Bay Area

Westside Residents and Business Owners Rally to Support of Mayor Breed’s Public Safety Budget

Westside residents and small business owners rallied Tuesday in support of Mayor London Breed’s public safety budget proposal that is currently before the Board of Supervisors, which is in final budget deliberations over the next few days. The Mayor’s Budget focuses on key areas of public safety, including building back police staffing, expanding alternatives to policing, and shutting down open-air drug markets.

Published

1 year ago

July 5, 2023

Oakland Post

(Pictured left to right:) San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Joel Engardio (who represents the Sunset neighborhoods of District 4) and Police Chief Bill Scott.

Public safety investments are part of the City’s recovery efforts, including in westside neighborhoods where residents face safety challenges around residential, commercial, and vehicular break-ins. The Sunset District also has seen the most catalytic converter thefts in the City.

Westside community members called for the approval of funding focused on rebuilding police staffing and tackling the City’s public safety challenge

Mayor’s Office of Communications

“Our residents and small businesses and neighborhoods across the City, including the Westside, are calling for more support for public safety which is why is critical for my public safety proposal to pass,” said Breed. “We must invest in public safety initiatives, including building back our police department staffing, expanding police alternatives, and holding people accountable by disrupting open-air drug sales in the City.”

“Sunset residents experience the most catalytic converter thefts in the city and our police station has one of the greatest shortage of officers. We need to invest in enough police officers for a city our size, so every neighborhood has the protection it deserves. We should also invest in policing alternatives that can let officers focus on serious crimes,” said Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset neighborhoods of District 4.

“A healthy and functioning city cannot allow an open drug market. No resident should have to pass through misery and mayhem on their way to work or school,” Engardio continued. “That’s why it’s important to fund the coordination of local, state, and federal public safety agencies to end the dealing of deadly fentanyl and provide users with life-saving treatment.”

At the rally, residents and small businesses, in addition to calling out the need for public safety citywide, focused on neighborhood issues like residential, commercial and vehicular break-ins.

The Mayor’s Budget was introduced to the Board of Supervisors on June 1. Currently, the Board is holding hearings in the Budget and Finance Committee which is set to pass a final budget this week.

Building Back Our Police Force

San Francisco has seen an increase in applications for the Police Department over the last six months, with levels reaching interest not seen since 2018. This is welcomed news after recent struggles to fill Academy classes. To take advantage of this growing interest in SFPD, the Mayor’s Budget:

Funds 220 new officers over the next two years, with a goal of reaching 1,800 sworn officers this year. This is part of a multi-year strategy to reach full staffing in the next five years.
Supports the recently approved contract to make San Francisco the highest paid starting salary for officers in the Bay Area.
Sets dynamic Academy class goals so that the Department is ready to start classes as they fill.
Supports SFPD recruitment efforts to conduct various outreach strategies, improve the application process, and continue to add resources dedicated to recruiting.

“San Francisco is at a turning point. We cannot afford to lose the valuable progress we’ve made in increasing public safety and holding people who commit harm accountable,” said Police Chief Bill Scott. “We’re working hard to build on the success we’ve had in hiring more officers, expanding our civilian ambassadors, and taking deadly drugs off the streets.”

Expanding Alternatives to Policing

San Francisco continues to be a leader in moving non-law enforcement work away from police officers to provide a more appropriate response, and to free up our officers to focus on crime and safety issues.

Expanding civilianization staffing by funding 22 new Police Service Aides, who assist with administrative duties and write and file reports on low-priority incidents.
Continuing call diversion efforts, including funding for the Street Response Teams.
Maintaining the current level of ambassadors in the City, including recent expansions. This includes SFPD Community Ambassadors (retired police officers), Urban Alchemy in the Tenderloin and Mid-Market; Welcome Ambassadors in Downtown and tourist areas; BART attendants in Downtown transit stations, and the Mission Ambassadors.

Closing Down Open-Air Drug Markets

San Francisco has prioritized shutting down open-air drug markets to remove the harm it causes in our neighborhoods and for those struggling with addiction. This has been paired with expanded treatment and services through our Department of Public Health and other outreach programs.

The budget funds the recent expansion of prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office dedicated to targeting drug dealing and contains funding for a coordinated city effort led by the Department of Emergency Management to shut down the City’s open-air drug markets.

This effort will focus on three key areas: open drug sales, public drug use, and illegal fencing of stolen goods in the drug market areas.

“The mayor’s proposed budget provides much needed resources that will improve our ability to close open-air drug markets, and hold suspected drug dealers accountable,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “I am grateful to the mayor for prioritizing public safety and addressing the most urgent needs facing our communities.”

