He seeks “to hold one half of those estimated to be engaging in drug-related lawlessness” accountable, a quota of “no less than 100 arrests per night,” according to the letter
“Public drug use has long been illegal in California, and San Franciscans are not unreasonable in expecting to see those laws fully enforced,” Dorsey said. “It is past time for San Francisco to move boldly beyond its civic practice of drug enablism and neglectful cruelty.”
The District 6 supervisor requested responses on what resources would be necessary to get drug-related offenders off the streets and into drug treatment, rather than simply moving them to different streets.
He sought responses within 30 days from San Francisco’s Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department EMS Division, Department of Public Health, and District Attorney’s Office for the one-year pilot, centered on, but not limited to, the Sixth Street Corridor.
According to Dorsey, studies suggest that conservative estimates would put San Francisco’s untreated addiction-driven costs at well over $1 billion annually.
He referenced drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine as addictive street drugs that have driven a health calamity worse than COVID-19.
“In recent years, the historically unprecedented proliferation of potently addictive synthetic street drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine has driven a public health calamity the lethality of which has far surpassed COVID-19,” he said.
Dorsey has acknowledged his own journey in recovering from drug addiction, a large factor in pursuing his role on the San Francisco Board of Advisors.
“As someone in recovery from drug addiction myself, I know I’m not alone among recovery community members in believing strongly in the life-changing possibilities of drug treatment—including court-mandated treatment—and long-term recovery,” he said.
The supervisor mentioned he’s encouraged by the “public safety priorities” of recently elected San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who was inaugurated on Jan. 8, praising his assessment of the Sixth Street drug scene.
