San Francisco city leaders on Wednesday made the case that public safety remains a top priority in the city, adding that progress in fighting crime is happening.
There are clear challenges in San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie said, but progress is being made, including crime being down in Union Square by 40%, citywide crime down 30%, homicide rates at a 70-year low, and car breaks-ins on the decline, all the result of collaborative work.
Public safety in San Francisco was put in the spotlight once again in recent days when Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, in the leadup to the Dreamforce conference, said he would support President Donald Trump’s move to send National Guard troops to the city. Benioff has since clarified his comments.
Lurie confirmed Wednesday that the two have spoken.
“The last time I spoke to him was on Saturday, and those are private conversations,” Lurie said. “But what I said to him is what I’m saying to you all now, and that is that we are working relentlessly every day and that public safety is our number one priority.”
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said San Francisco is sending a message beyond this week’s Dreamforce conference.
“Let’s be honest. We’re here for a reason, and that reason is to stand united and to show that there is no question that San Francisco is committed to safety,” Jenkins said. “There is no question that when we need the addition of state or federal resources, that we have no problem seeking the assistance that we need. But we have this issue under control.”
Lurie and Jenkins were among the city officials Wednesday greeting the latest class of recruits at the police academy. This is the fourth straight fully-staffed recruit class, with another one expected to start in December.
SFPD is still down about 500 officers, but this year is the first time in the last five years that there is a net increase of officers.