San Francisco Mayor Lurie and State Senator Wiener Introduce Legislation to Combat Street Sales of Stolen Goods

Should the state legislation pass, it will safeguard legitimate street vendors while permitting law enforcement to issue penalties and misdemeanor charges after multiple infractions against those selling commonly stolen items without a permit or proof of purchase.

On the third offense, offenders could face up to six months in county jail. This bill excludes vendors who sell prepared foods.

“This legislation will equip San Francisco with essential tools to tackle retail theft and hold accountable those who unlawfully resell stolen items,” Lurie stated during a press conference held in the Mission District.

A similar proposal was introduced by Sen. Wiener last year but did not advance. Lurie has backed the new bill as his first state legislative initiative in the early days of his mayoral term.

“Today marks another significant step toward enhancing the safety of our residents and supporting our local businesses,” Lurie remarked. “Fencing, or the resale of stolen goods, has disrupted our neighborhoods, fueled retail theft, and undermined our dynamic street vendor community.”

To assist in protecting legitimate vendors from having their items seized, the Board of Supervisors has compiled a reference list of goods, officials noted. This list includes frequently stolen items typically found on the shelves of major retailers such as Safeway, Walgreens, and CVS; it will aid in identifying which vendors may be affected by the new legislation.

Wiener pointed out that in response to the surge in retail theft in 2023, then-Mayor London Breed and former District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen instituted a moratorium on street vending in the Mission District to curtail disruptive illegal fencing activities, and this moratorium remains in effect.

However, the proposed bill will permit three categories of street vending: selling any goods with a valid permit, selling items from the reference list with a permit or proof of purchase, and vending prepared food with or without a permit.

“The truth is, we don’t feel secure conducting our work on the streets nowadays, which is why we believe this state bill will benefit us and the community,” said Rodrigo Lopez, president of the Mission Street Vendors Association, at the press conference.

With 34 years in San Francisco and four years of vendor experience, Lopez shared that over 100 vendors represented by the association unanimously endorsed the bill.

According to the press release, the SAFE Streets Act aims to avoid “immigration consequences.”

Wiener remarked that Lurie is “focusing like a laser on street safety in many respects throughout San Francisco.”

In conjunction with Lurie’s safety initiatives, his Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance received unanimous approval from the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee last week.