San Francisco Ambassador Program Profiles
The following profiles include specific information about all 34 ambassador programs deployed in San Francisco as of October 2023.
- Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs Community Ambassadors Program (CAP)
- San Francisco Police Department Ambassadors
- San Francisco Public Works Block Sweepers Program
- Alvord Lake Ambassadors Program*
- BART Community Engagement, Outreach and Elevator Ambassadors
- Community Ambassadors at City Hope
- Excelsior Ambassador Program
- Human Services Agency Ambassador Program
- Homelessness and Supportive Housing Ambassador Program
- Middle Ground Exhibit Ambassadors
- Mid-Market/Tenderloin Community Safety Program
- Mission Community Connectors
- San Francisco Pit Stop Ambassadors
- SF Welcome Ambassadors
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Ambassador
- Community Benefit District Ambassadors
- Castro CBD Ambassadors
- Civic Center CBD Ambassadors
- Discover Polk CBD
- DOWNTOWN SF PARTNERSHIP AMBASSADORS
- EAST CUT CBD AMBASSADORS
- JAPANTOWN CBD AMBASSADORS
Sections
- Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs Community Ambassadors Program (CAP)
- San Francisco Police Department Ambassadors
- San Francisco Public Works Block Sweepers Program
- Alvord Lake Ambassadors Program*
- BART Community Engagement, Outreach and Elevator Ambassadors
- Community Ambassadors at City Hope
- Excelsior Ambassador Program
- Human Services Agency Ambassador Program
- Homelessness and Supportive Housing Ambassador Program
- Middle Ground Exhibit Ambassadors
- Mid-Market/Tenderloin Community Safety Program
- Mission Community Connectors
- San Francisco Pit Stop Ambassadors
- SF Welcome Ambassadors
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Ambassador
- Community Benefit District Ambassadors
- Castro CBD Ambassadors
- Civic Center CBD Ambassadors
- Discover Polk CBD
- DOWNTOWN SF PARTNERSHIP AMBASSADORS
- EAST CUT CBD AMBASSADORS
- JAPANTOWN CBD AMBASSADORS
![a woman smiling in a neon green jacket](/sites/default/files/inline-images/OCEIA%20about%20me.png)
Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs Community Ambassadors Program (CAP)
Staffing Agency: Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA)
About: The Community Ambassadors Program (CAP) is a community safety and neighborhood engagement program. CAP is a program of the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA). CAP started in 2010 in the Bayview and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods in response to cultural and linguistic tensions, increased violence, and the need for better community safety options. OCEIA Ambassadors engage, inform and assist community members in San Francisco. CAP also provides a visible, non-law enforcement safety presence in several neighborhoods. This focus on community safety helps us build trust, calm tensions, and prevent violence.
Days / Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm
Services: Provide safety escorts: Residents can request a safety escort in neighborhoods where OCEIA Ambassadors work; Report emergencies: OCEIA Ambassadors contact medical and emergency services for community members in crisis; Report hazards: OCEIA Ambassadors call SF 311 and City departments about safety hazards, street cleanliness, graffiti and other issues; Conduct wellness checks: OCEIA Ambassadors check on individuals in public spaces; Provide referrals: OCEIA Ambassadors link community members to available social services; Conduct outreach: OCEIA Ambassadors educate and inform the public about City services and programs.
Geographic Distribution: Chinatown, District 5, District 10, Mid-Market/Tenderloin, Mission, Outer Sunset
![Three people walking in the rain with SFPD community ambassadors written on their jackets](/sites/default/files/inline-images/SFPD%20Community%20Ambassadors.jpg)
San Francisco Police Department Ambassadors
Staffing Agency: San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)
About: Community Ambassadors are civilian, retired, sworn members who serve to supplement foot beat patrol presence in business and commercial corridors. The goal is to bridge the gap between SFPD and the community through partnerships with the Community Benefit and Business Improvement Districts to provide increased visibility to reduce crime.
Days / Hours: Monday - Sunday 10am - 8pm
Services:
- Report and coordinate the response of SFPD personnel for any crime in progress or enforcement action utilizing PD Radio, BID Radio, 911, or non-emergency
- Assist with quality of life issues
- Collaborate with community partners in community policing efforts and demonstrating a guardian mindset
- Build a relationship with merchants and various businesses
Geographic Distribution: Chinatown, Union Square, Haight St, Castro/Noe Valley, West Portal, Fisherman’s Wharf, Fillmore/Japantown, Irving-Noriega, Hayes Valley, Inner Richmond, Inner Sunset, Lower Nob Hill, Marina, Mission.
