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NEWS POLITICS

San Francisco Mayor’s Dramatic Policy Reversal Sparks Mayoral Race Buzz Amidst Surging Crime Rates

ByAlki David

Oct 27, 2023

In a city known for its iconic landmarks, a political storm is brewing as San Francisco Mayor London Breed faces increased scrutiny over her crime policies. Amidst the backdrop of rising crime rates and a challenging mayoral election on the horizon, Breed finds herself recalibrating her stance on policing.

Back in 2020, the mayor aligned with the call to defund the police, a move triggered by the Black Lives Matter protests advocating for police reform. A significant $120 million was carved out from the budgets of both the police and sheriff departments under Breed’s direction, a decision framed as breaking down barriers to progress, as reported by ABC7 News.

However, the political landscape has shifted. Enter moderate Democrats Ahsha Safai and Daniel Lurie, now contenders in the 2024 mayoral race. Their entrance has catalyzed a surprising turn of events as Breed, facing criticism of her administration, has executed a series of policy reversals in the past month, primarily centered around police reform, according to Politico.

Despite the undeniable surge in crime over recent years, Breed remains steadfast in reducing law enforcement budgets, even as residents clamor for increased police presence. The move has raised eyebrows and led to accusations of political maneuvering to secure reelection.

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a seasoned observer of the city’s political landscape, commented on Breed’s recent actions: “She’s doing what she needs to do to get reelected. She’s playing a good poker game.”

As the 2024 mayoral race gains momentum, the citizens of San Francisco are left to ponder the implications of Breed’s policy shifts and the candidates’ differing visions for the city’s future.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.