Leftist mayor of San Francisco defeated by political rookie



The leftist mayor of San Francisco who presided over a shocking rise in crime and homeless over the past six years will soon leave office, having lost her re-election bid to a businessman with no political experience.

London Breed, 50, became mayor of San Francisco after winning a special election in the wake of the passing of Mayor Ed Lee in late 2017. Since then, she has implemented a radical agenda.

'Over the coming weeks, I plan to reflect on all the progress we’ve made.'

She was among the first mayors of a major city to strip law enforcement of funding in keeping with the BLM cry to "defund the police" following the death of George Floyd. In 2020, Breed announced that she would cut a whopping $120 million from the budgets of both San Francisco’s police and sheriff’s departments, the New York Post reported in December 2021.

Within a year, she had reversed course about funding law enforcement, but by then, homelessness and crime, particularly property-related crime, had soared. In March, residents from the Tenderloin district even sued the city for failing to address these problems.

"Every day, at all hours, people are dealing drugs and using drugs in front of [the plaintiffs'] apartment building. There are encampments. People are lighting bonfires. Their sidewalks are filthy with all kinds of problems from used syringes to human waste," said Matthew Davis, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.

Facing a tough re-election battle this year amid a slate of eager challengers and ranked-choice voting, Breed then tacked toward the center. At a debate in front of a crowd of unionized firefighters in July, Breed announced that she would crack down on homeless encampments following the Supreme Court ruling Grants Pass v. Johnson.

"We have had to move from a compassionate city to a city of accountability, and I have been leading the efforts to ensure that we are addressing this issue differently than we have before," Breed said at the time.

"We will continue to lead with services, but we also can't continue to allow people to do what they want on the streets of San Francisco, especially when we have a place for them to go."

Such gestures were too little, too late, apparently.

On Tuesday, voters decided to go with Daniel Lurie, the 47-year-old heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and the current CEO of the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point, KTVU reported.

Because of his wealth and quick rise from relative obscurity, critics accused him of trying to buy his way into office. Lurie dismissed those allegations.

"You can't buy an election in San Francisco. You've got to go out and earn every vote," he said.

Though voters often ranked both Breed and Lurie on their ballot, as of Thursday, Breed trailed Lurie considerably, 43.8% to 56.2%. Breed then called Lurie to concede.

She also posted a concession message to X, claiming to have done her best and made significant "progress" during her time in office.

"I answered the call and always gave San Francisco and its people my heart and soul."

Breed also expressed optimism about the future.

"I am the Mayor – but you all are doing the hard work every day and the City is on the rise. Over the coming weeks, I plan to reflect on all the progress we’ve made. But today, I am proud that we have truly accomplished so much and my heart is filled with gratitude," she wrote.

Lurie, a political neophyte, has already pledged to secure 1,500 more housing units for the homeless within six months of taking office. He also wants to hire 450 new police officers within three years, according to KTVU.

However, he also cautioned that the city will not turn the corner "overnight."

"I'm deeply grateful to my incredible family, campaign team and every San Franciscan who voted for accountability, service and change. No matter who you supported in this election, we stand united in the fight for San Francisco's future and a safer and more affordable city for all," he said in a statement.

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San Francisco Mayor London Breed Unseated By First-Time Public Office Candidate

'You don't come here to do drugs'

San Francisco mayor announces 'aggressive' plan to clear up homeless encampments amid tough re-election battle



During an election debate this week, the mayor of San Francisco announced a plan to crack down on homeless encampments that may include criminal charges for violators, claiming that the era of "compassion" on the issue was over.

On Thursday, five candidates for mayor of San Francisco, including incumbent Mayor London Breed, gathered at the San Francisco Firefighters Union Hall on Newhall Street to discuss a range of topics including restoring firefighters fired for refusing vaccine mandates, revitalizing downtown, crime, and, of course, the homelessness problem that has plagued the city for more than a decade.

'After six years, you don’t have a plan. You have a track record.'

