Ten minutes into a speech on combating soaring crime and drug use in San Francisco, Democratic mayor London Breed had to flee the event after someone threw a brick into the crowd.
Breed and several city officials held an outdoor meeting Tuesday in the city's United Nations Plaza, known for drug use and crime. A crowd of spectators screamed insults and booed the officials, and one of them threw a brick that almost hit a child, local outlet KRON4 reported. The city officials adjourned the meeting amid the disruption and continued it from inside the city hall building.
Here’s video of the woman throwing a brick at UN Plaza in San Francisco following the postponement of a special session of the Board of Supervisors and a Q&A with Mayor London Breed. pic.twitter.com/hlAzWHJvpx
— Sergio Quintana (@svqjournalist) May 24, 2023
Breed argued during the meeting that treating the criminals in the city with delicate hands has failed. "I can go on, and on, about resources that have expanded considerably," she said, adding that these measures have not worked to deter open drug use and violent crime.
"Compassion is killing people," Breed said during the event. "We have to change what is happening on the streets. It’s too easy getting drugs, they are dying under our watch, we have to do better."
Breed's inability to hold an outdoor speech about the crime in her city highlights the deteriorating condition of San Francisco.
A recent study found few people in the Bay Area feel safe on public transportation. The Bay Area Council found in a poll that 78 percent of residents said they would ride more frequently if trains and buses were cleaner and safer. Just 17 percent of those asked said they feel safe on public transit.
Both Whole Foods and Nordstrom have shuttered businesses in the city over safety concerns. The latter's exit is costing the city 380 jobs. The downtown area of the city has lost half of its businesses since the start of the pandemic.
Even comedian Dave Chapelle is concerned about the state of San Francisco. He asked an audience there this month, "What the f— happened to this place?"
"Y’all ... need a Batman!" Chappelle reportedly told the crowd. The comedian recounted his experience at an Indian restaurant in the city, where he saw a homeless man defecate in front of the building as he entered.