San Francisco, a city known for its breathtaking views and diverse culture, has earned a far less glamorous reputation—one stained by its growing problem with sidewalk poop. The Controller’s Office recently released a shocking new report, detailing street conditions across the city between July 2023 and June 2024. While litter sightings have dropped slightly, the real shocker is the sharp rise in feces—both human and animal—found on San Francisco’s streets.
Yes, you read that right. 30% of the 2,662 surveyed streets were found to have feces scattered across them. That’s a terrifying jump from 18.5% during the previous survey just months ago. So, while the city touts some improvement in litter cleanup, the poop problem is spiraling out of control.
And it’s not just a matter of finding some unpleasant mess. The situation is deteriorating in specific areas—the worst-hit zones being SoMa and the Tenderloin. These are neighborhoods already struggling with an overwhelming homelessness crisis. Whether it’s people or their pets leaving their waste behind, the results are appalling. Local businesses are fed up, and one barista at a café near Market and Gough summed it up perfectly: “It cooks into the cement.” This isn’t just unsightly, it’s unbearable. The smell alone is enough to make your stomach turn.
San Francisco has spent millions trying to tackle this issue. They’ve installed public toilets, launched street cleaning efforts, and allocated $72 million in 2019 for the task. But the city’s approach isn’t working. The streets are more disgusting than ever. Residents and workers are left wondering: How much longer will they have to endure this unrelenting mess?
In a city where it feels like there’s more focus on the removal of monuments deemed “racist or sexist” than the actual cleanliness of its streets, it’s clear where priorities lie. But let’s be real—perhaps it’s time to stop focusing on renaming statues and actually resurrect San Francisco’s “poop patrol” or something equally urgent. People shouldn’t have to hold their noses while navigating one of America’s most iconic cities. The situation is grim, and unless city leaders shift their priorities, this problem is only going to get worse.
Sources:
https://sfstandard.com/2024/12/07/san-franciscos-street-poop-problem-worse/
https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2024/12/10/code-brown-san-franciscos-poop-problem-is-back-n3797760