SCSF Blog
How Much Police Does San Francisco Need?
A City Hall-commissioned study says police staffing in San Francisco is “severely inadequate.” Can we replenish the force with a new generation who embrace police reforms, are trained in de-escalation, and are truly committed to serving their communities?
Open Letter to Mayor: Please Help Tenderloin Residents and Businesses
Families living in the Tenderloin are under assault and need help. By ceding control to the drug dealers, we have created an unbearable situation for the residents and children who have no choice but to navigate the Tenderloin's treacherous streets.
Solving Crime Requires Transparent Crime Data
Much of the publicly available crime data in San Francisco doesn’t tell the full story, especially when it comes to domestic violence crimes. Transparent crime data that is easily accessible to the public is essential for improving public safety.
San Francisco’s Shoplifting Saga
Walgreens blames out-of-control shoplifting for having to close 22 stores in San Francisco this year. While theft affects the bottom line of businesses big and small, residents are also victims.
Will More Neighborhood Patrols Help Lower Crime?
A recent NPR report suggests more community policing is a cost-effective way to reduce serious crime without “having to lock up a bunch of people.” It said research “supports the case for police reform while also reminding us why police are important for public safety.”
Injustice for a Victim and the Victim’s Advocate
The result of the Kate Slattery case was injustice for both the victim and the victim’s advocate. Just when you think the case couldn't be more shocking or tragic, a longtime victim advocate in the district attorney’s office was fired after speaking his truth in open court.
SF Court Records Mess Is Obstacle to Public Safety
San Francisco’s outdated and inaccessible criminal records request system is an obstacle to public safety. It leaves journalists and crime victims unclear about what is actually happening in our criminal justice system. Our court must provide clear records on demand for everyone — it is essential to hold officials accountable.
We Can’t Fight Crime With Spaghetti Bowl of Data
San Francisco lacks a fully interconnected criminal justice computer database that shares information in real time. Good data that’s easy to access can help residents understand what is really happening in our district attorney’s office, the police department, and the courts.
See Where Burglaries Spiked in SF During Pandemic
An interactive map of all burglaries in San Francisco from 2019 to 2021.
Let’s Shine a Light on Our Mysterious Judges
There are 52 superior court judges serving San Francisco. They are elected. Yet most voters have never heard of them. The judiciary shouldn’t be a mysterious Star Chamber. If you care about courtroom outcomes, it’s important to know who the judges are.
Target Security Guard Speaks Out on Crime in San Francisco
A lifelong Mission resident quit his job as a security guard at a downtown Target store because he didn’t feel safe. Rafael Gutierrez tells his personal story in this powerful video.
A Judge With No Name?
When a 94-year-old woman was stabbed on the sidewalk outside her Lower Nob Hill home, local media in San Francisco named the victim and the suspect — but curiously never named a central figure in the story: Superior Court Judge Richard Darwin. This is a disservice to the public.
How I Escaped A Carjacking In Golden Gate Park
Victim stories in their own words: Photographer Andrew Bland was targeted by robbers for his equipment and escaped an attempted carjacking after taking photos of owls in Golden Gate Park.
Who Sold the Gun — Ghost or Real?
Ghost guns represented 16 percent of all firearms seized in San Francisco in 2020. Who sold the remaining 84 percent of guns that were used in crimes? That's an important question to answer if we want to address rising gun violence.
Family of 84-Year-Old Asian Man Attacked in SF Speaks Out Against District Attorney
Here/Say Media interviewed the victim’s grandson, Jack Liao, who claimed the district attorney’s office kept the family “in the dark” while trying to convince his non-English speaking grandfather to agree to no prosecution.
A Week That Feels Like the Past Century
Another troubling week for Asian Americans. The discrimination of the past century is a direct line to modern San Francisco, where violence against Asian residents was a problem long before the politics of a pandemic scapegoated Asian Americans. We must prosecute crimes and support victims.
The State of Crime in San Francisco
A TV news crew reporting on increased crime is robbed of their camera at gunpoint. Before expressing outrage over this ironic property crime, we can’t ignore the violent and senseless killings in San Francisco recently — especially the numerous attacks on Asian seniors.
Crime Against Democracy
Public safety was ignored on every level in our nation’s capital at the cost of jeopardizing our very democracy. The perpetrators and enablers must all be held accountable.
Accountability Must Accompany Reform
District Attorney Chesa Boudin won his election promising bold criminal justice reforms. Yet accountability must accompany reform. Given the failures in the New Year’s Eve case that led to the death of two women, we must hold Chesa Boudin accountable for his pledge to “protect public safety in San Francisco.”
Four Months of Increased Crime In San Francisco
Crime rates in San Francisco continue to rise for the fourth month in a row. We can’t forget the victims of the burglaries, arsons and stolen cars that we’ve seen more of this year.