Michael Barba

This year was supposed to mark the 42nd and final one that Furlishous Wyatt worked at San Francisco SAFE. But when the end finally came, it was nothing like he expected.

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This year was supposed to mark the 42nd and final one that Furlishous Wyatt worked at San Francisco SAFE. But when the end finally came, it was nothing like he expected.

Wyatt, 72, was ready to retire after nearly a lifetime spent improving safety and building trust between police and the community. Instead, he lost his job when the nonprofit abruptly collapsed, leaving him with no health insurance to pay for his medications. The loss was devastating.

Wyatt, 72, was ready to retire after nearly a lifetime spent improving safety and building trust between police and the community. Instead, he lost his job when the nonprofit abruptly collapsed, leaving him with no health insurance to pay for his medications. The loss was devastating.

“I look at SAFE as being my baby,” said Wyatt, who joined the nonprofit in 1982 and was by far its longest-serving employee. &#8220;It&#8217;s the death of a child.”

“I look at SAFE as being my baby,” said Wyatt, who joined the nonprofit in 1982 and was by far its longest-serving employee. "It's the death of a child.”

“I look at SAFE as being my baby,” said Wyatt, who joined the nonprofit in 1982 and was by far its longest-serving employee. &#8220;It&#8217;s the death of a child.”

Wyatt is among a core group of former staffers at SF SAFE who feel their voices have not been heard as a scandal involving misspent funding from city coffers and a crypto billionaire unfolds around the nonprofit, spurring <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/02/san-francisco-safe-criminal-investigation-da-confirms/">a criminal investigation</a> into its finances and the Jan. 24 firing of its executive director, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/06/sf-safe-east-bay-instructors-kyra-worthy-richmond/">Kyra Worthy</a>.

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Wyatt is among a core group of former staffers at SF SAFE who feel their voices have not been heard as a scandal involving misspent funding from city coffers and a crypto billionaire unfolds around the nonprofit, spurring <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/02/san-francisco-safe-criminal-investigation-da-confirms/">a criminal investigation</a> into its finances and the Jan. 24 firing of its executive director, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/06/sf-safe-east-bay-instructors-kyra-worthy-richmond/">Kyra Worthy</a>.

Wyatt and his colleagues say they didn’t get their final paychecks when the nonprofit shut down. They lost their health insurance, were not paid out for vacation time and have not received the paperwork they need to file their taxes.

Wyatt and his colleagues say they didn’t get their final paychecks when the nonprofit shut down. They lost their health insurance, were not paid out for vacation time and have not received the paperwork they need to file their taxes.

“We seem like the missing link in this,” Wyatt said. “There&#8217;s no thought that&#8217;s been given to staff and how we&#8217;re suffering and how it&#8217;s affecting us because we have staff members that have to pay their rent, car notes, who have kids.”

“We seem like the missing link in this,” Wyatt said. “There's no thought that's been given to staff and how we're suffering and how it's affecting us because we have staff members that have to pay their rent, car notes, who have kids.”

“We seem like the missing link in this,” Wyatt said. “There&#8217;s no thought that&#8217;s been given to staff and how we&#8217;re suffering and how it&#8217;s affecting us because we have staff members that have to pay their rent, car notes, who have kids.”

Gina Guitron, left, Starr Miles, center, Furlishous Wyatt, right, former employees of San Francisco Safe Inc. (SF Safe) at City Hall in San Francisco on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Former employees of SF Safe employees are filing a complaint with The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) to receive wages SF Safe owes them after the nonprofit abruptly collapsed, leaving them jobless.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240228-sfsafestaffers16.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three adults stand near an elevator, one holding a phone, with concerned expressions." class="wp-image-254048"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Former San Francisco SAFE employees Gina Guitron, left, Starr Miles, center, and Furlishous Wyatt arrive at City Hall for a meeting about their missing paychecks.</figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240228-sfsafestaffers16.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three adults stand near an elevator, one holding a phone, with concerned expressions." class="wp-image-254048"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Former San Francisco SAFE employees Gina Guitron, left, Starr Miles, center, and Furlishous Wyatt arrive at City Hall for a meeting about their missing paychecks.</figcaption></figure>

On Thursday, Wyatt and his former colleagues gathered at City Hall for a closed-door meeting with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which is investigating their missing payments. They were also joined by people who patrolled Mission Street as community ambassadors for the nonprofit.

On Thursday, Wyatt and his former colleagues gathered at City Hall for a closed-door meeting with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which is investigating their missing payments. They were also joined by people who patrolled Mission Street as community ambassadors for the nonprofit.

