalks in six months. There’s even been an officer assigned to investigate the graffiti full time.
Sometimes the damage is so bad replacement is necessary. A pizza shop was hit with acid. The owner Leandro Jayme said, “This is acid so you can’t just remove it. They have to replace the glass.” A small pane of glass costs $300.
Restaurants gave up
The graffiti is almost daily. Shuggie’s is in the Mission District, same as the pizza shop. He had to close. Shoplifting is a huge crime too.
Previously, San Francisco stores did their best to deter crime. Among the efforts has been installing extreme security devices and hiring security officers.
Restaurants aren’t the only places hit
The supermarket chain Safeway installed exit gates to get your receipt scanned. Walgreens locked its freezers with chains no less. Shoplifters were hitting the store as many as 15 to 20 times per day.
In 2021, those businesses in Union Square hired security to keep the “smash and grab” thefts down. Part of the skyrocketing shoplifting is due to Proposition 47 in 2014. The voters approved this law that made thefts less than $950 a misdemeanor so it’s not investigated. Californians now support changing this proposition to reinstate penalties for particular thefts. Among the businesses that have fled the city are Westfield, AT&T, Nordstrom, Whole Foods, and two hotels.