Recent Supreme Court decisionGrants Pass v. Johnson granted municipalities more flexibility to clear up homeless encampments, ruling that banning people from sleeping or camping in public spaces such as streets and parks did not violate the Constitution. The decision partially overrules a local injunction imposed in late 2022 that prevents Bay Area authorities from enforcing anti-camping laws.

Mark Farrell, a former mayor who is running for the role again, accused Breed of dragging her heels on addressing the homelessness problem in light of the SCOTUS decision. "The Grants Pass decision was three weeks ago and tent encampments are growing," Farrell claimed at the debate on Thursday.

Farrell then gestured to the crowd of firefighters in attendance, pledging to take swift action to clear up the problem once and for all so that "every day you can deal with fighting fires and not dealing with tent encampments."

"You have to be aggressive."

Breed seemed to agree, claiming that the so-called "compassionate" approach has not worked. "We have had to move from a compassionate city to a city of accountability, and I have been leading the efforts to ensure that we are addressing this issue differently than we have before," she said.

"We are going to be very aggressive and assertive in moving encampments which may even include criminal penalties," she continued.

"We will continue to lead with services, but we also can't continue to allow people to do what they want on the streets of San Francisco, especially when we have a place for them to go," Breed added.

"The problem is not going to be solved by building more housing. Thank goodness for the Supreme Court decision."

Though her statements at the debate mark what the Daily Mail described as "a change in tack" regarding homelessness, they were rather light on substance, offering few specifics about how the encampments would be moved and what kinds of "criminal penalties" might be assessed.

However, Breed did claim that the new policy would be implemented sometime next month. A statement from city attorney spokesperson Alex Barrett-Shorter explained that the new approach "will help us address our most challenging encampments, where services are often refused and re-encampment is common."

Still, Farrell indicated that Breed, who has been in office since winning a special-election race in 2018, has had enough time to fix the problem. "After six years, you don’t have a plan. You have a track record," he quipped.

Breed is in a tough battle to keep her seat. Mission Local doubted that she will receive a sole endorsement from the firefighters' union this time around like she did in 2018, and at least one poll published last month suggested that Farrell was well ahead of her in ranked-choice voting.

The results of the firefighters' union vote regarding mayoral endorsements, held immediately following the debate, will be released at a meeting in early August.

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San Francisco’s London Breed Thinks The Mayor’s Top Job Is Naming Drag Queens

San Francisco's decline makes a lot more sense after Monday's debate revealed what London Breed thinks is the most important part of the job.

Crime-ridden San Francisco opens 'free' taxpayer-funded grocery store



Crime-ridden San Francisco recently opened its first “Food Empowerment Market,” which offers residents “free” groceries funded by taxpayers.

A Tuesday press release from Mayor London Breed’s (D) office announced the grand opening of the District 10 Community Market in Bayview-Hunters Point. The 4,000-square foot store is part of a pilot program providing “free and healthy multi-cultural groceries” to residents “experiencing food insecurity in the Southeast corridor of the City.”

'If we didn’t tell you it was free you’d think you’d have to pay.'

San Francisco Human Services Agency granted Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services a $5.5 million taxpayer-funded grant to stock the market with fresh produce. According to the city, the market will serve approximately 4,500 residents.

Breed called the grand opening of the pilot location “a major step toward improving food access in a part of the City that has historically been a food desert.”

“Equitable access to fresh and healthy food options is critical for communities to thrive and to ensure we take care of the City’s most vulnerable residents,” Breed added.

Many grocery stores in the area have shuttered in large part due to high crime, particularly retail theft fueled by the rampant drug use and homelessness crisis. The closures recently prompted progressive lawmakers to propose a bill allowing residents to sue grocery stores that shutter without providing the community with a six-month notice.

The market is open to residents of three San Francisco zip codes who receive public assistance, are referred by a community organization, and have dependents under 25 or have a qualified diet-related illness.

Eligible residents will receive a grocery card from a nonprofit within the market’s referral network. Unlike food banks, which offer pre-packaged kits, residents will be able to peruse the aisles and select the groceries they would like.

