Kevin Truong

It wasn&#8217;t hard to spot the family of tourists ascending the Powell Street Station escalator. Luggage in tow and squeezed between a busker banging on a makeshift drum set and a speaker blasting Sade’s “Smooth Operator” the group stared at their phones quizzically as they emerged into the chaos of Market Street during the holidays.

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It wasn't hard to spot the family of tourists ascending the Powell Street Station escalator. Luggage in tow and squeezed between a busker banging on a makeshift drum set and a speaker blasting Sade’s “Smooth Operator” the group stared at their phones quizzically as they emerged into the chaos of Market Street during the holidays.

It wasn&#8217;t hard to spot the family of tourists ascending the Powell Street Station escalator. Luggage in tow and squeezed between a busker banging on a makeshift drum set and a speaker blasting Sade’s “Smooth Operator” the group stared at their phones quizzically as they emerged into the chaos of Market Street during the holidays.

Brian DeBellevue sprang into action. Decked out in a vivid orange jacket and baseball cap—and with a smile that’s hard to miss, even behind a mask—<meta charset="utf-8">he looked a bit like a walking traffic cone.&nbsp;

Brian DeBellevue sprang into action. Decked out in a vivid orange jacket and baseball cap—and with a smile that’s hard to miss, even behind a mask—<meta charset="utf-8">he looked a bit like a walking traffic cone.&nbsp;

After a quick greeting and a self-deprecating joke, DeBellevue pointed them to their Union Square hotel.&nbsp;

After a quick greeting and a self-deprecating joke, DeBellevue pointed them to their Union Square hotel.&nbsp;

&#8220;You get a sense pretty quickly of the people who really need you,” DeBellevue said, miming a person buried in their smartphone map spinning around to figure out which way to walk. “Sometimes people are a little off put, but most of the time they’re really thankful to have someone help them out.”

"You get a sense pretty quickly of the people who really need you,” DeBellevue said, miming a person buried in their smartphone map spinning around to figure out which way to walk. “Sometimes people are a little off put, but most of the time they’re really thankful to have someone help them out.”

&#8220;You get a sense pretty quickly of the people who really need you,” DeBellevue said, miming a person buried in their smartphone map spinning around to figure out which way to walk. “Sometimes people are a little off put, but most of the time they’re really thankful to have someone help them out.”

DeBellevue is one of the roughly 50 Welcome Ambassadors that have been hired to act as the front door greeters for San Francisco. They are responsible for welcoming people to the city, offering directions, taking photos, answering questions and functioning as a concierge for both visitors and residents alike.&nbsp;

DeBellevue is one of the roughly 50 Welcome Ambassadors that have been hired to act as the front door greeters for San Francisco. They are responsible for welcoming people to the city, offering directions, taking photos, answering questions and functioning as a concierge for both visitors and residents alike.&nbsp;

“The primary goal is to welcome people to the city, give information and help people feel comfortable and safe in San Francisco,” said Rena Leddy, vice president of Urban Place Consulting Group, which was enlisted to help design the program. It&#8217;s managed by Louisville, K.Y.-based Block by Block, which runs about 120 programs around the country.

“The primary goal is to welcome people to the city, give information and help people feel comfortable and safe in San Francisco,” said Rena Leddy, vice president of Urban Place Consulting Group, which was enlisted to help design the program. It's managed by Louisville, K.Y.-based Block by Block, which runs about 120 programs around the country.

“The primary goal is to welcome people to the city, give information and help people feel comfortable and safe in San Francisco,” said Rena Leddy, vice president of Urban Place Consulting Group, which was enlisted to help design the program. It&#8217;s managed by Louisville, K.Y.-based Block by Block, which runs about 120 programs around the country.

Paulita Elliott, director of operations at Block by Block, said the San Francisco program was unique in that ambassadors here, rather than being limited to a single main tourist district, are often assigned to multiple locations and take public transportation to travel between their postings.

Paulita Elliott, director of operations at Block by Block, said the San Francisco program was unique in that ambassadors here, rather than being limited to a single main tourist district, are often assigned to multiple locations and take public transportation to travel between their postings.

The program formally <a href="https://sfstandard.com/eyeing-conventions-san-francisco-installs-welcome-ambassadors-downtown/">started in November</a> and has conducted more than 230,000 public greetings.&nbsp;

The program formally <a href="https://sfstandard.com/eyeing-conventions-san-francisco-installs-welcome-ambassadors-downtown/">started in November</a> and has conducted more than 230,000 public greetings.&nbsp;

The Welcome Ambassador program operates 7 days a week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with ambassadors posted in key tourist areas like Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and the Powell St. Cable Car Turnaround.&nbsp;

The Welcome Ambassador program operates 7 days a week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with ambassadors posted in key tourist areas like Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and the Powell St. Cable Car Turnaround.&nbsp;

Brian DeBellevue is one of the roughly 50 Welcome Ambassadors that have been hired to essentially act as the front door greeters for San Francisco. | Photo by Mike Kuba

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Still_10.png" alt="Welcome Ambassadors 1" class="wp-image-21353"/><figcaption>Brian DeBellevue is one of the roughly 50 Welcome Ambassadors that have been hired to essentially act as the front door greeters for San Francisco. | Photo by Mike Kuba</figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Still_10.png" alt="Welcome Ambassadors 1" class="wp-image-21353"/><figcaption>Brian DeBellevue is one of the roughly 50 Welcome Ambassadors that have been hired to essentially act as the front door greeters for San Francisco. | Photo by Mike Kuba</figcaption></figure>

Some of the initial hiccups in its rollout have stemmed from the lack of reliable public transit and retaining workers unprepared for the hospitality role or the physical nature of the job.

Some of the initial hiccups in its rollout have stemmed from the lack of reliable public transit and retaining workers unprepared for the hospitality role or the physical nature of the job.

“Being outside in the Bay weather and walking 10 to 13 miles is not always what they think it is,” Elliot said.&nbsp;

“Being outside in the Bay weather and walking 10 to 13 miles is not always what they think it is,” Elliot said.&nbsp;

The program is just one of several efforts to encourage more visitors to downtown and other tourist attractions. Other initiatives include <a href="https://sfstandard.com/san-francisco-to-deploy-additional-police-officers-tourist-areas/">staffing tourist areas with police officers</a>, another downtown ambassador program comprised of retired police officers, and beautification projects in and around Union Square.

The program is just one of several efforts to encourage more visitors to downtown and other tourist attractions. Other initiatives include <a href="https://sfstandard.com/san-francisco-to-deploy-additional-police-officers-tourist-areas/">staffing tourist areas with police officers</a>, another downtown ambassador program comprised of retired police officers, and beautification projects in and around Union Square.

