Poll Finds Majority of San Francisco Residents Want More Police in High-Crime Areas
An annual poll from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce showed a majority of residents believe crime to be worsening, and that the city should increase police presence in high-crime areas.
The poll, conducted by EMC Research from May 25 to 31, found that 80 percent of residents believe crime has worsened in recent years, with 76 percent of residents wanting more police in high-crime neighborhoods, the Chamber of Commerce announced in a statement.
Results were consistent “across gender, age, ethnicity, party affiliation, and neighborhood, and homeownership status,” according to the chamber.
Around 88 percent of residents also said homelessness had worsened in recent years, with 80 percent saying homelessness was a top priority for San Francisco to address.
The poll surveyed 520 residents using telephone, text and internet, and was conducted in both English and Chinese, SFGATE reported.
“San Francisco has suffered over the past year, which highlighted and exacerbated issues like homelessness, street conditions, and safety concerns,” San Francisco Chamber of Commerce President Rodney Fong said in the statement.
In a Thursday tweet, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce acknowledged that the issue is of “high priority” to the city’s voters.
Homelessness and unsafe street conditions are the top priorities for San Franciscans. 86% of voters polled said providing mental health services is a high priority. #CityBeat2021
— SF Chamber (@SF_Chamber) June 24, 2021
Around 60 percent of residents also said San Francisco should continue funding police academy classes, while 86 percent said the city should invest in resources to help the mentally ill and those with substance abuse problems. The Chamber of Commerce did not immediately respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
A majority of residents also felt that the quality of life in San Francisco had declined in the past year.
“In order to support the City, its residents, and our economic recovery, serious investments need to be made,” Fong said.
Certain types of crime in San Francisco, such as homicides and burglaries, skyrocketed in 2020, with killings increasing 36.7 percent, according to an analysis by the San Francisco Chronicle. Shoplifting has also increased recently, with larceny up 22 percent, according to data from the San Francisco Police Department.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who had promised to divert $120 million away from the SFPD, announced a plan to increase police presence in the high-crime Tenderloin and Mid-Market neighborhoods in May.
“All of our residents and workers deserve to feel safe, and this area of the City continues to face a number of challenges that need to be addressed,” Breed said in the announcement.
“With this plan, we’re focusing on both addressing the illegal activity that is unacceptable and will not be allowed to continue, while also building up our community presence so that this area is more welcoming, friendly, and accessible to everyone who lives, works, and visits the area.”
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