SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A San Francisco man says months of reporting graffiti and vandalism in his Mission District neighborhood yielded little response from the city – until he received a notice blaming him for a small graffiti tag on a fire hydrant connected to his home.

Michael, who asked that his last name not be used, told ABC7 Eyewitness News that he has spent the past year alerting the city to vandalism near his home. He said he has called 311, contacted San Francisco police, emailed city leaders and even tweeted Mayor Daniel Lurie, but mostly received automated or generic replies.

“Obviously, we would have taken care of it had we noticed. But it’s like this tiny little thing,” Michael said, referring to the graffiti notice issued by the city.

The notice came from the San Francisco Department of Public Works, citing graffiti on a fire hydrant connected to his property. Michael said receiving it felt insulting after repeated attempts to get help addressing larger issues in the neighborhood.

“We feel like had those guys responded a little bit faster or like actually taking our emails seriously. Then this wouldn’t be there,” he said.

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Michael said what upset him most was what he saw as unequal accountability.

“I was particularly upset about is that they’re pointing out our problems without resolving theirs first. Like, don’t be hypocritical. Yeah,” he said.

In response to ABC7’s inquiry, the Department of Public Works provided the following statement in part:

“In this case, Public Works received a complaint about graffiti on the property and by law we were compelled to respond. We issued the property owner a corrective notice – not a citation – for a small graffiti tag, with 30 days to remove it.”

Michael acknowledged that he is aware of the city’s graffiti abatement program but said he believes the root issue goes beyond cleanup.

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“Realistically, like they have to deal with the drug crisis. That’s the core issue. Like it’s there’s nothing that’s more important in my opinion,” he said.

Walking through nearby blocks, Michael pointed out remnants of encampments and alleged drug dealing sites. He said the issue is personal, adding that his own family has struggled with substance abuse.

“If you deal with the people who are actively dealing and selling drugs on our street, then everything will go away,” he said.

As he noted a boarded-up property across the street that he said has attracted squatters, a neighbor agreed the situation has become unmanageable.

Michael said he supports Mayor Lurie and the administration’s approach overall but worries some neighborhoods are being overlooked.

“We are all paying property taxes. We are all contributing to the city. We all deserve the same level of respect and like I think cleanliness and just like the same level of service from the city and it just seems like they’re just, I don’t know, like relegating the problem into a one area,” he said.

Full statement from Department of Public Works:

“We hear this resident’s frustration, and we want to be clear: Our first path is to work with property owners, not against them.
In this case, Public Works received a complaint about graffiti on the property and by law we were compelled to respond.
We issued the property owner a corrective notice – not a citation – for a small graffiti tag, with 30 days to remove it. That’s intentional. We build in that window specifically to give property owners time and flexibility to address the violation. We also provide them contact information should they have any questions.
Property owners who are repeatedly targeted with graffiti vandalism can cite that as a hardship and we will take it into account. In this case, Public Works has not received an email or call from this property owner.
We also want to note that this complaint was submitted through Solve SF, a new AI-powered platform that allows the public to report issues of concern. Launched in January, the third-party platform provides people with another option in addition to the City’s 311 customer service operation to flag concerns. We encourage residents to report graffiti tags to keep our city clean and free of blight. It is important to remove tags quickly to deter more tags.
By City code, graffiti removal on private property is the responsibility of the property owner but there is an exception. San Francisco Public Works operates a Graffiti Abatement Opt-In Pilot Program that allows eligible property owners in commercial corridors to have graffiti removed from their property at no cost to them. Unfortunately, this particular property is not eligible for the opt- in program because it does not fall into the eligibility map.
For property owners experiencing repeated tagging, we recommend a few practical steps in addition to opting into our program: installing motion-activated lighting and security cameras, which can deter vandalism and support enforcement efforts.
Property owners on commercial corridors can learn more and submit an interest form on our website https://sfpublicworks.org/services/graffiti-opt-in
We want to resolve this quickly and we’re committed to working with this resident to do so.”

“He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” said Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, a visitor from Los Angeles who had an extra half hour so she ran down to the pier for a hopeful peek of the elusive sea lion. “I have heard everywhere about this big giant sea lion, and I like to look at things, so just thought I’d check it out.”

Chonkers likely came from up north off the coast of Washington or Oregon and is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680 and 907 kilograms), said Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito. Chonkers has been one of the few Steller sea lions to venture to the pier, which is protected from predators and crashing waves while providing a fish-filled buffet.