Mayor London Breed has positioned the effort as part of the gradual recovery of San Francisco’s struggling tourism sector and a signal of safety to both residents and tourists.&nbsp;

Mayor London Breed has positioned the effort as part of the gradual recovery of San Francisco’s struggling tourism sector and a signal of safety to both residents and tourists.&nbsp;

Moanna Sauleaupepetele, who was one of the program&#8217;s first hires, said community members have started to recognize the ambassadors’ presence and have taken to calling her and her colleagues “the orange people.”

Moanna Sauleaupepetele, who was one of the program's first hires, said community members have started to recognize the ambassadors’ presence and have taken to calling her and her colleagues “the orange people.”

Moanna Sauleaupepetele, who was one of the program&#8217;s first hires, said community members have started to recognize the ambassadors’ presence and have taken to calling her and her colleagues “the orange people.”

The welcome ambassadors are funded through a two-year $12.5 million grant from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to the San Francisco Tourism Improvement District, which is responsible for supporting SF Travel, the city’s tourism agency.&nbsp;

The welcome ambassadors are funded through a two-year $12.5 million grant from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to the San Francisco Tourism Improvement District, which is responsible for supporting SF Travel, the city’s tourism agency.&nbsp;

The ambassador’s friendly presence aims to boost to a lagging tourism industry that has traditionally been one of the main drivers of the city’s economy. San Francisco’s hotel market has had the largest fall and the slowest recovery of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.

The ambassador’s friendly presence aims to boost to a lagging tourism industry that has traditionally been one of the main drivers of the city’s economy. San Francisco’s hotel market has had the largest fall and the slowest recovery of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.

“San Francisco was one of the highest performing before the pandemic so it had farther to fall off,” said Emmy Hise, the CoStar Group’s director of hospitality analytics for the Western U.S. “They’ve seen a huge loss in international travel and a very heavy group travel presence that hasn’t come back.&#8221;

“San Francisco was one of the highest performing before the pandemic so it had farther to fall off,” said Emmy Hise, the CoStar Group’s director of hospitality analytics for the Western U.S. “They’ve seen a huge loss in international travel and a very heavy group travel presence that hasn’t come back."

“San Francisco was one of the highest performing before the pandemic so it had farther to fall off,” said Emmy Hise, the CoStar Group’s director of hospitality analytics for the Western U.S. “They’ve seen a huge loss in international travel and a very heavy group travel presence that hasn’t come back.&#8221;

Those macroeconomic factors have been compounded by a national media narrative that has painted a city in crisis and struggling with an overdose epidemic and street crime.

Those macroeconomic factors have been compounded by a national media narrative that has painted a city in crisis and struggling with an overdose epidemic and street crime.

There was little evidence of that story at the Powell St. cable car turnaround on a recent Thursday morning.

There was little evidence of that story at the Powell St. cable car turnaround on a recent Thursday morning.

The line for the city’s iconic cable cars included local tourists marveling at the relative lack of crowds downtown, long-haired Dutch headbangers in town for Metallica&#8217;s 40th anniversary concert and a visitor from India unfortunately named Kovid (“I had the name 55 years earlier,” he protested.)

The line for the city’s iconic cable cars included local tourists marveling at the relative lack of crowds downtown, long-haired Dutch headbangers in town for Metallica's 40th anniversary concert and a visitor from India unfortunately named Kovid (“I had the name 55 years earlier,” he protested.)

The line for the city’s iconic cable cars included local tourists marveling at the relative lack of crowds downtown, long-haired Dutch headbangers in town for Metallica&#8217;s 40th anniversary concert and a visitor from India unfortunately named Kovid (“I had the name 55 years earlier,” he protested.)

Ardis Young, a Campbell resident on her first trip back to San Francisco since the pandemic, said her group was struck by the prevalence of ambassadors and street cleaning teams near tourist haunts. They provided a contrast to some of the stories around street conditions and rampant crime she and her friends had seen on the local news.&nbsp;

Ardis Young, a Campbell resident on her first trip back to San Francisco since the pandemic, said her group was struck by the prevalence of ambassadors and street cleaning teams near tourist haunts. They provided a contrast to some of the stories around street conditions and rampant crime she and her friends had seen on the local news.&nbsp;

While the lack of crowds meant “a different experience,” she still relished the city’s ability “to unearth something new” and mentioned the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Let%E2%80%99s+Glow+SF+projection+sfstandard&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS981US981&amp;oq=Let%E2%80%99s+Glow+SF+projection+sfstandard&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2.2040j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Let’s Glow SF</a> projection mapping display as a recent highlight.&nbsp;

While the lack of crowds meant “a different experience,” she still relished the city’s ability “to unearth something new” and mentioned the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Let%E2%80%99s+Glow+SF+projection+sfstandard&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS981US981&amp;oq=Let%E2%80%99s+Glow+SF+projection+sfstandard&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2.2040j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Let’s Glow SF</a> projection mapping display as a recent highlight.&nbsp;

DeBellevue worked the line like a seasoned pro, combining information about Muni’s smartphone app with bits of San Francisco trivia and teasing about this or that sports teams’ prospects.

DeBellevue worked the line like a seasoned pro, combining information about Muni’s smartphone app with bits of San Francisco trivia and teasing about this or that sports teams’ prospects.

“I like to catch people when they&#8217;re in line and get them laughing and having fun because it can get pretty defeating waiting an hour for something to go,” DeBellevue said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I like to catch people when they're in line and get them laughing and having fun because it can get pretty defeating waiting an hour for something to go,” DeBellevue said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I like to catch people when they&#8217;re in line and get them laughing and having fun because it can get pretty defeating waiting an hour for something to go,” DeBellevue said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The ambassadors are often confronted with the harsher realities faced by the city. On the walk between Powell Station and Union Square, DeBellevue hunched down to check on a man splayed out on a sidewalk vent.

The ambassadors are often confronted with the harsher realities faced by the city. On the walk between Powell Station and Union Square, DeBellevue hunched down to check on a man splayed out on a sidewalk vent.

“We do have a lot of interactions with the homeless population and we do welfare checks,” DeBellevue said. “Our job is to make sure everybody’s good, it’s not just about tourists, it’s like every person has value and is seen. Just because you’re on drugs or have whatever you got going on, it doesn’t mean you don’t have value or are not important.”

“We do have a lot of interactions with the homeless population and we do welfare checks,” DeBellevue said. “Our job is to make sure everybody’s good, it’s not just about tourists, it’s like every person has value and is seen. Just because you’re on drugs or have whatever you got going on, it doesn’t mean you don’t have value or are not important.”

