Haney announces weekly washing schedule for Tenderloin sidewalks

People who walk around San Francisco’s Tenderloin will soon be treated to cleaner sidewalks.

District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney and members of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District announced Tuesday a new plan to pressure wash every block in the Tenderloin once a week.

Community leaders said Tuesday during a press conference at the Tenderloin National Forest that pressure washing currently occurs just monthly.

Haney was able to secure an additional $260,000 in this year’s budget for additional cleaning services in the neighborhood.

The supervisor said:

“This is a huge deal. People in the Tenderloin deserve safe, clean and healthy streets and sidewalks just like anyone else in San Francisco.”

Haney continued:

“When people can walk outside and not have to worry about whether they’re going to step in something or walk over something, but actually can just live in a dignified healthy neighborhood that they deserve, is a huge improvement in the quality of life for people who live here in the Tenderloin.”

Simon Bertrang, the executive director of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, said the plan is to split the Tenderloin in six different parts and have a crew pressure wash one section every day of the week except Sunday. Crews use a cordless pressure washing tool attached to their cleaning carts.

Bertrang said:

“The idea behind this is that the community will be able to hold us accountable. They’ll expect to see clean sidewalks on that day.”

Community benefit districts are designated as nonprofits that provide neighborhood with extra services, such as street sweeping, pressure washing sidewalks and public safety. The districts are funded through special assessment taxes paid by property owners.

Mayor London Breed last week announced The City would continue an overnight Pit Stop pilot program, which makes three public-use restrooms available 24 hours a day. Two of those restrooms are in Haney’s district.

The supervisor called for the mayor and Department of Public Works to increase the number of Pit Stop restrooms in an effort to keep the streets and sidewalks clean.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.