John,

Today, I need your help to take immediate and direct action to disrupt the open-air drug markets. 

My budget, now being considered by the Board of Supervisors, contains funding for a coordinated city effort led by the Department of Emergency Management to shut down the City’s open-air drug markets. This effort will focus on three key areas: 

> Open drug sales
> Public drug use
> Illegal fencing of stolen goods in the drug market areas

Over the last two weeks, our Police and Sheriff have worked in coordination to make arrests under our public intoxication laws for those who are posing a danger to themselves or others, and who are disrupting our neighborhoods.

As of today, 45 people have been detained. At least 12 of those arrested have warrants – that is 12 people who are wanted for breaking the law. Only 3 have identified as San Francisco residents. Upon release, they were ALL offered services like medication-assisted treatment, outpatient treatment, and detoxification. Unfortunately, none accepted these services. 

People are coming from other places, sadly fueled by addiction, to use drugs on our streets and are refusing our offers for help. This is not acceptable in San Francisco. Addiction is powerful. We know to be successful in changing lives we need to be ready to meet people at the right moment with the services and sometimes accountability that they need.

That is why as part of my proposed budget, we are asking for more resources to do this work both through law enforcement and through public health support. We need it all. We have to keep focused on the solutions we have that work, and try new approaches to change what’s happening on our streets.

The Board of Supervisors is holding hearings on my budget proposal this week. I am asking you to make it clear that San Franciscans are in favor of these measures. 

Please call or email your Supervisor and urge them to support the budget proposal to disrupt and end open-air drug markets.

If you don’t know which Supervisor District you live in, you can look up that information here.

We cannot turn our backs on our neighborhoods and those who need our help the most. People want change, and I am committed to delivering real solutions.

Sincerely,

Mayor London Breed