![A man in a high visibility vest sweeps in front of a tree, next to a public works truck](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Public%20Works%20Block%20sweepers%20program_0.jpg)
San Francisco Public Works Block Sweepers Program
Staffing Agency: San Francisco Public Works
About: Public Works block-sweeping program was started in 2006 by Mayor Newsom, with 20 workers. The model of the program is a three-year workforce development program, made possible by a partnership with the San Francisco Human Services Agency. This program provides a pathway for apprenticeships in the trades.
Days / Hours: Tues-Sat or Sun-Thurs
Services: Block Sweepers perform litter pickup, light graffiti abatement, and escalate higher-level issues to their supervisors. They are focused solely on neighborhood cleaning.
Geographic Distribution: Block Sweepers are deployed in areas where additional litter removal is needed, per assessment of San Francisco Public Works. Today, the program covers 145 routes citywide.
![A man looks to the left while standing in front of a crosswalk](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Alvord%20Lake%20Ambassadors.jpg)
Alvord Lake Ambassadors Program*
Funding Agency: Department of Recreation and Parks
Contracted/Grantee: Urban Alchemy
About: The Exploratorium’s Studio for Public Spaces partnered with San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks department to create inquiry-based experiences around Alvord Lake in Golden Gate Park. The installation aims to reveal, enhance, and celebrate the park’s ever-changing natural and social landscapes. Open in April 2020, eight original interactive exhibits animate Alvord Lake’s fascinating natural, built, and social environment. Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to share moments of connection while exploring this dynamic spot at the eastern end of the park. Ambassadors presence at the park allows visitors to safely access the installation.
Services: Community Engagement, space activation, Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalations, and Exploratorium installation facilitation.
Geographic Distribution: Alvord Lake Park, Golden Gate Park
*No longer an active program. Listed here for archival purposes
![A woman holds the elevator door open](/sites/default/files/inline-images/BART%20Elevator%20Ambassadors.jpg)
BART Community Engagement, Outreach and Elevator Ambassadors
Funding Agency: San Francisco Mayor's Office and BART
Contracted/Grantee: Urban Alchemy
About: To improve the experience for BART riders that need access to the station elevators, BART funds a program to staff elevators at the most-trafficked stations in San Francisco: Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery, and Embarcadero.
Days / Hours: 7 days a week; 5am to 1am
Services: In addition to coordinating with BART Police, duties include: positive engagements, social norm interventions, and de-escalation interventions.
Geographic Distribution:
- Community Engagement and Outreach: 2 people / station in the unpaid areas of the stations in San Francisco (Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery, and Embarcadero)
- Elevators – Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery, and Embarcadero.
![A man hands a woman food on the street](/sites/default/files/inline-images/City%20Hope%20Community%20Ambassadors.jpg)
Community Ambassadors at City Hope
Funding Agency: Department of Public Health
Contracted/Grantee: Code Tenderloin
About: This program was created to provide connections to basic social services after hours and on weekends, as well as transportation and follow up for these services including. Service examples are shelter, youth and TAY services, and health. Also, this program aims to increase distribution of safety supplies and offer Peer-to-Peer Crisis support in the streets.
Days / Hours:
- Daytime Ambassadors: Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
- Night Ambassadors: Thurs-Sun: 7pm-3:30am
Responsibilities: Ambassadors will be expected to provide a variety of service that can include:
- Food preparation and serving
- Bathroom and Laundry monitoring
- Cleaning
- Programmatic outreach education
- Linkage resources
- Harm reduction supply distribution
- Supportive counseling to guests
- Mitigate the effects of public health crises
Geographic Distribution: The Tenderloin neighborhood, where clients are residing / spend their time (31 blocks)
![Three men around a garbage can wearing masks](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Excelsior%20Ambassador%20Program.jpg)
Excelsior Ambassador Program
Funding Agency: Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Contracted/Grantee: Urban Alchemy
About: The Team is roaming on foot and in vehicles conducting general outreach to People Experiencing Homelessness and Community Stakeholders. Team also cleans up consistently along the corridor. Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalations.
Days / Hours: Mon - Fri; 8am to 4:30pm
Responsibilities: The Team is roaming on foot and in vehicles conducting general outreach to People Experiencing Homelessness and Community Stakeholders.
