Business owners on 23rd Street, between West and Brush Streets, say they don’t feel safe as the encampments and dumpings continue to worsen.
Cameron Brian is the owner of Transmission Gallery, located on West Grand Avenue. The back of his building is on 23rd and he is concerned the recent cleanup of a Martin Luther King Jr. encampment. Way and West Grand maybe more people pushed his way.
“We are compassionate. But at some point the compassion starts to wane and you start to worry about our safety and their safety,” Brian said.
His concerns are justified, as there have been several fires recently.
“This is evidence of one fire,” Brian said. “This is the big fire you have pictures of.”
One fire occurred on October 1, damaging the building opposite. On the burnt concrete wall is a sign that reads “Paulette RIP.” Brian said she died in a fire a few months ago.
He estimates there have been six fires in the past year, and 10 in the past two years. He fears his building could be next.
“This is my gas line right here, and they tore the door off,” Brian said, pointing to exposed pipes. “I don’t come here to fix things because I really don’t want to confront these people.”
He currently cannot use the back door of his business because a tent is blocking it. Brian could see the fire damage and other things from his office window.
“They don’t look up, they just keep doing what they’re doing,” Brian said, looking out his window. “Including all kinds of nefarious things.”
CBS News Bay Area saw what appeared to be a drug deal while talking to Brian.
“I don’t consider this so much a homeless camp as a tolerated crime scene. People don’t really sleep here at night,” Brian said. “What they do is conduct business from these tents.
Brian says it will be busier and possibly more dangerous later in the evening.
“It’s an ongoing activity in the back,” he said. “Usually until 6 or 7 in the morning.”
City staff said they cleared the nearby MLK encampment last month because of the crime taking place there.
Mayor Sheng Thao said the city plans to take follow-up actions in the areas they cleared, but she says while some people are accepting resources, the city is limited in the assistance it can provide.
“Until the federal government gets serious about funding rehabilitation centers and mental health services, we will push out certain marginalized groups,” Thao said.
Despite all this, Brian has no plans to leave, but he does want the city to take action by closing the street, at least temporarily.
“Clean it out, clean it out,” Brian said.
He is in discussions with city officials and has high hopes for the future of this area and his gallery.
