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

'You don't come here to do drugs'

Residents who have yet to flee San Francisco vote to screen welfare recipients for drugs and expand police powers



San Francisco voters were afforded an opportunity Tuesday to begin slowly turning their filthy, crime-ridden city around — and they actually took it. Voters elected to make it easier for police to do their jobs and to cut off local welfare recipients who refused to undergo drug tests.

The backdrop

San Francisco has a 1-rating on Neighborhood Scout's crime index, where 100 is safest. The chances of becoming a victim of a property crime or a violent crime are reportedly 1 in 17 and 1 in 148, respectively.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, the city saw 53 murders; 227 rapes; 2,741 robberies; 2,482 assaults; 5,658 burglaries; 6,723 car thefts; 285 arson incidents; and 32,411 reported instances of larceny theft last year.

The city's latest point-in-time count indicated there were 7,754 homeless people in the city, 3,357 of whom were staying in shelters.

Adam Andrzejewski of Open the Books revealed in December that over 35,500 cases of human waste in public were reported last year.

Amidst the unchecked lawlessness, piling filth, and chronic homelessness, roughly 65,000 people left the city between 2020 and 2022. Including the Bay Area, the region saw an exodus of 249,389 people during that time.

It appears that some of those who remained would like to see a positive change.

The propositions

There were multiple ballot measures put before San Franciscans in the primary vote on March 5, including:

  • Proposition B, which would set a new minimum staffing level for the police force every five years and create a 5-10 year police recruitment fund;
  • Proposition E, which would limit the amount of time police have to waste on administrative tasks; spare cops from writing up use-of-force events unless a physical injury has occurred or they had to draw their service weapon; permit cops to use body camera footage in lieu of a detailed report; allow for the installation of surveillance or facial ID cameras without police commission approval; and enable police to initiate car chases of suspects thought to have committed select misdemeanor offenses; and
  • Proposition F, which would compel individuals suspected of using drugs who are in the County Adult Assistance Program to undergo drug screening; require recipients found using drugs to participate in treatment programs; and cut off non-compliant recipients.

The results

Proposition B, which would have increased the number of full-duty sworn officers from 1,700 to 2,074 in the first five years, was defeated 67.41%-32.59%. San Francisco's Democratic mayor, London Breed, opposed the proposition, calling it a "cop tax," reported KTVU-TV.

Despite considerable opposition by radical leftists, the other two propositions, both supported by the San Francisco Republican Party and Mayor Breed alike, overwhelmingly passed. Proposition E succeeded with 59.9% of the vote. Proposition F won with 63% of the vote.

Mayor Breed said in a statement that Proposition E "will help us build on our work to make San Francisco a safer city for all. We are giving our @SFPD officers more tools to do their jobs and getting them out on the street to take care of our community."

Breed, who is running for re-election, has not always felt so strongly about helping police do their jobs.

Amidst the 2020 BLM riots and in the face of demands to "defund the police," Breed announced she would be slashing $120 million in funding to the San Francisco police and sheriff's departments, and redirecting the funds to race-based initiatives.

Homicides reportedly spiked by 20% that year, compared with 2019, then spiked again by 17% in 2021.

One year after defunding the police, Breed reversed course and put in an emergency request to the city Board of Supervisors for more cash for the SFPD.

This week, Breed also thanked voters for passing Proposition F, claiming, "This is how we get more people the help they need and change what's happening in our City."

While Breed supported the successful propositions, the Democratic Party joined the ACLU of Northern California in denouncing Proposition E.

The ACLU of Northern California suggested the way to improve community safety was not by enabling police to better do their jobs but instead with "affordable housing, mental health care, and substance use treatment."

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Roving gang of baseball bat-wielding kids targets mothers and nannies on school runs in San Francisco



Democratic Mayor London Breed recently took issue with the characterization of her city as a dangerous cesspool that is fast driving away business, stating, "San Francisco is a major city and it has challenges."

Among the leftist-controlled city's latest challenges is a roving gang of baseball bat-wielding kids that targets mothers and nannies trying to pick up children from school.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a group of adolescents is likely responsible for the attacks on at least 11 women in the city's Noe Valley, also called "stroller valley" on account of the preponderance of young families still living there.

Thomas Harvey, captain of the San Francisco Police Department's Mission Station, indicated that the ski mask-clad suspects smashed and robbed their victims in broad daylight then used a stolen car as a getaway vehicle.