Team also cleans up consistently along the corridor. Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalations.
Geographic Distribution: In D11 Excelsior District along Mission Street from Silver to Geneva.
![Three men in high-visibility vests push a trash can](/sites/default/files/inline-images/HSA%20Ambassador%20Program.jpg)
Human Services Agency Ambassador Program
Funding Agency: Human Service Agency (HSA)
Contracted/Grantee: Urban Alchemy
About: The team connects with folks to ensure safe passage along the sidewalk and safety to staff parking lots and entrances; able to provide escorts to BART upon request.
Days / Hours: Mon - Fri; 7am-6pm
Responsibilities: Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalations, Community Engagement and Outreach along Mission Street in front of HSA Office.
Geographic Distribution:1235 Mission Street, between 8th and 9th streets.
![Six men stand around a fire hydrant and a cleaning cart](/sites/default/files/inline-images/HSH%20Ambassador%20Program.jpg)
Homelessness and Supportive Housing Ambassador Program
Funding Agency: Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH)
Contracted/Grantee: Five Keys Schools and Programs
About: HSH contracts Five Keys Schools and Programs for Street Ambassador services through a grant agreement. Street Ambassador services are funded by HSH to provide services to identified geographic areas with high concentration of HSH programs and services to mitigate impact on the community.
Days/Hours:
- Lower Polk/Nob Hill: 7 days/week 6:30am - 3:00pm, and 5:00pm - 9:00pm
- SOMA: Mon - Sat 6:00pm - 7:00am Sunday 7:00am - 7:00pm
- Roving Team: Mon - Fri 6:00am - 7:00pm Sat & Sun 24/7
Responsibilities: Street Ambassadors are responsive to neighborhood concerns regarding street safety and cleanliness, and to help promote community acceptance of HSH programs.
Geographic Distribution: Lower Polk/Nob Hill and SOMA near HSH facilities on the 500 block of Stevenson.
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Middle Ground Exhibit Ambassadors
Funding Agency: Exploratorium
Contracted/Grantee: Urban Alchemy
About: Staffing public art exhibit on the Fulton Steps of the SF Library. Middle Ground, an exciting outdoor exhibition about how people interact with one another.
Days / Hours: 7 days a week; 7am to 7pm
Geographic Distribution: Fulton Steps of the SF Main Library, 100 Larkin St.
![19 men in high visibility vest pose outside a blue building](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mid%20Market%20Tenderloin%20community%20safety%20program.jpg)
Mid-Market/Tenderloin Community Safety Program
Funding Agency: Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Contracted/Grantee: Mid-Market Foundation and Urban Alchemy
About: The Community Based Safety Program calls for the presence of ambassadors throughout a contiguous area in the Mid-Market and Tenderloin. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development funds this program and awarded the Mid-Market Foundation a grant to operate this program. The Foundation partners with Urban Alchemy in delivering this program. This program provides approximately 100 daily, 12-hour ambassador posts in parks, plazas, and other public spaces in the Mid-Market and Tenderloin neighborhoods.
Days / Hours: 7 days a week; 7am to 7pm
Responsibilities: Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalation, and light cleaning. Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalation, and light cleaning.Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalation, and light cleaning.Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalation, and light cleaning.Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalation, and light cleaning.Positive engagements, social norm interventions, de-escalation, and light cleaning.
Geographic Distribution: Mid-Market and southern Tenderloin neighborhoods
![Two people standing in front of a table full of wares](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mission%20Community%20Connectors.jpg)
Mission Community Connectors
Funding Agency: Office of Economic and Workforce Development Contracted/Grantee: SF SAFE and Latino Task Force ambassadors, BACR job training retention and workforce development, Calle 24 SF provides the public space activations
About: Ambassadors deployed to provide a positive presence in the neighborhood by connecting residents and merchants to City services as a way to maintain cleaner, safer streets.