“We need accountability with compassion if we are going to solve San Francisco’s drug crisis,” said Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. “Between SFPD’s arrests on the street and the SFDA’s prosecutions in the courtroom, the Sheriff’s Office stands right in the middle; whether a person is in jail or supervised out of custody, we have to lead those suffering from addiction into sobriety and rehabilitation. Some people volunteer to get better –others need to be compelled. Our deputies are here to facilitate both.”

As part of this effort:

SFPD, the Sheriff, and the District Attorney will coordinate with state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and arrest drug dealers and traffickers, disrupt the supply chain, and reduce the profitability of this criminal operation;
SFPD and the Sheriff are coordinating to arrest and detain those who pose a danger to themselves and to others. Anyone detained in our jails is supported by Jail Health Services and offered access to voluntary services upon release. At the same time, city health and homelessness outreach workers will continue the proactive outreach in targeted neighborhoods, offering a wide range of public health and homelessness services to those on our streets;
SFPD will enforce against illegal sales of stolen goods and support Public Works’ inspection efforts, confiscation, and other enforcement against vending in violation of our existing lawful street vending program.
“As a longtime volunteer community activist, I applaud Mayor Breed’s upcoming budget to focus on public safety,” said Marlene Tran, Visitation Valley community leader. “Her planned investments in long-term police hiring and maintaining ambassador programs are very sound priorities. Closing down open drug markets will save many lives and increase public safety. In addition, for justice to prevail, more resources for the important work of the District Attorney’s Office to prosecute the wide range of crimes is welcome news.”
“Our organization fully supports these public safety efforts put forth by Mayor Breed,” said Frank Noto and Eric Chang, president and vice president of Stop Crime SF. “We need to address safety issues from all angles, and this includes making sure our police department is adequately staffed, supporting and expanding alternatives to policing, and disrupting the open-air sales of dangerous drugs.”
“The ambassadors who are retired police officers have been so great with engaging our merchants and residents, making sure they feel safe and are connected with resources,” said Bill Barnikel, president of Outer Sunset Merchant Professional Association. “I want to thank Mayor Breed and Supervisor Engardio for making sure that their public safety efforts are consistent with the west side of the City.”

“Safety is a vital priority for the Chinese community. The Sunset Chinese Cultural District and Wah Mei School have been proud to work with Supervisor Engardio on community engagement through a Night Market and other events to bring community together. Events offer an alternative to policing and is one of many solutions to bring joy and foster a sense of community,” said Lily Wong, director of Community Engagement at Wah Mei School and Sunset Chinese Cultural District director.

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An Inside Look into How San Francisco Analyzes Homeless Encampments

Dozens of unhoused people are camped at Sixth and Jesse streets in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. Tents made of tarps and blankets, piles of debris, and people lounging alongside the allies and walls of businesses are seen from all angles. These are some of the city’s hotspots. City crews have cleared encampments there over 30 times in the past year, but unhoused people always return.

Published

17 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Since the ruling of Grants Pass by the US Supreme Court earlier this summer, which allows cities the authority to ban people from camping or sleeping on the streets, San Francisco has been at the head of the conversation to crack down on encampments.

By Magaly Muñoz

These are some of the city’s hotspots. City crews have cleared encampments there over 30 times in the past year, but unhoused people always return.

But it’s normal to have tents set up again within less than 24 hours after an encampment sweep, David Nakanishi, Healthy Streets Operation Center Manager at the Department of Emergency Management, says. Sometimes there’s less people than before but often there is also no change.

“Most of the people that were in the encampments that want to go inside, we’ve gotten the majority of those [into shelter],” Nakanishi says. “Many of the people we encounter now, are those who have various reasons to not accept shelter, and some are already in shelter/housing”.

Where neighboring cities in the Bay Area are clearing encampments a few days a week, San Francisco is sweeping 10 times a week, two per weekday.

David Nakanishi, Healthy Streets Operation Center Manager at the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, makes a 311 report on an encampment in the Mission District. These reports allow smaller city teams to tackle individual spots where unhoused people frequent. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

Considering the controversy that plagues the city around its harsh policies, the Post decided to tag along on a ride with Nakanishi to show us how he decides what encampments make it on the city’s sweep list.

Nakanishi, having over 20 years of experience in homelessness management, drives around the busiest parts of the city almost daily. He’s tasked with arranging a weekly sweeping operation schedule for city teams to engage with unhoused folks to help get them off the streets.

So what exactly is he looking out for when deciding what encampments get swept?

It depends, he says.

Locations like schools, recreational centers, senior centers, or businesses are places he tends to want to address quickly, especially schools. These are the places where the complaints are highest and access to facilities is important for residents.