According to the Telegraph, at least one victim was savaged with a baseball bat, and another was punched in the face.

A woman who identified herself only as CW told the Telegraph that police — whose force is greatly understaffed — appeared to have "zero interest" in investigating her attack. She had been thrown to the ground and robbed while attempting to pick up her daughter from the nursery.

KNTV obtained video of one of the suspects escaping while his victim screamed out in pain and terror:

— (@)

One juvenile male was detained Thursday, though the others remain at large.

Rafael Mandelman, a Democratic member of the city's governing San Francisco Board of Supervisors, attributed the trend of children "doing these really awful things" in part to kids' removal from schools during the pandemic, which teachers' unions pushed for.

"Those couple of years where school was erratic or non-existent, where everyone was under stress, parents and caregivers were under stress. That was probably impacting vulnerable communities more anyway. Sociologically. who knows what was going on, but I would not be surprised if we are going to be experiencing the lingering impacts of that for a generation," said Mandelman.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani, also a Democrat, stressed the "need for increase police presence in the area, especially given what is happening in Noe Valley. ... Ensuring the security and well-being of residents, particularly women, is top priority for me and I have asked SFPD to step up patrols in the area."

According to the SFPD, between Jan. 1 and July 2, there were 152 reports of arson; 15,524 reports of larceny theft; 2,761 burglary reports; 1,206 assaults; 1,316 robberies; 105 rapes; 3,311 motor vehicle thefts; and 26 murders.

San Francisco, which comedian Dave Chappelle recently quipped has become "half 'Glee,' half zombie movie," scores a 2 out of 100 (100 being safest) on Neighborhood Watch's crime index.

As the mothers and nannies of Noe Valley well know, the chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in the city is 1 in 186, and the likelihood of becoming a victim of a property crime is 1 in 20.

The city's official homeless count as of 2022 was 7,754 people.

Between the crime, homelessness, public excrement, drug crisis, and the alleged radioactive waste, residents are not short on reasons to flee San Francisco, and many are doing precisely that.

TheBlaze previously detailed a survey conducted by the San Francisco Chronicle last year, which found that 37% of current residents plan to be living somewhere beside San Francisco in three years' time. The city experienced a 7% numeric decline in its population between July 2020 and July 2021.

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Democratic daughter of famous musician speaks out after Bob Lee's brutal murder, concedes 'liberal' leaders transformed San Francisco into a 's***hole'



Actress and fashion designer Sara Foster, daughter of the affluent Grammy Award-winning musician David Foster, minced no words when speaking out about tech magnate Bob Lee's brutal murder this week.

TheBlaze previously reported that 43-year-old Bob Lee was rushed to a hospital early Tuesday morning after being repeatedly stabbed on Main Street in SoMa, an entertainment and financial district on the city's east side.

Before succumbing to his wounds, he reportedly cried out for help, desperately trying to flag by passersby. He was ultimately ignored and left to die at the end of a long trail of blood.

With Lee's stabbing, there have been 12 murders so far this year in San Francisco.

Foster, 42, shared a screenshot of a New York Post article detailing Lee's slaying in an Instagram story, adding the caption, "I have no words. SF is a complete s***hole. I am a registered Democrat and feel confident saying liberal politicians are ruining cities."

"Disgusting," added Foster. "My heart breaks for this family."

Although she is a registered Democrat who has evidenced socially progressive views online, Foster appears to have grown increasingly disenchanted with leftist leadership and the repercussions of liberals' mismanagement, stressing that "our society is f***ed."

Foster — whose father, the Post noted, is a 16-time Grammy winner who worked with Paul McCartney, Chicago, and Celine Dion — is not the only Californian to recognize a decline in the quality of living and life expectancy under Democratic leadership.

KGO-TV reported that San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley together had a net loss of at least 250,000 households from 2018 through the end of 2022. Various other cities in the state similarly saw people flee en masse.

The San Francisco Chronicle conducted a comprehensive survey of over 1,650 people between June and July 2022 to "measure attitudes on what's working, what isn't, performance of city government, the future of the city and more." In that survey, 65% of respondents said the city, run by Democrat Mayor London Breed, was worse than when they first moved there. Only 10% said it was better.

The survey revealed that 37% of current residents plan to be living somewhere besides San Francisco in three years' time.

San Francisco, the location of Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's multimillion-dollar mansion, has a ranking of 2 on Neighborhood Scout's crime index (100 is safest).