Starr Miles, who worked as an operations manager for SF SAFE, said she hoped she and her colleagues would be made whole for their work.

Starr Miles, who worked as an operations manager for SF SAFE, said she hoped she and her colleagues would be made whole for their work.

&#8220;Somebody&#8217;s got the money,&#8221; Miles said. &#8220;The city&#8217;s got to take care of us.&#8221;

"Somebody's got the money," Miles said. "The city's got to take care of us."

&#8220;Somebody&#8217;s got the money,&#8221; Miles said. &#8220;The city&#8217;s got to take care of us.&#8221;

Miles, who is a minister outside of work, said she was deeply embarrassed by the scandal and worried what people would think of her, despite not knowing anything about the financial problems that were unfolding behind the scenes.

Miles, who is a minister outside of work, said she was deeply embarrassed by the scandal and worried what people would think of her, despite not knowing anything about the financial problems that were unfolding behind the scenes.

&#8220;I still say SF SAFE is a good organization,&#8221; Miles said. &#8220;This organization has integrity. But it&#8217;s unfortunate that this happened, that it destroyed the image.&#8221;

"I still say SF SAFE is a good organization," Miles said. "This organization has integrity. But it's unfortunate that this happened, that it destroyed the image."

&#8220;I still say SF SAFE is a good organization,&#8221; Miles said. &#8220;This organization has integrity. But it&#8217;s unfortunate that this happened, that it destroyed the image.&#8221;

&#8220;I mean, you never heard anything bad about SF SAFE until now, until she took over,&#8221; she added.

"I mean, you never heard anything bad about SF SAFE until now, until she took over," she added.

&#8220;I mean, you never heard anything bad about SF SAFE until now, until she took over,&#8221; she added.

Another staffer, who spoke on the condition that she not be named, was frustrated and heartbroken by the implosion. Born and raised in San Francisco, she said she loved her job organizing neighborhood watch groups. She emphasized the value that SF SAFE provided to the city, despite its financial problems.

Another staffer, who spoke on the condition that she not be named, was frustrated and heartbroken by the implosion. Born and raised in San Francisco, she said she loved her job organizing neighborhood watch groups. She emphasized the value that SF SAFE provided to the city, despite its financial problems.

“We actually cared for the community [while] all this in the background was happening,” she said. “Now, we don&#8217;t want people looking at us like this because of somebody else&#8217;s wrongdoing.”

“We actually cared for the community [while] all this in the background was happening,” she said. “Now, we don't want people looking at us like this because of somebody else's wrongdoing.”

“We actually cared for the community [while] all this in the background was happening,” she said. “Now, we don&#8217;t want people looking at us like this because of somebody else&#8217;s wrongdoing.”

Worthy did not respond to a call and text messages seeking comment.

Worthy did not respond to a call and text messages seeking comment.

A former employee of San Francisco Safe Inc. (SF Safe) shows a close up of a complaint form he is filing to receive wages he is owed by SF Safe during a meeting of former SF Safe employees at Peet’s Coffee on 16th Street in San Francisco on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Former employees of SF Safe are filing a complaint with The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) to receive wages SF Safe owes them after the nonprofit abruptly collapsed, leaving them jobless.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240228-sfsafestaffers01.jpg?w=2500" alt="A hand is holding a paper with handwritten text concerning work duties and a mention of neighborhood security." class="wp-image-254059"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A former SF SAFE employee shows a claim form they filled out for the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which is investigating the missing paychecks.</figcaption></figure>

SF SAFE ran out of money to pay its staff despite city records showing that the nonprofit raked in $9.4 million from the San Francisco Police Department and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development since 2018, the year Worthy became director. The city contracted with the nonprofit to host community meetings for the police, organize neighborhood watch groups and operate a security camera program. The nonprofit also secured another $1.8 million in security camera funding from Chris Larsen, the co-founder of the crypto firm Ripple, during Worthy’s tenure.

SF SAFE ran out of money to pay its staff despite city records showing that the nonprofit raked in $9.4 million from the San Francisco Police Department and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development since 2018, the year Worthy became director. The city contracted with the nonprofit to host community meetings for the police, organize neighborhood watch groups and operate a security camera program. The nonprofit also secured another $1.8 million in security camera funding from Chris Larsen, the co-founder of the crypto firm Ripple, during Worthy’s tenure.