He recounted a recent experience he had helping a blind homeless man connect with services after he had received a housing voucher.&nbsp;

He recounted a recent experience he had helping a blind homeless man connect with services after he had received a housing voucher.&nbsp;

“He had this opportunity to get off the streets, so I helped him with that. I called 311, got him in touch with the correct channel and got him to the address,” DeBellevue said. “You have no idea the amount of joy that that brought him.”

“He had this opportunity to get off the streets, so I helped him with that. I called 311, got him in touch with the correct channel and got him to the address,” DeBellevue said. “You have no idea the amount of joy that that brought him.”

Brian DeBellevue spends his day in San Francisco's tourist haunts sharing directions, travel tips or just a bit of conversation. | Photo by Mike Kuba

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Still_6.png" alt="Welcome Ambassador" class="wp-image-21371"/><figcaption>Brian DeBellevue spends his day in San Francisco&#8217;s tourist haunts sharing directions, travel tips or just a bit of conversation. | Photo by Mike Kuba</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Still_6.png" alt="Welcome Ambassador" class="wp-image-21371"/><figcaption>Brian DeBellevue spends his day in San Francisco's tourist haunts sharing directions, travel tips or just a bit of conversation. | Photo by Mike Kuba</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Still_6.png" alt="Welcome Ambassador" class="wp-image-21371"/><figcaption>Brian DeBellevue spends his day in San Francisco&#8217;s tourist haunts sharing directions, travel tips or just a bit of conversation. | Photo by Mike Kuba</figcaption></figure>

Each ambassador is given an Android device used as a walkie-talkie and for data collection around community engagement. The smartphone is loaded with apps that show the schedule for tour buses and public transportation and translation software for communication with non-English speakers.&nbsp;

Each ambassador is given an Android device used as a walkie-talkie and for data collection around community engagement. The smartphone is loaded with apps that show the schedule for tour buses and public transportation and translation software for communication with non-English speakers.&nbsp;

Ambassadors use their device to report data on their interactions with the public. The program’s leaders say these metrics and forthcoming surveys are key to understanding the impact of the ambassadors and measuring their success.

Ambassadors use their device to report data on their interactions with the public. The program’s leaders say these metrics and forthcoming surveys are key to understanding the impact of the ambassadors and measuring their success.

In his seven years in the city, DeBellevue has struggled with housing insecurity himself, relying on assistance from his mother and government relief to make ends meet. But the new role has provided him the rare opportunity to see the city anew.

In his seven years in the city, DeBellevue has struggled with housing insecurity himself, relying on assistance from his mother and government relief to make ends meet. But the new role has provided him the rare opportunity to see the city anew.

“When people come here they realize even the movies don’t do it justice,” DeBellevue said. “When you see it with your own eyes, you’re like ‘wow, this place is incredible.’”

“When people come here they realize even the movies don’t do it justice,” DeBellevue said. “When you see it with your own eyes, you’re like ‘wow, this place is incredible.’”

Meet the ‘orange people’ who are helping visitors and buffing SF’s battered image

Mike Kuba

Christina Campodonico

Sophie Bearman

His first name <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/09/us/from-a-radical-background-a-rhodes-scholar-emerges.html" target="_blank">is Swahili for “dancing feet</a>,” and his last name sounds like he’s the heir to a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://boudinbakery.com/" target="_blank">famous San Francisco sourdough baking empire</a>—but <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/heatherknight/article/SF-D-A-candidate-knows-pain-of-prison-His-14444513.php" target="_blank">he is not</a>.

His first name <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/09/us/from-a-radical-background-a-rhodes-scholar-emerges.html" target="_blank">is Swahili for “dancing feet</a>,” and his last name sounds like he’s the heir to a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://boudinbakery.com/" target="_blank">famous San Francisco sourdough baking empire</a>—but <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/heatherknight/article/SF-D-A-candidate-knows-pain-of-prison-His-14444513.php" target="_blank">he is not</a>.

Chesa Boudin is <a href="https://www.sfdistrictattorney.org/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Francisco’s District Attorney</a>, and currently <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/culture/article/On-Clubhouse-a-conversation-about-the-future-15886586.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the most talked-about lawyer in the city</a>.

Chesa Boudin is <a href="https://www.sfdistrictattorney.org/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Francisco’s District Attorney</a>, and currently <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/culture/article/On-Clubhouse-a-conversation-about-the-future-15886586.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the most talked-about lawyer in the city</a>.

The staunchly progressive District Attorney has recently come under fire for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Fatal-hit-and-run-DA-Boudin-charges-suspect-15845917.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his office’s handling</a> of a parolee accused of killing two pedestrians during <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Two-pedestrians-killed-in-hit-and-run-in-S-F-s-15839481.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a deadly hit-and-run</a> in SoMa on New Year’s Eve. <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-A-horrific-crime-undercuts-progressive-15857547.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Critics</a> say that Boudin should have done more to keep the allegedly intoxicated driver off the streets. Meanwhile, Boudin has pointed to <a href="https://abc7news.com/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-district-attorney-parolee-suspected-of-hit-and-run-deadly/9351509/">systemic failures</a> and miscommunications between law enforcement agencies as the cause of the tragedy.&nbsp;

The staunchly progressive District Attorney has recently come under fire for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Fatal-hit-and-run-DA-Boudin-charges-suspect-15845917.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his office’s handling</a> of a parolee accused of killing two pedestrians during <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Two-pedestrians-killed-in-hit-and-run-in-S-F-s-15839481.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a deadly hit-and-run</a> in SoMa on New Year’s Eve. <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-A-horrific-crime-undercuts-progressive-15857547.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Critics</a> say that Boudin should have done more to keep the allegedly intoxicated driver off the streets. Meanwhile, Boudin has pointed to <a href="https://abc7news.com/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-district-attorney-parolee-suspected-of-hit-and-run-deadly/9351509/">systemic failures</a> and miscommunications between law enforcement agencies as the cause of the tragedy.&nbsp;

Still, some are going as far as calling for Boudin’s <a href="https://www.change.org/p/petition-calling-for-sfda-chesa-boudin-to-resign" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resignation</a>. Here’s a primer on Boudin.

Still, some are going as far as calling for Boudin’s <a href="https://www.change.org/p/petition-calling-for-sfda-chesa-boudin-to-resign" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resignation</a>. Here’s a primer on Boudin.

