8-point plan for a safer community
Real and enduring safety requires a more effective use of law enforcement resources, stronger crime prevention programs, real solutions to our fentanyl crisis, staffing up our public safety system, victim support services, community-led crime prevention programs and rehabilitation programs that disrupt the cycle of violence. To achieve this, we need to fully fund our public safety system while focusing on accountability at all levels. This plan is a comprehensive approach to ensure that every resident in the Mission, Portola and Bernal Heights feels safe on the streets, in their businesses, in their homes, and on public transit.
Read more on my Overdose and Homelessness platforms.
As Supervisor, here’s what I will do to create a safer district:
1. More Effective Use of Law Enforcement Resources
Prioritize armed officers for emergencies and violent crimes. San Francisco police often point to their workload when asked about slower response times to unfolding violent crimes. Part of this is the over 60,000 calls police receive annually for non-emergency incidents. It’s also due to many high paid officers being put on desk work which could be done by civilians. We can improve response to violent crimes and emergencies by focusing officers on the high-priority situations that demand their expertise and training.
Deploy unarmed professionals to handle non-violent incidents like traffic enforcement, nuisance complaints, and assisting those in mental health crises or experiencing homelessness. By redirecting these non-emergency calls away from the police, we can free up valuable law enforcement resources for genuine emergencies. A key element of this strategy is consolidating the city’s various non-police response teams under 3-1-1 and scaling them up to meet the demand. We can also deploy unarmed, identifiable retired officers to walk the beat, build relationships in the community, and free up active duty police for emergencies.
Improve the management of law enforcement spending to eliminate waste and the inefficient use of overtime, which has surged by over 400% per officer in the past 12 years. For instance, during the Dolores Park Hill Bomb event in July 2023, officers accumulated 1,221 overtime hours, costing the city $143,236. The department projects to spend $25 million more this fiscal year--three times its annual overtime budget. This, at a time when an SFPD nonprofit was exposed for misspending $4 million of SFPD funds on luxury trips and gifts. The same SFPD non profit reneged on hundreds of thousands of dollars of payments owed to a Mission florist and the Latino Task Force. We must address fiscal management, especially in times of budget deficits, to prevent law enforcement overtime and other expenses from impeding on funding for other city services that are also foundational to public safety.
Tackle our emergency staffing crisis by addressing shortages in medics, behavioral outreach workers, 9-1-1 dispatchers, licensed clinical therapists, and emergency room nurses. These shortages pose significant risks to public safety. Longer 9-1-1 response times and ambulance rerouting practices increase mortality rates. To combat this crisis, we must offer competitive wages and benefits while creating housing options for emergency workers to live where they serve. We can also establish an endowment for local graduates to go to college for free so long as they serve in these careers in the city afterward.
2. Prioritizing Crime Prevention
Allocate substantial resources to community-led, proven crime prevention strategies that enhance the safety of our neighborhoods. Notably, the Cure Violence program, formerly known as Chicago CeaseFire, has demonstrated remarkable success in numerous U.S. cities. Richmond, a city across the Bay that not long ago was one of the most dangerous in the country, established its Office of Neighborhood Safety in 2007 to establish violence intervention programs, and now sees single digit homicides. We need to scale up our violence intervention programs in San Francisco and track their outcomes.
Triple the presence of community ambassadors in high-traffic, high-crime areas within the district to bolster safety. Research confirms that a higher likelihood of being caught acts as a powerful deterrent to crime. Scaling up the community ambassador program, launched in The Mission in May 2023, will help maintain the gains achieved in community safety.
Invest in youth programs that prevent teenagers and young adults from engaging in criminal activities and break the cycles of violence. In District 9, many youth organizations offer at-risk youth a sense of belonging, purpose, and mentorship. However, limited resources, especially for retaining staff, hamper their effectiveness. It's time to adequately resource and embrace these youth organizations as a fundamental part of our crime prevention strategy.
Increase resources for youth mental health support to address the growing crisis in youth mental health. Recent data shows 100 student conflicts on and off campuses, including 31 incidents involving firearms. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened these challenges, severely interrupting the socio-emotional development of our youth. We must prioritize mental health counselors and social workers in schools, deploy Prop G community school funds in the 2024-2025 school year, and foster collaboration between SFUSD and the city government to protect the wellbeing of our young people.
Offer small business grants aimed at preventative security measures, allowing funds originally allocated for vandalism repairs to be used for enhancing burglary and shoplifting security. This includes improvements like lighting, doors, locks, alarms, cameras, garage spaces, and gates. Additionally, we need transparency and accountability into SF SAFE, the non profit that offers free security assessments to small businesses and now at the center of a mismanagement scandal.
3. Comprehensive Support for Crime Victims
Offer financial assistance to victims of crime, following the existing state-level model, to ensure that victims of property crime are not left to bear the full financial burden on their own. Alleviating the economic impact that victims often face will also allow them to recover more effectively.
Extend aid to small businesses affected by criminal activities, enabling them not only to recover from losses but also to invest in preventative measures against future incidents. Local small businesses are often run by families and by helping them recover from and prevent losses from crime, we can retain jobs and a strong sense of community.
