San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has sent a complaint letter to McDonald's asking for help dealing with the chain's Haight location, which he describes as a "public nuisance."
The large parking lot and property surrounding the fast food restaurant at 793 Stanyan Street has been a magnet for crime, Herrera said in a pre-litigation demand letter and draft complaint addressed to McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook.
Between January 2014 and April 2015, Herrera noted incidents on the property include 32 fights, assaults or batteries, two dog attacks, and eight car break-ins.
More prominently, there have been many arrests for the sale and possession of drugs.
"In the last six months the police have recovered more than 100 doses of LSD, over two pounds of marijuana, 88.5 grams of psilocybin (psychedelic mushrooms), more than half of a pound of marijuana edibles, and hashish from drug dealers selling their products on your property," Herrera wrote, adding that the SFPD has received more than 1,100 complaints about the Stanyan Street McDonald's since January 2012.
McDonald's could be held legally accountable for the "lawlessness" if the franchisee of the Stanyan Street location continues to refuse to address the criminal activity, and Herrera will not hesitate to file suit for violations of the California Drug Abatement Act and Unfair Competition Law if necessary, he wrote.
"The problems caused by the illegal activity at your property require constant police attention, thereby draining valuable police resources that cannot be devoted elsewhere," Herrera wrote. "No other business in the area has generated nearly the same number of calls for service to SFPD. We firmly believe that, in its current condition, your Property threatens the health and safety of the surrounding neighborhood."
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Wednesday afternoon, Easterbrook sent NBC Bay Area a statement, saying in part: “I was not made aware of the claimed drug issues. However, I will continue to work diligently with the city and officials to make the restaurant a safe and enjoyable place for my customers.”
Herrera has requested that Easterbrook contact him by May 18 to set up a meeting.
It's been a bumpy year for the Golden Arches in San Francisco. McDonald's suddenly closed its Van Ness Street location in January after 36 years in business, Hoodline reported.
