The 12th annual San Francisco Chinatown’s Night Out will be celebrated on Sept. 9 at a new venue. The event is intended to introduce the community to the cops and their commanders assigned to the area.
“Public safety works best when officers build strong relationships with the people they serve. When beat officers know the store owners on their block. When an officer stops to help a senior, and when public safety workers know the neighborhood, and know the people who they’re there to protect,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.
With Portsmouth Square still under construction, Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground Park will be the site of the annual Chinatown Night Out.
Organizers say about 1,000 people usually show up, each gets a meal and a grab bag full of goodies.
Willie “Woo Woo” Wong has become one of the default parks in the neighborhood for seniors and others as Portsmouth Square goes through a major renovation.
For SFPD this year, there’s also a feeling of accomplishment because crime rates continue to fall across the city.
“We are down 20% across the board in all crime categories. And that’s already on top of historic lows from last year as well, so, I’m really happy of that result,” San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said.
In 2025, the city experienced a 30% drop in crime.
In 2026, some categories are also at historic lows, including car break ins, which are the lowest in 23 years.
Chinatown Night Out is also an opportunity for public safety departments to connect with community members.
Fire Chief Dean Crispen says they are working with seniors in the neighborhood.
“To create a placard that folks can put on their refrigerator, so that when EMT’s and paramedics respond, there’s communication about the medical issues and the medications the folks are taking,” Crispen said.
The event is free and everyone is invited to join.
