San Francisco Mayor Breed loses reelection in race about crime, safety

[Lauren]

SAN FRANCISCO ELECTS A NEW MAYOR. INCUMBENT MAYOR LONDON BREED HAS BEEN OUSTED BY LEVI STRAUSS HEIR DANIEL LURIE.

MAYOR-ELECT LURIE WON 56% OF THE VOTE, WHILE BREED TRAILED WITH NEARLY 44%.

LURIE IS CURRENTLY THE CEO OF A SAN FRANCISCO ANTI-POVERTY FOUNDATION CALLED “TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY” WHOSE MISSION IS TO FIGHT AND FUND POVERTY-FIGHTING SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE BAY AREA.

MAYOR-ELECT LURIE RAN ON PUBLIC SAFETY, CAMPAIGNING ON THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, CRIME AND HIGH HOUSING COSTS, SAYING THEY WERE THE RESULTS OF BREED’S FAILED POLICIES.

“THIS MAYOR LOST CONTROL OF OUR STREETS,” LURIE SAID ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. “THERE IS A SENSE OF DISORDER. THERE IS A SENSE THAT YOU CAN COME TO SAN FRANCISCO AND GET AWAY WITH CRIME. AND SO, YES, THE MAYOR IS NOW THROWING EVERYTHING AGAINST THE WALL. BUT FOR THIS MAYOR, IT’S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.”

VOTERS AGREED – SAN FRANCISCANS ARE DEALING WITH SERIOUS CHALLENGES – AN OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKET, EMPTY STOREFRONTS, CRIME, INFLATION – RESIDENTS SAY THE CITY HAS BEEN STRUGGLING AND THEY ARE READY FOR CHANGE.

“HOMELESSNESS, DRUG PROBLEMS DOWNTOWN SUFFERING THE DOOM LOOP. SO, IT’S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE TIME TO TURN IT AROUND. BUT, YOU KNOW, SAN FRANCISCO’S A GREAT CITY. EVENTUALLY IT’LL COME BACK,” SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT MANEEB MELLEM SAID.

IN HIS FIRST SIX MONTHS IN OFFICE, LURIE VOWED TO SECURE 1,500 HOMELESS SHELTER UNITS… AND IN HIS FIRST THREE YEARS, HE WANTS TO HIRE MORE THAN 400 POLICE OFFICERS, KTVU REPORTS.

AFTER SIX YEARS IN OFFICE, BREED CONCEDED TO LURIE THURSDAY, PROMISING A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF POWER.

“ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WHAT I HAVE HAD AS MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO IS A REAL GIFT. AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY HAVE GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE,” MAYOR BREED SAID DURING HER CONCESSION SPEECH THURSDAY. “AND IT’S BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF MY LIFE. AND SO I’M GRATEFUL. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER VERY CHALLENGING THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. AND NOW IS A TIME FOR US TO REALLY FOCUS ON MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD.”

LURIE WILL TAKE OFFICE IN JANUARY.