Safe Back to School Day

On Monday August 28th, neighbors from throughout Hayes Valley and the Lower Haight celebrated the first day of school by escorting children as they walked through the neighborhood to school. Well over 50 neighbors held signs on street corners reminding drivers that schools were open. They were joined in their efforts by Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Bevan Dufty as well as Police Chief Heather Fong, Captain Dillon from Northern Station, and Alan Nance, Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. The event was organized by several neighborhood groups, including the Lower Haight Neighborhood Organization, HVNA, Hayes Valley Community Partners, John Muir PTA and the District 5 School Community Network. Local merchants donated school supplies, healthy snacks for the kids and coffee for the adults. Neighbors were aligned on the route between the now-closed John Swett and John Muir, and particular attention was focused on anti-drug activity. Signs are now up in the area warning of increased penalties for drug offenses during school hours. A press conference on the importance of providing a safe environment for our kids was held at the corner of Haight and Webster before community leaders and kids continued on to school.