So far this calendar year, there have been 660 reported robberies; 591 assaults; 1,373 burglaries; 1,522 motor vehicle thefts; and 53 rapes.

It's not just random acts of unchecked violence that are stacking bodies in the Democrat-controlled city.

San Francisco's Chief Medical Examiner recently revealed that over 130 people died of a drug overdoses in the months of January and February alone, reported KGO.

Despite Lee's brutal murder and alarming crime stats, CNN tweeted Friday, "The stabbing death of CashApp founder Bob Lee has prompted comments perpetuating the notion that San Francisco is dangerous and crime-riddled, but data shows violent crime – especially homicides – are well below that of many other cities of a similar size."

\u201cThe stabbing death of CashApp founder Bob Lee has prompted comments perpetuating the notion that San Francisco is dangerous and crime-riddled, but data shows violent crime \u2013 especially homicides \u2013 are well below that of many other cities of a similar size. https://t.co/H4pBLEtxo0\u201d
— CNN (@CNN) 1680861613

The corresponding CNN article suggests that "the number of homicides in San Francisco is well below that of other cities of a similar size," citing data from the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association shows. Oakland, with its 120 murders and 170 rapes in 2022, is counted separately from San Francisco with its 56 murders and 308 rapes in 2022.

CNN downplayed the city's issues just weeks after one of its own reporters was robbed "again" in broad daylight while covering crime in the city.

While there may be fewer homicides in San Francisco than other Democrat-run cities, there are plenty of dead dreams.

The Daily Mail reported that in February 2022, there were nearly 8,000 homeless persons in San Francisco. With this growing homeless population comes other problems, such as sidewalks encrusted with garbage and littered with human excrement.

The New York Post reported that Bob Lee's friend indicated the murdered tech magnate had moved to Florida because he felt San Francisco was "deteriorating."

Cash App founder Bob Lee's death garners attention from police. What about other SF homicides? youtu.be

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Far-left San Fran mayor — who proposed $120M in police funding cuts after George Floyd — now wants cops to fight 'bulls**t' crime 'that has destroyed our city'



San Francisco's far-left Mayor London Breed — who last year jumped on the "defund the police" bandwagon after the death of George Floyd and proposed $120 million in cuts to police budgets over two years — now suddenly is getting tough on "bulls**t" crime "that has destroyed our city."

What are the details?

Breed on Tuesday launched an emergency police intervention in the city's high-crime Tenderloin neighborhood over rampant drug use and related gun violence, KPIX-TV reported.

"It’s time, the reign of criminals who are destroying our city, it is time for it come to an end," she said with an angry tone at a press conference, the station said. "And it comes to an end when we take the steps to be more aggressive with law enforcement. More aggressive with the changes in our policies and less tolerant of all the bulls**t that has destroyed our city."

Breed also said she's looking to fight other headline-grabbing crimes plaguing San Francisco, such as "brazen robberies and car break-ins," KPIX said, adding that the planned tools to combat crime will include:

  • Securing emergency police funding for needed resources;
  • Amending the city's surveillance ordinance so law enforcement can interrupt crime in real time;
  • Disrupting the illegal street sales of stolen goods.

She added that such crime "has become far too normal and cannot continue to be tolerated," the station said.

Image source: KPIX-TV video screenshot

"We’re not a city where anything goes," Breed said, according to KPIX, adding that "all of our residents, our workers, and everyone who visits our city should feel safe no matter what part of town they are in."

The central district of the city's police department encompasses tourist destinations such as Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown — and it also sees the highest number of smash-and-grabs, the station said. KPIX said there were 876 reports last month — almost 30 per day — compared with 442 last November.

“To be clear, what I’m proposing today, and what I will be proposing in the future, will make a lot of people uncomfortable, and I don’t care,” she also noted, the station said, adding that "we are past the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable.”

What a difference a year makes

Just weeks after Breed's $120 million proposed cutback to the city's law enforcement budgets in July 2020, it was reported that San Francisco police were leaving the department in record numbers due in large part to what many have seen as the city's soft-on-crime approach.

Still, in February 2021, Breed called the law enforcement fund transfer to budgets for underserved communities a necessary reparation for city policies that she said led to “decades of disinvestment” in black communities, KQED-TV reported.

Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton added to the station that the financial move was a "first step in righting the wrongs of history" and a "first step toward true reparations for the black community here in San Francisco."

