Category Archives: News

Audrey’s Bench on Sanchez Hill Gets Annual Brush-up 

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One of our local landmarks is Audrey’s bench – at the southwest corner of Sanchez & 21st Streets. It recognizes the leadership of Audrey Rogers. She led the campaign that secured passage of the Dolores Heights Special Use District in 1980. She also obtained City upgrades, like moving utilities under ground.  

The bench was designed by acclaimed wood carver, J.B. Blunk. Her children who grew up at 3732 21st Street help to maintain it.   As they worked to clean the area and polish the wood bench on Sunday, August 20, neighbors walking by thanked them.  If you haven’t already, spend a few minutes seated in this beautiful memorial to a neighbor who led the effort to preserve the unique character of our neighborhood.  

Photo: Members of Audrey Rogers’ family hard at work.

Coyotes in Dolores Heights

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Over the past several years, numerous people in Dolores Heights have seen a female coyote who frequents the area and Dolores Park.  Some (especially those with small dogs and cats) are concerned about coyotes.   

For the last 16 years, Janet Kessler has been documenting the San Francisco coyote population, their territoriality, and their behaviors, including their family life and behaviors towards dogs and people.  She emailed DHIC suggesting that we provide more education about the coyotes to dispel concerns and/or give people a solid base of information.  She posted this information on her blog.  We encourage you to read it.  

(Coyote spotted on the south side of Liberty, Street, between Church and Sanchez. Photo: Jennifer Bury.)

What’s Up with the Flying Car?

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Thanks to all neighbors who responded to the carjacked Lincoln that crashed through the barrier and landed upside down on 19th Street on Saturday, July 22 (see minute 1:25 on linked YouTube video.)  Many shared video and photos of the incident with SFPD.  That evidence helped SFPD to arrest the two ringleaders in this carjacking/reckless driving incident on July 26  

Unfortunately, the two individuals arrested are not being charged owing to lack of sufficient evidence to bring a strong case.  Specifically, the owner of the carjacked vehicle is unwilling to serve as a witness.  Sergeant Wren of Mission Station is investigating the crime.  It is still an open case.  As of September 2 he’s awaiting lab results on a piece of evidence that’s key to any further action.

DHIC has asked Supervisor Mandelman’s office to help us obtain a vehicle safety strategy and “calming” plan from SFMTA.  

Good news:  earlier in August, DPW workers replaced the broken metal railings on the top and bottom of the staircase.  

What you can do:

  • Continue to be vigilant when you are out in the neighborhood including when entering/exiting a car
  • Join us on Sat. Oct. 14 between 11am – 1pm at the 800 block of Sanchez (at 21st Street) when we host the DHIC Fallfest with info on safety, green gardens, and other DHIC-sponsored activities.  

(Surveillance camera footage of the crash. Start watching at 1:25.)

A Mural Beside the 20th Street Hillside

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Neighbors’ vision to fill the empty retaining walls next to the 20th and Noe hillside garden (see photo above) is getting legs (or arms and paintbrushes).  Dave Dea, co-chair of the Green Gardens Committee, reported that they’ve selected a wall mural artist. Her name is Melanie Getman, a native San Franciscan born in North Beach/Chinatown.  Her website has many  images of nature scenes with diverse color palettes, hopefully appealing to all tastes.  The group wants the mural to be a nature scene – with the landmark Cork Oak tree as an anchor image, along with insects, plants, birds and raptors nesting, flybys etc.

Dave is asking for feedback and for more volunteers to help set up a GoFundMe and to raise money for the conceptual drawing of the mural to submit to the SF Arts Commission. You can reach him at ddea888@gmail.com. 

Neighborhood Safety Tips from Dave Burke – D8 Public Safety Liaison

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On August 16, 20th Street residents walked the 3900 block of 20th with Dave Burke.  The objective was to identify ways to deter residential break-ins/burglaries

Dave described the burglar mindset: stealing is the profession, the burglar wants our things, not to hurt us, and usually does not break in via the front door.  90 % of break- ins happen between 2 am and sunrise.  Dave’s specific recommendations covered three areas:

Lighting: 

  • Bright light over front door, over garage, and at back door (“treat back door like your front door”
  • Don’t use motion-activated lights.  Set a timer to turn on the light at sundown and off at sunrise.  If burglars see a lit street, they will find a dark one
  • Light up spaces in between homes    

Security:

  • Secure all doors and windows even when you’re home
  • Set up cameras at the front and back doorsSet up TV lights, lights on timers and/or get a dog!
  • Do the same for the garage – radio or machinery noise
  • Reinforce any garage windows and pull up the emergency release cord    

Garden: 

  • Cut back bushes as burglars hide
  • Keep front garden neat and beautiful; burglars prefer unkept homes    
  • Keep garden free of ladders for burglars to climb and tools to take

Network with neighbors. Know when they are out of town.  Watch out for each other!

Car “Flies” Over Sanchez Stairs and Lands on 19th Street

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On Saturday, July 22 around 7:15pm, five people carjacked a Lincoln sedan at Dolores Park.  They clearly didn’t know our area as the driver decided to go west on 20th Street up to Sanchez then north on Sanchez.  Driving at a high rate of speed the car crashed through the barriers at the top of the stairs and flew down to 19th Street – flipping mid-air and landing on its rooftop.  Miraculously, no one in the car was badly hurt and the sidewalk was clear.  Three walkers had just descended the stairs less than a minute before the crash.  .   

