Concern over violent crime is way down

Published August 23, 2025

https://growsf.org/news/2025-08-23-concern-over-violent-crime-down/

The Facts

GrowSF's first-ever tracking poll shows that concern over violent crime is down by 21 points since September 2023, dropping from 60% to just 39% today.

The question asked was, "Do you think each issue below is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, somewhat serious problem, or not too serious a problem?" and then respondents were shown a list of issues to weigh in on. The poll had 802 respondents with a margin of error of ±3.5% at the 95% confidence level.

View the full poll

The Context

The decline in concern over violent crime comes amid a broader trend of decreasing crime rates in San Francisco. According to the latest data from the San Francisco Police Department, overall crime is down 27% compared to a year ago.

On Friday, President Trump threatened to send federal troops to "clean up" San Francisco, calling it one of several cities Democrats have "destroyed," according to Max Harrison-Caldwell at The Standard. Speaking from the White House, Trump said, "Look at what Democrats have done to San Francisco. They've destroyed it. We could clean that up too."

The GrowSF Take

San Francisco has gotten its act together and the city is getting safer, quickly. It's a trend that's no only reflected in the official statistics, but also in voter sentiment. We don't need Washington to come in and "clean up"; we're solving our own problems.

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California will vote on partisan redistricting on November 4

Published August 22, 2025

https://growsf.org/news/2025-08-22-partisan-redistricting/

The Facts

California Democrats voted to place Proposition 50 before voters in a November 4 special election after more than five hours of heated debate, according to Hannah Wiley at The Standard. Governor Newsom's "Election Rigging Response Act" would temporarily replace congressional maps drawn by California's independent redistricting commission with a partisan map that favors Democrats for the next three election cycles.

The revised maps would modify five Republican districts throughout the state to make them easier for Democrats to win. Newsom framed the initiative as retaliation against Texas Republicans who redrew their maps to help the GOP maintain its slim House majority.

The Context

California's independent redistricting commission was created more than a decade ago with bipartisan support. The commission consists of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four nonaffiliated voters tasked with drawing fair district lines. It's widely been considered a success and prevented explicitly partisan gerrymandering.

Prop 50 faces significant opposition, including from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who helped establish the independent commission. A recent poll by Axios showed 57% of California voters back Prop 50, while an earlier POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab poll showed that "strong majorities in both parties prefer an independent panel draw the House district lines."

In mid-August 2025, the Republican-controlled Texas House approved a gerrymandering plan to add five new Republican-leaning U.S. House districts, increasing GOP-held seats from 25 to potentially 30 of the state's 38 congressional seats.

The GrowSF Take

This partisan gerrymander is morally distasteful but politically necessary. When one party changes the rules to benefit itself and cling to power, the other party has a duty to respond in kind, lest it permanently forfeit its ability to compete.

And yet, this kind of process manipulation ultimately undermines public trust in government. Texas Republicans' gerrymandering is antidemocratic, California's gerrymandering is equally antidemocratic, and in an ideal world both would be rejected. But we live in the real world, and our politics are far from perfect.

Effective governance requires consistent rules and accountable processes, not ad-hoc political fights that prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability. Some day we hope to have that, but today is not that day.

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Car-full Market Street - Uber and Lyft return to Market

Published August 21, 2025

https://growsf.org/news/2025-08-21-car-full-market-street/

The Facts

Starting August 26, 2025, Uber Black, and Lyft Black will join Waymo in offering limited passenger operations on Market Street. Uber and Lyft have not operated on Market since a 2020 ban. According to Garrett Leahy at The Standard, the SFMTA-approved pilot program will allow pick-ups and drop-offs at seven designated locations during off-peak and overnight hours. Operations are restricted to specific stops near businesses like the IKEA, the Proper Hotel, and the Warfield theater, while the general ban on private cars remains in effect.

Under the initial agreement, Waymo vehicles will be permitted to operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Uber Black and Lyft Black will operate from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Context

Market Street has been largely car-free since 2020, when the city banned ride-hailing and private cars as part of the "Better Market Street" plan that prioritized buses and bikes. However, that broader reimagining never fully materialized, leaving Market Street to languish with reduced activity.

A recent GrowSF poll found San Franciscans split on allowing cars back on Market Street, with 44% supporting and 47% opposing the idea—making it among the least popular options. Voters largely prefer making it easier to open businesses along Market and increasing police presence.

The GrowSF Take

The current state of Market Street doesn't make anyone happy. It could have been great if the City had committed to executing the Better Market Street plan, but instead, we are left with a half-measure that fails to activate the space, fails to support bicyclists, fails to improve transit, and fails to help downtown recover.

The cost of the original Better Market Street plan was staggeringly high, and it's probably a good thing that the City didn't pursue a nearly billion dollar build out. But we're disappointed that the Breed administration and former MTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin chose to leave Market street as a liminal space rather than a functional thoroughfare, or adjust the scope of the project to a more realistic and pleasant alternative. And we're disappointed that the Lurie administration isn't pursuing it either.

We're willing to try some experiments, but are doubtful that letting cars back on Market will meaningfully improve the corridor. Most people visiting businesses on Market were not driving there before cars were banned, and we doubt they'll start now (though Ikea may be the big exception).

We should take a lesson from Denver and try out something similar to their 16th Street Promenade, which features a dedicated bus lane and pedestrian-friendly design, lots of restaurants, cafes, outdoor seating, and a free bus. Great public spaces facilitate leisure, commerce, and community, but the current state of Market Street doesn't do any of those well.

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Vaillancourt no more?

Published August 21, 2025

https://growsf.org/news/2025-08-21-vaillancourt-fountain-removal/

The Facts

The Recreation and Parks Department has formally requested the removal of the Vaillancourt Fountain, according to Sam Whiting at The Chronicle.