However, in June 2021 Breed proposed increasing the 2021-22 police budget to $661 million in 2021-22 — a rise by $5.9 million over the budget the board approved last year, the San Francisco Examiner said.

What's more, also in June SFWeekly reported that the city's police budget was projected to rise by $28 million in 2022-23.

What changed?

Maybe it was the viral videos of brazen, organized looting that changed Breed's mind, or perhaps it was the report that some residents resorted to hiring private security to protect themselves from out-of-control crooks. Then again, maybe it was the city's Chamber of Commerce poll conducted over the summer that found 40% of residents are planning to leave the city over the next few years due to a rapidly deteriorating quality of life.

(H/T: The Daily Wire)

San Francisco residents don't 'feel safe,' turn to private security amid crime spree



With crime spiraling out of control in their city, residents of San Francisco's Marina District have turned to private security to patrol the streets and protect their families, with some saying they don't feel safe in their own neighborhoods.

"We don't feel safe in our neighborhood," resident Kate Lyons told KPIX-TV. "And we have an alarm, we have cameras on our property, but we want the extra security of having someone have eyes on our place."

Lyons and 150 other residents in the Marina District have hired the services of patrol special officer Alan Byard, who provides a measure of added security by patrolling the streets amid a surge in car break-ins and home burglaries.

"It's a nice area down here, people are afraid of what's been going on," Byard told KPIX. "They want a safe place to raise their kids. In the last year, I've had 10 of my clients move out of the city."

According to the news station, patrol special officers are private patrolmen overseen by the police commission.

Byard patrols the streets in his vehicle from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., keeping on the lookout for suspicious activity. Since the pandemic began in 2019, he said his residential clients have more than doubled from 70 to 150 households in the district, as well as businesses. He charges $65 per residence for his services.

The security expert said car burglaries are the biggest problem in the area right now. He's also dealt with homeless people sleeping on residents' doorsteps. Petty theft and burglaries are also common crimes, Byard explained.

Lyons said she'll often find stolen property including empty luggage dumped right outside her home. She reported that car burglars commonly break into vehicles parked at the Palace of Fine Arts, near where she lives.

"Especially at night, I don't walk with a purse, I'll drive, or I'll take an Uber, and it's beginning to become a daytime problem too," she said.

Allan Brown, a 20-year Marina resident, was asked by KPIX-TV if property crimes have gotten worse over time.

"Oh absolutely, absolutely. This place used to be – nothing would ever happen here," he said.

Local law enforcement said that fewer than a dozen auto burglary crews are believed to be responsible for most of the car break-ins in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the Associated Press. But news reports and viral videos of brazen smash-and-grabs have called attention to these crimes.

Over the summer, the San Francisco Chronicle reported a 753% increase in car break-ins in the city's Central District from May 2020 to May 2021, including in top tourist locations like Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown.

On Oct. 15, TikTok star and Australian singer-songwriter Clinton Kane was the victim of an armed robbery in Cow Hollow. Thieves held him at gunpoint and stole more than $30,000 worth of camera equipment from his parked vehicle.

In response, last week San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of "high-level leaders of organized auto burglary fencing operations."

"These break-ins hurt our residents, especially working families who do not have the time or money to deal with the effects, as well as visitors to our city whose experiences are too often tarnished after an otherwise positive experience," Breed said.

But even as she made the public announcement to fight back against break-ins, a couple visiting from Seattle were the victims of another car robbery just a few blocks away, KGO-TV reporter Lyanne Melendez tweeted.

This happened just a few blocks from where mayor @LondonBreed announced a new plan to cut back on break-ins in… https://t.co/sxBTXdAEiY

— Lyanne Melendez (@LyanneMelendez) 1634669982.0

Officials warn San Francisco residents and tourists should hide their belongings and park their vehicles in staffed lots wherever possible.

Far-left San Francisco mayor parties without mask in nightclub, violating her own COVID mask mandate



The hypocrisy of left-wing officials in regard to adhering to COVID-19 restrictions — particularly ones they've enacted — is well documented:

Now what?

Now San Francisco Democratic Mayor London Breed appears to be in line for queen of COVID Rules for Thee but Not for Me.

A photo was posted — but later taken down — on the Black Cat Nightclub's Instagram page showing a smiling Breed celebrating with friends Wednesday night, KNTV-TV reported.