Increase funding for victim advocates dedicated to aiding victims of violent crime in their recovery journey. These advocates play a crucial role in providing emotional support, guidance, and resources to help victims navigate the process of healing and seeking justice.
4. Greater Accountability Across the Board
Ensure consequences for those responsible for acts of violence, with a primary focus on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. Norway's experience in the 1990s, where a shift toward rehabilitation led to a 50% reduction in recidivism rates, serves as a promising model. San Francisco should allocate resources to prioritize rehabilitation, especially for first-time offenders.
Establish stringent accountability measures within the criminal justice system to uphold public safety and fairness. These measures should encompass transparent procedures that guarantee justice is served without bias or discrimination, reinforcing trust in the system.
Implement a comprehensive framework for police accountability that addresses incidents of excessive force, racial profiling, and wasteful spending. This approach should involve thorough investigations, transparent reporting, audits of expenses and staff time allocation, and appropriate consequences for misconduct, contributing to improved police-community relations.
Deliver transparency and accountability from elected officials when allocating budgets and resources. We need stronger contract auditing protocols and more democratic and transparent RFP processes. Addressing the issue of corruption is vital to restoring public faith in the fairness and equality of our city's governance. Citizens deserve to know that their representatives are acting in their best interests and upholding the highest ethical standards.
5. Strengthen Domestic Violence Support Services
Improve access to domestic violence programs by addressing the alarming 79% rejection rate from shelters. This involves bolstering staffing within Domestic Violence (DV) programs and creating dedicated workforce housing to ensure that survivors have a safe haven 24/7 when escaping abuse.
Increase funding for shelters, enabling them to hire and train additional staff while expanding their capacity. This aligns with initiatives outlined in the Homelessness platform, fostering comprehensive support networks for individuals in crisis.
Establish a 24-hour emergency navigation hub to offer immediate assistance and guidance to domestic violence victims. Current service centers often operate during limited hours, leaving survivors vulnerable during night-time emergencies. 24-hour availability is essential, especially when victims' personal possessions like cell phones may be confiscated by abusers.
Foster collaboration with organizations like SFWAR (San Francisco Women Against Rape) to incorporate trained non-police Victim Advocates into responses to domestic violence and sexual assault cases. This will ensure that survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, sexual assault, and other gender based violence receive sensitive and expert support.
6. Community Safety Around BART Stations
Train and deploy peacekeepers and navigators to de-escalate situations and ensure community well-being. These trained professionals will help maintain a sense of security and provide support for individuals needing assistance.
Find permanent and high-foot traffic spaces for licensed community vendors, preserving cultural traditions and bolstering local economies. Many of these vendors depend on these sales to make ends meet.
Address open-air drug use through community-based treatment centers, aligning with the Overdose & Mental Health platform. These centers offer a compassionate approach to addiction recovery and mental health support, reducing substance use issues in public areas.
Clear sidewalks and facilitate connections for unhoused individuals to available shelter beds, treatment, and permanent supportive housing, as outlined in the Homelessness platform. This approach prioritizes the well-being and safety of all community members.
Develop a comprehensive, grassroots-driven plaza revitalization plan to enhance public spaces and promote safety. Engaging the community in this process ensures that the changes reflect the needs and desires of local residents.
Distribute essential items such as food, toiletries, and necessities to address economic disparities and mitigate theft-related crimes. This outreach promotes community solidarity and provides support to those in need.
7. Reduce Waste in Law Enforcement Spending
Address the excessive budgets of SFPD and Sheriff's Department, which together surpass $1.1 billion, limiting funds for crucial crime prevention and safety programs beyond law enforcement. Reallocating resources will allow the city to implement crucial non-policing community safety programs.
Combat wasteful overtime spending which has ballooned from $9,000 to $40,000 per police officer annually over the past 12 years.
Establish clear performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts, fostering accountability and transparency in the entire criminal justice system.
Leverage navigators, trained professionals, and treatment services to address homelessness and addiction, as detailed in the Homelessness platform and the Overdose & Mental Health platform. These collaborative approaches often promote a more effective response to complex issues.
Streamline and consolidate street response teams under 3-1-1 to enhance the efficiency of community support efforts. This coordinated approach ensures a more effective response to the needs of residents.
8. Advance Rehabilitation and Re-entry Programs
Support community re-entry programs designed to ensure a safe and stable transition for individuals returning from incarceration. These programs play a vital role in reducing recidivism rates and promoting successful reintegration into society.
Provide access to transitional housing options for those at risk of homelessness upon release from the criminal justice or behavioral health system. This initiative, as outlined in the Homelessness platform, seeks to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling through the cracks during this critical period.
Implement comprehensive workforce training programs that encompass construction, entrepreneurship, and public beautification projects. Our district is home to many successful formerly incarcerated people who have turned their lives around with the support of the community. These initiatives empower formerly incarcerated individuals to develop valuable skills and contribute positively to their communities, fostering productive reintegration into society.