“There’s plenty of food in San Francisco Bay for them, so the fish, the rockfish, the anchovies, the herring, there’s a lot of easy prey for them,” she said.

@apnews A surprise guest at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is quite literally making waves. Meet Chonkers, the name given to a giant Steller sea lion spotted this week lounging among his considerably smaller California sea lion neighbors. Chonkers belongs to the Steller species, the largest of all sea lions, known for their commanding presence and dock-dominating energy. Adult males can weigh over a ton. #sealion #cuteanimals #sanfrancisco #seal #california #fishermanswharf #animals #ocean ♬ original sound – The Associated Press

A man is dead after a brutal stabbing inside a San Francisco hospital and now federal immigration officials are pointing squarely at California’s sanctuary policies and the Biden administration’s border decisions as contributing factors.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is urging Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials not to release the suspect, a Venezuelan national in the country illegally who had previously been encountered and released by Border Patrol.

Wilfredo Jose Tortolero-Arriechi is accused of fatally stabbing 51-year-old Alberto Rangel inside Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on December 4. Rangel succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 6.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE has already lodged a detainer request to keep Tortolero-Arriechi in custody — a request that now hangs in the balance in a state that has repeatedly clashed with federal immigration enforcement.

DHS TAKES VICTORY LAP AFTER ARRESTING OVER 10K ILLEGAL ALIENS IN DEEP BLUE CITY DESPITE VIOLENT RIOTS

“If it weren’t for the Biden administration’s reckless open-border policies, Alberto Rangel would still be alive,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement, directly tying the killing to federal immigration policy. She also called on Newsom to ensure the suspect is not released, blasting sanctuary policies that she says “put American lives at risk.”

The suspect had reportedly displayed alarming behavior in the weeks leading up to the attack, allegedly threatening hospital staff and his own doctor before the deadly stabbing unfolded.

EXCLUSIVE: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED UNDER BIDEN ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ ALLEGEDLY KILLS DRIVER IN POLICE CHASE

Federal officials say Tortolero-Arriechi was first encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in 2023 and then released into the country. The case is adding new fuel to the fight over California’s sanctuary policies.

Earlier this year, ICE revealed that more than 33,000 criminal illegal immigrants are currently in custody across California with active detainers, including individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, sexual assault and drug trafficking.

Despite that, officials say thousands have been released.

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Since January 2026 alone, California jurisdictions have declined to honor ICE detainers in more than 4,500 cases, according to the agency. Those releases included individuals tied to dozens of homicides, hundreds of assaults and a wide range of other violent and drug-related offenses, ICE said.

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The latest push from federal officials builds on earlier warnings. In February, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta urging him to “put the safety of Americans first” by honoring detainers for more than 33,000 criminal illegal immigrants in state custody.

Lyons warned that “no community serious about keeping its residents safe will tolerate a clear aberration of the law,” pressing California officials to cooperate with ICE and take “the worst of the worst off the streets.”

Meanwhile, Alberto Rangel’s death is now being used by federal officials to underscore what they argue are the real-world consequences of those policies.

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Newsom’s office pushed back on that characterization, saying the state’s approach prioritizes accountability and public safety.

“If someone commits a serious crime, they should be held accountable in our justice system,” a spokesperson for Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital. “Allowing someone to evade responsibility simply by being deported undermines the rule of law and completely disrespects the victims harmed by that crime. Our focus must always be to ensure those who commit violent acts face their consequences here.”

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The governor’s office also pointed to California’s record of cooperating with federal immigration authorities in certain cases, noting that, since 2019, the state has coordinated the transfer of more than 12,000 individuals, including those convicted of serious and violent crimes, into ICE custody.

Officials added that state law allows coordination with ICE for individuals convicted of serious felonies or those facing credible charges, and said California does not interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

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They also argued that federal authorities do not always take custody of individuals when detainers are issued, claiming ICE fails to pick up roughly one in eight people released from state prisons who have immigration holds.

Tortolero-Arriechi remains in custody at the San Francisco County Jail, where he faces homicide and weapons charges, as pressure mounts on California leaders over whether they will comply with federal requests to keep him there.

In a statement issued after his death in December 2025, SEIU Local 521 Chief Elected Officer Riko Mendez said, “Our hearts are with the family, friends, and coworkers of Alberto Rangel,” remembering him as a dedicated social worker.