By Janie Har
Associated press

SAN FRANCISCO – The chief prosecutor of San Francisco on Monday rejected the mayor’s call for increased policing to tackle rampant drug trafficking in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, urging them to instead invest more money in homes and treatment that the causes of crime.

Politically competitive District Attorney Chesa Boudin was accompanied by public defender Mano Raju and addiction specialists at a press conference announced after Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency in the long-battered Tenderloin last week. Open drug trafficking and neighborhood shootings have scared children and seniors into going outside.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin speaks during a press conference in protest of Mayor London’s Breed plan for more police and law enforcement that could affect drug users in the Tenderloin neighborhood on Monday, December 20, 2021 in San Francisco. (Gabrielle Lurie / San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

The press conference comes as Boudin, whose 2019 election was unsupported by Breed, faces a recall election in June put on the ballot by critics who say he is gentle on criminals. Boudin’s office countered the criticism with examples of effective crackdown on shoplifting and other criminal activities. But his remarks on Monday made his position clear on how to persecute people with drug problems or mental health problems.

“If arrests and indictments alone could solve the drug crisis in this country or city, it would have been resolved long ago,” he said. “We spent over a trillion dollars fighting the so-called war on drugs, and where did that take us?”

Boudin said he was indignant at the “raw human suffering” he saw in the neighborhood. But using outdated methods won’t make people safer and the city has other options, said Boudin, who worked in the public defender’s office before being appointed prosecutor.

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A mayor’s spokesman said Monday the government had made historic investments in housing and treatment and was determined to open a safe drug use point as well as a drug disenchantment center, ideas also supported by spokesmen on Monday. As part of their contingency plan, Breed is working to open a temporary location in the Tenderloin to connect people to services, said Jeff Cretan.

“The reality is our outreach teams are out there every day, and while many people take services to get inside and get the help they need, others don’t,” he said, adding that the mayor will continue to invest in these programs, “but people will not be allowed to refuse these services and continue breaking the law.”

Like many other predominantly democratic cities, San Francisco is fighting crime in the face of police reforms sparked by the 2020 murder of George Floyd. While general crime reports in San Francisco prior to the pandemic have declined, viral video footage of cheeky shoplifters and home break-in stories have put an uncomfortable spotlight on a city that prides itself on its praised compassion and tolerance.

Oakland City Council, a longtime leader of the Black Lives Matter movement to cut police funding, backed down earlier this month and voted to hire 60 new officers and add two new police academies amid an increase in murders and gun violence.

San Francisco spends millions of dollars to fight homelessness and drug addiction, but the effort has not made any visible changes. City guides say the high cost of housing and the abundance of cheap synthetic drugs are devastating other major cities as well.

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Some residents say San Francisco has lost its luster as officials fail to deter repeat offenders, provide shelter for the homeless, or keep the streets clean. They are also dismayed that the school district, which is not controlled by the mayor, held on to distance learning for most of the past year, while neighboring districts and even private schools in San Francisco welcomed students back to their classrooms. Several school board members are also facing new elections.

People who live and work in Tenderloin, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, have asked the mayor’s office for increased patrols, although not all think police is the solution.

[RELATED: Foot patrol works. More of it will reduce violence.]

In response, Breed said last week they needed to be “less tolerant of all the cops – it destroyed our town” and announced initiatives to make stolen property more difficult to sell and give police real-time access to surveillance video.

She said the city will no longer tolerate open drug use or trafficking and people will have to accept treatment or go to jail. Critics say there aren’t enough treatment beds or accommodations.

Del Seymour, founder of the personnel development group Code Tenderloin, said at the press conference on Monday that he loves and respects the mayor but is flooding the neighborhood with more police officers who don’t know how to deal with people struggling with addictions, mental health issues and Struggling with homelessness is not the answer.

“We deserve a lot better,” he said. “The money you will spend on it can be used for drug counseling and needs-based treatment.”

Other speakers on Monday included representatives from HealthRIGHT 360, which offers mental health and substance use treatment; SF AIDS Foundation; and Shamann Walton, president and only black member of the San Francisco board of directors.

The post San Francisco DA, others denounce mayor’s plan for extra police appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has rejected the mayor’s call for increased policing to tackle rampant drug trafficking in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods

Through JANIE HAR Associated Press

December 21, 2021, 1:20 a.m.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The chief prosecutor of San Francisco on Monday rejected the mayor’s call for increased policing to tackle rampant drug trafficking in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, urging them to instead invest more money in homes and treatment that address the causes of crime.

Politically competitive District Attorney Chesa Boudin was accompanied by public defender Mano Raju and addiction specialists at a press conference announced after Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency in the long-battered Tenderloin last week. Open drug trafficking and neighborhood shootings have scared children and seniors into going outside.