In addition to the taxpayer-funded grant, the market also relies on donations from grocery stores for shelf-stable items, the Center Square reported.

Trent Rhorer, the executive director of SFHSA, stated, “Food Empowerment Markets, like the Community Market pilot that we are celebrating today, provide dignity and choice for people who experience food insecurity.”

“By offering families and people with dietary restrictions the ability to choose healthy and culturally appropriate food options for themselves, rather than receiving food boxes that may not be tailored to their individual food choices and needs, we minimize food waste while also providing a better experience for residents,” Rhorer remarked.

Geoffrea Morris, a senior consultant for the District 10 Market, told the Center Square that the market is meant to serve as “a supplemental source for food.”

“Food stamps should be the primary source. This is a supplemental source especially close to the end of the month when families are facing the pain, especially with inflation,” Morris stated. “If we didn’t tell you it was free you’d think you’d have to pay.”

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San Francisco residents, hotels sue city over rampant crime, homelessness, open-air drug use



Several San Francisco residents filed a lawsuit Thursday over the rampant crime, homelessness, and open-air drug use that they say city officials have failed to stop, the Associated Press reported. Operators of the Phoenix Hotel and the Best Western Road Coach also joined the lawsuit against the city.

The plaintiffs, including five anonymous residents and the hotels' operators, claim that the Tenderloin district has become a "containment zone" for illegal activities. They argued that city officials have prevented the homeless encampments and open-air illicit drug markets from spilling into nearby neighborhoods but have allowed it to continue in the Tenderloin.

The group's lawsuit demands that the city clean up the poor conditions in the neighborhood; the plaintiffs are not seeking monetary damages.

Matthew Davis, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, stated, "They demand an end to the rampant illegal street vending and from the squalor and misery that exists throughout their neighborhood because the city has decided that people in the throes of addiction can live and die on the Tenderloin's streets."

Davis told KABC, "Every day, at all hours, people are dealing drugs and using drugs in front of [the plaintiffs'] apartment building. There are encampments. People are lighting bonfires. Their sidewalks are filthy with all kinds of problems from used syringes to human waste."

One of the anonymous plaintiffs, referred to as Jane Roe, explained that drug dealers often loiter outside the building where she lives with her two young children. Roe claimed that she has seen "users openly injecting or smoking narcotics" and individuals "who appear unconscious or dead."

Susan Roe, an elderly woman and a plaintiff in the case, stated in the complaint that she has a difficult time navigating the neighborhood's sidewalks with her walker because they are blocked by shopping carts and broken bicycles. Instead, she is forced to walk in the street, where she navigates around "excrement, used syringes, vomit, and garbage."

One of the hotel operators claimed that the establishment is facing challenges in hiring workers because of the area's squalid conditions. The Phoenix Hotel has decided not to renew its lease next year, citing the issues around the establishment.

The Coalition on Homelessness, a nonprofit group, is also suing San Francisco, claiming the city's sweeps of homeless encampments violated individuals' rights.

In a statement to KABC, the city attorney's office said, "While we understand and share the frustration of Tenderloin businesses and residents, the City is making efforts to reduce crime, disrupt open-air drug markets, and address homelessness, all while complying with the preliminary injunction issued in the Coalition on Homelessness case."

Democratic Mayor London Breed believes that recently approved Proposition E will curb the issues plaguing the Tenderloin district by increasing police officer presence and resources.

Breed's office stated, "We have made improvements in the neighborhood, but the mayor understands the frustrations of residents and businesses in the Tenderloin and will continue her efforts to make the neighborhood safer and cleaner."


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Ranked-Choice Voting Could Spell ‘Serious Trouble’ For London Breed’s Reelection, Poll Finds

'Breed is in very, very serious trouble'

Drug Overdose Deaths Skyrocket To All-Time High In San Francisco

'Cannot solve this problem'

Armed thugs rob foreign reporter, thwarting Democratic efforts to hide San Francisco's crime problem



Democrats tried their best to present foreign dignitaries and reporters from afar with an idealized vision of San Francisco this week. Officials attempted to clear drug addicts, garbage, excrement, and the city's nearly 8,000 homeless from the area around the conference center housing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, effectively creating a California-style Potemkin village — complete with an avenue crowded by communist flags.

