Mission Street Vendors Rally Behind SB 925: A Win for Combating Illegal Fencing

San Francisco is stepping up its efforts to combat illicit fencing enterprises. Senator Scott Wiener introduced SB 925 on Monday, allowing police officers to cite anyone selling stolen property on the street. “If a person is cited twice for selling these commonly stolen items without a permit, they can be cited with a misdemeanor the third time,” Senator Wiener stated.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors would need to compile a list of the most regularly stolen products sold on the streets. The SFPD would need to examine that list of goods before issuing a citation anyplace in the city. Senator Wiener stated, “SB 925 takes a focused surgical approach to illegal street fencing,” “We know that these issues are most pronounced in the Mission, Tenderloin, some parts of South of Market, and a few other areas but the city will be able to use this law wherever he issue arises.”

In November 2023, after what the city described as mayhem on Mission Street, with fencing operations taking over walkways and unlicensed sellers battling public works inspectors, the city prohibited street hawking on Mission.

This judgment also affected merchants who had permission to sell on Mission Street. Almost seven months later, the revelation of SB 925 has given the SFPD more power to police permits, and the city has a new plan for allowed vendors. “We hope that by June 17, phase one will begin, allowing vendors to return from 24th to 23rd street on Mission Street,” said Santiago Lerma, Mission Street crisis response coordinator.

The Mission Street Vendors Association rallied behind Senator Scott Weiner and Mayor Breed in support of SB 925. “I’m grateful to be here with a strong coalition of people who want to ensure that we protect and support our vendors while also dealing with the illegal fencing that has really destroyed the fabric of what many people have been doing for many decades,” Mayor Breed said. “Very important for us, this is a win for us,” said Rodrigo Lopez, president of the Mission Street Vendors Association. “Part of the city.”

We’re getting a personal look at a stolen goods fencing operation, which demonstrates what occurs after all of the auto break-ins we’ve seen throughout the Bay Area.

The city’s public works department claims that this new bill will help inspectors.
“This bill allows the police to be involved specifically around a certain list of items that are commonly stolen that will be developed based on the information of what we have confiscated in the past, and the police can issue citations in that case ultimately potentially even a misdemeanor but it will take the pressure off public works staff whose job is really to enforce permitted vending,” Carla Short, the director of San Francisco Public Works.
SFPD Chief Bill Scott stated that officers would be allowed to approach these markets aggressively.
“It restores the police department’s power to enforce this type of market. For an extremely narrow focus. Fencing, stolen products, and the potential to be more proactive in dealing with these marketplaces are all advantages, according to Chief Scott.
If SB 925 succeeds, it will take effect on January 1, allowing San Francisco police officers to implement a new enforcement strategy to combat illegal fence operations.