The McDonald’s restaurant in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood will work to increase security and reduce crime and drug trafficking on the property under the terms of an agreement announced today by the city attorney’s office.
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera in May sent a letter to McDonald’s Corp., the property owner for the McDonald’s at Haight and Stanyan streets, warning that the city was prepared to sue over ongoing problems at the site.
The restaurant has agreed to hire a security guard during all hours of operation, increase the number of security cameras, add fencing and lighting, restrict parking access during hours when the restaurant is closed and take measures to prohibit loitering, according to the City Attorney’s Office. In addition, officials will consult with police on a regular basis and report the storage or sale of any illegal drugs observed on the property.
“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,” Herrera said in a statement today. “By working collectively we were able to identify concrete measures to prevent further public nuisance and still avoid litigation.”
Herrera’s letter in May said the property had generated 641 calls for service to police between Jan. 1, 2014 and April 22, 2015 and nearly 1,100 since January 2012, a number that far exceeds those seen at other properties in the area. The calls included numerous reports of drug sales and possession as well as fights, assaults, auto burglaries and dog attacks.
At the time, Herrera said the city had made repeated attempts to work with the franchisee, Yin McDonald’s, before contacting McDonald’s directly.
The agreement announced today includes a $40,000 payment to the city.
Sara Gaiser, Bay City News
