SF police may start helping BART officers patrol troubled Civic Center Station

One person injects another with a needle on a syringe along Market Street outside an entrance to the Civic Center / UN Plaza Station on Friday, April 27, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. One person injects another with a needle on a syringe along Market Street outside an entrance to the Civic Center / UN Plaza Station on Friday, April 27, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close SF police may start helping BART officers patrol troubled Civic Center Station 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

BART riders may soon see San Francisco police patrolling Civic Center Station, where the open injection of drugs has become a common sight.

“That is a distinct possibility,” Mayor Mark Farrell said after a recent hour-long sit-down with representatives from BART and the San Francisco Police Department. “I’ve asked for them to come up with a plan of options.”

Farrell called the meeting after seeing a news report on KPIX-TV that showed people openly shooting up in the station’s underground walkways as commuters passed by.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s San Francisco or BART police, but someone has to take ownership of the issue because the situation is unacceptable,” Farrell said.

San Francisco BART Directors Bevan Dufty, Nick Josefowitz and Lateefah Simon were at the meeting, along with BART General Manager Grace Crunican.

“BART can’t change Civic Center without the city partnering with police, mental health and drug diversion,” Dufty said.

BART police say they are 30 officers short — so if the station is going to be patrolled they will need help from SFPD. Even then, BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas said, it’s going to take more than cops to solve the problem.

“We can make arrests, but if there are no consequences then chances are we will see them again,” Rojas said of the drug users.

Under Prop. 47 changes to state law approved by voters in 2014, possession of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine for personal use is a low-level misdemeanor, as is possession of drug paraphernalia or being under the influence — the three most likely charges.

“I don’t know of any county that has taken anyone into custody for those offenses — most likely they would get a citation,” said San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, past president of the California District Attorneys Association. “Even if they went to jail, they would be cited and released.”

As for going into rehabilitation programs — that’s up to the user.

On the other hand, maybe getting high around a cop will be enough of a bummer for them to move on.

Bell of the Ball: When it comes to Democratic endorsements, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris appears to be the hottest “get” in next month’s primary.

Harris’ face is showing up on 26 Democratic candidates’ mailers and TV ads, including those for Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

And with good reason. Polls show Harris is viewed favorably by 73 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of independents — making her more popular than even longtime U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Jerry Brown.

Lift off: Yet another alternative form of transportation is coming to San Francisco.

A new mini aerial tram — stretching half a football field in length — will begin transporting people from a plaza outside the new Salesforce Tower to the 5.4-acre park atop the Transbay Transit Center.

The ski-lift-like tram, which can carry up to 20 passengers at a time, is nearing completion off Mission and Fremont streets, and will add a bit of dramatic flair to the fast-changing downtown neighborhood.

“We are excited to bring forth the first (modern) gondola in San Francisco,” said Helen Han, spokeswoman for Boston Properties, the owner of the Salesforce Tower, which will own and operate the tram.

More than 50 years ago, a privately operated Sky Tram carried up to 25 passengers at a time on a scenic four-minute ride over Seal Rocks, between the Cliff House and Point Lobos. But interest faded after a decade, and it was shut down in the mid-1960s and dismantled.

Nobody is saying how much Boston Properties is spending on the gondola — a project the developer was required to take on when it acquired the rights to build its tower next to the transit center.

But Han said the tram will be free of charge to the public. It will operate whenever the rooftop garden is open — between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the fall and winter months, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during spring and summer.

The public will also be able to reach the rooftop garden from a pair of escalators inside the transit terminal.

Of course, the opening of the $2.4 billion transit hub and garden has been delayed until this summer — which means, for the time being, both the escalators and gondola won’t be moving anybody.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email matierandross@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matierandross