SANDO MAYOR CLEANS STREETS

Ferguson told SFBA president Daphne Bartlette and the association’s members that he intends to call on the fire services to pressure-wash the streets. “This would allow them to test their equipment and make sure that hydrants are fully functional — hoses are not punctured,” Ferguson said.

Bartlette submitted SFBA’s wish list to mayor Ferguson, deputy mayor Malika Blair and city corporation’s CEO Marlene Coudray.

She cited street vending, lack of security, irregular garbage collection and improper parking as the main problems facing the city.

Bartlett said that restaurants on lower High Street dump plastic bags with food scraps, on the pavement. She said that vagrants and stray dogs often burst these bags, which becomes infested with flies, insects and rodents.

Bartlett also urged the mayor to consider installing “vagrant proof” bins. She hinted that the bins were ordered by the council’s previous administration, but had been apparently held up at the port.

The mayor said that a police presence on High Street will be greatly increased. He promised to address all the matters raised by the SFBA. Saying that 13 street vendors have been arrested within the last 14 days, the mayor promised to control vending on High Street.