By Daisy Nguyen -
The Associated Press
The San Francisco mayor declared a state of emergency in the Tenderloin neighborhood on Friday in an effort to reduce overdose deaths and violent crime in one of the poorest and most drug-affected neighborhoods in the city.
London Breed told a news conference attended by the police chief and members of the public health staff that rapid drug intervention is needed because
about two people die from overdoses,
mainly of fentanyl, every day in neighborhoods like Tenderloin and South of Market.
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Tenderloin has long been the epicenter of homelessness and drug use, but city officials said the problem has worsened as the national opioid crisis escalated during the pandemic.
"This is a public health emergency that demands a crisis-level response, with great urgency, coordination and determination to confront this epidemic," said Breed, adding that he hopes that this measure will save lives.
The emergency declaration will allow the city to bypass the bureaucracy delaying the public response to deteriorating living conditions in Tenderloin and thus be able to quickly provide shelter, counseling and medical care to people suffering from addiction, said Breed and other officials from the city.
Homeless tents in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood.Ben Margot / AP
There will also be greater coordination to combat illegal activities, and oversee tasks such as street cleaning and other infrastructure improvements to make the neighborhood safer, they said.
“In theory, everyone can talk about the policies they want of 'no police' and 'defunding the police' ... but, at the end of the day, if someone hits your son like that 11-year-old girl did, do you? Who are you going to call to protect you? ”Breed said.
He was referring to a Muslim girl who was attacked on September 29 by a woman who made racist comments and punched her in the head.
The woman was arrested for assault, endangering a minor and for committing a hate crime.
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Breed's announcement came a few days after she vowed to crack down on drug use, home burglaries and other criminal behaviors that she says have mocked the city's tolerance and compassion.
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It is estimated that a high percentage of the 8,000 homeless people in San Francisco, many of whom live in tents in Tenderloin, are struggling with a chronic addiction or serious mental illness, or often suffer from both conditions.
Some people rant in the streets, naked and in need of medical help.
Last year, 712 people died from drug overdoses,
compared to 257 people who died from COVID-19.
Critics said Breed was breaking his promise last year to cut police funding, amid national recognition of systemic racism in the police force.
“People can say what they want about this, that I am not keeping my word, this and that.
But, at the end of the day, the people in this community are not safe.
And that is not fair and it is not right, "said the mayor.