San Francisco residents are known for their unflinchingly progressive views, but apparently even leftists can grow weary of rising crime, drugs, public defecation and homelessness.
Voters in the City by the Bay swung to the middle in Tuesday’s primary election, approving public safety measures aimed at tackling the city’s well-documented social ills by expanding police surveillance and requiring drug screening for public assistance benefits.
In addition, the moderate Democrats for Change slate running for seats on the powerful Democratic County Central Committee were leading their progressive rivals on the Labor & Working Families slate in 12 of the 14 match-ups.
The results touched off a debate over whether the election should be viewed as a blip in the city’s years-long leftward march, or the start of a pendulum swing to the right.
“Progressivism is out—for now,” declared the San Francisco Chronicle in a banner headline Wednesday. “Voters make it clear: San Francisco can no longer be called a progressive city.”
The San Francisco Examiner concurred, trumpeting the outcome as a “Victory Lap for Mayor, Moderates.”
Certainly the outcome represented a victory for Mayor London Breed, who campaigned for Proposition E and Proposition F as part of her effort to overhaul the city’s image as a haven for lawlessness.
She said Wednesday the voters are “sending a message that we are a city that offers help but not a city where you can just come and do whatever you want on our streets.”
Proposition E, which had garnered 60% of the vote as of Wednesday, will allow police to deploy drones, surveillance cameras and facial-recognition technology without prior approval from citizen oversight panels. The measure also gives police more latitude in conducting chases and reduces paperwork on use-of-force reports.
Proposition F, which had 63% of the vote, requires those applying for or receiving public assistance to undergo drug screening, and enter into drug treatment if they are suspected of using illegal drugs. Those who refuse would be ineligible for cash payments and could be kicked out of public housing.
“The passage of Prop F shows that the voters believe we must be both a city of compassion and accountability,” Ms. Breed said.
A change is underway in San Francisco.
— Michelle Tandler (@michelletandler) March 6, 2024
Hallelujah!! pic.twitter.com/tFl13MGsH0
At the same time, voters didn’t fully embrace a tough-on-crime agenda. They rejected Proposition B, which would have set a minimum staffing level for police that would increase each year for five years, by 33% to 67%. The proposal was supported by some Board of Supervisors members but not Ms. Breed.
Other ballot measures that passed included Proposition G, which encourages public schools to offer algebra in eighth grade, instead of starting in ninth grade; and Proposition C, which provides a first-time transfer-tax exemption on a commercial property being converted to residential use.
Proposition C was opposed by progressives, who called it a “deceptive tax break for billionaires.” A $300 million bond measure for affordable housing was also approved by voters.
Voter turnout was low in the primary election, thanks in part to the largely uncontested presidential contests, which may have contributed to what the Chronicle described as a “gut punch for San Francisco progressives.”
Those cheering the election outcome included Convective Capital founder and managing partner Bill Clerico.
“Exciting to see SF voting for moderate policies that are still quite progressive—the city’s rebound continues,” said Mr. Clerico on X. “What the Chronicle calls ‘progressive’ in SF would be called ‘extreme’ in most of the country.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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