San Francisco, CA – Public Works crews have been capturing the spirit of the Year of the Ox with demonstrated diligence, dependability and determination in getting San Francisco’s historic Chinatown neighborhood spruced up for the upcoming Lunar New Year.
Over the past two weeks, street cleaning crews have been power washing alleyways, sidewalks and public trash cans; sweeping up litter; wiping out graffiti tags from the City’s street fixtures and storefront rollup doors; and scrubbing the Broadway Tunnel. The department’s paint shop team touched up the colorful dragon lamp posts along Grant Avenue between Bush and Broadway streets, as well as the iconic Dragon Gate at Chinatown’s main southern entrance at Grant and Bush streets.
In addition, street repair crews have put focused attention on filling potholes to provide smooth and safe rides for people who walk, bike and drive in Chinatown and street inspectors have been in the neighborhood to ensure the paths of travel remain unobstructed and safe for pedestrians during the busy holiday season.
“This year has been incredibly challenging for our City and all our residents, and while we won't be able to celebrate together as we normally do, Lunar New Year gives us a chance to reset and look forward to the coming year with hope,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “We want to make sure that Chinatown is looking its best for residents, merchants and visitors as we safely celebrate the Year of the Ox, and I appreciate all the efforts of Public Works employees to help make that happen.”
Public Works conducts the special Chinatown spruce-up every year to usher in the Lunar New Year, which this year falls on Friday, Feb. 12.
“COVID has hit many neighborhoods hard, with Chinatown among those suffering the most,” said District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin. "The Lunar New Year is a time for rebirth and celebrating a clean slate of opportunity. While we may not be welcoming the nation's largest Chinese New Year's Parade to our Chinatown commercial corridors this year, we can ensure that Stockton Street and Grant Avenue are clean and revitalized public spaces for the safe patronage of small businesses, as residents ring in the Year of the Ox safely at home."
Added City Administrator Carmen Chu, “I am appreciative of the Public Works team for all that they do every day to keep our streets clean. Lunar New Year is an especially important time of year. It’s a time to come together again and a time to start fresh. What better way to do that than to ring in the Year of the Ox with the steadfast cleaning crews of Public Works?”
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and also the largest of its kind outside of Asia. And it is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the United States. Keeping the vibrant neighborhood looking good takes extra effort.
“Our staff is hard at work every day to keep San Francisco in good shape,” said acting Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried. “Chinatown is a world-renowned tourist destination, a beloved home for its residents and a unique neighborhood that we treasure. We are honored to do our part to help Chinatown flourish and celebrate the Lunar New Year.”