How do we do this?

• Prioritize armed officers for emergencies and violent crimes. Supervisor Fielder plans on reducing police officer’s workload on non-emergency calls and desk duties for more effective presence in the field in the case of crime and emergencies. With over 60,000 non-urgent calls annually and many high-paid officers in administrative roles, reallocating resources can improve response times to critical incidents.

• Deploy unarmed professionals for non-violent incidents like traffic enforcement, nuisance complaints, and mental health crises to free up police for emergencies. Supervisor Fielder advocates for the redirection of these non-emergency calls away from the police, which can free up valuable law enforcement resources for genuine emergencies. Consolidating non-police response teams under 3-1-1 and expanding them to meet demands and having identifiable retired officers to walk the beat and strengthen community relationships would allow active-duty police to focus on urgent situations.

• Improve Law Enforcement Spending Management. Supervisor Fielder advocates for eliminating wasteful spending and curb excessive overtime, which has surged over 400% per officer in 12 years. Events like the 2023 Dolores Park Hill Bomb highlight costly overtime, contributing to a projected $25 million overspend this fiscal year. Additionally, an SFPD nonprofit misused $4 million on luxury expenses while failing to pay local vendors. Addressing fiscal mismanagement is essential to prevent law enforcement costs from diverting funds from other critical city services.

• Address the Emergency Staffing Crisis. Resolve shortages in medics, behavioral outreach workers, 9-1-1 dispatchers, therapists, and ER nurses to protect public safety. Delays in 9-1-1 response and ambulance rerouting increase mortality rates. Solutions include offering competitive wages, providing local housing options for emergency workers, and creating a college endowment for local graduates who commit to serving in these essential careers.

• Expand Community-Led Crime Prevention Programs. Supervisor Fielder believes in investing in proven community-driven crime prevention strategies like the Cure Violence program, which has successfully reduced violence in multiple cities. This means adapting programs that have a proven track record like the Cure Violence program, which has demonstrated remarkable success in numerous U.S. cities. These initiatives need to be scaled up and tracked for effectiveness within our district. Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety (established in 2007) serves as a model, showing how targeted intervention programs can dramatically lower homicide rates, from a notoriously dangerous city now down to single digit casualties. 

• Increase Community Ambassadors in High-Crime Areas. Supervisor Fielder believes crime deterrence could be enacted through the increased presence of community ambassadors in high-traffic, high-crime areas to deter crime. As research shows, an increased likelihood of being caught acts as a strong deterrent. She is passionate about expanding the community ambassador program, which launched in The Mission in May 2023, to help maintain the gains achieved in community safety.

• Invest in Youth Programs to Prevent Crime. Through supporting youth programs that provide mentorship, purpose, and a sense of belonging to at-risk youth, Supervisor Fielder believes, would play a critical role in breaking cycles of violence. but lack sufficient resources, particularly for staff retention, in District 9 leaves a lot of room for growth. Strengthening these programs that offer at-risk youth a sense of belonging, purpose, and mentorship is essential for long-term crime prevention.

• Enhance Youth Mental Health Support
  Supervisor Fielder is an advocate for mental health and with the rising youth mental health crisis, especially post pandemic, she endeavors to prioritize school-based mental health counselors and social workers. With 100 recent student conflicts, including 31 involving firearms, the need for intervention is urgent. Efforts like deploying Prop G community school funds in 2024-2025 and fostering collaboration between SFUSD and the city, is a surefire way to help protect youth well-being.

• Provide Small Business Grants for Crime Prevention
  Offer grants to small businesses for preventative security measures like lighting, locks, alarms, and cameras, reducing the need for costly vandalism repairs. Ensure transparency and accountability in SF SAFE, the nonprofit offering free security assessments, which is currently under scrutiny for mismanagement.
  

• Supervisor Fielder believes in offering financial assistance to victims of crime, following the existing state-level model, to ensure that victims of property crime are not left to bear the full financial burden on their own. Alleviating the economic impact that victims often face will also allow them to recover more effectively.

• Supervisor Fielder details that by extending aid to small businesses affected by criminal activities, often run by families, enables them not only to recover from losses but also to invest in preventative measures against future incidents while retailing jobs and fostering a strong sense of community. 

• Through increasing funding for victim advocates dedicated to aiding victims of violent crime in their recovery journey which can include providing emotional support, guidance, and resources, Supervisor Fielder believes that it will help victims navigate the process of healing and seeking justice. 

• Ensure consequences for those responsible for acts of violence, with a primary focus on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. In taking Norway's experience in the 1990s, where a shift toward rehabilitation led to a 50% reduction in recidivism rates, Supervisor Fielder believes that it serves as a promising model that San Francisco could adapt in allocating resources to prioritize rehabilitation, especially for first-time offenders.

