Chris Schulman, the executive director of the Lower Polk Community Benefit District, emphasized that the proposed police station boundary changes could alleviate confusion among residents living near Central, Northern, and Tenderloin stations. He noted, 'We have people who don't know who to call and individual officers will come out and say, 'This isn't ours, this is ours.' The new maps would streamline communication and problem-solving for the residents in the area.'
A resident speaking to the SFPD project manager highlighted the severe delays in police response, recounting an instance where help took four hours due to boundary confusion. He expressed, 'When my house fell under Southern Station, I faced extreme delays. With ongoing issues like drug use and loitering, the need for a more responsive police station is critical for my safety and that of my neighbors.'
Senior Project Manager Maria Cowman acknowledged the challenges faced in boundary decisions and the importance of optimal responses to emergencies. She stated, 'We had a debate on whether to assign boundary areas to Northern or Mission stations. However, we finally chose Northern as it provides more effective coverage given the north-south positioning along Van Ness, thereby enhancing response times and management.'
Pratibha Tekkey from the Tenderloin Housing Clinic advocated for revisiting the past changes that convoluted police coverage. She remarked, 'We recognized this would be a humongous challenge for the community, coordinating with multiple police stations led to inefficiency. Therefore, the proposed boundaries should reflect an understanding of these complexities to improve public safety.'
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