A positive drug Policy Shift in San Francisco under the new mayor Daniel Lurie

Good news!

"San Francisco has long prioritized harm reduction in its drug policies, such as with programs to distribute on the streets free, clean paraphernalia for fentanyl smoking, no questions asked.

But the city’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, says the city’s policies have become too permissive and will scale them back in an effort to steer more people into treatment.

“We are no longer going to sit by and allow people to kill themselves on the streets,” said Lurie. 

New rules starting April 30:

Paraphernalia can be distributed only to people who undergo lengthy counseling sessions.

Nonprofits will be able to distribute smoking supplies only in city-sanctioned buildings. 

Clean needles can still be provided on the street, and naloxone distribution will not be affected."

"“We can no longer accept the reality of two people dying a day from overdose ..."

Global Health NOW: Breakthrough Clues in an Mpox Mystery; Afghanistan’s Escort Rules Fuel Maternal Deaths; and San Francisco Rethinks Harm Reduction

Mayor Lurie Ends Distribution of Fentanyl Smoking Supplies Without Counseling and Treatment (official press release) "Following Mayor Lurie’s "Breaking the Cycle” Plan, City-Funded Programs Will No Longer Distribute Drug Supplies Without Counseling or Connections to Treatment and Care; Policy Change Is Part of Mayor Lurie’s Comprehensive Strategy to Save Lives and Get People Off Streets and into Stability, Which Includes Increased Enforcement, New Treatment Beds, and Unified Street Teams"

'Defund the police' advocate mocked after thieves drive away in Uhaul moving truck stealing all of her property in San Francisco

A case of poetic justice? 😊 Or is it California dreaming? Or what were the thieves smoking in San Francisco?

You can't make this up or? Reality is stranger than fiction!

"An advocate for defunding police in San Francisco was ridiculed on social media after thieves allegedly stole a Uhaul moving truck with all of her possessions.

Darcie Bell posted about the thievery on Saturday on her account with the profile name "Jerque Costeau" and got immediately hit with mockery when her support for "defund the police" was uncovered from the same account. ...

She tagged San Francisco Mayor London Breed and other officials asking that they require Uhaul to have GPS trackers on its vehicles so that stolen items can be recovered more easily. ..."

'Defund the police' advocate mocked after thieves steal all of her property in San Francisco | Blaze Media "She furiously lashed out at critics."

Lethal robocops going to work soon in San Francisco

Update of 12/7/2022: In reversal, San Francisco bans police from using robots with lethal force San Francisco supervisors reversed course on Tuesday [12/6/2022] and unanimously voted to temporarily ban its police department from using robots with lethal force. The issue is being sent back to a committee for further discussion and could be voted on again in the future.

Things are happening in the city known among other things for its past flower power and Hippie counter culture!

To save the lives of police officers robocops make a lot of sense! Robocops will eventually also be able to do things humans could not do as efficient or fast enough etc. Robocops can also apply escalation of force or incapacitating strategies before ultimately using lethal force depending on the situation.

How long will it take for robocriminals to challenge them? Criminals will not wait long to counter this new threat to their business!

Who else might be inspired to create lethal robots?

Lethal robots are a double edged sword to use this old fashioned metaphor!

Free Booze, Pot, and Smokes for San Francisco’s Homeless

The foggy city famous for its 1960s era excesses ...



"San Francisco officials deny direct involvement in a controversial program, funded by private sources, that provides free alcohol, cannabis, and cigarettes to homeless people living in the city’s hotels during the Covid-19 outbreak. After news about the special deliveries was leaked and caused embarrassment on social media, the city’s Department of Public Health issued a statement claiming that “rumors that guests of San Francisco’s alternative housing program are receiving taxpayer-funded deliveries of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco are false.”



Except they’re not false. DPH, which administers and oversees the program, is staffed by city workers, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, and security personnel. ... "



Free Booze, Pot, and Smokes for San Francisco’s Homeless A new city program tries to make quarantine comfortable—for some.

Traffic Rules Apply To Everyone: San Francisco Prosecutes Bicyclist For Manslaughter

Reckless And Dangerous

According to the Wall Street Journal (6/16/12, p. A3, US Edition), city prosecutors are going to file a felony vehicular manslaughter charge against a bicyclist who allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian after he ran a red light. Why in previous, similar cases prosecutors tended to file only misdemeanor charges is beyond comprehension.

Wake Up Call

It’s about time that prosecutors take it more seriously when bicyclists run red lights and or hit pedestrians. Sure most accidents probably result in minor injuries to the pedestrian. However, as with the broken window policy, if you let too many bicyclists (who are hard to catch anyway) get way with a slap on the wrist …

No Surprise Here

Coming originally from Germany, I have observed for decades how many bicyclists in inner city areas frequently violate traffic rules, drive aggressively, and harass pedestrians. Such bicyclists are also a menace to car drivers, because they act so unpredictably. Too many of these bicyclists were acting in arrogance and self-righteousness.

I have been an avid bike rider myself for many years in Germany.

Downtown Munich – Pedestrians In Danger From Bicyclists

Last time I visited Munich a few years ago, I was several times nearly hit by bicyclists while walking about beautiful downtown Munich, because these bicyclists drive everywhere, they do not evade you and they do not bother to signal or otherwise warn you. It is also quite an experience as a pedestrian when all of a sudden a high speed bicyclist out of nowhere passes by you just inches away. You wonder what would have happened had you made a wrong move.

Separation Of Bicyclists, Pedestrians, And Car Drivers

It is my current belief that pedestrians, bicyclists, and car drivers should be carefully separated. Such a separation would avoid most of the many conflicts we face today in inner cities. E.g. bike lanes along streets is not a good solution. Analogous, the German solution of having bike lanes on e.g. sidewalks is not very good either.

It might be conceivable to reserve certain streets only for bicyclists, while other roads are for cars only. In big cities this would be feasible to some extent, if there are enough bicyclists.

Here in Phoenix, Arizona, you still find many horse riders. Are they allowed to ride on streets or sidewalks? I believe not. But the city of Phoenix allows horse riders in many city parks and there is even an Arizona Horse Lover’s Park in northern Phoenix. I am not trying to say, this is a solution for bicyclists but it is worth thinking about.

I have to admit that I am not very familiar with the situation of bicyclists, e.g., in the Netherlands or Oregon.