The GrowSF Report: Crime is down, way down
PLUS: Chan to Explore Ballot Measure to Reopen Great Highway
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of April 6, 2025:
- Crime is down, way down
- GrowSF Talent: Why we’re doing it, and why it matters
- Chan to Explore Ballot Measure to Reopen Great Highway
- Downtown Development Corp. launched to revitalize SF
- Police calls and complaints reach 10-year high at 16th & Mission
- Downtown First Thursdays will continue through December 2025
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Flour + Water comes to Mission Rock
Your Action Plan:
- Apply for the Civil Grand Jury to help fix what's broken in SF
Crime is down, way down
Published April 9, 2025
Citywide crime in San Francisco is now at its lowest point in 23 years. And in the past year, San Francisco saw one of the biggest drops in crime among major U.S. cities, including a 45% drop in property crime in the first quarter of 2025, alone.
The Facts
Between January 2024 and January 2025, violent crime fell 14% and property crime by nearly 29%. That's far more than the average for peer cities of the same size, which saw 6% and 9% drops respectively, according to a Chronicle analysis of the Real-Time Crime Index.
Out of 22 U.S. cities, San Francisco had the largest drop in property crime and third biggest decrease in violent crime.
In the first quarter (January, February, and March) of 2025, that trend accelerated. Car thefts have dropped an additional 41%, larceny theft another 29%, and robberies 20%, according to SFPD data. Overall, it's a 45% drop in property crime since Mayor Lurie took office.
The Context
The decrease in crime began under former Mayor London Breed, and has accelerated under Mayor Lurie. In 2025, the crackdowns at the 6th Street Corridor, Jefferson Square Park, and Market and Van Ness cleared out drug dealers and stolen goods markets. Lurie's other initiatives have also helped push crime down faster than any other city:
A new consolidated street team response model to address behavioral health and homelessness concerns
A Hospitality Zone Task Force that steps up police presence in key business areas
A police-run Mobile Triage Unit in South of Market to address homelessness and substance abuse onsite
Even with the positive momentum, crime is still present. Dispatch calls to 16th and Mission streets have spiked to their highest level in a decade. But more dispatch calls also means more crime is being fought, rather than ignored.
The GrowSF Take
We all deserve a safe city, and it's great to see a new Mayor and the new moderate majority on the Board of Supervisors deliver!
GrowSF Talent: Why we’re doing it, and why it matters
Published April 07, 2025
On March 15, 2025 we quietly launched what will become one of our most important initiatives: GrowSF Talent.
San Francisco has a big influence on national politics: think Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, and Kamala Harris to name a few (and who could forget the boogeyman of “San Francisco values”?) But despite this importance, there aren’t any programs to identify and cultivate the next generation of elected talent in San Francisco.
GrowSF started as just a useful, well-researched voter guide. But over the last four years we realized that a great voter guide doesn’t mean much if we don’t have great candidates for every position. Now we’ll find the very best people to run for elected office, and give them the tools they need to be successful - including first and foremost, talented campaign staff.
If you want to run for office - next year or even 10 years from now, talk to us.
Chan to Explore Ballot Measure to Reopen Great Highway
Published April 09, 2025
Supervisor Connie Chan is contemplating introducing a ballot measure to reopen the Upper Great Highway to cars, aligning with the potential recall election of Supervisor Joel Engardio. This development adds complexity to the ongoing debate over the roadway's future.
The Facts
Supervisor Connie Chan has announced that, if the recall against Supervisor Joel Engardio qualifies, she will "explore a ballot measure to keep Upper Great Highway open to vehicular traffic Mondays through Fridays and closed on the weekends for recreation." This will effectively undo November 2024's Prop K which closed the Great Highway permanently.
The Context
Supervisor Joel Engardio is facing a recall campaign due to his sponsorship of Proposition K, which ended the "Great Highway Compromise" (that is, keeping the road open to cars Monday morning through Friday afternoon, and closing it to cars Friday afternoon through Sunday). Prop K fully closed the Great Highway with the intention of creating an oceanfront park. Recallers have until May 22nd to submit around 10,000 signatures from the roughly 45,000 residents of District 4.
This isn't the first time a Supervisor wanted to run a ballot measure to undo a recent ballot measure. In fact, in 2022 Supervisor Peskin undid his own measure, which created the Streets & Sanitation Department, just two years after voters passed it in 2020.