A city report concluded last month that <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/18/san-francisco-police-wrongly-paid-nonprofit-79k-for-lavish-expenses-report-finds/">the nonprofit misspent at least $79,000</a> of the police funding on expenses such as valet parking at a private club, expensive luxury gift boxes handed out at community events and rides from a limo company to Lake Tahoe for a staff-training symposium, according to a report by the Controller’s Office. Larsen has also questioned <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/23/san-francisco-safe-nonprofit-chris-larsen-grant-funding/">whether the nonprofit misspent as much as $1 million</a> of the grant funding that he gave the organization to install and maintain security cameras.

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A city report concluded last month that <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/18/san-francisco-police-wrongly-paid-nonprofit-79k-for-lavish-expenses-report-finds/">the nonprofit misspent at least $79,000</a> of the police funding on expenses such as valet parking at a private club, expensive luxury gift boxes handed out at community events and rides from a limo company to Lake Tahoe for a staff-training symposium, according to a report by the Controller’s Office. Larsen has also questioned <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/23/san-francisco-safe-nonprofit-chris-larsen-grant-funding/">whether the nonprofit misspent as much as $1 million</a> of the grant funding that he gave the organization to install and maintain security cameras.

While the staffers say the implosion blindsided them, they admit there were red flags.

While the staffers say the implosion blindsided them, they admit there were red flags.

Unlike previous directors, Worthy kept details about the nonprofit’s budget and expenditures from her staff, said Wyatt, and did not introduce them to members of the board.&nbsp;She also had other people on the payroll who did not work in the office and whose jobs were unclear to the core staff members.

Unlike previous directors, Worthy kept details about the nonprofit’s budget and expenditures from her staff, said Wyatt, and did not introduce them to members of the board.&nbsp;She also had other people on the payroll who did not work in the office and whose jobs were unclear to the core staff members.

“Everything became a secret,” Wyatt said.

“Everything became a secret,” Wyatt said.

Last summer, the staffers lost their health insurance for a month. Then in August, problems started with their paychecks. Instead of getting paid through direct deposit as usual, the staffers received paper checks with no pay stubs. It would be the first of many paper checks that they received in the coming months from what appeared to be different bank accounts.

Last summer, the staffers lost their health insurance for a month. Then in August, problems started with their paychecks. Instead of getting paid through direct deposit as usual, the staffers received paper checks with no pay stubs. It would be the first of many paper checks that they received in the coming months from what appeared to be different bank accounts.

Worthy told them she needed to move the money from one bank to the other because of problems with at least one of the banks, staffers said. Wyatt said he and his colleagues took her word because she was the executive director.

Worthy told them she needed to move the money from one bank to the other because of problems with at least one of the banks, staffers said. Wyatt said he and his colleagues took her word because she was the executive director.

“She would always tell us that it&#8217;s the fault of the other people,” Wyatt said. “In retrospect, what I make of it is I did not feel that she would lie to us like that. That&#8217;s just wicked evil.”

“She would always tell us that it's the fault of the other people,” Wyatt said. “In retrospect, what I make of it is I did not feel that she would lie to us like that. That's just wicked evil.”

“She would always tell us that it&#8217;s the fault of the other people,” Wyatt said. “In retrospect, what I make of it is I did not feel that she would lie to us like that. That&#8217;s just wicked evil.”

The last payments some staffers received were not even on paper. In January,&nbsp; three of the staffers were paid through the digital payment apps Venmo and Zelle by Worthy and the attorney who represented the nonprofit at the time.

The last payments some staffers received were not even on paper. In January,&nbsp; three of the staffers were paid through the digital payment apps Venmo and Zelle by Worthy and the attorney who represented the nonprofit at the time.

A former employee of San Francisco Safe Inc. (SF Safe)  shows a Venmo payment sent by Dylan Hackett during a meeting of former SF SAFE employees at Peet’s Coffee on 16th Street in San Francisco on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Former employees of SF Safe are filing a complaint with The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) to receive wages SF Safe owes them after the nonprofit abruptly collapsed, leaving them jobless.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240228-sfsafestaffers05.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person holds a phone displaying a payment receipt of $3,045.74, marked complete, from someone named Dylan Hackett." class="wp-image-254057"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Former San Francisco SAFE staffer Starr Miles shows a receipt for a paycheck she received through Venmo from an attorney for the now-defunct nonprofit.</figcaption></figure>

The staffers aren’t sure what to do next. They have contacted an attorney and are considering filing a lawsuit to get paid, one staffer said.

