National Guard deployed in San Francisco to combat city's rampant drug crisis

To address San Francisco's rampant, open-air drug crisis, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom recently deployed the California National Guard and the California Highway Patrol.

Newsom announced the partnership effort last month to provide additional resources to local law enforcement struggling to get a handle on fentanyl trafficking.

"We're taking action," Newsom declared. "Through this new collaborative partnership, we are providing more law enforcement resources and personnel to crack down on crime linked to the fentanyl crisis, holding the poison peddlers accountable, and increasing law enforcement presence to improve public safety and public confidence in San Francisco."

San Francisco Democratic Mayor London Breed thanked the governor for the added support, which she claimed would "help break up the open-air drug dealing happening in our city."

So far, the city has deployed only six CHP officers to the Tenderloin and South Market districts and 14 National Guardsmen, who will provide "analytical support" to local law enforcement to monitor cartel-involved drug deals.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott stated that he believes the deployment will free up resources for officers, allowing them to patrol the streets.

Scott noted that the National Guard will not be "boots on the ground" or have any "military equipment."

"They are analytical and administrative support … and this is going to be an ongoing partnership," he said.

Not everyone is optimistic that the effort will help clean up the city's streets.

The vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, Lt. Tracy McCray, told the New York Post that drug abusers "don't care" and are not paying attention to the number of officers on patrol.

McCray blamed the city's drug crisis on soft-on-crime policies that allow criminals back on the street shortly after being arrested.

"Right now, I see blocks in San Francisco where people are just using out in the open and there is no one telling them, 'Hey, you shouldn't be doing this,'" McCray stated. "That's why they keep coming back day after day."

The decision to deploy the National Guard and CHP follows the departure of several large companies that recently elected to shut down their San Francisco stores amid widespread shoplifting and drug use.

A Target in San Francisco beefed up security by adding more items behind security glass to deter theft. Whole Foods, Nordstrom, CVS, and Amazon, announced their departure from the city.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, more than 30 businesses have left or plan to leave the city's downtown corridor.

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