A local activist known as HDizz first uncovered the story, sharing copies of emails between residents and the city supervisor’s office in July 2022 complaining of open drug use and blocked sidewalks. They asked the city to address the issue by turning off the Wi-Fi outside of the library’s business hours, which it began doing in August. “Why are the vagrants and drug addicts so attracted to the library? It’s the free 24/7 Wi-Fi,” one person said.
Why is this public library in San Francisco turning off its Wi-Fi at night?
Answer: To prevent unhoused people from using it.
The Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial public library in San Francisco’s District 8 has been quietly shutting off its public Wi-Fi at night for over a year. According to The Verge, it has been doing so to appease local residents who were concerned about the number of unhoused residents who were using the library’s public Wi-Fi after hours.
A local activist known as HDizz first uncovered the story, sharing copies of emails between residents and the city supervisor’s office in July 2022 complaining of open drug use and blocked sidewalks. They asked the city to address the issue by turning off the Wi-Fi outside of the library’s business hours, which it began doing in August. “Why are the vagrants and drug addicts so attracted to the library? It’s the free 24/7 Wi-Fi,” one person said.
There hasn’t been any conclusive evidence proving that the reduced Wi-Fi access has curbed crime in the area, and HDizz started an email campaign last month to convince the branch to turn it back on 24/7. “Shutting [off] Wi-Fi for those who need it isn’t going to disappear homelessness, let alone help people find resources,” wrote one person who participated in the campaign.
A local activist known as HDizz first uncovered the story, sharing copies of emails between residents and the city supervisor’s office in July 2022 complaining of open drug use and blocked sidewalks. They asked the city to address the issue by turning off the Wi-Fi outside of the library’s business hours, which it began doing in August. “Why are the vagrants and drug addicts so attracted to the library? It’s the free 24/7 Wi-Fi,” one person said.