The staffers aren’t sure what to do next. They have contacted an attorney and are considering filing a lawsuit to get paid, one staffer said.

The problem is SF SAFE doesn&#8217;t have any money.

The problem is SF SAFE doesn't have any money.

The problem is SF SAFE doesn&#8217;t have any money.

In a Feb. 5 email, the president of the board, Dan Lawson, urged the staffers to file for unemployment and told them that, &#8220;all seven board members have directed efforts toward finding resources to pay what salary is owed to you.&#8221;

In a Feb. 5 email, the president of the board, Dan Lawson, urged the staffers to file for unemployment and told them that, "all seven board members have directed efforts toward finding resources to pay what salary is owed to you."

In a Feb. 5 email, the president of the board, Dan Lawson, urged the staffers to file for unemployment and told them that, &#8220;all seven board members have directed efforts toward finding resources to pay what salary is owed to you.&#8221;

&#8220;Frankly and sadly there is no money,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;That does not mean we haven&#8217;t stopped searching.&#8221;

"Frankly and sadly there is no money," he wrote. "That does not mean we haven't stopped searching."

&#8220;Frankly and sadly there is no money,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;That does not mean we haven&#8217;t stopped searching.&#8221;

Meanwhile, tensions between them and their former boss have reached a boiling point.

Meanwhile, tensions between them and their former boss have reached a boiling point.

When the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement included her on an email thread to former SF SAFE employees last week about the missing paychecks, Worthy sent a message back to everyone that elicited a fiery response.

When the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement included her on an email thread to former SF SAFE employees last week about the missing paychecks, Worthy sent a message back to everyone that elicited a fiery response.

“I’m fine,” she wrote. “Just trying to get you guys paid since nobody else is.”&nbsp;

“I’m fine,” she wrote. “Just trying to get you guys paid since nobody else is.”&nbsp;

In response, one of the former staffers, Gina Guitron, questioned why the office included Worthy on the thread and said Worthy was “the reason the staff are without a job and have not been paid.” She went on to allege that Worthy had “depleted all accounts leaving SF SAFE in the negative.”&nbsp;

In response, one of the former staffers, Gina Guitron, questioned why the office included Worthy on the thread and said Worthy was “the reason the staff are without a job and have not been paid.” She went on to allege that Worthy had “depleted all accounts leaving SF SAFE in the negative.”&nbsp;

“Be careful what you believe, repeat and say,” Worthy replied. “Especially when you don&#8217;t know the facts.”

“Be careful what you believe, repeat and say,” Worthy replied. “Especially when you don't know the facts.”

“Be careful what you believe, repeat and say,” Worthy replied. “Especially when you don&#8217;t know the facts.”

Angry and jobless: Workers blindsided by collapse of nonprofit SF SAFE

Priya Anand

President Joe Biden has lost the confidence of some of <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/musk-andreessen-horowitz-tech-silicon-valley-trump-biden/">Silicon Valley’s loudest voices</a>, who argue that Donald Trump should be the clear choice for the tech industry.&nbsp;

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President Joe Biden has lost the confidence of some of <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/musk-andreessen-horowitz-tech-silicon-valley-trump-biden/">Silicon Valley’s loudest voices</a>, who argue that Donald Trump should be the clear choice for the tech industry.&nbsp;

But with Biden’s withdrawal from the race, there’s a chance for Kamala Harris to regain the industry’s support by offering an olive branch and distancing herself from some of Biden’s policies.

But with Biden’s withdrawal from the race, there’s a chance for Kamala Harris to regain the industry’s support by offering an olive branch and distancing herself from some of Biden’s policies.

Harris, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/23/kamala-harris-president-san-francisco-campaign-donors/">deeply rooted in the Bay Area</a>, has a roster of influential tech donors, including Ron Conway, John Doerr, Jony Ive, Marc Benioff and Sheryl Sandberg. Many heavyweights have already <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/21/siliconvalley-mulls-kamalaharris-versus-open-democratic-convention/">pledged support</a>, and there is potential to sway the undecided.

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Harris, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/23/kamala-harris-president-san-francisco-campaign-donors/">deeply rooted in the Bay Area</a>, has a roster of influential tech donors, including Ron Conway, John Doerr, Jony Ive, Marc Benioff and Sheryl Sandberg. Many heavyweights have already <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/21/siliconvalley-mulls-kamalaharris-versus-open-democratic-convention/">pledged support</a>, and there is potential to sway the undecided.