The illusion could not be sustained for long.

Czech reporter Bohumil Vostal dared to venture outside the APEC safe zone and into the broader city Sunday, reporting on San Francisco's alleged best features — largely tourist attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that to conclude his efforts to paint the crime-ridden city in a positive light, Vostal, a correspondent for ČT24, went to the famed City Lights bookstore for a "majestic shot." His hopes of helping to rehabilitate San Francisco's reputation may have been dashed there and then, as three masked men swarmed the foreign reporter with guns drawn.

"They were heading at my camera man, aiming a gun at his stomach, and one at my head," said Vostal.

The San Francisco Police Department indicated that it is investigating the armed robbery of the production team at 4:56 p.m. in the area of Broadway and Columbus Avenue, reported KTVU-TV.

The thugs, who fled the scene in a car, reportedly stole over $18,000 worth of equipment along with the Czech correspondent's footage of an idealized San Francisco fit for European audiences, which included shots of the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square and transvestites in the so-called Transgender District near the Tenderloin.

"I'm one of those many people who used to read Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road,' and I was so much looking forward to visit your city," said Vostal.

The Czech correspondent indicated police had been helpful and that "all the people of San Francisco are almost blaming themselves, like they are so sorry for something they didn't do."

Democratic Mayor London Breed received 70.7% of the vote in the 2019 general election and a plurality of votes in the 2018 special election. The previous mayor, also a Democrat, won in a landslide.

Despite the all-too-common setback, Vostal indicated on X, "We'll keep shooting. We are here for the US President's summit with the Chinese leader. And we'll be there (as always) for CT."

Thieves in San Francisco have robbed multiple news crews in recent years. CNN senior national correspondent Kyung Lah got cleaned out by thugs in March. A KPIX-TV reporter covering crime in San Francisco's Twin Peaks neighborhood was robbed the previous spring. Thieves have also reportedly taken to targeting engagement photo shoots in the city.

According to the SFPD, there have been 2,103 robberies and 5,223 burglaries since Jan. 1, 2023. The city has also seen 31,251 reports of larceny theft so far in 2023 — an increase of over 4,000 incidents when compared to the same time last year. San Francisco has also been home to 48 reported murders, 228 rapes, 5,477 motor vehicle thefts, and 2,306 assaults.

Neighborhood Scout puts the odds of falling victim to a property crime and to a violent crime at 1 in 20 and 1 in 186, respectively.

While foreign nationals like Vostal may have been greeted in recent days by selectively cleaned streets lined by Chinese communist flags, residents may be accustomed to a wholly different experience.

— (@)

Travelers in the increasingly derelict downtown were previously likely to encounter one or more of the 7,754 homeless individuals San Francisco officials tallied last year. Numerous homeless encampments surrounded the area where the APEC conference was held up until the city recently cleared them out.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said of the homeless clearances earlier this month: "I know folks say, 'Oh, they're just cleaning up this place because all these fancy leaders are coming into town.' That's true because it's true," reported SFGate.

There's a lot to clean up.

A report released earlier this year by the city's Controller's Office indicated that excrement was observed on approximately 50% of street segments in key commercial areas and 30% of areas in the citywide survey. Broken glass was found on 50% of the streets and sidewalks surveyed. Syringes, dead animals, and condoms were also observed, predominantly in the Mission, Tenderloin, and south of Market areas.

The New York Times reported that some foreign correspondents came to San Francisco expecting the kind of experience Vostal will leave with.

Yuk Ishii with Fuji Television Network in Japan told the Times she had heard a great deal about the city and presumed the worst.

"We were thinking there might be zombies," said Ishii. "So far, so good."

Ilmari Reunamaki, a reporter from Finland, said, "We heard there are usually five times as many tents, and now there are five times as many cops."

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