One of the leading challengers to San Francisco Mayor London Breed is doubling down on his tough talk on crime. And sparks continue to fly between the rival campaigns as this race heats up, even though it’s eight months before voters go to the polls.
Former Mayor Mark Farrell has clearly found his lane and is going to stay in it, because he launched his campaign by talking about public safety and quality of life. Today he unveiled a new set of proposals that move him even more to the right, in a City that seems increasingly receptive to a more conservative approach to crime and homelessness. Farrell, who spent two terms on the Board of Supervisors before he was appointed mayor by the board after the death of Mayor Ed Lee, already said he would fire police chief Bill Scott. Today he announced a plan to beef up the police department, permanently ban street vendors, and shut down parks at sunset to try to prevent drug sales and use in them at night.
He is going all in on the crime plank of his platform, as he stakes his claim to the more moderate voters who are fed up with the conditions on the street in some parts of San Francisco.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern discussed with KCBS Radio Anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.