Days / Hours: 7 days / week; 10am - 8pm
Responsibilities:
Engaging compassionately and respectfully with individuals who may need support for a variety of health and safety reason
Clearing pathways in public spaces for residents, workers, and visitors, and provide wayfinding to local small businesses and other amenities
Creating 311 reports for non-emergencies and calling 911 for emergencies
Making situationally appropriate referrals to other entities such as the Street Crisis Response Team, other City agencies, or nonprofit organizations
Geographic Distribution: Mission Street from 14th-Cesar Chavez/Army St (includes critical alleys). Activation Partners for the Plazas: Calle 24 three times a month (BART Plazas: 16th and 24th)
![People standing outside a trailer](/sites/default/files/inline-images/San%20Francisco%20Stop%20Ambassadors.jpg)
San Francisco Pit Stop Ambassadors
Funding Agency: San Francisco Public Works
Contracted/Grantee: Civic Connect and Hunters Point Family
About: The program began in San Francisco’s Tenderloin in 2014 with three sites. Today, the Pit Stop operates at 31 sites in 13 neighborhoods. Street-cleaning data drives the locations of the Pit Stops, putting them where they’re needed most. Locations are determined based on need and available funding. Public Works manages the Pit Stop program and nonprofit grantees staff them. People can take care of their bathroom needs with dignity, neighborhoods are made more livable, and complaints about human waste in public spaces around the Pit Stop locations have gone down, which allows Public Works public cleaning crews to focus more attention on other hotspots.
Responsibilities: Attendants keep Pit Stop units and surrounding area clean, record daily uses, and report higher-level issues to Public Works Pit Stop management.
Geographic Distribution: Program currently includes 31 sites, 9 of which are 24-hour locations. Visit https://www.sfpublicworks.org/pitstop for further details.
Days / Hours:
- 22 locations range between 7am-9pm daily
- 9 locations open 24hrs/7days a week.
SF Welcome Ambassadors
Funding Agency: Office of Economic Workforce and Development
Contracted/Grantee: San Francisco Travel Improvement District (SFTID)
About: San Francisco's Welcome Ambassadors help improve visitor experiences by providing directions to popular visitor attractions, helping visitors find restaurants, taking photos for tourists, greeting residents, workers, and tourists at transit hubs, and offer multi-lingual services for anyone in need of assistance.
Days / Hours: 7 days a week; 8am-8pm (and varied hours for special events)
Responsibilities:
- Engage locals, commuters, and visitors.
- Assist with directions, interpretation, translation, recommendations, escorts, and more.
- Act as eyes and ears for police and local CBD programs.
- Welfare checks and offer resources to unhoused residents.
- De-escalation and handle mental health or other situations.
- Emergencies, incidents, and overdose response.
- Assist with meetings, conventions, site visits and special events.
- Report specific situations to local CBDs, 211, 311 or 911 or call for other resources.
Geographic Distribution: Areas of San Francisco with high volume of tourists with a focus on downtown and conference areas.
![A man hands a woman food](/sites/default/files/inline-images/SFMTA%20Ambassadors.jpg)
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Ambassador
Funding Agency: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)
Contracted/Grantee: Code Tenderloin
About: Code Tenderloin serves as a sub-consultant providing community ambassadors on an as-needed basis to provide the services listed below. The SFMTA is directly involved in management for guidance and direction as needed.
Days / Hours: Monday-Friday; 7:00am-3:30pm
Responsibilities:
- Positive, Culturally Competent Engagements: The sub-consultant shall consistently engage with neighbors to build positive relationships and serve as a community connector by using their extensive knowledge of local needs and conditions to deliver relevant information to the community about the projects while providing human service resources.
- Ongoing Feedback to SFMTA Project Team: The sub-consultant shall remain in regular communication with the SFMTA Project Team regarding community needs and concerns heard during outreach, including but not limited to requests for materials in-language, impacts of the project and suggestions for mitigation, and upcoming community and corridor events within the project extents.
- Welcoming Space Interventions: The sub-consultant shall invite neighbors to participate in creating a safe and inviting sidewalk for ALL by maintaining a sidewalk path clear of debris for pedestrians as well as access to buildings and businesses. Sub-consultant staff shall make a good faith effort to interrupt negative behavior in the Service Area including but not limited to public urination/defecation, littering, and general noise disturbances. Sub-consultant staff will work with the Public Works contracted construction team to create a safe and healthy working environment. Sub-consultant staff shall contact the local authorities for activities that may endanger the staff and general public.
- De-Escalation Interventions: Sub-consultant staff will assist with relational and other interventions to help contain a mental health episode, to prevent or interrupt street violence, or to prevent crime so long as it does not endanger sub-consultant staff. Solutions may include referring to appropriate service personnel like EMTs, HOT, or the police.
