San Francisco Gets Tough to Save Liberalism
New regulations supporting police powers and drug-testing will empower a more active and effective government.
Mayor London Breed casts a vote for liberal values.
Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg“Has San Francisco lost its liberal soul?” So asked a New York Times headline earlier this month, after voters there approved ballot measures aimed at tackling crime and drug addiction. As Republicans campaign against urban dysfunction and Democrats stare down the possibility of a second Trump presidency, there has never been a better time to reconsider what it means to have a liberal soul.
To begin: What do the ballot measures in San Francisco actually do? One measure gives more flexibility to the police department to fight crime, allowing it to install street cameras and use drones. It also aims to reduce the paperwork burden on officers, in part by making use of body camera footage, and it eliminates a ban on chasing violent crime suspects fleeing in vehicles. The other requires drug screening and treatment for single adults who are suspected of drug use and who receive cash assistance and other local benefits — to avoid subsidizing addiction and contributing to fatal overdoses.