San Fran Progressives Fume As The Moderates Take Over!

The city by the bay is putting the brakes on far left policies.

The city and county of San Fransisco, California has a population of 804,000 residents. It is an Alpha city with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Giants, the Golden State Warriors, the San Francisco 49ers [which play in Santa Clara] and the iconic Lombard Street. Streetcars, Market Street and the Pier are notable for famous landmarks and history.

It has been a crown for technology and openness to the LGBTQ community. It has one of the largest Asian American populations by far. Its mayor is the first African American woman to serve. 

The current lawmakers who represent the city are longtime Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker Emeritus and 1st term member, Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA). Vice President Kamala Harris was then the District Attorney for the city and county.

The city is a place for tourists and crime.

Also known for progressive politics, the city often favors Democrats on a ratio 4:1.

Crime has become a burden on the city. It has been well documented bicycle thefts, car break ins, property theft in broad daylight, shoplifting in retail outlets without any interactions, open use of drugs and violent indivuals because of mental illness.

The cost of living in San Francisco is extremely high.

Retail outlets are permanently leaving the city.

The far right media and Republican lawmakers scapegoat the city as a wedge issue to attack Democrats and President Joe Biden.

San Francisco mayor London Breed is getting tough on crime.

Mayor London Breed and the city leaders are moving towards policing the city with strict enforcement and pushing for stronger penalties for repeat offenders.

With San Francisco voters approving Proposition E, granting police new powers, and Proposition F tying drug screenings to public assistance, some are questioning if the city has shifted from its most progressive policies.

Breed, who backed both measures, says their passage does not indicate that the city is straying from its progressive principles in its push for safety.

"San Francisco continues to push forward our values in extraordinary ways, and we have not abandoned those," said Breed. "But, we also need accountability."

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who is running for mayor, says the results show a city hungry for change. 

"Voters want change, they want to see new leadership around all the different issues San Francisco is facing," said Safai. "People are concerned about public safety, rightfully so. People are worried about the crisis on the streets, mental health, drug abuse."

Mark Farrell, the most recent candidate to jump into the mayor's race, also sees voters looking for change. 

This happens in San Francisco and many are frustrated.

"Look, San Francisco needs to change direction," said Farrell. "The last six years have literally seen our city crumble, and we need to do an about-face in the city, incredible momentum last night."

Daniel Lurie, also running for mayor, says the policies voters approved reflect a more nuanced snapshot of the city's electorate than simply looking at it as progressive or moderate. 

"The electorate, the citizens, of San Francisco are absolutely, absolutely looking for change from the outside," said Lurie. "That's what we saw yesterday, and that's what we're going to get in November."

San Francisco State University political science professor Jason McDaniel said looking at the election results to gauge if voters have fundamentally shifted their positions is too simplistic. He said the results need to be looked at in context. 

"I wouldn't say progressivism is out, but the electorate has certainly rejected some of the policies that progressive organizations and leaders have put forward," said McDaniel.

GrowSF pushed for a lot of the ballot measures that won last night. That organization said being a progressive city and a well-policed city aren't at odds. 

But, the ACLU of Northern California said the measures that passed weakened oversight and undermined reforms that were put in place to protect the public.