- Custodial & Sanitation Services: Sub-consultant staff shall assist with light trash pick-up, which includes needle pickup and disposal. Sub-consultant staff shall refer to SFPW, MMCBD dispatch. TLCBD Clean Team, or 311 for more significant custodial or sanitation needs.
Geographic Distribution: Mid-Market/Tenderloin area where MTA construction is taking place and impacting public right-of-way
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Community Benefit District Ambassadors
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Castro CBD Ambassadors
Funding Agency: Castro CBD, Office of Economic & Workforce Development
Contracted/Grantee: Block by Block
About: The Castro CBD has two ambassador functions: Castro Cares Ambassadors and the Castro Clean Team. The Castro Cares Ambassadors are wellness ambassadors that serve the entire Castro CBD area, and the Clean Team provides cleaning services throughout the CBD area. As of summer 2023, the Castro CBD also launched a new ambassador function focused on hospitality. Data was not available at the time of data collection for this report.
Days / Hours: All programs: 7 days/week; 7am–7:30pm
Responsibilities:
- Social service outreach
- Wayfinding and hospitality, and an extra pair of eyes and ears on the street.
- Merchants checks
- Respond to a dedicated CBD dispatch calls for support.
- 311 reporting
- Cleaning: sweeping sidewalks and gutters, power washing sidewalks, graffiti abatement, addressing overflowing trash cans, weeding tree wells, watering CBD landscaping.
Geographic Distribution: Castro CBD District
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Civic Center CBD Ambassadors
Funding Agency: Civic Center CBD
Grantee: Block by Block
About: The Civic Center CBD has two ambassador functions: Civic Center Community Ambassadors and the Civic Center Clean Team. The Civic Center Community Ambassadors are wellness and safety ambassadors that serve the entire Civic Center CBD area, and the Clean Team provides cleaning services throughout the CBD area.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 7am to 7pm except special events.
Responsibilities:
- Merchant checks
- Well-being checks and outreach to vulnerable populations on streets
- Enforcement of MPC No-Trespassing
- Deter negative street behavior
- Pressure Washing
- Collaboration with city departments, community partners, and other CBDs to resolve street-level issues and concerns.
- Hospitality services to visitors
- Respond to calls for service
Geographic Distribution: Three different zones within the Civic Center, including Civic Center, Fulton Mall, and UN Plaza.
Discover Polk CBD
Funding Agency: Discover Polk CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Streetplus
About: The Discover Polk CBD has one ambassador program. These ambassadors perform a variety of duties, including clean and safe services.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 7am–3pm
Responsibilities:
- Litter and graffiti removal
- Merchant checks
- Non-emergency calls
- Morning check-ins of unhoused individuals
- Blocked doorway engagements of unhoused individuals
- Power washing
- Community interactions
Geographic Distribution: Middle Polk St. area of Lower Nob Hill
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DOWNTOWN SF PARTNERSHIP AMBASSADORS
Funding Agency: Downtown CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Streetplus
About: The Downtown CBD has two ambassador functions: Downtown Community Ambassadors and the Downtown Clean Team. The Downtown Community Ambassadors are safety ambassadors that serve the entire Downtown CBD area, and the Clean Team provides cleaning services throughout the CBD area.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 6am to 8pm
Responsibilities:
- Downtown Clean Team - Pan and broom sweeps, spot cleaning, power washing, graffiti removal, hazardous waste removal, etc.
- Downtown Community Ambassadors - Serve as the eyes and ears of the district. Their roles are to observe, advise, and report quality of life issues.
Geographic Distribution: Downtown SF Partnership District
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EAST CUT CBD AMBASSADORS
Funding Agency: East Cut CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Block by Block
About: The East Cut CBD has three ambassador functions: East Cut Clean Team, East Cut Community Guides, and Safety Patrol. The CBD also has private security, but those roles are not analyzed as part of this report.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 5:30am to 10pm
Responsibilities:
- Clean Team: The CBD’s street services crew provides daily cleaning and beautification: sidewalk sweeping, power washing, graffiti abatement, topping off City trash cans, weeding tree basins and sidewalk cracks, and spot-cleaning health hazards. Cleaning services are provided every day from 5:30am to 10:00pm.
- Community Guides: Along with our Clean and Safe Teams, the CBD fields community guides who offer assistance and directions to locals and visitors. Operating as the “eyes and ears” of The East Cut from 5:30am to 10:00pm, our guides connect individuals with services, respond compassionately to calls for homeless outreach, and ensure that the district operates smoothly.
