Mayor Lurie launches SFPD Hospitality Task Force, major new effort to strengthen public safety, drive economic comeback

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie today launched the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Hospitality Task Force, delivering on a key campaign promise to improve public safety and revitalize critical commercial districts to drive the city’s comeback. By breaking down siloes within law enforcement, the task force will more effectively coordinate police resources and provide a more welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and merchants around the Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena Gardens, and Union Square, key drivers of San Francisco's economy.

The task force is part of a broader, diversified strategy to improve public safety and welcome more people to our city. Last month, the Mayor's Office and the city’s public safety departments executed an effective plan that led to a successful 2025 JPMorgan Healthcare Conference and the conference’s return to San Francisco in 2026. And earlier this week, the Board of Supervisors voted overwhelmingly in favor of Mayor Lurie’s Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance, which will give the city the tools it needs to tackle the drug crisis with the urgency it demands.

“Helping people feel safe walking downtown is the key to unleashing our city’s comeback. And today, we are creating the conditions for a thriving commercial center by launching the SFPD Hospitality Task Force,” said Mayor Lurie. “The Hospitality Task Force will break down siloes to increase the police presence across the areas that drive our city’s economy – not just during large conferences but 365 days a year. With a safe, bustling downtown, we will attract businesses, shoppers, tourists, and conventions – creating jobs, generating revenue, and helping us provide better services for everyone in San Francisco.”

Key Features of the Hospitality Task Force:

• Increased Police Presence: Specialized officers will be assigned to the most impacted areas, allowing SFPD to surge units for a higher level of security and quicker response times.
• Dedicated Resources: The task force will deploy multiple teams of officers over as many as 20 hours per day in high-traffic areas, making safety a round-the-clock priority.
• Business and Visitor Support: The task force will work directly with local businesses and hotels to ensure their needs are met, while providing safe passage for visitors and convention goers. 

The Hospitality Zone Task Force will supplement existing SFPD deployments, leveraging resources that were previously divided across three police districts. It will also coordinate with multiagency entities like the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center, which is currently active in the Tenderloin and 6th Street areas. 

Following a successful JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, the new Hospitality Zone Task Force will be a key component of Mayor Lurie's downtown public safety strategy around the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend and Lunar New Year activities. But the task force’s work will also continue after those major events, maintaining an elevated police presence in this important commercial district to continue driving the city’s economic revitalization.

“The Hospitality Zone Task Force will give our officers the ability to focus their efforts on facilitating and sustaining safe and clean streets in some our most heavily traveled and visited downtown corridors,” said SFPD Chief Bill Scott. “Task Force members will work collaboratively seven days a week with other city and law enforcement agencies, the business community, and residents of the task force zone area.”

"San Francisco's downtown is the heart of our city's economic and cultural identity, and the creation of the Hospitality Zone Task Force is a bold step toward revitalizing our commercial corridors," said Supervisor Matt Dorsey. "By enhancing coordination across police districts, we can deploy resources more efficiently, improve public safety, and create a more welcoming environment for residents, workers, and visitors alike. I'm optimistic this task force will help restore the vibrancy of our downtown and South of Market neighbors while making the most of our city’s resources."

"This new effort is the approach needed to ensure downtown is safe and welcoming for tourists and residents alike," said Supervisor Danny Sauter. “I want to thank Mayor Lurie for continuing to make public safety his top priority. This action will help accelerate our downtown recovery and support our downtown small businesses, innovative companies, and world-class attractions."

"The new SFPD Hospitality Taskforce that Mayor Lurie has launched will provide residents, workers, and visitors in our downtown core with new tools and resources to address challenging public safety concerns," said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. "My office will partner with the San Francisco Police Department and all other law enforcement agencies and do everything we can to contribute to the long-term success of the new taskforce."

"To be a world-class city, we need a safe downtown. Our hospitality zone is the heart of San Francisco—our iconic city center where the cable cars run, where visitors from around the world stay in over 20,000 hotel rooms. This is the image of San Francisco that people take home with them," said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance. "Once we secure and clean up the area, we can attract businesses, conventions, tourists, and residents. This will boost city revenue, so downtown—and all San Francisco neighborhoods—succeed. A thriving downtown means better services for everyone in San Francisco."

"I see firsthand how retail theft and safety concerns affect both workers and visitors. This task force is a real solution—bringing a safer street and a better experience for everyone," Jim Araby, Director, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5. "When people feel safe shopping, dining, and staying downtown, it means more business, more jobs, and more security for workers."