The expensive battle by progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin to avoid being recalled in a special election funded by right-wing elements got a major boost this weekend when he was endorsed by the San Francisco Chronicle.
While the endorsement by the city’s only major newspaper may not carry the weight it would have in the pre-social-media era, it nevertheless may help swing the balance in Boudin’s favor in what promises to be an extremely close election.
The recall effort, which has drawn national attention, is essentially an attempt to put the young D.A.’s commitment to criminal justice reform on trial with an electorate seemingly more worried about chronic problems like car break-ins, drug use and homelessness — social issues the D.A. has little if any influence over.
Also, Boudin’s commitment to hold San Francisco police accountable in misconduct cases, among other controversial decisions, has incurred the wrath of the entrenched police union and other right-wing “law and order” interests from across the country.
For example, Fox News personality Tucker Carlson has been among those trying to drum Boudin out of office.
The special election in an off-year tests whether San Francisco can retain its hard-won reputation as one of the most progressive cities in the country despite massive demographic changes including an influx of wealthy tech workers, some of whom loudly oppose Boudin’s reform agenda.
But the tech community is not a monolith and many younger tech workers are attracted to the liberal social reforms Boudin advocates. The D.A., who is approaching the midpoint of his first term in office, is also a charismatic figure who is waging an aggressive counter-campaign against the wealthy GOP donors arrayed against him.
Early polls seemed to be running against Boudin but more recent data indicates the race may be getting closer. The ability of both sides to get out the vote in June will probably make the difference, and toward that end, the Chronicle endorsement is a major development.
Here are some excerpts from the Chronicle editorial:
San Franciscans put their trust in Boudin, who promised to pursue a more compassionate form of criminal justice that “diverted” nonviolent offenders away from jails and prisons and toward court-monitored rehabilitation programs that could potentially help them escape the cycle of recidivism.
Voters weren’t naive in making this selection. Concerns over the excesses and racial injustices of California’s traditional crime and punishment justice system were well-founded — and available data suggested Boudin’s approach could have merit.
Scaling up diversion is an experiment — one that we are now in the middle of. True to his campaign promise, Boudin is diverting a far greater percentage of cases than his predecessors. Critics have branded this approach “catch and release.” But this is a cynical depiction of the plan voters knew they were signing up for.
Recall is a last-ditch tool for emergencies, not buyer’s remorse. And San
Franciscans should respond accordingly by voting no on Proposition H.
In his recall endorsement interview with The Chronicle, Boudin was thoughtful,
strategic and more than capable of justifying his decision-making. Boudin may be many things, but incompetent is not among them.
Crime stats that mirror those of when Boudin took offiffice do not justify a recall. Violent crime is low and has stayed low even as it has surged across the country at rates not seen since the 1960s. Property crime rates were unacceptable before Boudin arrived and they are unacceptable now. San Franciscans have a right to be outraged. But prematurely sacking the district attorney won’t be a magic fix.
Boudin vowed to fight crime by building a justice infrastructure that attempts to rehabilitate instead of incarcerate. That effort is a work in process. It may never come to fruition. But San Francisco voters signed up for a four-year experiment. We should have the courage of our conviction to wait for the results.
Today’s News Headlines (38):
Endorsement: Chesa Boudin Is Many Things. Incompetent isn’t one of them. Vote no on Recall. (Edit Bd/San Francisco Chronicle)
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Boys in Afghanistan are becoming breadwinners for their families (WP)
The New Nuclear Reality — Russia’s war in Ukraine has reawakened fears about the bomb—and endangered the principle of deterrence. (New Yorker)
Russia renews assault on Mariupol and missiles hit Odesa, Ukraine says (Reuters)
Ukraine says Russian forces are attacking Mariupol steel plant with civilians inside (NPR)
Odesa apartment block hit by missiles (BBC)
Russians Seize 42 Towns in Eastern Ukraine as Fighting Intensifies (NYT)
n Mariupol, a website for the missing reveals Ukraine war’s toll (WP)
Zelenskyy says Ukraine invasion only the beginning; another apparent mass grave found near Mariupol (CNBC)
Rattled by Ukraine War, Moldova Strives to Dodge Russia’s Long Shadow (NYT)
Zelenskiy: allies finally delivering weapons Kyiv asked for (Reuters)
Can Sanctions Really Stop Putin? (Edit Bd/NYT)
Ukraine says Russia has shifted elite units from Mariupol to new battle grounds (CBS)
Russia Turned a Bucha Building Into an Execution Site and Underground Prison (WSJ)
Bucha residents work to find and bury their dead amid horrors left by Russian forces (NBC)
Russian commander: Second phase of war has just started (NHK)
Russian mercenaries are Putin’s ‘coercive tool’ in Africa (AP)
McCarthy Said Trump Acknowledged ‘Some Responsibility’ for Jan. 6 (NYT)
GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy scrambles to contain fallout from leaked tape on Trump and Jan. 6 (USA Today)
McCarthy’s Lie Puts G.O.P. Hypocrisy on Trump on Display (NYT)
McCarthy’s push to ascend to House speaker relies on Trump (AP)
Lawmakers met with Meadows on election schemes, ex-aide testifies (Axios)
Meadows was warned of violence ahead of Jan. 6, new court filings show (WP)
Marjorie Taylor Greene confronted over old social media posts advocating violence against Democrats in court testimony (CNN)
Anger mounts among locked-down Shanghai residents as city reports more COVID deaths (Reuters)
EU law targets Big Tech over hate speech, disinformation (AP)
Covid Whiplash: Now-Dominant BA.2 Variant Being Quickly Overtaken Across The U.S. By Yet Another Faster-Growing Omicron Offshoot, Says CDC (Deadline)
‘Test to treat’ chaos is latest setback for US Covid pandemic response (Financial Times)
California Dems are eyeing Feinstein's seat — but they're not talking about it (Politico)
Dow slides nearly 1,000 points for worst day since October 2020 (WP)
Scientists say there could be life on Jupiter's moon, and we may discover it soon (WKRC)
EU law targets Big Tech over hate speech, disinformation (AP)
Why Twitter is an easy target for outsiders like Elon Musk intent on change (NPR)
Nutritionists Admit You Can Just Eat Hot Dogs And Live Like That For Basically Decades (The Onion)
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