San Francisco Mayor @LondonBreed partied maskless indoors with Black Lives Matter activists. Do any Democrats act… https://t.co/fxTQPdSWIc

— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) 1631843955.0

Thing is, the images of Breed show her without a mask — which violates her own COVID-19 rules that say masks must be worn indoors except when you're eating or drinking, even if you've been vaccinated.

Here's a video showing Breed in the background as she danced and sang without a mask — and no food or drinks in hand:

I chose to go to @sfblackcat last night for my first indoor concert since the pandemic ... and this happened 🤩🙌🏽🎶 https://t.co/x68lRya0Wh

— Mariecar Mendoza (@SFMarMendoza) 1631824989.0

"She's been very clear that everybody needs to do their part, we're not out of the woods," Danielle Rabkin, Crossfit Golden Gate Gym Owner, told KNTV. "San Francisco's rules have been very restrictive, and I don't see her playing her part in that photo."

The station said it didn't immediately hear back from the mayor's press office after a request for comment on the matter.

More from KNTV:

She did tell a Chronicle reporter Thursday night that she gets tested often and everyone had to show proof of vaccination to get in, which made her feel safe.

In early August, she emphasized the need for the city to bring back its indoor mask mandate.

"We don't want to shut down this city or this country down any longer than we have to. Our economy and our livelihood, and our kids going back to school, and everything in between depends on it," she said.

In a news release about the mandate, the mayor's office clearly spelled out the rules, stating, "The orders require all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions."

Rabkin added to the station that Breed "clearly feels like it's fine and safe to remove her mask, [so] then let that be the rule for everybody. You're not impervious to COVID any more than I am, so let the rules for you be the same as the rules for me."

San Francisco Becomes First Major City To Require Proof Of Full Vaccination For Indoor Activities

Starting August 20, San Francisco will require proof that customers and employees of all indoor services are fully vaccinated.

San Francisco sues its own school district over failure to come up with a reopening plan: 'Get your act together'



What is a left-wing city to do when its own, union-dominated school district refuses to even come up with a plan to reopen, which is required by state law?

In San Francisco, city leaders are suing their own school district and board of education, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

A California state law passed last year, months before the 2020-21 school year began, requires all school districts to created and adopt a clear plan during the pandemic detailing actions they "will take to offer classroom-based instruction whenever possible," the newspaper said.

But the San Francisco Unified School District, thanks at least in part to the teachers' union, has failed to even start coming up with a plan, much less adopt one.

Therefore, City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced Wednesday that "he has sued the San Francisco Board of Education and the San Francisco Unified School District for failing to come up with a reopening plan that meets state requirements," according to an announcement on his city attorney website.

The lawsuit alleges that board and district's reopening plan is "woefully inadequate and doesn't meet the basic requirements set by the state." The suit seeks to have the San Francisco Superior Court order the district "to prepare to offer in-person instruction now that it is possible to do so safely," the announcement said.

The city has "squandered months of opportunity" to address the issue, Herrera's site said — all the while the district's 54,000 students have not seen the inside of a classroom for nearly 11 months, the Chronicle reported.

Still, Herrera noted, the SFUSD "does not have an adequate plan to reopen classrooms" and the city's kids are "facing a widening achievement gap & threats to their mental health."

It has been more than 10 months since students were in schools, and @SFUnified still does not have an adequate plan… https://t.co/svzRjDjuYy
— Dennis Herrera (@Dennis Herrera)1612374328.0

Despite the fact that "students and their families are suffering," the school board has refused to stay focused on the need to reopen and instead spent their time on "renaming empty schools" and other less pressing needs.

Herrera noted that the city's rules have allowed schools to be in-person since September and that scientific consensus shows schools can safely reopen.

Yet, San Francisco's schools remain shuttered.

San Francisco's health orders have allowed in-person schools since September. The undisputed scientific consensus i… https://t.co/3Zc0EhSfEJ
— Dennis Herrera (@Dennis Herrera)1612374329.0

The city attorney knew exactly at whom to point the finger of blame: district leadership and the teachers' union.

"It's a shame it has come to this," Herrera said in his office's announcement. "The City has offered resources, logistical help and public health expertise. Unfortunately, the leadership of the school district and the educators' union can't seem to get their act together. The Board of Education and the school district have had more than 10 months to roll out a concrete plan to get these kids back in school. So far they have earned an F. Having a plan to make a plan doesn't cut it."