• Establish stringent accountability measures within the criminal justice system to uphold public safety and fairness. Supervisor Fielder believes measures should encompass transparent procedures that guarantee justice is served without bias or discrimination, to reinforce trust in the system.

• Implement a comprehensive framework for police accountability that addresses incidents of excessive force, racial profiling, and wasteful spending. This approach, according to Supervisor Fielder, would involve thorough investigations, transparent reporting, audits of expenses and staff time allocation, and appropriate consequences for misconduct, contributing to improved police-community relations.

• Deliver transparency and accountability from elected officials when allocating budgets and resources. Supervisor Fielder is keen on supporting stronger contract auditing protocols and more democratic and transparent RFP processes which would help address corruption which is vital to restoring public faith in the fairness and equality of our city's governance. She believes citizens deserve to know that their representatives are acting in their best interests and upholding the highest ethical standards.

• Improve access to domestic violence programs by addressing the alarming 79% rejection rate from shelters. Supervisor Fielder proposes that this involves bolstering staffing within Domestic Violence (DV) programs and creating dedicated workforce housing to ensure that survivors have a safe haven 24/7 when escaping abuse.
  

• Increase funding for shelters, enabling them to hire and train additional staff while expanding their capacity. This aligns with initiatives outlined in the Homelessness platform, fostering comprehensive support networks for individuals in crisis.

• Establish a 24-hour emergency navigation hub to offer immediate assistance and guidance to domestic violence victims. Supervisor Fielder notes that current service centers often operate during limited hours, leaving survivors vulnerable during night-time emergencies and that a 24-hour availability is essential, especially when victims' personal possessions like cell phones may be confiscated by abusers.

• Foster collaboration with organizations like SFWAR (San Francisco Women Against Rape) to incorporate trained non-police Victim Advocates into responses to domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Supervisor Fielder submits that this collaboration will ensure that survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, sexual assault, and other gender based violence receive sensitive and expert support supplemented through targeted extensive trainings on situational handling. 

• Train and deploy peacekeepers and navigators to de-escalate situations and ensure community well-being. These trained professionals will help maintain a sense of security and provide support for individuals needing assistance.  

• Find permanent and high-foot traffic spaces for licensed community vendors, preserving cultural traditions and bolstering local economies. Many of these vendors depend on these sales to make ends meet.
  

• Address open-air drug use through community-based treatment centers, aligning with the Overdose & Mental Health platform. These centers offer a compassionate approach to addiction recovery and mental health support, reducing substance use issues in public areas.

• Clear sidewalks and facilitate connections for unhoused individuals to available shelter beds, treatment, and permanent supportive housing, as outlined in the Homelessness platform. This approach prioritizes the well-being and safety of all community members.

• Develop a comprehensive, grassroots-driven plaza revitalization plan to enhance public spaces and promote safety. Engaging the community in this process ensures that the changes reflect the needs and desires of local residents.

• Distribute essential items such as food, toiletries, and necessities to address economic disparities and mitigate theft-related crimes. This outreach promotes community solidarity and provides support to those in need.

• Address the excessive budgets of SFPD and Sheriff's Department. Reports indicate these budgets together surpass $1.1 billion, limiting funds for crucial crime prevention and safety programs beyond law enforcement. Supervisor Fielder advocates for reallocating resources, which can then allow the city to implement crucial non-policing community safety programs.

• Combat wasteful overtime spending  which has ballooned from $9,000 to $40,000 per police officer annually over the past 12 years. 

• Establish clear performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts, fostering accountability and transparency in the entire criminal justice system.

• Leverage navigators, trained professionals, and treatment services to address homelessness and addiction, as detailed in the Homelessness platform and the Overdose & Mental Health platform. These collaborative approaches often promote a more effective response to complex issues.

• Streamline and consolidate street response teams under 3-1-1 to enhance the efficiency of community support efforts. Supervisor Fielder believes that a coordinated approach through the 3-1-1 system ensures a more effective response to the needs of residents.

• Support community re-entry programs designed to ensure a safe and stable transition for individuals returning from incarceration. These programs play a vital role in reducing recidivism rates and promoting successful reintegration into society.
  

• Provide access to transitional housing options for those at risk of homelessness upon release from the criminal justice or behavioral health system. This initiative, as outlined in the Homelessness platform, seeks to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling through the cracks during this critical period.

• Implement comprehensive workforce training programs that encompass construction, entrepreneurship, and public beautification projects. Our district is home to many successful formerly incarcerated people who have turned their lives around with the support of the community. These initiatives empower formerly incarcerated individuals to develop valuable skills and contribute positively to their communities, fostering productive reintegration into society.