- Safety Patrol: More than 100,000 residents, employees, and visitors move through The East Cut every day. To ensure a safe environment, we were the first district in the City to offer 24/7 neighborhood safety services. Our patrol teams cover the entire CBD to deter crime and communicate with private building security personnel and SFPD for effective, coordinated action.
Geographic Distribution: Entire CBD District
FISHERMAN’S WHARF CBD AMBASSADORS
Funding Agency: Fisherman's Wharf CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Block by Block
About: The Fisherman's Wharf CBD has one ambassador function:
Fisherman's Wharf Clean Team. The CBD also has private security, but those roles are not analyzed as part of this report.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 8am to 8pm
Responsibilities: The FWCBD Ambassadors help keep Fisherman's Wharf clean by sweeping
the streets and power. They also have a hospitality role and engage with people experiencing homelessness to see if they need connection to services. washing; removing graffiti and stickers; and collecting trash.
Geographic Distribution: Entire CBD District
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JAPANTOWN CBD AMBASSADORS
Funding Agency: Japantown CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Next Street
About: The Japantown CBD has one ambassador program that provides two types of ambassador services: hospitality and clean services.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 8 hours a day
Responsibilities:
- Sidewalk Maintenance: Uniformed, radio-equipped personnel sweep litter, debris, and refuse from sidewalks, and gutters, as well as public spaces. of the District, and clean all sidewalk hardscape such as trash receptacles, benches, and parking meters.
- Trash Collection: Collector truck personnel collect trash from sidewalk trash receptacles as needed. They are also dispatched to collect stolen shopping carts and large bulky items illegally dumped in the District.
- Graffiti Removal: The Clean Team can remove graffiti using solvent and pressure washing. The District will maintain a zero-tolerance graffiti policy. All tags will aim to be removed within 48 hours of notification.
- Sidewalk Pressure Washing: Pressure wash all sidewalks and public spaces on an as needed basis with areas of high pedestrian traffic receiving the highest concentration. However, during drought years pressure washing may not be permitted.
- Landscape Maintenance: Public landscape areas including tree wells and planters to be maintained and kept free of litter and weeds.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
Funding Agency: Lower Polk CBD for Cleaning; OEWD for Community Ambassadors
Contracted/Grantee: Next Street
About: The Lower Polk CBD has two ambassador programs. The two types of services provided include: hospitality and clean services.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week
- Lower Polk CBD Cleaning Ambassadors: TBD shifts per day but general schedule 4 employees 7am-3:30pm M-F and 3 employees Sat/Sun
- Lower Polk CBD Community Ambassadors: M-F 8am to 4:30pm. M-F 12:30pm-9pm. Th-Sat 10am to 6:30pm. Sun 9am to 530pm. Planning to expand Fri/Sat to Midnight in near future.
Responsibilities:
Cleaning, Maintenance:
- Removal of litter, debris and cigarette butts on sidewalks.
- Damp wiping and straightening of public fixture.
- Power Washing of sidewalks and alleys.
- Removal of graffiti on private property with property owner consent.
- Removal of graffiti from public infrastructure.
- Removal of isolated.
- Special Projects: Defined as painting of public infrastructure, cleaning of tree wells, or other similar actions.
Corridor Safety Ambassadors
- Daily Foot Patrol – All areas to serve as a reassuring presence and a visible deterrent.
- Continually engage members of the public to provide directions, recommendations and other information.
- Interact with merchants to share safety related information or learn about merchants’ concern’s related to street level activity.
- Report any observed illegal behaviors to the police and document behavior.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
Funding Agency: Mid-Market CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Streetplus
About: The Mid-Market CBD has two ambassador programs. The two types of services provided include: hospitality and clean services.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 7am to 7pm.
Responsibilities: Cleaning, Maintenance including graffiti removal and power washing; foot patrol and engagement with members of the community .
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
NOE VALLEY PORTER
Funding Agency: Noe Valley CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Curb Appeal
About: The Noe Valley CBD has a cleaner referred to as a porter that services the district.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 7am to 3pm.
Responsibilities: Cleaning and area maintenance.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
Funding Agency: Ocean Avenue CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Next Street
About: The Ocean Avenue CBD has one ambassador program that provides cleaning services to the area.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 7am to 3pm.