Removing the much-maligned brutalist fountain would clear the way for a fully redesigned public plaza near the Ferry Building. The fountain has been broken for over a year, and fixing it would cost an estimated $29 million—a shocking sum. Removing it would cost "just" $2.5 million. The Arts Commission will make the final decision on the fountain's fate.

The Context

The move comes as the city proceeds with an ambitious project to redesign Embarcadero Plaza and the adjacent Sue Bierman Park into a seamless, 5-acre public space across from the Ferry Building. The 53-year-old fountain sits directly in the middle of the planned multi-use area.

City officials argue that the massive sculpture fragments the plaza, hinders circulation, and constrains event programming. While the artist, Armand Vaillancourt, has advocated for its restoration, engineers have determined the structure poses safety risks and is incompatible with the open, accessible park envisioned in the new design.

The GrowSF Take

The fountain is ugly and we should scrap it. Brutalism can be beautiful, but the Vaillancourt fountain is an example of how to do it wrong. No offense to the artist, but this piece has outlived its aesthetic moment.

We're hopeful the Arts Commission will embrace a changing city over preservation of an eyesore while saving taxpayers a bucket of money at the same time.

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SFUSD’s First Day: A Smooth Start for 49,000 Students

Published August 19, 2025

https://growsf.org/news/2025-08-19-sfusd-schools-starts/

After years of chaos, steady leadership put teachers in classrooms and payroll on track.

The Facts

Under new Superintendent Maria Su, SFUSD opened the school year smoothly for 49,000 students. Teachers were in classrooms, the payroll system was functioning, and families could focus on learning instead of uncertainty.

More than 95 percent of classrooms had a qualified teacher on day one. That’s not perfect—families deserve 100 percent—but it’s a big improvement from last year, when vacancies were nearly double.

This year also marked the first school opening since the district rolled out its new payroll system. After years of failures, it’s now running at 97 percent accuracy, with most issues resolved quickly. Not flawless, but far better than the disaster that once left educators unpaid for months.

The Context

This smoother start is a clear break from SFUSD’s recent past. Between 2020 and 2024, families endured school renaming fights, algebra controversies, and a $35 million payroll meltdown that required an emergency response team. First days often brought hundreds of vacancies and substitutes scrambling to cover classrooms.

What makes this year especially notable is that it came despite $114 million in budget cuts—about 10 percent of total spending. By streamlining back-office operations and prioritizing teacher hiring, the district put more educators in classrooms with fewer resources.

The GrowSF Take

Families don’t need drama, they need schools that run smoothly. This year’s start shows that when SFUSD focuses on basics—teachers in classrooms, paychecks on time, budgets under control—students win.

That progress is only possible because voters elected a common-sense school board majority that chose competence over chaos. To keep moving forward, we need to protect that majority in next year’s elections.

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Build a World-Class Police Training Pipeline at San Francisco’s Universities

Published August 18, 2025

https://growsf.org/research/2025-08-18-LECS/

San Francisco needs more qualified police officers. Today, just 1.3% of applicants to the SFPD academy graduate: a rate far lower than the national average of 2–5%. That’s not a mark of elite standards; it’s a warning sign. Most applicants simply aren’t prepared.

The question isn’t how to lower standards. It’s how to raise applicant quality.

The Problem: No Pathway to Policing

Right now, no San Francisco college offers a program that prepares students for careers in local law enforcement. San Francisco State, City College, and USF all lack structured pipelines. Students interested in policing have no way to build skills, get experience, or assess if law enforcement is the right path before applying.

This leaves departments overwhelmed with underprepared candidates, wasting time and money on recruits who ultimately wash out.

The Solution: Launch a LECS Program in San Francisco

Sacramento State offers a proven model: the Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars (LECS) Program. LECS prepares college juniors and seniors for the police application process and academy through a structured, rigorous curriculum. Over 500 students have graduated, with a hiring rate twice that of non-participants.

LECS combines physical training, de-escalation practice, written and oral exam prep, and scenario-based learning. Students build camaraderie, professional habits, and realistic expectations about life on the force. Those who aren’t a good fit learn that early, before costly academy dropouts.

What It Would Take

All the pieces exist to replicate LECS here:

• San Francisco State has the Criminal Justice faculty and curriculum to house the program.
• SFPD is willing to host students for training sessions.
• Students want professional career paths and local job opportunities.

What’s missing is a modest investment and political will.

Why It Matters

Launching a LECS-style program would:

• Boost the number of local, high-quality SFPD candidates.
• Help diversify the police force through targeted student outreach.
• Give students a realistic, hands-on preview of police work.
• Save city resources by reducing academy attrition.
• Build stronger community ties through early, values-driven training.

This is one way we solve the recruiting crisis, by preparing better applicants from the start.

Sample LECS Curriculum

Course	Purpose
Orientation	Intro to the program
Leadership in Law Enforcement & Field Training	Ethics, tactics, and professional behavior
Communication & Cultural Competence	Interpersonal skills and diverse perspectives
Pre-employment Application Training	Application process guidance and best practices
PELLETB / Entry Exam Prep	Required testing for all LECS students
Oral Interview Training	Scenario-based mock interviews with peer and instructor feedback
Physical Agility Training	Obstacle courses, endurance, and strength evaluations
Defensive Driving & Simulations	Realistic driving practice in varied conditions
De-escalation & Force Options	Judgment training using real-world scenarios
Defensive Tactics	Arrest and control skills taught by law enforcement professionals
Report Writing	How to write clear, factual reports for legal and public review

San Francisco can lead the nation in police training. Let’s build the path to get there.

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