The GrowSF Report: Car break-ins & retail theft are declining
PLUS: Supervisors Peskin and Chan threaten to sue California over housing demands
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of January 1, 2024:
- Car break-ins are declining
- Disgraced DBI employee facing jail time
- Supervisors Peskin and Chan threaten to sue California over housing demands
- Marjan Philhour calls for more license plate readers after bank burglary
Car break-ins & retail theft are declining
Some good news: reports of car break-ins and retail theft fell a whopping 48% this holiday season compared to the same time last year. These are pre-pandemic numbers!
Mayor London Breed told J.D. Morris at the Chronicle, “Everyone who lives here, people who work here, visit here — they must feel safe. If we’re going to have a thriving economy, this has to be No. 1.”
The success was attributed to bait cars, video surveillance, and plainclothes officers. We’re happy regular people and small businesses are getting some much needed relief from crime, and we hope the trend continues.
Disgraced DBI employee facing jail time
As we reported in November, the DBI scandals have continued to grow since the arrest and conviction of Mohammed Nuru for corruption.
Since that time, Van Zeng — the former DBI employee who inspected his own home and family properties — was fired. He is now facing three misdemeanors for breaking local law prohibiting city employees from making decisions in which they have financial interests.
Attorney Brooke Jenkins told St. John Barned-Smith at the Chronicle, “My office is committed to rooting out employees who violate ethics laws and hold them accountable.”
We are thankful for a strong District Attorney who is not afraid to uphold the law.
Supervisors Peskin and Chan threaten to sue California over housing demands
The housing drama continues: Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Connie Chan are trying to pressure the City Attorney to sue California over its homebuilding mandates.
State Senator Scott Wiener told Mike Ege at the Standard, “This bogus (talk of a) lawsuit further exposes how badly San Francisco needs to be held accountable for its intransigence on housing. These supervisors would do well to spend more time on solutions instead of continuing to create more obstacles.”
Central to their claims is their completely wrong belief that if more housing was homes were built, it would actually displace residents and make SF more expensive. This viewpoint is so utterly backwards and nonsensical that we struggle to believe that they actually believe it.
As Assemblymember Matt Haney said, “You can’t make this stuff up.” We couldn’t agree more. Let’s call it what it is: yet another attempt to keep new homes and new neighbors out of San Francisco.
Marjan Philhour calls for more license plate readers after bank burglary
In a Twitter post this week, District 1 Supervisor Candidate Marjan Philhour expressed her frustration following yet another ATM theft in her district and called out Supervisor Connie Chan for not doing more to fight crime.
“Supervisor @conniechansf will tell you she voted to support Automated License Plate Reader technology for @sfpd but what she won’t tell you is she delayed hearing the legislation in committee so the second reading at @sfbos won't be until NEXT WEEK.”
Marjan said city officials need to give officers the tools they need — like automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and drones — especially in the face of a staffing shortage.
We commend Marjan’s speedy response and encourage the Board of Supervisors to vote in favor of this much needed technology on Tuesday.
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The Spirit of San Francisco
There’s a lot to love about our city and the Bay Area. Here’s what makes it great. Brought to you by The Bold Italic.
What we’re doing this week
Ice skating in Union Square
It’s a lot like that Christmas tree you’ve maybe not taken down yet. Union Square ice skating is still a thing for another nine days, and we are all for it, especially because we haven’t gotten on the ice yet since it went up. Keep that holiday spirit in 2024! We’re checking it out this week.
WHEN: Now through Jan. 15th, which is the last day. Daily skate sessions 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
WHERE: In the heart of Union Square near the corner of Geary and Powell streets
333 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Who would have thought these cute misbehaving birds would become San Francisco’s official animal? We doubt their documentary maker did in 2003. Here’s the trailer and more details:
Filmmaker Judy Irving presents us the story of Mark Bittner, an eccentric musician and writer who serendipitously becomes the caregiver and guardian of a flock of cherry-headed conures — a species of parrots native to South America. These green and red birds have made the urban landscape of San Francisco their home, particularly in the lush trees of Telegraph Hill.
WHEN: Jan. 12–18, various times in the afternoon and early evening
WHERE: The Roxie Theater
3117 16th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Also coming up
2024 San Francisco Ballet gala
It’s the beginning of the fancy social season for arty and philanthropic types in San Francisco, otherwise known as a night of beautiful dance and partying in some really cool fashion. After party tickets are surprisingly affordable this year — affordable for this event, anyway! This is The Bold Italic’s recount of last year’s event.
WHEN: January 24, 2024
WHERE: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
What we’re writing about
Five ways to start your new year in San Francisco
San Francisco is a city that never lacks in more to do. It’s a perpetual playground for those who know where to look, and these events caught our eye while planning stories for The Bold Italic to tackle in 2024.
Why San Francisco serves the best food in the country
As the second-most densely populated U.S. city after NYC, SF is a deeply diverse population living in close confines in tight, walkable neighborhoods. SF’s historic Asian roots are heavily Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, Korean, Thai, Burmese and so on; our Latin population dominates with Mexican heritage, and also includes rich demographics from Peru and beyond. This diversity is inherent in SF’s roots and its unbeatable restaurant industry.
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