San Francisco’s sticky stolen-goods dilemma

Presented by Amazon: Inside the Golden State political arena

Apr 08, 2024 View in browser   By Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte Presented by  San Francisco Mayor London Breed in 2021. | Getty Images/Justin Sullivan THE BUZZ: IN PLAIN SIGHT — Each day in San Francisco, vendors line busy city streets with a plethora of fully packaged items: shampoo, mouth wash, multi-vitamins, deodorant and laundry detergent. Mayor London Breed calls it “Walgreens on the sidewalk” — a confluence of the city’s struggles with unchecked shoplifting, its fentanyl addiction crisis and a state law that has made it extremely difficult to get the vendors off the streets, even if they are selling stolen goods. Breed is now pushing to change that law as widespread frustration with retail theft and the blatant sale of stolen merchandise threatens her reelection bid. She has drawn sharp criticism from the right and left over her handling of the problem. Several of her challengers in the November mayoral election, including Daniel Lurie and Mark Farrell, say she hasn’t done enough as major retailers, Walgreens included, continue to close stores. Neighborhood and immigrant-rights groups in the Mission, meanwhile, say her approach — blanket moratoriums on all street vending in certain areas — threatens to criminalize legitimate mom-and-pop merchants. Late last year, Breed temporarily banned street vending along a bustling stretch of Mission Street — a restriction her administration recently extended through the summer due to crime in the area. But Breed said a 2018 state law has made that ban almost impossible to enforce. The law, carried by former state legislator and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and cheered by civil-rights and Latino advocacy groups, blocks police from criminally enforcing any regulations on street vending. That means San Francisco must use public works employees to enforce vending rules, including Breed’s moratorium — but those workers are now being accompanied by police, as they say they have faced repeated threats and violence. City officials say it’s an inefficiency they can’t afford when San Francisco is already down nearly 600 officers. Breed is leaning on lawmakers to relax the restrictions on police enforcement so that officers could approach vendors selling commonly-stolen goods. She’s working with state Sen. Scott Wiener and mayors from other large cities — including Todd Gloria in San Diego and Jerry Dyer in Fresno — on the legislation. “When people are out there basically with Walgreens on the sidewalk, our officers should be able to walk up,” Breed, a Democrat, vented in an interview with Playbook. Wiener, a Breed ally, has yet to unveil a bill and might not endorse the policing approach. He said he’s exploring legislation that would clamp down on illegal fencing and also make it easier for above-board vendors to obtain permits and find spaces to operate. “Street vendors make San Francisco a better place — reflecting our rich, diverse cultures (and) providing opportunities for people to earn a living,” Wiener said. “At the same time, people shouldn’t be selling shoplifted goods on the streets.” But any legislative effort is likely to face strong opposition. Breed has already faced backlash for enacting a temporary ban along Mission Street, an immigrant neighborhood with a tradition of street vendors selling food, handmade jewelry and reused clothing and furniture. United to Save the Mission, a coalition of neighborhood groups, says the narrative from Breed has demonized roaming vendors whose carts and stalls have lined Mission Street for generations. “Despite their contributions,” the group wrote in a letter last month, “informal workers are currently being stigmatized with narrative and exclusionary actions by city authorities.” GOOD MORNING. Happy Monday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. And a happy solar eclipse day to all who observe! Californians will get a partial view of the phenomenon in the mid-morning. More here on how to catch it without burning your eyes out. Now you can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Out of state for some spring break fun with the fam.   A message from Amazon: As the largest job creator in the U.S. Amazon is committed to helping their employees thrive with benefits starting on day one and free, on-the-job skills training. When MJ started at an Amazon fulfillment center, “health care started on day one for me and my kids,” she said. See the impact of comprehensive benefits.   FOR GOOD MEASURE Products are displayed in locked security cabinets at a San Francisco Walgreens on October 13, 2021. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images PROP 47 — Criminal justice reform advocates have launched a counteroffensive against the ballot initiative that would reform Proposition 47, the state’s decade-old law that downgraded some drug and property crimes to misdemeanors and allowed for earlier releases from prison. As our colleagues Jeremy B. White and Christopher Cadelago reported over the weekend, the advocates’ mobilization signals that they fear the initiative to crack down drug and property crimes, backed by prosecutors and major retailers, has a strong chance of landing on the November ballot. If it does, it could unravel a series of recent political victories seeking to overhaul sentencing and incarceration. The newly-launched committee supporting a six-figure advertising campaign has reported donations from Quinn Delaney and Stacy Schusterman, who have together poured millions into California prosecutor and crime ballot measure campaigns, and an organization whose leader, Tinisch Hollins, has championed efforts to reduce criminal penalties. Read more on the effort here.    SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     NEWSOMLAND WAR OVERSEAS —  Tensions from the Israel-Hamas war continue to reverberate in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday released a plan for combating antisemitism and hate in California, shoring up security measures and working with education leaders to “protect all communities from acts of bigotry and violence.” In addition to providing millions to secure places of worship and support survivors of hate crimes, the governor is backing laws that toughen penalties around hate crimes, and launching education efforts across the state. The plan put a particular emphasis on schools, which have seen significant tumult since Oct. 7. The governor’s office said he met with leaders of the University of California, California State University and community college systems and has called for strengthening student codes of conduct to better address harassment and intimidation. The governor called for bolstering Holocaust and genocide education in K-12 schools. The governor’s announcement comes amid continued strife on campuses. Claremont police on Friday arrested 19 Pomona College students after what started out as a peaceful demonstration in support of Palestinians escalated into protestors storming the president’s office. California’s Legislative Jewish Caucus praised the governor’s plan, with co-chair Scott Wiener calling it “essential to combat the rising hate our community is experiencing.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill — former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was among the 37 members who called on President Joe Biden Friday to withhold offensive arm transfers to Israel following an airstrike that killed seven aid workers and a U.S. citizen. The letter, which was also signed by California Reps. Barbara Lee, Judy Chu, Mark DeSaulnier, Jared Huffman and John Garamendi, strongly urges the president to reconsider his recent authorization of an arms package for Israel, and asks that he withhold future transfers until a full investigation into the airstrike is completed.   A message from Amazon:   CAMPAIGN YEAR SOUTH LA SUNDAY — Fresh off Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ endorsement of Rep. Adam Schiff’s Senate run, the pair cemented the alliance with a Sunday tour of the institutions of Black LA. Up first, a visit to First African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Los Angeles, where the duo paid homage to civil rights icon, Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, who died on Friday. Then, a lunch with a who’s who of Los Angeles’ Black political establishment at Dulan’s on Crenshaw, the soul food landmark where owner Greg Dulan served Schiff a special plate of vegan fare. Bass had originally backed Rep. Barbara Lee in the Senate primary; now, Schiff said, her endorsement “means a lot, both politically and even more so personally.” Bass said the assembled group — which included state Sen. Steve Bradford, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor and LA Council Members Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price — was proof that they weren’t taking Schiff’s advantages over Republican Steve Garvey for granted. “On very short notice to have all these community leaders show up – this is an example that all of us are taking this extremely seriously,” Bass said. There is no complacency here.”  — Melanie Mason   A message from Amazon: Amazon fulfillment centers create on average 3,000 local jobs with comprehensive benefits and free technical training so hourly employees get the support they need to succeed. Amazon’s local investment in cities and towns across the U.S. helps employees and whole communities thrive. Learn how Amazon supports employees and their communities.   CLIMATE AND ENERGY LITHIUM DREAMS — Newsom sees the Imperial Valley as a key to boosting electric vehicle production, but not everyone is on board yet. Read our interview with an environmental justice advocate who’s suing a lithium mining project in Friday’s California Climate. ON THE AGENDA FLOOR SESH — The state Assembly and Senate will hold floor sessions at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Top Talkers — Hundreds of supporters gathered in San Francisco’s Chinatown over the weekend to watch Aaron Peskin launch his campaign for mayor. Nearby, a few dozen protesters held a counter rally to oppose the Board of Supervisors president. (San Francisco Chronicle) — How tech giants cut corners to harvest data for A.I. (The New York Times) — The A’s are temporarily relocating to Sacramento. What the region can learn from a similar scenario in Oklahoma City. (Sacramento Bee) — Pasadena Police are considering a new technology that would automatically activate bodycams whenever an officer removes a gun from its holster. (Los Angeles Times) — An AI app claims it can detect sexually transmitted infections. Doctors say it's a disaster. (Los Angeles Times)   Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Use our Legislative Tracker to see what’s on the Albany agenda. POLITICO Pro. Inside New York. Learn more.     AROUND THE STATE SAN DIEGO — One union spent heavily to remake San Diego County’s Democratic leadership in elected officials' image. Party activists aren't thrilled. (San Diego Union-Tribune) CENTRAL VALLEY — California's wealthiest farm family — and scores of their workers — are accusing United Farm Workers of a bait and switch. (Los Angeles Times) HALF MOON BAY — A farmworker who survived the mass shooting at this Northern California mushroom farm is suing the company and its owner. (Associated Press) OAKLAND — Behind the scenes of the failed negotiations with the Athletics. (San Francisco Chronicle) DUBLIN — A federal judge judge has appointed a special master to oversee a California federal women's prison after rampant abuse (Associated Press) PLAYBOOKERS PUT A RING ON IT — Former Rep. Katie Hill announced that she married Alex Thomas, a writer, in late March. “In the last 5 years we’ve survived a national scandal, family tragedy, a pandemic, a surprise pregnancy and dramatic premature birth, raising a (wonderful) toddler together, and so much more,” Hill posted on X. She added, “I’m feeling good about this one!” Congratulations, you two! Pics here TRANSITIONS — Desiree Kennedy is joining the Biden campaign as chief operations officer in North Carolina. She previously was deputy chief of staff for Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.). BIRTHDAYS — Republican consultant Matt Shupe … (was Sunday): former California Gov. Jerry Brown … Raymond Rodriguez of Rep. Mike Levin’s (D-Calif.) office … Naomi Karp ... Jane Sobo CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner Lara Korte @lara_korte POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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