The GrowSF Take
We understand the frustration that westside voters are feeling, and support their right to collect signatures for a recall (even though we aren't endorsing it). But we are very frustrated by Supervisor Chan spending even more taxpayer money to relitigate an issue the City just voted on. And to really rub it in, let us remind you that she's the chair of the budget committee! Surely there are better uses of taxpayer money during a historic budget deficit?
Downtown Development Corp. launched to revitalize SF
Published April 08, 2025
A coalition of business leaders and civic organizers have just launched The San Francisco Downtown Development Corp. (DDC). It will raise money to fund revitalization for downtown – think beautification projects, events, and support for small businesses.
The Facts
A coalition of business, labor, and philanthropic leaders announced the San Francisco Downtown Development Corp., a nonprofit focused on downtown recovery. The organization plans to raise private funds to beautify downtown, host events, and support small businesses.
The Context
The org is a who's-who of industry leaders, which should make fundraising for downtown a breeze:
David Stiepleman, co-founder of private equity firm Sixth Street, will serve as the board chair.
Sam Cobbs, CEO of Tipping Point, which was founded by Mayor Lurie in 2005
Bob Fisher, chairman of Gap
Meg Whitman, former US Ambassador to Kenya, former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and former Republican candidate for California governor
Chris Larsen, co-founder of cryptocurrency firm Ripple Labs and big civic booster
Olga Miranda, President of SEIU Local 87
Rebecca Foster, CEO of the SF Housing Accelerator Fund
Downtown San Francisco once accounted for nearly 70% of jobs, but it is still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic – foot traffic is down and, last year, office vacancy was still at a jaw-dropping 36.5%. The city's near-$1 billion budget deficit has been linked partly to these issues, prompting initiatives to rejuvenate the area. The Downtown Development Corp. is modeled after New York's Lower Manhattan Development Corp., which was established to aid recovery after the September 11 attacks.
Note that the DDC is different from another group, called Partnership for San Francisco, whose members include OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Alphabet’s Ruth Porat, and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs.
The GrowSF Take
The Downtown Development Corp. is a great, proactive step toward revitalizing downtown. Leveraging private funds and fostering collaboration between business, labor, and philanthropic leaders, is a proven recipe for success.
Police calls and complaints reach 10-year high at 16th & Mission
San Francisco has seen a dramatic spike in 911 dispatch calls and police activity near 16th and Mission — with early 2025 marking the highest call volumes in a decade.
The Facts
In March, dispatch calls for 16th and Mission streets rose to nearly 900 total — a 140% increase compared to the same month last year. Reported drug offenses and disorderly conduct more than doubled month-over-month, jumping from 45 in February to 107 in March, the highest in years, according to the Chronicle.
And 16th and Mission has logged more 311 complaints in January and February than at any point in the past 10 years, mainly about dirty sidewalks and homeless encampments.
The Context
Rising call stats reflect not only more crimes, but also more people reporting what they see, according to the Chronicle. And the city’s crackdown on open-air drug use in the Tenderloin and the 6th street corridor appears to have moved the problem to the Mission.
In recent months, here’s where SFPD has ramped up enforcement:
6th Street corridor: Police announced late January they had made 218 arrests as part of a 30-day campaign, including 124 for drug offenses and 36 for outstanding warrants.
Jefferson Square Park: In late February, a coordinated operation led to nearly 90 arrests and seized about 1.2 pounds of narcotics.
Market Street and Van Ness Avenue: A pre-dawn raid last month resulted in about 40 arrests.
In addition, Mayor Lurie’s administration has launched mobile triage centers and expanded behavioral health services. He's also consolidating disconnected street teams into a unified response network to better address addiction, mental health, and homelessness.
The GrowSF Take
The recent changes are moving the city in the right direction, but the illegal activity that remains around 16th and Mission shows how far we still have to go.
Downtown First Thursdays will continue through December 2025
San Francisco’s public event series, Downtown First Thursdays, just got an extension until the end of 2025, and a pair of new activations at Salesforce Park and Front Street.
The Facts
Downtown First Thursdays — the free monthly street party that launched in 2024 — has been extended through December 2025. The event features live music, food trucks, and extended happy hours across dozens of downtown bars and restaurants. And it will now include a speaker series at Salesforce Park and a Western-themed party on Front Street.
