They get their hands dirty to clean our streets. They pave roads and build libraries, police stations, firehouses and reimagined streetscapes. They deftly handle power tools to fix public buildings, wield paint brushes to vanquish graffiti and climb high into the sky to care for trees. 

They are San Francisco Public Works employees who strive every day to keep the City clean, safe, resilient, beautiful and accessible for all.

These are their stories.

Real People. Real Work.

Brittany Brandon, a general laborer supervisor overseeing the Hot Spots crews for Public Works, grew up with the department. She joined Public Works when she was 18. After working as an apprentice with the department early on, Brandon rose through the ranks over the course of her career with Public Works, from sweeping streets and steam-cleaning alleys in North Beach to supervising cleaning crews assigned to encampment resolutions. A native San Franciscan, Brandon’s frontline work brought the city she loved ever closer.

Brittany Brandon - Real People. Real Work.

Leonard Doss Jr., a native son of San Francisco, comes to his job with a mission: Keep his hometown looking beautiful. He’s part of a small but mighty Public Works graffiti-abatement team that wipes out tens of thousands of tags every year. Despite the steady and often heavy workload, Doss Jr. isn't deterred. He loves his job. To him, spraying over graffiti is “poetry in motion” and coming to work every day is “easy.”

Leonard Doss - Real People. Real Work.

As a carpenter for Public Works, Sheldon Gustafson puts his woodworking skills to good use for facilities and public spaces throughout San Francisco. Much of Gustafson’s work revolves around keeping the public safe: maintaining the Filbert Street Steps so nobody gets hurt, bolstering retaining walls to prevent mudslides and fixing handrails to safeguard people from splinters. Public Works’ Carpenter Shop often takes on some of the most distinctive projects in the City – not just with expert know-how but with rightful pride.

Sheldon Gustafson - Real People. Real Work.

As a truck driver with Public Works’ street repair operation, Fabiola Vega is part of a near-nonstop team effort to repair, maintain and improve San Francisco’s network of hilly roads, commercial corridors and narrow side streets, allowing for smooth and safe travel throughout the City. In many ways, Public Works’ truck drivers work as jack-of-all-trades crews who jump into action whenever called upon. When heavy winter storms sweep through San Francisco leaving behind fallen tree limbs, Vega and others help haul the debris off to clear roadways, sidewalks and public spaces. The team is also instrumental in helping Public Works meet our annual paving goal to keep the roads safe and smooth for people who drive, bike, walk and take transit.

Fabiola Vega - Real People. Real Work.

Danielle Chan is a landscape architect with Public Works’ Bureau of Landscape Architecture. The bureau’s work includes parks, playgrounds, streetscapes, master plans, plazas, community gardens, green infrastructure and trails. For the past few years, Chan has been working on the Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation Project, an overhaul of the open space in the cultural heart of the neighborhood. Seeing the project go into construction was a pinch-me moment for her.

Leonard Doss - Real People. Real Work.

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