Castro officials are reacting positively to the news that much of the neighborhood will remain within the San Francisco Police Department's Mission Station boundaries. Last fall, SFPD raised the idea of changing boundaries of several police precincts throughout the city, including moving the Castro fully into Park Station.
Then, in December, it was revealed that the Castro precinct boundaries likely would not change. That was also indicated in a report that came out this month.
As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, the SFPD was considering a change of the boundaries so the entire Castro would be in Park Station. As it is, Mission Station, the precinct of which is located at 630 Valencia Street, covers the Castro south of Market Street. Park Station, the precinct of which is located at 1899 Waller Street in Golden Gate Park, covers north of Market Street.
"I think it's the right call," gay Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who as District 8 supervisor represents the Castro, stated to the B.A.R. "Castro residents and merchants have worked closely with Mission Station on the various public safety and quality of life issues impacting the neighborhood. There are established relationships and protocols, and I understand the community being reluctant to start from scratch with a new station."
A February 19 report from the SFPD titled "District Station Boundaries Analysis & Recommendations" seems to be the death knell for any changes in the Castro. The report shows that though a recommended map would have moved the Park Station boundaries into the Castro, the proposed map does not.
The report further lists that, after hearing from unnamed stakeholders, the project team included "Castro neighborhood: Move from Mission Station to Park Station to receive more attention and response" among its discussions. It does not state why this was not done.
A spokesperson for SFPD Chief William Scott didn't return a request for comment.
Dave Burke, a straight ally who is the public safety liaison for District 8, stated that it's his understanding this is the end of the possibility, for now at least. Mission Station deals with more crime than Park does, and is home to the officers who walk a foot beat in the Castro daily, he said.
"I think this is a net positive," he said. "My concern was we were going to lose our officers in the Castro every single day. I was rooting for staying in the Mission Station."
Nonetheless, "It's not like we're Texas and Oklahoma. We do a lot of great work across lines," he said.
Terry Asten Bennett, a straight ally who is president of the Castro Merchants Association, agreed that a shakeup wasn't the best for the neighborhood.
"We have a long established relationship with Mission Station and dedicated beat officers that know our community," she stated. "I think, overall, it is in our best interest to remain as part of Mission Station and am happy to see our relationship continue."
Andrea Aiello, a lesbian who is the head of the Castro Community Benefit District, didn't return a request for comment.
Evan Sernoffsky, director of strategic communications for the SFPD, told the B.A.R. September 17 that "the whole idea is we are improving police services to each district."
"I think the Castro is one of the most visible changes – obviously a very iconic and important neighborhood in San Francisco, so we want to be sure to make sure just like everywhere we are delivering the best service possible," he said in a phone interview at the time.
That being said, by December, Mandelman told the B.A.R. that "I would be very surprised at this point if that proposal went forward."
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