“It would be very impactful for her to say she thinks the innovation economy is really important,” said Adam Kovacevich, founder of Chamber of Progress, a tech lobbying firm. “Just to acknowledge that fact would go a long way. That doesn’t mean she has to side with tech on everything.”

“It would be very impactful for her to say she thinks the innovation economy is really important,” said Adam Kovacevich, founder of Chamber of Progress, a tech lobbying firm. “Just to acknowledge that fact would go a long way. That doesn’t mean she has to side with tech on everything.”

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff welcomes the crowd before his talk with Governor Gavin Newsom at Dreamforce in San Francisco on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NewsomDreamforce-030.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a gray suit and black shirt is speaking into a microphone on stage, gesturing with one hand. The background is a mix of green foliage and a blue screen." class="wp-image-200713"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has supported Harris in her previous campaigns.</figcaption></figure>

The Biden administration sought to rein in the potential monopoly power of tech giants through the Federal Trade Commission and impose tighter controls on cryptocurrencies through the Securities and Exchange Commission — leading some to perceive the White House as hostile to technological progress. The president’s distance from Silicon Valley, both personally and professionally, doesn’t help.

The Biden administration sought to rein in the potential monopoly power of tech giants through the Federal Trade Commission and impose tighter controls on cryptocurrencies through the Securities and Exchange Commission — leading some to perceive the White House as hostile to technological progress. The president’s distance from Silicon Valley, both personally and professionally, doesn’t help.

“Biden had no real roots in the Valley and very few relationships,” Kovacevich said.

“Biden had no real roots in the Valley and very few relationships,” Kovacevich said.

Harris’ boosters see her candidacy as an opportunity for a pivot. “Bring this back to the White House,” Eniac Ventures investor Nihal Mehta texted, with a photo of former President Barack Obama and Elon Musk during a visit to SpaceX.&nbsp;

Harris’ boosters see her candidacy as an opportunity for a pivot. “Bring this back to the White House,” Eniac Ventures investor Nihal Mehta texted, with a photo of former President Barack Obama and Elon Musk during a visit to SpaceX.&nbsp;

Mehta plans to host several fundraisers for Harris this fall with his wife, Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code. Harris should “reconnect to all the innovators in the tech industry,” Mehta added, including Musk, whom Biden criticized in a <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1813716534499393678">recent tweet</a>.

Mehta plans to host several fundraisers for Harris this fall with his wife, Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code. Harris should “reconnect to all the innovators in the tech industry,” Mehta added, including Musk, whom Biden criticized in a <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1813716534499393678">recent tweet</a>.

Mehta hopes Harris will hold roundtables with prominent executives in artificial intelligence, including those at Nvidia, Anthropic and Hugging Face. As vice president, Harris took on the role of AI czar and spearheaded the Biden administration’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/">sweeping executive order</a> calling for voluntary standards around safe development of the technology.

Mehta hopes Harris will hold roundtables with prominent executives in artificial intelligence, including those at Nvidia, Anthropic and Hugging Face. As vice president, Harris took on the role of AI czar and spearheaded the Biden administration’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/">sweeping executive order</a> calling for voluntary standards around safe development of the technology.

It has been mere days since Biden dropped out and Harris stepped into the limelight, so the fundraising wars are just starting to heat up. Billions of dollars of tech wealth are in play.&nbsp;

It has been mere days since Biden dropped out and Harris stepped into the limelight, so the fundraising wars are just starting to heat up. Billions of dollars of tech wealth are in play.&nbsp;

Trump’s vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance, is headlining a fundraiser Monday in Palo Alto, according to an invitation <a href="https://x.com/teddyschleifer/status/1815751711601868970">tweeted</a> by a New York Times reporter. <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/musk-andreessen-horowitz-tech-silicon-valley-trump-biden/">Vance</a>, a former venture capitalist, once worked for Peter Thiel and has been claimed by the members of the influential “All-In” podcast as a member of their clique, a group of tech investors that has skewed to the right in recent years.

Trump’s vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance, is headlining a fundraiser Monday in Palo Alto, according to an invitation <a href="https://x.com/teddyschleifer/status/1815751711601868970">tweeted</a> by a New York Times reporter. <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/musk-andreessen-horowitz-tech-silicon-valley-trump-biden/">Vance</a>, a former venture capitalist, once worked for Peter Thiel and has been claimed by the members of the influential “All-In” podcast as a member of their clique, a group of tech investors that has skewed to the right in recent years.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fresh-start">A fresh start?</h2>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fresh-start">A fresh start?</h2>

Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen, general partners at Andreessen Horowitz, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_sNclEgQZQ">said on their podcast</a> last week that they thought Trump would be more helpful than Biden when it comes to regulation of crypto and AI. “The future of our business, the future of technology, new technology and the future of America is literally at stake, so here we are. And for little tech, we think Donald Trump is actually the right choice,” Horowitz said.

Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen, general partners at Andreessen Horowitz, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_sNclEgQZQ">said on their podcast</a> last week that they thought Trump would be more helpful than Biden when it comes to regulation of crypto and AI. “The future of our business, the future of technology, new technology and the future of America is literally at stake, so here we are. And for little tech, we think Donald Trump is actually the right choice,” Horowitz said.

The Harris campaign may be getting the message. Billionaire Mark Cuban told Decrypt he had received questions from her campaign about crypto, the publication <a href="https://decrypt.co/241214/mark-cuban-says-kamala-harris-far-more-open-crypto-biden">reported</a> Tuesday. However, it’s still unclear whether the regulatory scrutiny the industry has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-20/crypto-industry-wants-trump-to-win-and-call-off-the-sec">bristled at under</a> SEC chair Gary Gensler would relax on her watch.

The Harris campaign may be getting the message. Billionaire Mark Cuban told Decrypt he had received questions from her campaign about crypto, the publication <a href="https://decrypt.co/241214/mark-cuban-says-kamala-harris-far-more-open-crypto-biden">reported</a> Tuesday. However, it’s still unclear whether the regulatory scrutiny the industry has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-20/crypto-industry-wants-trump-to-win-and-call-off-the-sec">bristled at under</a> SEC chair Gary Gensler would relax on her watch.

Harris’ relationship with the tech industry has evolved since her time as San Francisco’s district attorney and California’s attorney general. In those roles, she made <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/01/kamala-harris-porn-california-attorney-general-facebook-twitter-silicon-valley-224534/">combating cyberbullying and ensuring online privacy</a> key initiatives and worked to stem the use of tech platforms to share sexually explicit images or videos of individuals without their consent. Notably, she did not support calls for breaking up Big Tech companies, instead advocating for regulation that ensures consumers’ privacy is not compromised.

Harris’ relationship with the tech industry has evolved since her time as San Francisco’s district attorney and California’s attorney general. In those roles, she made <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/01/kamala-harris-porn-california-attorney-general-facebook-twitter-silicon-valley-224534/">combating cyberbullying and ensuring online privacy</a> key initiatives and worked to stem the use of tech platforms to share sexually explicit images or videos of individuals without their consent. Notably, she did not support calls for breaking up Big Tech companies, instead advocating for regulation that ensures consumers’ privacy is not compromised.

Harris has similarly maintained a middle ground in the Biden administration, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/11/01/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-london-united-kingdom/">saying in a November speech</a> about AI that she and the president “reject the false choice that suggests we can either protect the public or advance innovation. We can and we must do both.”

Harris has similarly maintained a middle ground in the Biden administration, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/11/01/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-london-united-kingdom/">saying in a November speech</a> about AI that she and the president “reject the false choice that suggests we can either protect the public or advance innovation. We can and we must do both.”

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 03:  Andreesen Horowitz partner Marc Andreesen speaks during the Fortune Global Forum on November 3, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Business leaders are attending the Fortune Global Forum that runs through November 4.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GettyImages-495485702-2.jpg?w=2048" alt="A bald, bearded man in a suit is smiling and gesturing with his hands. He is seated at a table with two water bottles in front of him and a microphone clipped to his shirt." class="wp-image-133258"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andreessen Horowitz partner Marc Andreessen has publically pledged his support to Donald Trump after previously endorsing Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.</figcaption></figure>

But there’s policy, and then there are hurt feelings. At least part of the discontent toward the Biden administration comes from a feeling that while the tech industry has been a huge driver for the economy, its executives and the wealth they helped create have been vilified by the left.&nbsp;

But there’s policy, and then there are hurt feelings. At least part of the discontent toward the Biden administration comes from a feeling that while the tech industry has been a huge driver for the economy, its executives and the wealth they helped create have been vilified by the left.&nbsp;

Indeed, Horowitz lamented on the podcast that he and Andreessen had tried and failed to meet with Biden. Andreessen added that he previously endorsed&nbsp;Obama and Hillary Clinton and had met with a number of presidents.&nbsp;

Indeed, Horowitz lamented on the podcast that he and Andreessen had tried and failed to meet with Biden. Andreessen added that he previously endorsed&nbsp;Obama and Hillary Clinton and had met with a number of presidents.&nbsp;

Musk, who <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/musk-andreessen-horowitz-tech-silicon-valley-trump-biden/">endorsed</a> Trump after the former president’s assassination attempt, has made clear he felt <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1527843657214218246">personally alienated</a> by the Biden administration. His key example was when the White House held up General Motors, rather than Tesla, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/22/elon-musk-accuses-biden-of-ignoring-tesla-but-says-he-would-do-the-right-thing-if-invited-to-white-house.html">as a leader</a> in the electric vehicle industry.