Responsibilities: Sweeping, litter removal, graffiti, landscaping, pressure washing
Deployment Area and Reasoning: CBD District.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
Funding Agency: SOMA West CBD
Contracted/Grantee: n/a; staffed directly by the CBD
About: The SOMA West CBD has one ambassador program that provides cleaning services to the area. The CBD also employes social workers, but those services are not included in this report.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week; 7am to 2am.
Responsibilities: Sweep, remove feces, graffiti removal, landscaping, miscellaneous
Deployment Area and Reasoning: CBD District.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
Funding Agency: CBD Assessment revenue, private funding, and City grants (i.e., (OEWD, SFMTA, SF Planning, and)
Contracted/Grantee: Staffed directly by the CBD
About: The Tenderloin CBD (TLCBD) has three ambassador programs that provide cleaning services, park stewardship, and safe passage for youth and seniors to the area and its community. TLCBD coordinates it’s work with the following City departments and efforts: Public Works, SFPD coordination, HSOC, the and Department of Public Health.
Responsibilities:
- Tenderloin CBD Clean Team: Janitorial and street condition improvement includes, feces removal and sanitation, needle removal, big belly servicing and maintenance of receptacles, pan and broom sweeping, pressure washing, chemical pressure washing, graffiti removal and abatement.
- Tenderloin CBD Park Steward: Safety training in de-escalation, park maintenance duties, building positive relations with seniors, children and families, resident safety tactics and strategies, school admin coordination, provision of safety trainings through kid power, senior safety and outreach, youth safety and outreach, after-school care provider coordination.
- Tenderloin CBD Safe Passage Corner Captains: Safety training in de-escalation, safe escort duties, building positive relations with children and families, pedestrian safety tactics and strategies, school admin coordination, provision of safety trainings through kid power, senior safety and outreach, youth safety and outreach, after-school care provider coordination.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
UNION SQUARE ALLIANCE AMBASSADORS
Funding Agency: Union Square Alliance
Contracted/Grantee: Block by Block
About: The Union Square Alliance has two ambassador programs with three types of services: Union Square Alliance Safety and Hospitality Ambassadors, Union Square Clean Team and Pressure Washing Services. The Clean Team provides cleaning services seven (7) days a week,
Days / Hours: 7 days/week
- Safety and Hospitality Ambassadors:
- Depending on the Zone, 2 to 4 visits a day. 12 hours daily dedicated to Union Square Park
- Clean Team: 6am-10pm
- Pressure Washing Services: 8pm-4am (mostly)
Responsibilities:
- Union Square Alliance Safety and Hospitality Ambassadors: Trash pickup, quality of life assistance, graffiti removal, biohazard, illegal dumping, reporting items to 311, referral to services.
- Union Square Clean Team: Cleaning (sweeping), trash pickup, graffiti removal, biohazard removal, cleaning street furniture and fixtures.
- Union Square Pressure Washing Services: Pressure washing, calling in safety matters and other cleaning needs.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
Funding Agency: Yerba Buena CBD
Contracted/Grantee: Block by Block
About: The Yerba Buena CBD (YBCBD) has three ambassador programs with four types of services: Clean Team and Power washing, Community Guides, and Yerba Buena CBD Social Service Specialists. The Community Guides serve as a safe and welcoming presence in the Yerba Buena District. As well, YBCBD has one Social Service Outreach Specialist who works to build relationships with people living on neighborhood streets, supporting them in various ways. All services have set routes, but also respond to requests for service from the CBD's dispatch center.
Days / Hours: 7 days/week
- Clean Team: Daily; 6am to 10pm
- Community Guides: Daily; 6am to 10pm
- Power Washing: Daily: 10pm to 10am
- Social Service Specialist: Mon-Fri; 7am-3pm
Responsibilities:
- Cleaning: Sweep sidewalks and collect litter, abate graffiti, and remove hazardous items from the sidewalks such as needles or broken glass. Bi-monthly basis pressure washing of sidewalks. As needed: minor landscaping or weeding.
- Community Guides: Provide directions and recommendations to visitors, check in with businesses and residential buildings to offer clean and safe services, and report cleaning and safety issues. Guides also perform wellness checks and provide information about social services. They work to keep clear doorways and sidewalks.
- Social Service Outreach Specialist: They build relationships with people living on neighborhood streets, connecting them to social services and resources.
Geographic Distribution: CBD District.
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