The Context
San Francisco is actively experimenting with ways to bring life back to its downtown. We’ve seen everything from public drinking pilots, huge concerts, and city funding for entertainment zones on Front Street and Thrive City at Chase Center. There’s also been a huge surge in night markets — from well-attended ones in Chinatown and Outer Sunset, to new pilots in the Castro and Bayview.
These events boost foot traffic, generate revenue for small businesses, and support local artists and vendors. According to its own data, Downtown First Thursdays has:
Attracted over 160,000 attendees
Generated $11.9M in local economic activity
Supported 200+ artists and performers
The GrowSF Take
Let’s build on this. More night markets. More block parties. More zones where people can safely and legally enjoy themselves. Public spaces don’t have to be boring or off-limits. They can and should be joyful, fun, and alive.
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Flour + Water comes to Mission Rock
The team behind Flour + Water are expanding their pizza empire with the opening of Flour + Water Pizza Shop in the Mission Rock neighborhood. The new spot offers quick service that’s made for Giants fans and Mission Bay residents. The menu features 13-inch pies and their signature "Big Slice," with options like Margherita, pepperoni, smoky eggplant, and the standout cacio e pepe pizza. Appetizers include mozzarella sticks, Calabrian chicken wings, and garlic fries.
WHERE: 1090 Dr. Maya Angelou Lane
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
Apply for the Civil Grand Jury to help fix what's broken in SF
Published April 08, 2025
Want to make a difference in SF without running for office? Join the Civil Grand Jury and investigate the inner workings of city departments, audit how public funds are spent, and publish findings that can lead to real change.
The Facts
The Civil Grand Jury is accepting applications now through May 2, 2025. It's composed of 19 San Francisco residents of all ages and backgrounds who will serve one-year terms, with about 10 hours per week of work.
The San Francisco Civil Grand Jury investigates how local government is working… or not working. Members investigate the operations of city agencies, departments, and officials, audit how funds are spent, or even examine the City's emergency preparedness.
Despite being called a "jury," it isn't part of any court case. Instead, it's a civilian investigatory body that prepares and publishes reports with findings and recommendations for use by the public, civic watchdogs, and elected officials. It's part of California's civil oversight system, and every county is required to convene one annually.
If you're interested in serving, apply to the SF Civil Grand Jury by May 2, 2025!
The Context
Here are a few Civil Grand Jury reports released in 2024:
“Commission Impossible” (2024)
The Civil Grand Jury determined that SF has too many commissions—115 in total. The Jury found many are inactive, redundant, or lacking oversight. It recommended cutting at least 15 and creating an oversight board.“Come Hell or High Water” (2024)
The Civil Grand Jury determined that the City isn't ready for flooding. The Jury found poor coordination, no funding plan, and little public outreach, urging stronger planning and communication.“Uncontrolled Burn” (2024)
The Civil Grand Jury determined that SF is unprepared for a major fire. The Jury cited weak evacuation planning, unclear messaging, and poor coordination—and called for a real wildfire response plan.
The GrowSF Take
If you're reading this, then not only are you qualified, you're needed! If you have just 10 hours per week to spare, we need smart, curious, and civic minded people like you to serve. The deadline for this year is May 2, 2025. Check out more about the Civil Grand Jury and apply for the 2025-2026 year here.
If you want to get even more involved, we recently launched GrowSF Talent to help connect people to Commissions, work on campaigns, or even run for office. Learn more and apply if that sounds interesting!
Events
San Francisco International Film Festival
The San Francisco International Film Festival returns for its 68th edition April 17–27, 2025. Known for its adventurous programming, the Festival blends documentaries, global debuts, and genre-defying shorts.
WHEN: April 17-27
WHERE: Various theaters in San Francisco
Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2025
Bring Your Own Big Wheel is an annual San Francisco tradition where participants of all ages ride plastic-wheeled toy tricycles down the city's curviest streets. Originating in 2000 on Lombard Street, the event moved to Vermont Street in Potrero Hill in 2008, offering a steeper and more thrilling course.
WHEN: Sunday, April 20, 2025 —
Young Kids (13 and under): 2 PM – 3 PM
Adult Participants: 3 PM – 5 PM
WHERE: Vermont Street at 20th Street, Potrero Hill, San Francisco