State, Local Law Enforcement Efforts Showing Progress on Crime, Safety

There’s been some good news over the past two weeks on efforts to address crime and safety concerns in San Francisco and Oakland, an issue on which the Bay Area Council has been intensely focused across the region for nearly two years. Last week, Mayor London Breed released data showing that in the first quarter of 2024, property crime is down 32% compared to the same period last year and violent crime is down 14%. And this week, Gov. Newsom announced that his action to deploy CHP officers to both San Francisco and Oakland to partner with local law enforcement is paying off.

In less than a year, Newsom said the CHP has taken 9.6 million lethal doses of fentanyl off San Francisco streets, among other successes. In Oakland, where Newsom assigned CHP officers just eight weeks ago, the law enforcement push has netted the recovery of 414 stolen vehicles, the seizure of 31 crime-linked firearms and the arrest of 181 suspects linked to organized crime, carjackings and other crime. The results also come as San Francisco prepares to implement Proposition E, a measure on the March ballot that the Council supported to give police more tools and resources to do their work more effectively.  

While no one is declaring victory over crime just yet, the results offer an encouraging sign that leveraging the power of combined local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution efforts, along with leadership from the business community, can produce results. The Council is proud of our role in elevating crime and safety as a top issue for our region and we are continuing to engage with leaders in San Francisco, Oakland and elsewhere to keep the focus on making our cities safe for residents, businesses and visitors.