He says he also takes into account 311 calls and reports made to him by city staff. On the date of publication, over 100 calls and reports were made about encampments around the city, according to San Francisco data.

Makeshift structures built from plywood and tarps are starting to pop up more throughout the city. Certain areas under freeways are not under direct authority from San Francisco, making it harder to sweep these encampments. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

Nakanishi made a few 311 reports himself on the ride along, pulling over to take photos and describe the encampments into his 311 app. He says it helps him remember where to possibly sweep next or allows smaller teams in the city to engage quicker with individuals on the streets.

Nakanishi also looks at the state of the encampments. Are there a lot of bulky items, such as furniture, or makeshift structures built out of tarps and plywood, blocking areas of traffic? Is trash beginning to pile up and spill into the streets or sidewalks? Sites that meet this criteria tend to be contenders for encampment sweeps, Nakanishi says.

Street by street, he points out individuals he’s interacted with, describing their conditions, habits, and reasons for denying assistance from the city.

One man on 2nd St and Mission, who rolls around a blue recycling bin and often yells at passing pedestrians, has refused shelter several times, Nakanishi says.

People deny shelter for all kinds of reasons, he says. There’s too many rules to follow, people feel unsafe in congregate or shared shelters, or their behavioral and mental health problems make it hard to get them into proper services.

Inside a tent left by an unhoused man on Stevenson and 14th Street in San Francisco. The area smelled of human waste and leftover alcohol. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

Nakanishi references another man on South Van Ness under the freeway, who city outreach have attempted to get into shelter, but his screaming outbursts make it difficult to place him without disturbing other people in the same space. Nakanishi says it might be an issue of the man needing resources like medication to alleviate his distress that causes the screaming, but the city behavioral team is in the process of outreaching him to figure that out.

In October, city outreach teams engaged with 495 unhoused people. 377 of those engaged refused shelter and only 118 accepted placements, according to city data. That number of monthly referrals is consistent throughout the entirety of 2024 so far.

Nakanishi has long advocated for the well-being of unhoused people, he explains. In 2004, he was working with the Department of Public Health and told then-Mayor Gavin Newsom that there needed to be more housing for families. Nakinishi was told it was easier to deal with individuals first and the city “will get there eventually.” 20 years later, family housing is still not as extensive as it could be, and the waiting list to get placements for families is a mile long with over 500 names.

In 2020, he was a Senior Behavioral Health Clinician at a hotel in the city during the pandemic. He says in 2021 he collaborated with DPH to provide vaccines to those staying in the makeshift hotel shelters once those became available.

Nakanishi strips apart a solo tent on Stevenson and 14th Street in San Francisco. He discards items, like tarps and cardboard, so that people cannot reuse them to make another sleeping structure. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

Despite the constant media attention that city outreach is inhumanely treating homeless people, so much so that it has led to lawsuits against San Francisco from advocates, Nakanishi says not a lot of people are seeing the true conditions of some encampments.

He describes soiled clothing and tents, drenched in urine, and oftentimes rodents or bug infestations in places where people are sleeping. He’s asked homeless advocates- often those who are the most critical about the city’s work- who have shown up to observe the sweeps if those are conditions the city should allow people to be subjected to, but not many have answers for him, Nakanishi says.

The city’s “bag and tag” policy allows city workers to throw away items that are “soiled by infectious materials” such as bodily fluids and waste.

Sweep operations are conducted at 8am and 1pm Monday through Friday. People at the encampments are given 72 hour notice to vacate, but some don’t leave the area until the day of the sweep.

City outreach workers come out the day before and day of to offer resources and shelter to those interested. The Department of Public Works discards any trash that is left over from the sweep and washes down the area.

Nakanishi told the Post that the only time the city takes tents or personal possessions from residents is when folks become physically violent towards workers and police take the items as evidence. Other items taken are bagged and tagged in accordance with city policy.

Stories from local newspapers such as the San Francisco Standard and the Chronicle show instances of SFPD handcuffing residents while their items are thrown in the trash or disposing of personal possessions without reason.

Advocates have long been pushing for a more competent and compassionate process if the city is going to choose to continue sweeping unhouse people.

No matter the lawsuits and constant criticisms from allies, the encampment sweeps are not slowing down, even with the cold weather quickly approaching the coastal city.

Nakanishi says there aren’t a lot of large encampments left in San Francisco so now they do runs of streets in order to stretch out the sweeps as much as possible.

It’s calculated strategies and years of first hand knowledge that make this job work, “It takes dedication to the work, caring for the people and the community, and persistence, patience and sometimes good luck to make the positive changes for the people on the street,” Nakanishi says.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 13 – 19, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 13 – 19, 2024

Published

5 days ago

November 16, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 week ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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