Riding the Wave of Progressive Prosecution to San Francisco’s DA Office

Riding the Wave of Progressive Prosecution to San Francisco’s DA Office

Boudin was elected DA in November 2019, defeating Mayor Breed-appointed Interim District Attorney <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/heatherknight/article/From-car-break-ins-to-meth-possession-interim-DA-14803848.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Suzy Loftus</a> by <a href="https://patch.com/california/san-francisco/chesa-boudin-claims-victory-sf-district-attorney-race" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a razor-thin margin</a> in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2fRPRkWvY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ranked choice voting</a> contest.&nbsp;

Boudin was elected DA in November 2019, defeating Mayor Breed-appointed Interim District Attorney <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/heatherknight/article/From-car-break-ins-to-meth-possession-interim-DA-14803848.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Suzy Loftus</a> by <a href="https://patch.com/california/san-francisco/chesa-boudin-claims-victory-sf-district-attorney-race" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a razor-thin margin</a> in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2fRPRkWvY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ranked choice voting</a> contest.&nbsp;

Boudin, previously a public defender, campaigned on a progressive, anti-incarceration platform which promised the creation of a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200101141322/https://www.chesaboudin.com/wrongful_convictions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wrongful Convictions Unit</a>, an Innocence Commission and the abolishment of cash bail, which he <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/San-Francisco-DA-Chesa-Boudin-ends-cash-bail-for-14996400.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">actually eliminated</a> for all criminal cases in January 2020. (Boudin’s office <a href="https://www.sfdistrictattorney.org/press-release/formation-of-post-conviction-unit-and-innocence-commission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> the creation of a Post-Conviction Unit to work in concert with an all-volunteer Innocence Commission last September.)

Boudin, previously a public defender, campaigned on a progressive, anti-incarceration platform which promised the creation of a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200101141322/https://www.chesaboudin.com/wrongful_convictions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wrongful Convictions Unit</a>, an Innocence Commission and the abolishment of cash bail, which he <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/San-Francisco-DA-Chesa-Boudin-ends-cash-bail-for-14996400.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">actually eliminated</a> for all criminal cases in January 2020. (Boudin’s office <a href="https://www.sfdistrictattorney.org/press-release/formation-of-post-conviction-unit-and-innocence-commission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> the creation of a Post-Conviction Unit to work in concert with an all-volunteer Innocence Commission last September.)

Boudin’s election as San Francisco DA “generally panicked” the democratic establishment in San Francisco, according to KQED Political Breakdown podcast host Scott Shafer, who <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11786680/chesa-boudin-on-his-district-attorney-victory-parents-incarceration-and-travels-in-south-america" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interviewed Boudin</a> with his co-host Marisa Lagos shortly after Boudin’s election. “Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Dianne Feinstein, they all lined up behind Suzy Loftus, and Chesa Boudin won in spite of or maybe because of that,” said Shafer on the podcast. The San Francisco Police Officers Association spent <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/sf-police-union-mailers-attack-da-candidate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">over $600,000 </a>on <a href="https://youtu.be/09f60G0JObY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative campaign ads</a> targeting Boudin.&nbsp;

Boudin’s election as San Francisco DA “generally panicked” the democratic establishment in San Francisco, according to KQED Political Breakdown podcast host Scott Shafer, who <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11786680/chesa-boudin-on-his-district-attorney-victory-parents-incarceration-and-travels-in-south-america" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interviewed Boudin</a> with his co-host Marisa Lagos shortly after Boudin’s election. “Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Dianne Feinstein, they all lined up behind Suzy Loftus, and Chesa Boudin won in spite of or maybe because of that,” said Shafer on the podcast. The San Francisco Police Officers Association spent <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/sf-police-union-mailers-attack-da-candidate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">over $600,000 </a>on <a href="https://youtu.be/09f60G0JObY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative campaign ads</a> targeting Boudin.&nbsp;

Boudin, in turn, received the blessing of Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.

Boudin, in turn, received the blessing of Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I’m proud to endorse <a href="https://twitter.com/chesaboudin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chesaboudin</a> to be San Francisco&#39;s next District Attorney. In America today we have a broken criminal justice system that criminalizes poverty, perpetuates institutionalized racism, and continues a failed war on drugs that has devastated communities of color.&mdash; Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1188923917060182016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With his win, Boudin joined a slate of “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/23/us-justice-system-progressive-prosecutors-mass-incarceration-death-penalty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">progressive prosecutors</a>” throughout the country who, in recent years, have run and won on progressive agendas to reform the criminal justice system through policies such as rolling back mass incarceration, ending cash bail and eradicating the death penalty. He is the first San Francisco District Attorney <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11848521/in-first-for-sf-district-attorney-chesa-boudin-charges-former-police-officer-with-homicide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to charge an alum of the SFPD</a> with homicide in a use-of-force case and he peppered 2020 <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11851787/obligation-to-seek-justice-sf-da-chesa-boudin-wraps-up-first-year-with-round-of-charges-against-officers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a series of charges</a> against current and former city police officers. Boudin has also gained attention for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/In-policy-shift-Boudin-seeks-to-clear-case-15839376.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">employing grand juries </a>to help clear a backlog of thousands of idling cases and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/09/829955754/son-of-60s-radicals-is-the-new-d-a-in-san-francisco-facing-the-covid-19-crisis#:~:text=Chesa%20Boudin%20is%20now%20one,economic%20inequities%20in%20the%20system." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reducing the city’s prison population </a>during the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With his win, Boudin joined a slate of “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/23/us-justice-system-progressive-prosecutors-mass-incarceration-death-penalty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">progressive prosecutors</a>” throughout the country who, in recent years, have run and won on progressive agendas to reform the criminal justice system through policies such as rolling back mass incarceration, ending cash bail and eradicating the death penalty. He is the first San Francisco District Attorney <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11848521/in-first-for-sf-district-attorney-chesa-boudin-charges-former-police-officer-with-homicide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to charge an alum of the SFPD</a> with homicide in a use-of-force case and he peppered 2020 <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11851787/obligation-to-seek-justice-sf-da-chesa-boudin-wraps-up-first-year-with-round-of-charges-against-officers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a series of charges</a> against current and former city police officers. Boudin has also gained attention for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/In-policy-shift-Boudin-seeks-to-clear-case-15839376.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">employing grand juries </a>to help clear a backlog of thousands of idling cases and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/09/829955754/son-of-60s-radicals-is-the-new-d-a-in-san-francisco-facing-the-covid-19-crisis#:~:text=Chesa%20Boudin%20is%20now%20one,economic%20inequities%20in%20the%20system." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reducing the city’s prison population </a>during the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Colorful Life &amp; Hugo Chavez Connection