The press conference comes as Boudin, whose 2019 election was unsupported by Breed, faces a recall election in June put on the ballot by critics who say he is gentle on criminals. Boudin’s office countered the criticism with examples of effective crackdown on shoplifting and other criminal activities. But his remarks on Monday made his position clear on how to persecute people with drug problems or mental health problems.

“If arrests and indictments alone could solve the drug crisis in this country or city, it would have been resolved long ago,” he said. “We spent over a trillion dollars fighting the so-called war on drugs, and where did that take us?”

Boudin said he was indignant at the “raw human suffering” he saw in the neighborhood. But using outdated methods won’t make people safer and the city has other options, said Boudin, who worked in the public defender’s office before being appointed prosecutor.

A mayor’s spokesman said Monday the government had made historic investments in housing and treatment and was determined to open a safe drug use point as well as a drug disenchantment center, ideas also supported by spokesmen on Monday. As part of their contingency plan, Breed is working to open a temporary location in the Tenderloin to connect people to services, said Jeff Cretan.

“The reality is our outreach teams are out there every day, and while many people take services to get inside and get the help they need, others don’t,” he said, adding that the mayor will continue to invest in these programs, “but people will not be allowed to refuse these services and continue breaking the law.”

Like many other predominantly democratic cities, San Francisco is fighting crime in the face of police reforms sparked by the 2020 murder of George Floyd. While general crime reports in San Francisco prior to the pandemic have declined, viral video footage of cheeky shoplifters and home break-in stories have put an uncomfortable spotlight on a city that prides itself on its praised compassion and tolerance.

Oakland City Council, a longtime leader of the Black Lives Matter movement to cut police funding, backed down earlier this month and voted to hire 60 new officers and add two new police academies amid an increase in murders and gun violence.

San Francisco spends millions of dollars to fight homelessness and drug addiction, but the effort has not made any visible changes. City guides say the high cost of housing and the abundance of cheap synthetic drugs are devastating other major cities as well.

Some residents say San Francisco has lost its luster as officials fail to deter repeat offenders, provide shelter for the homeless, or keep the streets clean. They are also dismayed that the school district, which is not controlled by the mayor, held on to distance learning for most of the past year, while neighboring districts and even private schools in San Francisco welcomed students back to their classrooms. Several school board members are also facing new elections.

People who live and work in Tenderloin, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, have asked the mayor’s office for increased patrols, although not all think police is the solution.

In response, Breed said last week they needed to be “less tolerant of all the cops – it destroyed our town” and announced initiatives to make stolen property more difficult to sell and give police real-time access to surveillance video.

She said the city will no longer tolerate open drug use or trafficking and people will have to accept treatment or go to jail. Critics say there aren’t enough treatment beds or accommodations.

Del Seymour, founder of the personnel development group Code Tenderloin, said at the press conference on Monday that he loves and respects the mayor but is flooding the neighborhood with more police officers who don’t know how to deal with people struggling with addictions, mental health issues and Struggling with homelessness is not the answer.

“We deserve a lot better,” he said. “The money you will spend on it can be used for drug counseling and needs-based treatment.”

Other speakers on Monday included representatives from HealthRIGHT 360, which offers mental health and substance use treatment; SF AIDS Foundation; and Shamann Walton, president and only black member of the San Francisco board of directors.

The post San Francisco DA, others denounce mayor’s plan for police appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

RELATED: Find resources to help with equality, justice, and race issues

The great crowd took over Market Street.

“I want to stop the hate crimes because we are human too,” said Sophia Larioza from San Francisco.

This violence is increasing in the Bay Area. Many crimes against Asian American seniors have been caught on camera.

VIDEO: Hundreds gather in SF to mourn the victims of the Atlanta shooting

Eight people were shot dead in Atlanta a few days ago, six of the victims were Asian women who worked in local spas.

“This rally is a call to arms, a call to action, stand up and say that no more is enough,” said Michael Nguyen of the Asian Pacific Alliance.

There was a rally on 17th and Castro Streets prior to the march. The LGBTQ community is quickly becoming a new ally in the cause.

“To so many leaders in the LGBTQ community, saying that we stand together with our Asian-American families, our API seniors,” said MP David Chiu.

RELATED: Asian-American victim considers moving out of state after brutal attack in SF

The fear of just walking down the street is a new reality for many families.

“My mother went shopping, instead of ornaments and clothes she wanted a baseball bat to protect herself. This is not the life I want for my people,” said Ehra Amaya.

“We’re better than that,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

When it comes to community safety, Breed wants to bring back an idea from the 1980s, community-based safety patrols that got pretty famous.

“We’re going to bring back something similar to Guardian Angels to protect and uplift seniors,” Breed said.

Breed plans to release more details about the street patrols next week.

