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Lurie, Fielder Announce $12 Million Plan to Address Mission District Street Conditions
Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Jackie Fielder unveiled a $12 million initiative to improve street conditions around the Mission District's BART plazas and Marshall Elementary, funded largely by a philanthropic grant and state money.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Mission District Supervisor Jackie Fielder announced Friday a $12 million plan to address longstanding street conditions in the neighborhood, following months of pressure from residents and families over homelessness, public drug use, and safety concerns.
The funding will target improvements around the 16th and 24th Street BART plazas and Marshall Elementary School, a predominantly Latino public school in the heart of the Mission. The plan includes upgraded street lighting, additional public safety technology, and more street ambassadors to assist families and businesses and connect homeless individuals with services.
About $9 million of the total will come from Crankstart, a family foundation led by San Francisco billionaire and political donor Michael Moritz. The remaining $3 million is allocated from the state budget.
The announcement comes after Fielder repeatedly urged the Lurie administration to act on what she and constituents have described as a crisis in the neighborhood, including reports of discarded needles, human feces, and safety hazards near the school. The issues around the BART plazas have intensified over the past year as authorities ramped up enforcement against open-air drug markets in the Tenderloin and SoMa at the start of Lurie's term.
âEvery day, I see the conditions that Marshall Elementary families and Mission residents are dealing with, and every day, I am frustrated,â Lurie said in a statement. âMoving the problem from one block to the next isnât good enough â this community deserves concrete steps that will make a real difference.â
Fielder, who has advocated alongside community groups for more ambassadors and plaza upgrades, framed the funding as a collaborative effort.
âFor over a year, my office has been advocating alongside constituents and community groups for more community ambassadors and upgrades to the BART plazas, and this funding represents a shared commitment between my office, the Mayorâs Office, and philanthropy to ensure equity for the Mission,â Fielder said in a statement. âWe will continue to work together to achieve lasting public safety, vibrancy, and economic opportunity for the Mission.â
The investment highlights the growing role of private philanthropy in addressing public safety and quality-of-life issues in San Francisco, as city officials face budget constraints and pressure to respond to neighborhood concerns. For Mission residents and families at Marshall Elementary, the plan represents a long-sought commitment, though its impact will depend on how quickly the improvements are implemented and whether they meaningfully reduce the street-level chaos that has disrupted daily life.