A Colorful Life &amp; Hugo Chavez Connection

Before taking control of the DA’s office, Boudin had a far from average education and upbringing. The son of four Weather Underground-affiliated parents, Boudin studied at Yale, then Oxford (where he was a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/09/us/from-a-radical-background-a-rhodes-scholar-emerges.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rhodes scholar</a>), and returned to Yale for his law degree.&nbsp;

Before taking control of the DA’s office, Boudin had a far from average education and upbringing. The son of four Weather Underground-affiliated parents, Boudin studied at Yale, then Oxford (where he was a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/09/us/from-a-radical-background-a-rhodes-scholar-emerges.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rhodes scholar</a>), and returned to Yale for his law degree.&nbsp;

Boudin was just 14 months old when his parents—Weather Underground members Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert—left him with a babysitter to take part in a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/20/nyregion/7-are-indicted-in-rockland-for-robbery-of-brink-s-car.html" target="_blank">botched heist of a Brink’s armored truck </a>that ultimately left two police officers and a security guard dead. While his parents were incarcerated for murder and robbery (though neither of them fired a shot that day), Boudin was raised by his adoptive parents, Weather Underground couple Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, in Chicago. (Boudin’s grandfather, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/26/obituaries/leonard-boudin-civil-liberties-lawyer-dies-at-77.html">Leonard Boudin</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/24/us/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-da.html">was a famous civil rights attorney</a>.)

Boudin was just 14 months old when his parents—Weather Underground members Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert—left him with a babysitter to take part in a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/20/nyregion/7-are-indicted-in-rockland-for-robbery-of-brink-s-car.html" target="_blank">botched heist of a Brink’s armored truck </a>that ultimately left two police officers and a security guard dead. While his parents were incarcerated for murder and robbery (though neither of them fired a shot that day), Boudin was raised by his adoptive parents, Weather Underground couple Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, in Chicago. (Boudin’s grandfather, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/26/obituaries/leonard-boudin-civil-liberties-lawyer-dies-at-77.html">Leonard Boudin</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/24/us/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-da.html">was a famous civil rights attorney</a>.)

Boudin has often cited his experience growing up with incarcerated parents as deeply influential on his view of the legal system. Boudin’s biological mother was released on parole in 2003. His father is serving a 75 years-to-life sentence.&nbsp;

Boudin has often cited his experience growing up with incarcerated parents as deeply influential on his view of the legal system. Boudin’s biological mother was released on parole in 2003. His father is serving a 75 years-to-life sentence.&nbsp;

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/48666527081_1bab9da962_k.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1598"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chesa Boudin | Smeeta Mahanti for Chesa 4DA</figcaption></figure>

“My mother and father did the exact same thing and had identical culpability in the crime,” Boudin told <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/home/article/Grondahl-DA-seeks-clemency-for-father-60s-15750537.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Times Union</a>. “My mother served 22 years in prison and was paroled 17 years ago, while my father is still in prison. It’s an example of criminal justice imbalance.”&nbsp;

“My mother and father did the exact same thing and had identical culpability in the crime,” Boudin told <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/home/article/Grondahl-DA-seeks-clemency-for-father-60s-15750537.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Times Union</a>. “My mother served 22 years in prison and was paroled 17 years ago, while my father is still in prison. It’s an example of criminal justice imbalance.”&nbsp;

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Boudin has lobbied New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to grant his father <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/home/article/Grondahl-DA-seeks-clemency-for-father-60s-15750537.php">clemency</a>.&nbsp;

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Boudin has lobbied New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to grant his father <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/home/article/Grondahl-DA-seeks-clemency-for-father-60s-15750537.php">clemency</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/revolutionary-san-francisco-11573602909?fbclid=IwAR3CCkF0wxnVeQOtPN_Trtc0AenFZKwBRLM61XGLr0oe4DoNKirzZ0-fpBM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Much has also been made</a> of Boudin’s time in Venezuela as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chesa-boudin-sf-attorney-general-son-of-weather-underground-radicals-2019-12" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an alleged translator to Hugo Chavez</a> and his <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/chavez-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apparent support</a> for the late Venezuelan leader’s rule over that country. But contrary to that oft-cited anecdote about his youthful travels through South America (some chronicled in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/books/17book.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his 2009 memoir</a>), Boudin did not serve as a translator in Chavez’s administration. He did work as a translator on a book of interviews featuring Chavez. (Boudin sets the record straight <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11786680/chesa-boudin-on-his-district-attorney-victory-parents-incarceration-and-travels-in-south-america" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> around 15:46.)&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/revolutionary-san-francisco-11573602909?fbclid=IwAR3CCkF0wxnVeQOtPN_Trtc0AenFZKwBRLM61XGLr0oe4DoNKirzZ0-fpBM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Much has also been made</a> of Boudin’s time in Venezuela as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chesa-boudin-sf-attorney-general-son-of-weather-underground-radicals-2019-12" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an alleged translator to Hugo Chavez</a> and his <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/chavez-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apparent support</a> for the late Venezuelan leader’s rule over that country. But contrary to that oft-cited anecdote about his youthful travels through South America (some chronicled in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/books/17book.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his 2009 memoir</a>), Boudin did not serve as a translator in Chavez’s administration. He did work as a translator on a book of interviews featuring Chavez. (Boudin sets the record straight <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11786680/chesa-boudin-on-his-district-attorney-victory-parents-incarceration-and-travels-in-south-america" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> around 15:46.)&nbsp;

Controversies &amp; Recall Campaign

Controversies &amp; Recall Campaign

While some politicos have lauded Boudin’s election as a signal from voters that they’re ready for criminal justice reform, the DA who’s just finished out his first year on the job has antagonized many.&nbsp;

While some politicos have lauded Boudin’s election as a signal from voters that they’re ready for criminal justice reform, the DA who’s just finished out his first year on the job has antagonized many.&nbsp;

Just two days after taking office, Boudin came under fire for canning <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11795676/why-did-san-franciscos-new-district-attorney-fire-seven-prosecutors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at least seven</a> prosecutors during a January 2020 purge dubbed the “<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/SF-District-Attorney-Chesa-Boudin-hires-new-14972069.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Friday Night Massacre</a>.” He also drew scrutiny for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/S-F-District-Attorney-Chesa-Boudin-dismissed-15720979.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quietly dismissing</a> a high-profile beating case involving two Alameda County sheriff’s deputies in March of last year. (Boudin <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/S-F-District-Attorney-Chesa-Boudin-dismissed-15720979.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told the SF Chronicle</a> he planned to refile the case “as soon as we’re able to do so successfully,” but did not share details.)