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• Asian Americans in the Bay Area share strong, painful memories of hatred
• The 83-year-old Asian man describes a debilitating SF attack and warns people to “be careful”.
• “Go Back to China”: Racist rant suspect identified as the daughter of the late New York Senator
• The Asian-American victim is considering moving out of the state after a brutal attack in SF
• EXCLUSIVE: The 75-year-old Asian man warned of an increase in attacks days before the Oakland murder
• Daniel Dae Kim, members of Congress to testify on discrimination and violence against Asian Americans
• The Asian grandma was knocked unconscious in an unprovoked attack in NY
• Family outraged by SF DA’s description of the alleged murderer of the 84-year-old Asian man
• Nearly 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported in the US since March 2020, the group said
• “This is terrible”: SFPD steps up patrols amid series of violent attacks on Asian Americans
• Daniel Wu and W. Kamau Bell discuss shocking crimes against Asian Americans
• Jeremy Lin, the guardian of the Santa Cruz Warriors, comments on the racial fraud directed against him
• The #StandForAsians rally draws hundreds to San Mateo, with 7th grade leading the charge
• Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Daniel Wu discuss violent crimes against Asian Americans in the Bay Area
• Police are investigating after an Asian man stabbed to death in Chinatown, New York City
• Burma Superstar is offering a $ 5,000 reward as ABC7 receives reports of additional attacks on Asian Americans
• EXCLUSIVE: Former Bay Area gang member arrested after threatening to kill Asians online
• “We are on the alert”: Volunteers arm contractors from Oakland Chinatown with air horns for security reasons
• Arrested in an attack on a Chinese woman in NYC after Olivia Munn sought help from the public
• Hundreds of people are volunteering to escort older Asian Americans to ensure their safety
• The rise in racism against Asian Americans spurs change
• The Oakland Police Chief visits Chinatown shops, stressing the need for a “stronger presence” after attacks and crimes

Breakdown: heavy_check_mark: 7

Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

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A large rally was held in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown Saturday to show solidarity with the city’s Asian residents. John Ramos reports. (3-20-21)

Video transcript

– – The heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, a major rally held early this morning to show solidarity with the city’s Asian residents. KPIX 5 John Ramos was there showing us that amid calls to healing, there were signs of how deeply affected the community was.

JOHN RAMOS: The population was strong today as hundreds of people showed up in San Francisco’s Chinatown to denounce the violent attacks on Asians. If the definition of terrorism is the use of force to create fear in a larger population, then the attacks on the Asian population certainly did.

– – I’m injured. I had nightmares, people broke into my house and held a gun against me.

– – The rally in Portsmouth Square in San Francisco’s Chinatown was intended to remember the victims of anti-Asian violence from here in the Bay Area to the horrific murder of eight people in Atlanta. But Xing Yu says that even though his parents were not physically attacked, they are still victims.

XING YU: My parents just don’t want to go out anymore. Because they just like being scared, like walking on the street, and being attacked by random people.

– – The video of the elderly Asian woman using a stick to defend herself against an attacker on Market Street has become a symbol of how vulnerable people currently feel.

WILL LEE: He didn’t go around, you know, attacking white people. He saw two Asian – and Asian men and an Asian woman – and he attacked them. This is a hate crime.

SHAW SAN LIU: And we’re here to say grandma shouldn’t use a stick to defend herself. We as a society must offer security to all members of the community. And you know it is clear that the current systems are not working.

– – And while some have painted hearts on the sidewalk and written love messages on dragons, others are just angry and say it is time to stop showing compassion for those who fall victim to others on the streets of this city.

The story goes on

– – Because the victims, many of them, are like house arrest, they will not get out of the house. And then you get the attackers, you know, they get a slap and they’re out.

– – And we no longer ask, we demand. We’ll get back to you whether you like it or not. Our voices are heard.

– – In San Francisco John Ramos, KPIX 5.

– – Today’s rally was organized by the San Francisco Chinese Progressive Association.

– – And another strong show of support in Daly City today. Dozens heard speeches from community leaders urging people to stop the hatred of Asian-American and Pacific islanders. They also held signs that said Asian Lives Matter. The rally was sparked by another horrific attack on an elderly Asian person. The surveillance video shows a suspect knocking a 76-year-old woman to the ground as she strolls on Sierra Vista Avenue on Thursday. But it doesn’t end there. The suspect then dragged the woman into the street and robbed her.

– – We know that the anti-Asian sentiment and violence are not new. When the United States needed workers, it flooded its doors and opened its doors to workers from Asia. But as soon as America felt threatened, exclusion laws were put in place and passed.

– – We are experiencing a collective trauma, a racial trauma on both an individual and a community level, which means that it requires more opportunities to heal together. I find consolation in [? chances ?] today to address those emotions and think critically about how to create an anti-racist community.

– – And in a support demonstration in San Jose, Police Sergeant Christian Canario was walking alongside a group of Asian seniors as he made his rounds today.

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