Help Mission Local cover ICE

We’ve been covering immigration enforcement intensely under Trump. Now, we’re seeking $300,000 — $100,000 a year for the rest of Trump’s term — to hire a full-time immigration reporter . Donate

Locals call it the “flea market” or the “Thieves’ Market.” The streets around 16th and Mission have been a place to trade stolen or salvaged goods for decades, and a public secret that operates in plain view

But since the pandemic and since police operations ordered by Mayor Daniel Lurie earlier this year pushed people from the Tenderloin and SoMa into 16th and Mission, the Thieves’ Market has become bigger and bolder .

Despite the chaos, there’s a loose order. Regular sellers claim the same spots. Buyers know who deals weed, who brings sweets, who always

See Full Page