Musk, who <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/musk-andreessen-horowitz-tech-silicon-valley-trump-biden/">endorsed</a> Trump after the former president’s assassination attempt, has made clear he felt <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1527843657214218246">personally alienated</a> by the Biden administration. His key example was when the White House held up General Motors, rather than Tesla, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/22/elon-musk-accuses-biden-of-ignoring-tesla-but-says-he-would-do-the-right-thing-if-invited-to-white-house.html">as a leader</a> in the electric vehicle industry.

Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1423156475799683075">tweeted</a> that Tesla hadn’t been invited to White House events about the EV industry and once wrote that the Biden administration had “done everything it can to sideline &amp; ignore Tesla, even though we have made twice as many EVs as the rest of the US industry combined.”

Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1423156475799683075">tweeted</a> that Tesla hadn’t been invited to White House events about the EV industry and once wrote that the Biden administration had “done everything it can to sideline &amp; ignore Tesla, even though we have made twice as many EVs as the rest of the US industry combined.”

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-tech-veepstakes">The tech veepstakes</h2>

One factor that could color how Silicon Valley perceives Harris is her choice of running mate. Just as Trump chose a former venture capitalist with close ties to tech, Harris has the chance to use her VP pick to bolster her bona fides in the industry.&nbsp;

One factor that could color how Silicon Valley perceives Harris is her choice of running mate. Just as Trump chose a former venture capitalist with close ties to tech, Harris has the chance to use her VP pick to bolster her bona fides in the industry.&nbsp;

Among the potential picks is&nbsp; Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who recently <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article287429090.html">vetoed a bill</a> allowing self-driving cars on state roads while <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/03/26/kentucky-governor-signs-tax-breaks-for-crypto-miners-into-law/">signing into law tax breaks</a> for crypto miners.

Among the potential picks is&nbsp; Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who recently <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article287429090.html">vetoed a bill</a> allowing self-driving cars on state roads while <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/03/26/kentucky-governor-signs-tax-breaks-for-crypto-miners-into-law/">signing into law tax breaks</a> for crypto miners.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has <a href="https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=6454796&amp;default=candidate">received donations</a> from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Ripple Labs founder Chris Larsen, has <a href="https://www.pa.gov/en/governor/newsroom/press-releases/governor-josh-shapiro-signs-executive-order-on-commonwealth-use-.html">signed an executive order</a> on generative AI use by government employees.&nbsp;

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has <a href="https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=6454796&amp;default=candidate">received donations</a> from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Ripple Labs founder Chris Larsen, has <a href="https://www.pa.gov/en/governor/newsroom/press-releases/governor-josh-shapiro-signs-executive-order-on-commonwealth-use-.html">signed an executive order</a> on generative AI use by government employees.&nbsp;

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who raised funds from prominent Silicon Valley executives during his 2020 presidential run, is another possibility. He has connections with figures like Hoffman and investors that include Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures and Sarah Tavel of Benchmark.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who raised funds from prominent Silicon Valley executives during his 2020 presidential run, is another possibility. He has connections with figures like Hoffman and investors that include Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures and Sarah Tavel of Benchmark.

Buttigieg was the 2020 candidate of choice for Palantir Technologies adviser Jacob Helberg, who is married to prominent venture capitalist Keith Rabois and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/14/trump-donors-tech-jacob-helberg/">reportedly donated</a> $1 million this year to efforts to reelect Trump.

Buttigieg was the 2020 candidate of choice for Palantir Technologies adviser Jacob Helberg, who is married to prominent venture capitalist Keith Rabois and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/14/trump-donors-tech-jacob-helberg/">reportedly donated</a> $1 million this year to efforts to reelect Trump.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, one of the architects of the CHIPS Act, which provided billions of dollars for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, is also seen as a strong contender.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, one of the architects of the CHIPS Act, which provided billions of dollars for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, is also seen as a strong contender.

President Biden lost the tech industry’s confidence. Can Kamala pivot? 