Neighbors supplied video and photos of the full event which likely aided the Police in their search for those involved.  On Tuesday, July 25, SFPD announced that it arrested two of the five suspects.  

DHIC has asked Supervisor Mandelman’s office to help us obtain a vehicle safety strategy and “calming” plan from SFMTA.  This is the second crash in 2023.  In February an out-of-control car crashed into the hillside railings on upper Sanchez north of 21st Street. 

What you can do:

  • Continue to be vigilant when you are out in the neighborhood including when entering/exiting a car
  • Join and participate in your block safety group
  • Join us on Sat. Oct. 14 between 11am – 1pm at the 800 block of Sanchez when we host the DHIC Fallfest with info on safety, green gardens, and other DHIC-sponsored activities.  

The 2023 Dolores Hill Bomb – Saturday, July 8

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The Dolores Hill Bomb on July 8 devolved into a riot with SFPD arresting those who remained in the area where the violence and vandalism occurred.  The event and police response generated media coverage and protests about the arrests.  

At the July 19 Police Commission meeting, Chief Scott provided a full report with body camera and other video footage along with a detailed timeline. 

The DHIC Board has not taken a position on the Hill Bomb.  We wanted to hear the SFPD report on the incident and gain some perspective as more facts emerge.  One key topic discussed at the July 19 meeting was community outreach to the Hill Bomb organizers and other skateboarding community members before the event. 

Both the Department of Police Accountability and the Internal Affairs Department are conducting  investigations. Some city officials are asking if a sanctioned event could occur next year.  

DHIC will stay involved with SFPD Mission Station, Dolores Park Rangers, and SFMTA.  We attend the monthly community meeting at Mission Station which is open to everyone in the community.  It’s at 5pm on the last Tuesday of every month at 17th & Valencia Streets.

We want to hear your point of view.  Contact board members [insert link to our list on doloresheights.org] or email info@doloresheights.org.

Chief Scott’s powerpoint report includes these events:  

  • By 6:15pm an estimated 200 people gathered behind metal barricades put up by SFPD at 4pm that day
  • Starting at 7:07pm, attendees threw a bottle, a can and at least two fireworks at officers, one of whom was spat on and scratched on the face.
  • At 7:09pm the incident was declared unlawful after the crowd got violent.  The SFPD announcement (via amplified sound) ordered those in the area to leave immediately Instead, the crowd moved to Church Street from 19th to 18th Street. This dispersal order was repeated at least 12 times before arrests began.  
  • Between 7:09 and 8:15pm, 80-plus officers in riot gear walked slowly in lines toward the crowds, eventually firing 15 rounds of foam bullets when they reached Church, 18th and Dolores streets just past 8 p.m. 
  • At approximately 7:35pm a video crew on the scene captured footage of people spray-painting buildings and scrawling tags on and climbing atop Muni trains and buses – causing $70,000 in damage. 
  • More than 100 people gathered at 18th and Dolores and removed barricades
  • By 8:43 p.m. police began arresting those in the area  and holding them on 17th Street between Dolores & Guerrero while SFPD read them their rights and completed arrest procedures.  
  • It resulted in 115 arrests—83 of them juveniles—and the retrieval of a number of guns, knives, fireworks and spray paint.  Charges against the juveniles have been dropped – except for the two individuals who assaulted a police sergeant. 

This incident occurred after a series of public safety incidents this year.  Shots were fired into homes across from the Park on 20th Street during the 4-20 Celebration.  Dirt bike drivers illegally criss-cross the Park in the evening.  Large explosives (M80s) and/or gun shots have been heard at the Park.  And nearby in the Mission a drive-by shooting injured nine people.  

DHIC will stay involved with SFPD Mission Station, Dolores Park Rangers, and SFMTA.  We attend the monthly community meeting at Mission Station which is open to everyone in the community.  It’s at 5pm on the last Tuesday of every month at 17th & Valencia Streets.

We want to hear your point of view.  Contact board members [insert link to our list on doloresheights.org] or email info@doloresheights.org.

“Safer Together”: Building Effective Block Safety Groups in Dolores Heights

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Dolores Heights has block groups covering nearly every block in our neighborhood.  If you’re not on one of our block safety aliases, email info@doloresheights.org with your name and block/cross streets (e.g., 3600 block of 21st St between Church & Sanchez.)  

We have a network of block safety captains who share information across groups.   Here’s current updates on safety for everyone: 

  • Package thief on video jumping a fence to steal a box – 3700 block of 21st
  • Don’t use realtor lock boxes on your front door/gate.  Neighbor at 19th & Church reported losing valuables after a burglar cut the box off the gate and smashed it open – using the key inside to open the front gate.   
  • Be on the lookout (BOLO) – William Eaton/Sapphire/Ambrosia is back in Dolores Heights carrying a machete and destroying plants (see photo below of plant cut down on 20th St.)  Do not approach her – call 911 if she’s destroying property or acting threatening.  

Report any key safety alerts to your block safety alias.  

Join your local block safety group for more updates as they occur.  Email info@doloresheights.org.