Union officials thwarted an effort by the district to "gradually open schools for severely disabled children" in January, the Chronicle reported. Several other unions continue to stand in the way of reopening, the newspaper said:

Six unions representing workers in the San Francisco Unified School District are circulating a petition among their members calling for a dozen requirements that go far beyond the Department of Public Health's requirements. For example, they're requesting reliable transportation for students and staff even though Muni service has been slashed due to the pandemic.

Separately, a group of union educators have formed a committee called Strike Ready that is urging a strike if reopening proceeds without all school employees having access to the COVID-19 vaccine, adequate personal protective equipment, ventilation, purifiers and training.

Herrera took his accusations and complaints to social media, writing on Twitter, "SFUSD and teachers' union leadership need to step up. Get your act together," adding, "[district] leadership has earned an F. It's unfortunate we have to take them to court to get it sorted out, but enough is enough."

In terms of helping our students and their families through this difficult time, @SFUnified leadership has earned a… https://t.co/o0NEaUytfZ
— Dennis Herrera (@Dennis Herrera)1612374329.0

And Herrera isn't doing this on his own, he's got the full support of left-wing Democratic Mayor London Breed.

"This is not the path we would have chosen, but nothing matters more right now than getting our kids back in school," Breed said. "The city has offered resources and staff to get our school facilities ready and to support testing for our educators. We've offered the guidance and expertise of the Department of Public Health. We are ready and willing to do our part to get our kids back in the classroom."

She went on to note the impact closed schools are having on students who have "lost ground academically" as well has how the situation is "hurting the mental health of our kids and our families."

"[T]his isn't working for anyone," Breed added. "And we know we can do this safely. We've seen our private schools open and our City-run community learning hubs serve our most at-need kids for months without any outbreaks. We need to get our schools open."

San Francisco Mayor London Breed blasts school board for having a plan to rename schools by April but not a plan to reopen



The San Francisco school Board on Tuesday followed through with a vote to rename 44 public schools apparently controversial namesakes like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

As TheBlaze previously reported, in October San Francisco school officials on the School Names Advisory Committee created a list of 44 sites that featured buildings named for historical figures, proposing to change the names of these buildings. The committee was tasked with identifying "whether the name on a school met the criteria for renaming, which includes anyone or anything associated with slavery, genocide, colonization, exploitation and oppression, among other factors."

The criteria for a school name to be deemed "inappropriate" included: Anyone directly involved in the colonization of people; slave owners or participants in enslavement; perpetrators of genocide or slavery; those who exploit workers/people; those who directly oppressed or abused women, children, queer or transgender people; those connected to any human rights or environmental abuses; those who are known racists and/or white supremacists and/or espoused racist beliefs.

KNTV-TV reported Tuesday that the school board voted to adopt the committee's recommendations and change the names of the 44 public school buildings on the list. The names include Lowell High, Lincoln High, Washington High, Roosevelt Middle, John Muir Elementary and Feinstein Elementary.

Schools named for Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were included because those Founding Fathers were slave owners. Abraham Lincoln High School will be renamed because the nation's 16th president, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in the South, also ordered the executions of 38 Dakota tribe Native Americans involved in a violent conflict with white settlers in Minnesota.

Dianne Feinstein Elementary, a school named for California's sitting senior Democratic senator, made the list because as mayor of San Francisco in 1986, Feinstein reportedly replaced a vandalized Confederate flag at City Hall.

In October, San Francisco Mayor London Breed criticized the school board for moving forward with the plan to rename schools during the pandemic, calling it "offensive."

On Wednesday, the mayor issued another statement blasting schools for producing a plan to rename buildings by April but offering no plan to reopen the schools.

"I understand the significance of the name of a school, and a school's name should instill a feeling of pride in every student that walks through its doors, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation," Breed said in a statement.

"What I cannot understand is why the School Board is advancing a plan to have all these schools renamed by April, when there isn't a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then. Our students are suffering, and we should be talking about getting them in classrooms, getting them mental health support, and getting them the resources they need in this challenging time. Our families are frustrated about a lack of a plan, and they are especially frustrated with the fact that the discussion of these plans weren't even on the agenda for last night's School Board meeting.

"I believe our children should be a part of the conversation around the renaming of their schools, and I believe the education and discussions need to happen within our school walls. Let's bring the same urgency and focus on getting our kids back in the classroom, and then we can have that longer conversation about the future of school names."