NEWS
Your Historic Tenderloin
Merchants Association- News Center
Hoodline
by Carrie Sisto
Tenderloin Merchants Form New Association to Address Issues With Neighborhood's Alleys
Tenderloin business owners have launched their own merchants' association, in an effort to improve conditions around their storefronts for neighbors and customers.
Work to develop the Tenderloin Merchants and Property Owners Association (TMA) has been underway for nearly a year, according to its newly minted executive director, Rene Colorado
by Trisha Thadani
The San Francisco
Chronicle
Hoodline
by Carrie Sisto
Tenderloin Merchants Seek Support After COVID-19 Shutdown Slashes Income & Increases Crime
Launched late last year, the Tenderloin Merchants Association (TMA) is already facing a big hurdle: the COVID-19 crisis and resulting shelter-in-place orders.
In addition to a huge drop in income for retailers and some restaurants, the shutdown has also led to decreased law enforcement in the Tenderloin. TMA members have been reporting a rise in vandalism, break-ins and open drug use in the neighborhood, as SFPD declines to respond to non-emergency calls.
With many of its members in need, the TMA has launched a GoFundMe page to help pay rent and finance marketing efforts for Tenderloin businesses that remain open during the shutdown.
Executive director Rene Colorado says the grant program will be open to all Tenderloin businesses, not just TMA members.
"We want to help everyone," Colorado said, noting that 100% of contributions will go to the grant program, which will be administered by the organization’s board of directors.
‘We’re forced to turn to the police:’ SF Advocates, Police Commissioners Want Fewer Officers Responding to Homeless
As a last resort, Rene Colorado says, he calls 911 at least two times a day — nearly every day — from his restaurant in the Tenderloin, asking for help with an aggressive mentally ill homeless person outside his door.
He said he always calls the Homeless Outreach Team first, but they seldom respond fast enough. That leaves him with no choice, he said, but to call the police.