Just two days after taking office, Boudin came under fire for canning <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11795676/why-did-san-franciscos-new-district-attorney-fire-seven-prosecutors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at least seven</a> prosecutors during a January 2020 purge dubbed the “<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/SF-District-Attorney-Chesa-Boudin-hires-new-14972069.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Friday Night Massacre</a>.” He also drew scrutiny for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/S-F-District-Attorney-Chesa-Boudin-dismissed-15720979.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quietly dismissing</a> a high-profile beating case involving two Alameda County sheriff’s deputies in March of last year. (Boudin <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/S-F-District-Attorney-Chesa-Boudin-dismissed-15720979.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told the SF Chronicle</a> he planned to refile the case “as soon as we’re able to do so successfully,” but did not share details.)

And then of course, there’s the New Year’s Eve hit-and-run.

And then of course, there’s the New Year’s Eve hit-and-run.

Boudin <a href="https://www.sfdistrictattorney.org/press-release/da-boudin-announces-homicide-charges-for-dui-and-crashing-into-pedestrians-killing-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">charged</a> parolee Troy McAlister, who allegedly barrelled through a red light in a stolen car and struck two people dead, with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated on Jan. 4. But critics have faulted the DA for not doing something about McAlister sooner.&nbsp;

Boudin <a href="https://www.sfdistrictattorney.org/press-release/da-boudin-announces-homicide-charges-for-dui-and-crashing-into-pedestrians-killing-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">charged</a> parolee Troy McAlister, who allegedly barrelled through a red light in a stolen car and struck two people dead, with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated on Jan. 4. But critics have faulted the DA for not doing something about McAlister sooner.&nbsp;

An <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/sf-da-announces-homicide-charges-against-parolee-in-fatal-nye-hit-and-run/2436773/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC Bay Area investigation</a> into McAlister’s criminal record revealed that under California’s <a href="https://www.courts.ca.gov/20142.htm#:~:text=California's%20Three%20Strikes%20sentencing%20law%20was%20originally%20enacted%20in%201994,otherwise%20provided%20for%20the%20crime." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Three Strikes</a> law, McAlister was facing a possible life sentence for an earlier robbery charge. But under a new policy issued by Boudin, his office brokered a plea deal instead, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Fatal-hit-and-run-DA-Boudin-charges-suspect-15845917.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">giving McAlister credit for five years served</a>. McAlister was released on parole last spring and racked up a string of arrests, ranging from burglary to theft, between June and December. Rather than pressing new charges on McAlister, the DA’s office repeatedly referred him to parole.&nbsp;

An <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/sf-da-announces-homicide-charges-against-parolee-in-fatal-nye-hit-and-run/2436773/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC Bay Area investigation</a> into McAlister’s criminal record revealed that under California’s <a href="https://www.courts.ca.gov/20142.htm#:~:text=California's%20Three%20Strikes%20sentencing%20law%20was%20originally%20enacted%20in%201994,otherwise%20provided%20for%20the%20crime." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Three Strikes</a> law, McAlister was facing a possible life sentence for an earlier robbery charge. But under a new policy issued by Boudin, his office brokered a plea deal instead, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Fatal-hit-and-run-DA-Boudin-charges-suspect-15845917.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">giving McAlister credit for five years served</a>. McAlister was released on parole last spring and racked up a string of arrests, ranging from burglary to theft, between June and December. Rather than pressing new charges on McAlister, the DA’s office repeatedly referred him to parole.&nbsp;

Yet, as pointed out in <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2021/01/the-strange-and-terrible-saga-of-a-parolee-and-a-fatal-hit-and-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this nuanced profile</a> of the case by Mission Local, the San Francisco Police Department did not contact McAlister’s parole officer after his most recent arrest on Dec. 20, nor did the parole office make moves to revoke McAlister’s&nbsp; parole after his multiple arrests. On Dec. 29, Daly City Police received <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Parolee-accused-of-killing-2-pedestrians-in-S-F-15843538.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a report of a stolen car</a> implicating McAlister, and set a follow-up date of Jan. 3. (For their part, Daly City Police and parole said they did follow up on McAlister’s cases <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/sf-da-announces-homicide-charges-against-parolee-in-fatal-nye-hit-and-run/2436773/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in their statements to the press</a>.)&nbsp;

Yet, as pointed out in <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2021/01/the-strange-and-terrible-saga-of-a-parolee-and-a-fatal-hit-and-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this nuanced profile</a> of the case by Mission Local, the San Francisco Police Department did not contact McAlister’s parole officer after his most recent arrest on Dec. 20, nor did the parole office make moves to revoke McAlister’s&nbsp; parole after his multiple arrests. On Dec. 29, Daly City Police received <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Parolee-accused-of-killing-2-pedestrians-in-S-F-15843538.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a report of a stolen car</a> implicating McAlister, and set a follow-up date of Jan. 3. (For their part, Daly City Police and parole said they did follow up on McAlister’s cases <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/sf-da-announces-homicide-charges-against-parolee-in-fatal-nye-hit-and-run/2436773/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in their statements to the press</a>.)&nbsp;

Public ire reached another level when <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/04/update-san-francisco-da-boudin-once-represented-parolee-accused-in-double-fatal-hit-and-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">news reports</a> revealed that Boudin’s name had appeared on court documents as a public defender for McAlister back in 2018. But <a href="https://twitter.com/HamasakiLaw/status/1346260339009093632" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">legal Twitter</a> explained that Boudin’s “special appearance” wasn’t a conflict of interest but standard operating procedure for busy DAs and public defenders filling in for each other when they can’t be “in two places at once.”

Public ire reached another level when <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/04/update-san-francisco-da-boudin-once-represented-parolee-accused-in-double-fatal-hit-and-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">news reports</a> revealed that Boudin’s name had appeared on court documents as a public defender for McAlister back in 2018. But <a href="https://twitter.com/HamasakiLaw/status/1346260339009093632" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">legal Twitter</a> explained that Boudin’s “special appearance” wasn’t a conflict of interest but standard operating procedure for busy DAs and public defenders filling in for each other when they can’t be “in two places at once.”

