Neighborhood Wins With a Bright New Mural
District 7’s Budget Project Enlivens Head Street Stairs
• • • • • • • September 2025 • • • • • • •
For many decades, the Head Street stairs were a dumping ground and a homeless encampment. The accumulated garbage and smell of excrement were so disturbing that the Merced Extension Triangle Association’s former VP, Glen Hakeyama, recommended monthly power washing. Unfortunately, that never happened, and residents searched for a new solution to the problem.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROGRAM
Sociologists’ research suggests that crime or other unlawful behavior frequently occurs in unattractive spaces. Therefore, the author, a landscape architect living close to those stairs, requested the mural through District 7’s unique Participatory Budget process. Supervisor Melgar and her aide, Emma Heicken Hare, polled the design solution — D7 voted — and the residents won a $25,000 grant to design and install a mural to cover the retaining walls.
PROPERTY VALUE INCREASE
Someone commented that having a lovely mural will increase the property value. But, the property value may increase indirectly due to having this area free from homeless people and the accompanying refuse. For many weeks now, homelessness has not been a problem.
MOTION LIGHTING
Not only is it possible that the mural diminishes the presence of homeless people, but a Bionic Light, which detects movement when someone is nearby, has also been strategically placed. The cost of the lighting is $19 for two lights. Initially, the lights were to deter graffiti artists from tagging, but they also appear to effectively minimize the camping of homeless people.
ARTIST MIKE RITCH
The artist who designed and installed the work was Mike Ritch. Mike worked on the mural beside the Laguna Honda Hospital with other artists. Local residents enjoyed working with Ritch and recommend him to other neighborhoods interested in a mural. Please see other works designed by this artist in the link below.
“Mike Ritch after getting a degree in Psychology from USC, he studied painting at École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Initially working as an illustrator, he has spent the last 20 years as a professional artist and arts educator. In addition to his art practice, Mike teaches oil painting and serves as director of the Jean Henry School of Art in the Lakeside neighborhood of San Francisco.
Mike seeks to elevate and bring awareness to the natural world through large-scale murals, highlighting native flora and fauna while sometimes incorporating more fantastical elements. He employs a wide range of media in his art, splitting his practice between works on canvas and public art installations.
Mike has completed numerous mural commissions for private and public clients. In recent years, he has focused on leading Community Mural projects. Mike’s paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally, and his works on canvas are held in many private collections. His colorful murals can be seen throughout the Bay Area and beyond.” Mike Ritch provided this biography.
Below are sketches provided by Mike Ritch that we look forward to seeing in completion:
Glenn Rogers, RLA,
President, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN)
Landscape Architect, License 3223
Septembery 2025
