Social media publish attracts controversy to cement barricades at San Francisco’s ‘red-light district’

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A social media post sparked further controversy in San Francisco’s so-called “red light district.”

SFMTA installed new barriers along Capp Street in the Mission District, replacing existing barriers erected a few weeks ago to curb ongoing prostitution in the area. The cinder block barricades are a concern for the San Francisco Fire Department.

“I think it’s the best thing they’ve done in . . . forever,” said Carl Connell, a longtime resident who lives down the street on Capp Street and sees no exploited women on the street.”

For the first time in 41 years, Connell says he genuinely enjoys his neighborhood — even if it means his newfound sense of peace shifts the issue elsewhere.

“I don’t know, it’s someone else’s turn to have this stuff for 40 years,” Connell said.

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A turn his neighbors down the street won’t take.

“That’s just obviously stupid,” said Steve Bower, who owns a wood and paint shop on Capp Street. “There has to be a safe place for sex workers to work.”

The irony of barriers designed to block the problem may just create another.

“It endangers public safety,” Bower said.

Over the weekend, the local San Francisco Fire Department union tweeted, “Self-serving decisions that put others at risk can have dire consequences. The tweet included a photo of the barricades and referenced a large fire that affected their ability to save the 300 block of Capp Street.

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Word got around quickly.

“I heard there was this massive explosion and the fire engines couldn’t get in to do their job,” Bower said. “Seems to be a pretty steep price to pay for complaints from neighbors who don’t like people pulling up and asking for sex.”

But according to resident and city records, there was no fire on Capp St over the weekend. The tweet actually confused many in the neighborhood.

“We were a little worried,” said a Capp Street resident. “We thought, oh, are the barriers causing problems? But speaking to other residents, we found that there hadn’t been a fire, not in the 300 block of Capp St. or anywhere else on Capp St., since the barriers were put up.”

Several neighbors told the I-Team that they felt the tweet misrepresented the reality of what happened. But rescue workers argue that every second counts when responding to life-threatening situations.

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More than 170 neighbors signed a letter expressing their support for the barricades, adding that they have reduced violence and restored peace to the area. The letter was presented to Mayor Breed and other city officials during a meeting Tuesday to discuss next steps.

“In the meantime, the mayor has decided that we will keep the barricades up,” said Sup. Hillary Ronen, adding that there will be minor delays in the event of emergencies. “But on the other hand, the danger on the street from violence and gunfire and a pedestrian being hit was so great that we have to balance all these competing factors.”

“Are you concerned about the impact on response times?” ABC7’s Stephanie Sierra asked Connell. “Nah. You just have to know how to get in,” he said.

But other residents aren’t happy with the idea — they expect more traffic, parking problems and delayed deliveries.

“It’s a danger,” Bower said. “That is no solution.”

Excellent. Ronen says the city will design and build a new barricade system that will be bolted to the ground over the next six weeks. At this point, the firefighters can use a tool to remove the barricades in an emergency.

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