On February 26th, a multi-agency law enforcement operation was carried out at Jefferson Square Park, going all the way into Thursday Morning. The operation was a record breaking narcotics bust that included the citation and arrest of around 86 people in total. Over a pound of narcotics was found on the scene. Buses were used for the detention of everybody involved. 

The operation was in response to the increased activity at Jefferson Square Park. In recent months neighbors have been complaining about the criminal and drug related activity in the park. With the recent clearing of Willow Street in the Tenderloin over the summer, and the increased enforcement efforts on Sixth Street, drug dealers and users were forced to relocate. Everybody seemed to flock to Jefferson Square Park, the green space perched atop the hill, just a couple blocks from the high school Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. 

Police Chief Bill Scott had this to say about the bust, “Drug-related activity will never be tolerated in Jefferson Square or any other part of the city. Our officers will be out in force conducting operations just like these all over the city. I want to thank our hard-working officers and all the partner agencies that assisted in this effort.” 

Narcotics have been synonymous with San Francisco’s name. In the last couple of decades, open air drug use and homelessness has skyrocketed. These issues play hand in hand and can be obviously seen by just driving through downtown. Certain neighborhoods like the Tenderloin are littered with garbage and the streets are filled with people using a range of illegal narcotics, mainly Fentanyl. This trend has made downtown San Francisco unappealing both to tourists and residents alike. So this record breaking bust is encouraging to many. 

Daniel Lurie made a statement against the war on drugs saying this on X : “But, I have to tell you, and this is a message that I want everybody in this city to hear: If you are selling drugs in this city we are coming after you.”

This firm stance being publicized is a right step forward to crackdown on all the drug use in San Francisco. If Daniel Lurie continues with the major operations while punishing criminals that are distributing narcotics San Francisco still might have a chance.