by Sebastian on March 3, 2025 (BeyondChron.org)
Drugs Dealing Not Welcome At SF’s Jefferson Square Park
Many San Franciscans have to Google to find out where Jefferson Square Park is.
The tranquil park is perched atop the hill at the border of Western Addition in District 5 and Cathedral Hill in District 2. At 1007 Gough and Eddy Streets, across the street from the park where the Sacred Heart practice field is now, once stood a
Victorian mansion called the Fortmann mansion that played a cryptic role in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 master piece, “Vertigo.”
Horror In The Park
There have been some troubling scenes in the park that started in late summer of 2024, that I often witness by sitting on the park bench, which is still in the same spot as in the movie, “Vertigo.”
The Jefferson Square Park bench in “Vertigo” (courtesy of Reel SF)
The bench in the park now is still in the same spot as in “Vertigo”
Young trees in the park have been destroyed by a homeless couple who live in the park, drug dealers, and users have moved into the park after the City cracked down on open-air drug markets on Willow Street in the Tenderloin and the Sixth Street in SOMA.
I overheard a girl strolling in the park with her mother asking her, “Why are there many zombies [referring to the drug addicts in their fentanyl fold position] in the park, mommy?”
I asked several drug users in the park if I could help them find treatment and housing. They said that they already have housing, but drugs are not allowed in their housing. So, they do it in the park.
Many of the homeless in the park had been offered a shelter by the City’s outreach team, but they declined. A big shot drug dealer in the park offered to spread the word to others to stay out of the park if I gave him money. I told him that I could find him and others job opportunities if he and his friends agreed to leave the park.
From then on, the drug scenes in the park got worse and residents around the park started to call the park, the zombie park. Not only yuppies and techies with pure-bred pooches, but senior citizens who live in the Western Addition housing projects and a senior living community around the park are afraid to go out after sunset.
People Are Angry
Residents around the park complained to their respective District Supervisors, Bilal Mahmood and Stephen Sherrill, who share the troubled area. And they both took swift actions.
Supervisor Stephen Sherrill immediately worked with the SF Recreation and Parks Department to install 4 solar lights in the park to deter drug activities and is hosting a public safety town hall on March 6th at the Marina Middle School with the Chief of Police Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. Lauren Chung, Supervisor Sherrill’s chief of staff said that constituents who will be attending the town hall have submitted many questions about the deteriorated condition of Jefferson Square Park and the plans to revitalize the neighborhood.
Supervisor Bilal Mahmood promptly visited and announced via X from the park that he would be introducing legislation to support the Drug Market Agency Coordinator Center’s (DMAAC) operations in tackling drug markets in the City.
Nevertheless, their constituents couldn’t take it any longer. They flooded their offices, the Mayor’s office, and SFPD with more complaints to pressure them to take drastic actions, as the open-air drug market tightened up its grip on their neighborhood.
Residents talked to the SF Standard about the rampant open-air drug market and their daily ordeals.
The “Hollywood Blockbuster” Raid At Jefferson Square Park
Residents around the park didn’t have any clue at all that their neighborhood would once again, after “Vertigo,” become another site for a “new movie” called, “Saving Jefferson Square Park” directed by the San Francisco Mayor, Daniel Lurie.
On February 26th, as they were getting ready for bed, a large-scale raid occurred in Jefferson Square Park from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
There were bright lights just like on a movie set.
I had never witnessed an over-the-top raid like that before. It was like watching a well choreographed and executed dance troupe, which everybody knew exactly what they were supposed to do.
Towards the end of the raid, I stood on the same spot on Eddy and Gough Streets where James Stewart was in “Vertigo,” processing what I just witnessed in shock and awe.
Eddy and Gough Streets in “Vertigo” (courtesy of Reel SF)
After the raid was over, the Department of Public Works crew cleaned up the trash left behind by the drug dealers and users in the park. And the litterers were taken away from the park in a Sheriff’s Department jail bus.
The DPW crew picked up the trash after the raid at the park
The song, “Bad Boys” came into my mind at that time.
Bright Lights In The Park
The next day, Mayor Daniel Lurie posted on X commenting on the raid, “If you are selling drugs in this city, we are coming after you.”
Paul Yep, the City’s Chief of Public Safety was the commanding officer of the SFPD Northern Police Station from 2020-2022. So, he understands the neighborhood’s years of struggles with encampments, open-air drug markets, and crime.
Mayor Daniel Lurie lives in District 2. That makes Supervisor Stephen Sherrill his District Supervisor, too.It takes the whole community to make a district clean, safe, and vibrant.
The community came together to save Jefferson Square Park that evening.
Supervisor Sherrill told me that he was going to knock on the park residents’ doors, the same angry constituents who will give him and other city officials an earful at the March 6th town hall about the ongoing problems in their neighborhood, to see how they were doing.
I was surprised by his bravery. It was like asking them, “Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
Curious about how they would react to him, I asked him if I could tag along. He agreed.
D2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill checked out a new gate to deter
frequent loitering near Jefferson Square Park
He knocked on many doors and introduced himself to the residents around the park.
He said, “Hi! My name is Stephen Sherrill. I am your District Supervisor. I am here to answer your questions about the raid last night, and if there is anything I can do for you. The raid was not just a show. It was just the beginning of many upcoming improvements in this neighborhood. I want you to stay here. It’s my top priority to make you feel safe to walk around this
tranquil and beautiful park. The Rec and Parks Department will install more lights in the park on Monday.”
A Bright light in Jefferson Square Park to deter drug activities
The neighbors were so happy and grateful to see him and hailed him like a hero.
They said that their former District Supervisors just sent them generic email responses, let alone a house visit, when they complained to them about problems. Their feedback on the raid has been very positive and they want sequels. They want him to express their gratitude to the Mayor and the multi-agencies involved.
He visited the Jefferson Square Park neighborhood twice since the raid to talk to his constituents.
It’s Time For Healing
“Litterers in Jefferson Square Park will be composted”
The park has been scarred and the community has been traumatized by the open-air drug markets in and around the park.
They are relieved that the open-air drug market in their neighborhood has been closed and hope it won’t ever come back.
Now, it’s time to replant the park and for the community to heal together.
After discussing it with the park neighbors, I gave the park gardener sunflower seeds to plant in the park.
Sunflowers symbolize positivity and joy. They have the power to uplift our spirits and bring a sense of optimism to any space.
