Ahead of hosting TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference, events company Non Plus Ultra—owner of venues including popular electronic music spot The Midway—conducted an unsanctioned homeless encampment sweep outside its SVN West space in San Francisco earlier this week.
The San Francisco Public Press reported that eight people were displaced. Their belongings were seized and loaded into unmarked trucks around midnight as documented in two Facebook live videos. From stimulus and unemployment checks to sentimental notebooks, musical instruments, and survival gear, affected residents lost both personal and valuable items.
Non Plus Ultra’s sweep came at a trying time as San Francisco’s large homeless population takes on the unprecedented turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the hazardous air from the California wildfires.
Non Plus Ultra’s Justification
“It was trash, so it was taken to the dump,” stated Peter Glikshtern, a partner of Non Plus Ultra, on the seizure of belongings. Explaining the reason for undertaking the sweep at midnight, Glikshtern said, “it was just the easiest, most convenient time to do it.”
Nor Plus Ultra claims the tents were abandoned and blocking a sidewalk near the building, creating a “serious health, safety, and fire hazard.” Additionally, citing city requirements, they stated they needed to power wash the sidewalks and paint over graffiti.
The role of the police
The San Francisco Police Department confirmed police presence during the sweep, but maintained that officers did not talk to anyone, nor was an incident report filed. “Officers arrived on scene and did not observe a fight nor did any person flag the officers down for any disturbance or other incident,” said San Francisco Police Department spokesman Robert Rueca. “There was no party that spoke to the police who arrived on scene.”
Jonathan Huerta, who witnessed the sweep, said otherwise. “ [The police officers] are walking with him [Glikshtern], knocking on tents telling everyone they have to leave,” he recounted.
An infringement on civil rights
Tori Larson of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, who is investigating the case, called the sweep “blatantly illegal.” “You have a right to your belongings,” Larson said. “It is complicated by the fact that it was a private party, but it was a crime. You cannot take people’s stuff. There can certainly be charges pressed against the company.”
Under California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, Larson believes affected residents may each be entitled to $25,000 compensation. “It’s so egregious to do this under the cover of night,” she expanded. “The facts could not be more heartbreaking and disturbing. This is vigilante injustice.”
TechCrunch’s Take
With their Disrupt event taking place at the venue at the scene of the sweep, TechCrunch made a strong statement on the matter.
“This was not an action that we asked Non Plus Ultra to perform and is not something that we would ever ask them to do,” TechCrunch said. “This is absolutely unacceptable, and we’re working to take immediate action. First, we will no longer be working with Non Plus Ultra at any of their venues in San Francisco for any TechCrunch event in the future. In addition, Non Plus Ultra has committed to working with local partners Community Housing Partnership and DISH to support the homeless community on 12th Street. They are also committing to set up a system to replace or, where possible, return property to the people who were unfairly targeted by this sweep. TechCrunch will ensure that Non Plus Ultra follows through on these commitments.”
Read TechCrunch’s full statement here.