<a href="https://twitter.com/HamasakiLaw/status/1346260340271501313?s=20">https://twitter.com/HamasakiLaw/status/1346260340271501313?s=20</a>

<a href="https://twitter.com/HamasakiLaw/status/1346260340271501313?s=20">https://twitter.com/HamasakiLaw/status/1346260340271501313?s=20</a>

Boudin has said that the events leading up to the tragic New Year’s Eve hit-and-run represent a breakdown of communication between various law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Boudin has said that the events leading up to the tragic New Year’s Eve hit-and-run represent a breakdown of communication between various law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&#8220;We need to work with the police and with all other law enforcement agencies that we partner with to do a better job at keeping the city safe,” Boudin <a href="https://abc7news.com/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-district-attorney-parolee-suspected-of-hit-and-run-deadly/9351509/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told ABC 7</a>. “I can&#8217;t do it without the police, they can&#8217;t do it without me, and parole certainly can&#8217;t do it if nobody even tells them somebody they supervise has been arrested. And that is exactly what happened here on December 20, and again with a different agency on December 29.&#8221;

"We need to work with the police and with all other law enforcement agencies that we partner with to do a better job at keeping the city safe,” Boudin <a href="https://abc7news.com/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-district-attorney-parolee-suspected-of-hit-and-run-deadly/9351509/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told ABC 7</a>. “I can't do it without the police, they can't do it without me, and parole certainly can't do it if nobody even tells them somebody they supervise has been arrested. And that is exactly what happened here on December 20, and again with a different agency on December 29."

&#8220;We need to work with the police and with all other law enforcement agencies that we partner with to do a better job at keeping the city safe,” Boudin <a href="https://abc7news.com/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-district-attorney-parolee-suspected-of-hit-and-run-deadly/9351509/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told ABC 7</a>. “I can&#8217;t do it without the police, they can&#8217;t do it without me, and parole certainly can&#8217;t do it if nobody even tells them somebody they supervise has been arrested. And that is exactly what happened here on December 20, and again with a different agency on December 29.&#8221;

But some are still calling for Boudin’s withdrawal from office. The DA is currently the target of a <a href="http://www.recallchesa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recall campaign</a>, a petition <a href="https://www.change.org/p/petition-calling-for-sfda-chesa-boudin-to-resign" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">demanding his resignation</a> (spearheaded by former Republican mayoral candidate and political commentator <a href="http://www.richiegreenberg.org/">Richie Greenberg</a>) and the rallying cry for a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/report-on-chesa-boudin-san-francisco-crime" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GoFundMe </a>organized by angel investor <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jason Calacanis,</a> who is <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason/status/1345945548277202944?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seeking to hire an investigative journalist </a>to cover the DA and his office.

But some are still calling for Boudin’s withdrawal from office. The DA is currently the target of a <a href="http://www.recallchesa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recall campaign</a>, a petition <a href="https://www.change.org/p/petition-calling-for-sfda-chesa-boudin-to-resign" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">demanding his resignation</a> (spearheaded by former Republican mayoral candidate and political commentator <a href="http://www.richiegreenberg.org/">Richie Greenberg</a>) and the rallying cry for a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/report-on-chesa-boudin-san-francisco-crime" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GoFundMe </a>organized by angel investor <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jason Calacanis,</a> who is <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason/status/1345945548277202944?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seeking to hire an investigative journalist </a>to cover the DA and his office.

San Francisco Police Officers Association President Tony Montoya <a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-police-robbery-eb8da5d44f7ef8467c3ca2b521676258" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told the AP</a>, “Two people were killed on New Year’s Eve because Chesa Boudin refused to do his job, which is to hold criminals and victimizers accountable.”

San Francisco Police Officers Association President Tony Montoya <a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-police-robbery-eb8da5d44f7ef8467c3ca2b521676258" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told the AP</a>, “Two people were killed on New Year’s Eve because Chesa Boudin refused to do his job, which is to hold criminals and victimizers accountable.”

In turn, Mayor Breed has called for responsibility and accountability. In an interview, Breed <a href="https://twitter.com/lihanlihan/status/1347392915157356545?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told City Journal</a>, a local Chinese-language newspaper, that “there still has to be accountability. And had this person been held accountable for the numerous crimes that they committed, then this possibly would not have even happened.”

In turn, Mayor Breed has called for responsibility and accountability. In an interview, Breed <a href="https://twitter.com/lihanlihan/status/1347392915157356545?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told City Journal</a>, a local Chinese-language newspaper, that “there still has to be accountability. And had this person been held accountable for the numerous crimes that they committed, then this possibly would not have even happened.”

“I&#8217;m running my office as well as I can, and I&#8217;m working as hard as I can under historically difficult circumstances,” said Boudin in an <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11853808/working-as-hard-as-i-can-sf-district-attorney-chesa-boudin-on-his-challenging-first-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview with KQED</a> reflecting on his first year, which also included a worldwide pandemic. “I&#8217;m rolling up my sleeves and I&#8217;m personally doing the work to keep our cases moving forward and to help make San Francisco safer for all of us.”&nbsp;

“I'm running my office as well as I can, and I'm working as hard as I can under historically difficult circumstances,” said Boudin in an <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11853808/working-as-hard-as-i-can-sf-district-attorney-chesa-boudin-on-his-challenging-first-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview with KQED</a> reflecting on his first year, which also included a worldwide pandemic. “I'm rolling up my sleeves and I'm personally doing the work to keep our cases moving forward and to help make San Francisco safer for all of us.”&nbsp;

“I&#8217;m running my office as well as I can, and I&#8217;m working as hard as I can under historically difficult circumstances,” said Boudin in an <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11853808/working-as-hard-as-i-can-sf-district-attorney-chesa-boudin-on-his-challenging-first-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview with KQED</a> reflecting on his first year, which also included a worldwide pandemic. “I&#8217;m rolling up my sleeves and I&#8217;m personally doing the work to keep our cases moving forward and to help make San Francisco safer for all of us.”&nbsp;

But it is the last night of 2020 that threatens to cast a long shadow over Boudin during 2021.

But it is the last night of 2020 that threatens to cast a long shadow over Boudin during 2021.

Who is Chesa Boudin? Meet the San Francisco DA at the center of a media storm

On Dec. 23, 2022, San Francisco&#8217;s unsheltered population got a Christmas present of sorts: They were allowed to continue to sleep on the city&#8217;s sidewalks.

On Dec. 23, 2022, San Francisco's unsheltered population got a Christmas present of sorts: They were allowed to continue to sleep on the city's sidewalks.

On Dec. 23, 2022, San Francisco&#8217;s unsheltered population got a Christmas present of sorts: They were allowed to continue to sleep on the city&#8217;s sidewalks.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu forbade the city from enforcing, or threatening to enforce, a variety of laws and ordinances that would otherwise &#8220;prohibit involuntarily homeless individuals from sitting, lying, or sleeping on public property.&#8221;

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu forbade the city from enforcing, or threatening to enforce, a variety of laws and ordinances that would otherwise "prohibit involuntarily homeless individuals from sitting, lying, or sleeping on public property."

