Sunset Safety Network coordinates police, volunteer groups to combat district crime

City, business and community leaders announced a new crime prevention approach in San Francisco’s Sunset District that taps into and coordinates public safety programs currently led by volunteer groups and merchant associations.

Supervisor Gordon Mar, who represents the Sunset District, said at a Wednesday press conference that he is focusing on crime prevention initiatives as chair of the Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee.

Mar announced the formation of the Sunset Safety Network, which includes the Taraval police station, the Sunset Safety Squad, People of Parkside Sunset, Outer Sunset Merchants and Professionals Association and Wah Mei School.

He said:

“In the neighborhood of merchant associations, neighborhood groups and other community based organizations, they would be working together on enhancing safety in the Sunset District for seniors, families in the entire community.”

Mar was able to secure city budget funding to hire a safety network coordinator who will work out of the Wai Mei School, a long-time organization that provides childcare and family educational services. The school went through a competitive bidding process to lead the safety network organization.

Lily Wong, director of community engagement for Wah Mei School, said the school is looking to increase community engagement outside operating hours.

Leon Chow, a former union organizer with SEIU-UWH, was hired to lead the coordination of the safety network. In speaking about his new responsibility, Chow said:

“My role right now here is as the Sunset Safety Network coordinator is trying to collaborate, coordinate the voice and participation of all the residents of sunset, the merchants, including the three main corridors: Taraval, Noriega and Irving.”

Albert Chow, owner of Great Wall Hardware on Taraval Street and the president of merchant association People of Parkside Sunset, said merchants are tired of break-ins and assaults the corridor has experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said:

“This is not a way to exist in the city. I know we’re better than that.”

Michael Hsu, owner of the Footprint sports apparel store on Taraval Street, is no stranger to break-ins. His store was burglarized several times last year. Hsu said the end goal is to make the community feel safer, adding:

“We want people to be able to travel to San Francisco, travel the sunset, without feeling that they could be a potential victim.”

In February, Mar announced other district safety initiatives that included adding city ambassadors, installing video camera doorbells and providing an escort service for seniors.

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.