Despite advocating to defund the police in 2020, a San Francisco district supervisor wants more policing in the crime-ridden city.
FOX News reports, Democrat Hillary Ronen represents District 9 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. During a Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting on Wednesday, she pleaded for more police officers to serve the Mission District, where she represents.
Ronen attacked San Francisco’s police chief for spending a large amount of overtime on an anti-retail theft program instead of prioritizing police presence.
In the speech, she contradicts her stance on policing in 2020. At the time, Ronen tweeted that San Francisco’s police force should be reduced “strongly” following the George Floyd protests.
Ronen tweeted, “I want to make it clear that I believe strongly in defunding the police and reducing the number of officers on our force. For decades we’ve had an imbalance in our city’s budget, with hundreds of millions of dollars going to SFPD to have them do work they are not qualified to do.”
A total of $120 million was redirected from law enforcement in 2020 to other city projects by Mayor London Breed. Homicides in San Francisco increased by 20% in 2020 over 2019. In 2021, homicides increased by 17% over the previous year.
In addition, over the past few years, the San Francisco Police Department has struggled with a lack of staff.
After suffering the consequences of supporting the “defund the police” movement and its negative impact on her own district, it is evident that San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen has learned a critical lesson that conservatives have been trying to teach for years: Law enforcement is essential for maintaining safety and order in our communities. The sudden change in her stance proves that, rather than pandering to political games or blindly following a risky ideology, it is crucial to remain grounded in reality and recognize the importance of police presence in combating crime. Perhaps it’s time for other politicians to follow suit and prioritize the safety of their constituents over the pursuit of unrealistic, progressive agendas.
