Haight Street McDonald’s beefs up security

The McDonald’s located in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood on Stanyan Street is cleaning up its act after San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera in May sent out a letter threatening legal action back in May against drug activity that has been going for a number of years.

Herrera announced Tuesday an agreement with McDonald’s corporate counsel and the franchisee, Betty Yin, of the Stanyan location to add a security guard during operating hours, placing more security cameras around the property and putting up fencing around the landscape of the property and pay the City $40,000.

Hererra cited more than 1,100 phones calls from residents regarding drug trafficking, fights, auto burglaries and public intoxication at 730 Stanyan Street, the location of the McDonald’s in the complaint.

In his letter, he said that the San Francisco Police Department in the last seven months arrested individuals on 11 separate occasions of selling or possessing illegal drugs on the McDonald’s property or front of it:

“We firmly believe that, in its current condition, your Property threatens the health and safety of the surrounding neighborhood.”

He wrote that he would be taking legal action against the company under California’s Drug Abatement Act seeking civil penalties.

Herrera said in a statement Tuesday that he is thankful that the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company responded to his earlier letter sent out in May, avoiding any litigation:

“I am grateful to McDonald’s Corporation and the franchisee for working with us cooperatively to create a safer environment for the neighborhood and a more welcoming experience for their customers.”

The agreement also includes meeting with SFPD each month for the next six months to review safety and security issues, taking reasonable measures to prevent loitering around the property, restricting parking access when the property closes, adding more lighting to the property’s exterior and for restaurant management to report any sale or illegal possession of drugs on the property and to make an effort to remove those people.

Yin had previously denied knowledge of the drug problems and receiving Herrera’s complaint letter.

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.