San Francisco Mayor Heckled and Forced to Cut Short Public Hearing
San Francisco Mayor London Breed was forced to cut short an outdoor public hearing held at the United Nations Plaza in the city’s downtown on May 23 after being heckled by protesters, one of whom allegedly threw a brick that hit another attendee.
Breed, a Democrat, was joined by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin at the open-air hearing to discuss the ongoing problems facing the city, including homelessness and a drug crisis, including a surge in fentanyl overdose deaths.
Challenges Facing the City
Drug dealing
Drug use
Poverty
Crime
Violence
“It is really great to be here to highlight a significant problem within our city,” Breed began her speech, before stating that these issues have long plagued the city.
“The people who live here, the folks who work here, and the people who experience these challenges every single day, they deserve better,” she continued.
“We can’t keep speaking out of both sides of our mouth,” Breed said. “On the one hand we want change and we want to hold people accountable, and on the other hand, we’re willing to let people get away with murder.”
“The fact is, we got [sic] challenges in this city. And we have to make the kinds of decisions that are going to allow for people to get the help and support they need, but to not allow things to continue in the way that they have for far too long,” she continued. “It’s time for a change.”
The mayor noted that efforts so far to improve the situation are simply “not working” despite an increase in local resources to address the problems.
A woman who allegedly threw a brick toward the front of the crowd is tackled by San Francisco police officers, in San Francisco on May 23, 2023. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times)
Hearing Moved Indoors
Protesters continuously heckled Breed during her lengthy speech, and she ultimately decided that the outdoor hearing would not be “the right forum” to continue with the address, which was subsequently moved indoors, away from the crowd.
One protester was later arrested for allegedly throwing a brick into the crowd, according to police, who identified the suspect as Elysia Katet, 26, of San Francisco.
The brick hit the foot of a high school student, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, before the suspect was arrested and removed from the area.
Katet was booked in San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of child endangerment and assault with a deadly weapon, the San Francisco Police Department confirmed to the publication.
The student suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Epoch Times has contacted the San Francisco Police Department for further comment.
Rising Crime, Drug Overdoses Plaguing City
On Twitter, SF District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston took aim at the program, writing that “arresting people for drug addiction is not ‘moderate’ nor ‘commonsense.’ It’s reactionary, cruel, and counterproductive.”
After Tuesday’s meeting was reconvened, Breed said, “I get that people have an issue with the fact that we are looking at being more a
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