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu forbade the city from enforcing, or threatening to enforce, a variety of laws and ordinances that would otherwise &#8220;prohibit involuntarily homeless individuals from sitting, lying, or sleeping on public property.&#8221;

The order came in the form of a preliminary injunction in a federal lawsuit brought against the city by the Coalition on Homelessness, an advocacy organization, and a number of individuals, some formerly homeless.

The order came in the form of a preliminary injunction in a federal lawsuit brought against the city by the Coalition on Homelessness, an advocacy organization, and a number of individuals, some formerly homeless.

The injunction was preliminary in that there had not yet been a full trial on the merits—that was at least a year away—but Ryu found the conditions were so bad and plaintiffs so likely to ultimately win, that it was in the public interest to enter temporary relief until the full trial could be held.&nbsp;

The injunction was preliminary in that there had not yet been a full trial on the merits—that was at least a year away—but Ryu found the conditions were so bad and plaintiffs so likely to ultimately win, that it was in the public interest to enter temporary relief until the full trial could be held.&nbsp;

The judge based her ruling on the fact that the city did not have sufficient beds to provide shelter for the city&#8217;s unsheltered population and therefore enforcing the sit/lie/sleep laws against the plaintiffs was punishing them for the status of being homeless. In her opinion, that violated the Eighth Amendment&#8217;s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

The judge based her ruling on the fact that the city did not have sufficient beds to provide shelter for the city's unsheltered population and therefore enforcing the sit/lie/sleep laws against the plaintiffs was punishing them for the status of being homeless. In her opinion, that violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

The judge based her ruling on the fact that the city did not have sufficient beds to provide shelter for the city&#8217;s unsheltered population and therefore enforcing the sit/lie/sleep laws against the plaintiffs was punishing them for the status of being homeless. In her opinion, that violated the Eighth Amendment&#8217;s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

READ MORE: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/heres-what-unfolds-when-san-francisco-homeless-encampments-get-cleaned/">Here’s What Unfolds When San Francisco Homeless Encampments Get Cleaned</a>

READ MORE: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/heres-what-unfolds-when-san-francisco-homeless-encampments-get-cleaned/">Here’s What Unfolds When San Francisco Homeless Encampments Get Cleaned</a>

The city&#8217;s reaction was swift. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said flatly, &#8220;Mayors cannot run cities this way.&#8221;

The city's reaction was swift. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said flatly, "Mayors cannot run cities this way."

The city&#8217;s reaction was swift. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said flatly, &#8220;Mayors cannot run cities this way.&#8221;

San Francisco&#8217;s City Attorney David Chiu took the relatively unusual step of issuing his own press release.

San Francisco's City Attorney David Chiu took the relatively unusual step of issuing his own press release.

San Francisco&#8217;s City Attorney David Chiu took the relatively unusual step of issuing his own press release.

Chiu said that the judge&#8217;s order put the city in an &#8220;impossible situation&#8221; and announced he was immediately filing a motion to get relief from an expansive reading of her order.

Chiu said that the judge's order put the city in an "impossible situation" and announced he was immediately filing a motion to get relief from an expansive reading of her order.

Chiu said that the judge&#8217;s order put the city in an &#8220;impossible situation&#8221; and announced he was immediately filing a motion to get relief from an expansive reading of her order.

Five months have now passed since the press release, and Chiu has had little luck getting any relief from the court&#8217;s ruling. Some of the difficulty is because he is stuck with &#8220;bad facts,&#8221; as lawyers like to say, and some of it is because a few strategic decisions have backfired.

Five months have now passed since the press release, and Chiu has had little luck getting any relief from the court's ruling. Some of the difficulty is because he is stuck with "bad facts," as lawyers like to say, and some of it is because a few strategic decisions have backfired.

Five months have now passed since the press release, and Chiu has had little luck getting any relief from the court&#8217;s ruling. Some of the difficulty is because he is stuck with &#8220;bad facts,&#8221; as lawyers like to say, and some of it is because a few strategic decisions have backfired.

But there is a much larger question to ask about the city attorney&#8217;s strategy: does it actually make sense to try to win this case?&nbsp;&nbsp;

But there is a much larger question to ask about the city attorney's strategy: does it actually make sense to try to win this case?&nbsp;&nbsp;

But there is a much larger question to ask about the city attorney&#8217;s strategy: does it actually make sense to try to win this case?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thus far, it looks like this may be one of those cases where the best way to win is by not winning.

Thus far, it looks like this may be one of those cases where the best way to win is by not winning.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu speaks at a press meeting held at City Hall about San Francisco’s victory against Walgreens regarding the company’s responsibility in the opioid epidemic in San Francisco Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022_Aug_10_Opioid_Presser-6-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67378"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu speaks at a press conference in August 2022. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard</figcaption></figure>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-litigation">Public Litigation&nbsp;</h2>

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<h2 id="h-public-litigation">Public Litigation&nbsp;</h2>

High-stakes, high-visibility lawsuits involving governmental bodies, elected officials, large amounts of money and potential structural changes in the way government works—cases referred to as &#8220;public cases&#8221; or &#8220;public litigation&#8221;—are like mountains so tall that they make their own weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

High-stakes, high-visibility lawsuits involving governmental bodies, elected officials, large amounts of money and potential structural changes in the way government works—cases referred to as "public cases" or "public litigation"—are like mountains so tall that they make their own weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

High-stakes, high-visibility lawsuits involving governmental bodies, elected officials, large amounts of money and potential structural changes in the way government works—cases referred to as &#8220;public cases&#8221; or &#8220;public litigation&#8221;—are like mountains so tall that they make their own weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coalition of Homelessness, et al. v. City of San Francisco, et al. was one of those cases. It cut to the core of one of the most intractable, expensive, frustrating, painful, depressing, divisive, and monumental problems that the city had ever faced.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coalition of Homelessness, et al. v. City of San Francisco, et al. was one of those cases. It cut to the core of one of the most intractable, expensive, frustrating, painful, depressing, divisive, and monumental problems that the city had ever faced.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Who is Chesa Boudin? Meet the San Francisco DA at the center of a media storm

Is San Francisco’s best strategy in homelessness lawsuit to lose?

7 Outer Sunset businesses that powered through the pandemic

A nomad’s dying wish: Living with cancer at a San Francisco homeless shelter

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Meet the ‘orange people’ who are helping visitors and buffing SF’s battered image

Who is Chesa Boudin? Meet the San Francisco DA at the center of a media storm

Is San Francisco’s best strategy in homelessness lawsuit to lose?

7 Outer Sunset businesses that powered through the pandemic

A nomad’s dying wish: Living with cancer at a San Francisco homeless shelter