Gov. Newsom Declares New Partnership to Fight Fentanyl Disaster in San Francisco – NBC Bay Space
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced a new plan involving the California National Guard and other agencies to combat San Francisco’s fentanyl crisis.
“This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Mayor London Breed. “I’ve reached out to our governor, I’ve reached out to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others, and indeed our governor has responded with what I believe has been tremendous support.”
This support comes with an agreement between the California Highway Patrol, the California National Guard, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco District Attorney to work together to combat the ongoing crisis.
Cooperation between all four agencies will focus on “shutting down the fentanyl trade and disrupting the supply of the deadly drug in the city by holding accountable the operators of large-scale drug trafficking operations.”
“Help from the National Guard and from the CHP to coordinate and work with our police and prosecutors to help us address challenges surrounding our open-air drug trade, primarily in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods of San Francisco,” said Breed.
The announcement comes just two days after the governor made an unannounced stop in the tenderloin to get a first-hand look at the problem.
“We are taking action,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Through this new collaborative partnership, we are providing increased resources and manpower to law enforcement agencies to address crime associated with the fentanyl crisis, hold poison traffickers to account, and increase law enforcement presence to maintain public safety and public confidence in.” to improve San Francisco.”
“We’re making arrests day in and day out but it’s really hard to hold our own and we need to get it under control and that’s what we intend to do. So we’re going to do it the San Francisco way with San Francisco values, but the help is badly needed,” said Bill Scott, San Francisco Police Commissioner.
He explained what the police are facing and reassured who is being targeted.
“I want to reassure the public that we are policing the way we policing, with dignity and respect, and working with our community,” Scott said.
Newsom said the effort would not criminalize those struggling with drug problems but would rather focus on drug suppliers and dealers.
Few details have been released as of how the new troops would be deployed and when that would begin.
