SF's crime debate turns nasty
You’ve probably noticed that there’s an unpleasant little spitting match going on in San Francisco when it comes to law and order and crime.
A group of residents, often long-time San Franciscans, is shocked by the lawlessness of car break-ins, robbery and shoplifting. Take Stories like this where a mother of three, co-owner of Tony Baloney’s deli, was severely beaten when she tried to stop a brazen shoplifter. It’s infuriating.
In response, there are critics — some of whom clearly see the complaints as part of persistent attacks on District Attorney Chesa Boudin — who say the whole crime anxiety is overwrought. And, they say, they have data to show that criminal activity is not getting worse.
A woman named Michelle Tandler posted a Tweet lamenting that “every single one of my friends is considering leaving SF.” She added that “My friends are scared for their children and their husbands are scared for their wives.”
And for some reason, Kate Chatfield, who is a senior director on DA Boudin’s staff, thought this would be a good time for a public official to take a shot at a local resident. Chatfield said the “Husbands are scared for their wives,” was right out of the famously racist film, “Birth of a Nation,” which portrays the Ku Klux Klan as heroes.
