As Fight for Public Safety Intensifies, SF Supervisor and Mayoral Candidate Ahsha Safai Makes His Union Allegiance Known

I have nothing against unions as a concept. I've never been in one, but I’m sure some are fine. What I don't like - nor do most people, I suspect - is when they try to influence politicians in illogical, selfish ways. It's ugly and harmful. It erodes trust.

Unfortunately, just that was on full display on Monday, October 30, at City Hall. 

Minimum Level of Police Staffing a Must

Supervisor Matt Dorsey was promoting his full staffing plan for the San Francisco Police Department. Minimum staffing requirements had been revoked in 2020 by the Board of Supervisors, including sitting member Ahsha Safai, representing district 11. 

Residents and workers must be assured that there are enough sworn officers on the street to prevent and deal with crime. This charter amendment would have helped with that goal, by establishing a staff of at least of 2,074 officers and designating $30 million a year for recruitment. 

Currently there are far too few officers to protect everyone who needs assistance, and those who are on the job are stretched too thin. At this time there are at least 400 vacant SFPD positions, with more attrition on the horizon.

San Franciscans, exhausted from being battered both by the reality and perception of criminal activity, are sick of the situation. They are more than ready for change. 

A Poison Pill Makes Everyone Sick

Yet Safai, who is running for mayor in 2024, decided to poison the minimum staffing plan. During the meeting he voiced his support for the police but rejected Dorsey’s measure. Instead, he said he wants to bolster all other city departments, increasing taxes to make it happen.

And that’s where Safai went so publicly, so absurdly, wrong. 

With a 2023 city budget of nearly $15 billion, San Francisco is a corrupt and wasteful business. Many city departments should be slashed if not eliminated altogether. In fact, Mayor Breed recently announced the need to reign in spending, asking departments for mid-year reductions of at least 3%. 

Room 250 at City Hall was full that Monday, at 10:00 in the morning. There was an especially large number of people wearing purple garb and SEIU emblems. 

Big Labor in the House 

During public comment, one SEIU member after the other took the podium, echoing the person before them. No on Dorsey's plan, yes on Safai’s amendment. One even admitted he doesn’t live in San Francisco. 

It was abundantly clear that Safai was catering to the union, hoping to capture them for the 2024 election.

It was also evident that Safai was not attuned to the fury expressed by the large majority of the city’s voters, some of whom were in attendance and who spoke in favor of minimum police staffing levels. After all, citizens deserve assurance that there are sufficient officers on the force who can respond to crime, not just now but in the foreseeable future. 

Public Safety Must be Prioritized 

The city’s residents have been held hostage by government officials who reject sound plans. Dorsey alluded to this during the meeting, which was also attended by district 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. Interestingly, both Safai and Walton bristled at the word “hostage,” and asked Dorsey to stop saying it. 

However this is precisely what has been happening to San Franciscans. Correct terminology is crucial, and it is not appropriate to try to censor language because it describes the harsh truth. 

Meanwhile, Walton derisively claimed that no one wants to be a police officer in San Francisco anymore, anyway. That is not only offensive to the people who are bravely completing their training now, but to those who are contemplating joining the force. 

Bang: We’re Off to the Races

Almost exactly one year from today every adult San Franciscan who is registered to vote will have the opportunity to make an important decision. Do they want politicians who listen to their constituents and fight for their most pressing needs or do they want those who capitulate to the demands of special interest groups? 

That may be up for the voters to decide directly, as Dorsey’s plan will likely end up as a ballot measure.