(UnitedVoice.com) – San Francisco has developed a bad reputation over the last decade. Many Americans view it as a city where crime has run amuck. Changes to the city’s public safety policies have brought crime rates down. Other measures were recently passed as well.
On March 5, San Francisco voters passed two ballot measures. Proposition F received more than 60% of the vote, as did Proposition E. The victories seemed to prove voters were getting sick of how far left the city had become.
Proposition F allows the city to drug test welfare recipients if they believe the person is using illegal drugs. If that individual tests positive and refuses to go into a treatment program, they could be evicted from their housing and lose cash benefits. According to KQED, approximately 30% of the welfare recipients in the city suffer from a drug abuse problem.
Proposition E seeks to weaken the San Francisco Police Commission, which is led by citizens. It would also allow the San Francisco Police Department to start using public surveillance drones and cameras, facial recognition technology, exempt officers from filling out paperwork if they use force on a suspect (if the person does not suffer injuries), and loosen the rules for car chases.
Democratic Mayor London Breed allowed the measures to go on the ballot so residents could decide if they wanted to enact them. She told supporters that it was obvious residents wanted changes to public safety. She said that the propositions will give her the tools she needs to “continue the work [her administration] is doing.” Her critics believe she supports the measures because she’s up for reelection this year.
Earlier this year, Breed’s office announced crime was down 7% from 2022 to 2023. Property crime was the lowest it had been since 2020, and violent crime was down 11% from 2019. Her office credited her and law enforcement with the crime reduction.
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