Popular San Francisco food hall closing as 'drug dealing, public defecation' scare off guests: Report
One man 'befouled the sidewalk' outside the food hall 'in a disgusting way,' according to the Chronicle
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A popular San Francisco food hall, La Cocina, is closing after some restaurateurs are claiming that the sidewalks outside the hall are too full of drug dealing, public defection and crime to allow for a pleasant experience for guests, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The food hall, located in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, was supported by a nonprofit that provided assistance primarily to "women from communities of color and immigrant communities." One chef, Wafa Bahloul, an Algerian immigrant, said that the "best solution" was to close down shop, the Chronicle reported.
"[Bahloul] said the sidewalks outside were too dangerous and unpleasant to lure people to dinner as night fell."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A San Francisco food hall, La Cocina, is closing after some restaurateurs are claiming that the sidewalks outside the hall are too full of drug dealing, public defection and crime to allow for a pleasant experience for guests. (Fox News Digital / Jon Michael Raasch)
The Algerian immigrant also related that her husband "recently witnessed a shooting outside La Cocina. Drug use, drug dealing, public defecation and urination and trash are common sights on the sidewalks outside La Cocina before it opens and after it shuts. During operating hours, the block is mostly clear — but only because La Cocina was spending $275,000 a year on security it couldn’t afford."
The San Francisco Chronicle asked how other businesses could survive if even La Cocina, which was "widely celebrated," including on Forbes and "NBC Nightly News," couldn’t.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two security guards at La Cocina, Damian Morffet and Ron Haysbert, blamed the food hall’s failure on City Hall and the police department.
Two security guards at La Cocina blamed the food hall’s failure on City Hall and the police department. (iStock)
"They said when they were growing up, drug dealers and people using drugs felt uncomfortable in public — but now they’re given free rein over public sidewalks while families, kids and people just trying to get lunch are made to feel uncomfortable."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"If the police were consistent with their patrols and efforts, people would come out here at night," Morffet told the San Francisco Chronicle.
"The cops drive by and look, and they don’t do anything," Haysbert said.
The paper noted, "On Tuesday, they said, no one seemed to care when a man dropped his pants and befouled the sidewalk outside La Cocina in a disgusting way, then sauntered off. Despite their efforts to clean the area, it still smelled bad Wednesday, scaring off customers from the marketplace’s parklet, they said."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This is not the city we grew up in," Morffet said.
The Chronicle also recently reported that San Francisco has become a sanctuary city for open-air drug dealing, allowing some drug dealers to make upwards of $350,000 every year.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Member Matt Dorsey is asking City Hall to investigate the justice system in the city after a report that some drug dealers make upwards of $350,000 per year, but still are eligible for legal counsel from the Public Defender’s Office.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Do street-level drug dealers who ‘can make as much as $350,000 a year — or even more if they help run a local operation’ receive taxpayer-funded legal services to defend their criminal cases in San Francisco?" Dorsey asked Tuesday on Twitter.
Drug users and drug dealers across the street from the San Francisco Federal Building. (Fox News Digital / Jon Michael Raasch)
The San Francisco Mayor's Office told Fox News Digital that while the closing of the food hall was unfortunate, the city is taking crime seriously.
"We all wanted the food hall model to be successful but it hasn’t turned out that way. Foot traffic from nearby workers and UC Law SF wasn’t enough. We’ve increased drug dealing arrests, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement is bringing more resources to address these issues. We are continuing to work to take those challenges seriously."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Mayor's Office also pointed to increased revenue through catering.
"On the positive side, the revenue through catering has been much more successful which is why this business operation is moving in that direction. By transitioning into a kitchen, they’ll be able to serve more businesses and entrepreneurs. Around 20 will be able to use the space instead of the 7. And the current 7 are being assisted and opening new storefronts/food trucks. The Mayor put funding in the current budget to keep the space open as a café and public space during this transition."
The Mayor's Office listed a number of victories in fentanyl seizures off the street and wrote that the situation is "complex" and "bigger than San Francisco. It’s going to require local, state, and federal law enforcement all working together and continued coordination."
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The San Francisco Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.