With a looming election threatening to dilute its powers, San Francisco’s Police Commission cast a divided vote Wednesday to push through a controversial policy meant to stop officers from making biased traffic stops.

With a looming election threatening to dilute its powers, San Francisco’s Police Commission cast a divided vote Wednesday to push through a controversial policy meant to stop officers from making biased traffic stops.

The commission voted 4-3 to enact the policy restricting the use of so-called pretext stops by officers, despite the possibility that the police union could file a lawsuit seeking to bar the new rules from going into effect.

The commission voted 4-3 to enact the policy restricting the use of so-called pretext stops by officers, despite the possibility that the police union could file a lawsuit seeking to bar the new rules from going into effect.

The policy is meant to curb the use of pretext stops, which is when an officer pulls over a driver for a low-level offense—using it as a pretext—because they have a hunch that a more serious crime may have been committed. While the police union has argued that pretext stops are <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/05/06/battle-for-police-reform-to-reduce-racial-disparities-sfpd-may-ban-minor-traffic-stops/">a useful tool</a> for seizing guns and drugs, critics worry that police target Black and Latino drivers with the practice.

Battle for police reform: To reduce racial disparities, SFPD may ban minor traffic stops

The policy is meant to curb the use of pretext stops, which is when an officer pulls over a driver for a low-level offense—using it as a pretext—because they have a hunch that a more serious crime may have been committed. While the police union has argued that pretext stops are <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/05/06/battle-for-police-reform-to-reduce-racial-disparities-sfpd-may-ban-minor-traffic-stops/">a useful tool</a> for seizing guns and drugs, critics worry that police target Black and Latino drivers with the practice.

No one mentioned it during the hearing, but the vote comes with less than two weeks to spare before voters will decide on a consequential ballot measure that would dull the body’s ability to pass controversial policies.

No one mentioned it during the hearing, but the vote comes with less than two weeks to spare before voters will decide on a consequential ballot measure that would dull the body’s ability to pass controversial policies.

Beginning in 90 days, the policy will bar officers from pulling over drivers solely for <a href="https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/PoliceCommission22124-%20DGO%209.07_4.5.23%20Styleguided%20lp%20edits%201%2023%2024_MCO%20edits.pdf">a small subset</a> of vehicle code violations, such as failing to signal properly or driving with long-expired registration tags. However, the policy leaves some room for officers to enforce these offenses, such as when a vehicle is parked or when the offense is not the only reason for pulling over a driver.

Beginning in 90 days, the policy will bar officers from pulling over drivers solely for <a href="https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/PoliceCommission22124-%20DGO%209.07_4.5.23%20Styleguided%20lp%20edits%201%2023%2024_MCO%20edits.pdf">a small subset</a> of vehicle code violations, such as failing to signal properly or driving with long-expired registration tags. However, the policy leaves some room for officers to enforce these offenses, such as when a vehicle is parked or when the offense is not the only reason for pulling over a driver.

Police Commission Vice President Max Carter-Oberstone, one of the leading proponents behind the proposal, said that the policy will deprioritize officers making certain stops that rarely result in arrests or gun seizures.

Police Commission Vice President Max Carter-Oberstone, one of the leading proponents behind the proposal, said that the policy will deprioritize officers making certain stops that rarely result in arrests or gun seizures.

“These stops are wasting time and money,” Carter-Oberstone said ahead of the vote. “We need to be focusing on the core duties of the police department that actually improve people&#8217;s lives.”

“These stops are wasting time and money,” Carter-Oberstone said ahead of the vote. “We need to be focusing on the core duties of the police department that actually improve people's lives.”

“These stops are wasting time and money,” Carter-Oberstone said ahead of the vote. “We need to be focusing on the core duties of the police department that actually improve people&#8217;s lives.”

Wednesday’s vote was split between commissioners who believed the policy was the right way to go about reducing racial disparities in traffic enforcement, and others who seemed as if they weren’t convinced, despite previously supporting a similar version of the proposal in a unanimous vote last April.

Wednesday’s vote was split between commissioners who believed the policy was the right way to go about reducing racial disparities in traffic enforcement, and others who seemed as if they weren’t convinced, despite previously supporting a similar version of the proposal in a unanimous vote last April.

Commissioner Jim Byrne, who joined commissioners Debra Walker and Larry Yee in opposing the policy, said that he supported ending biased stops. But Byrne questioned whether approving the policy would achieve that goal.

Commissioner Jim Byrne, who joined commissioners Debra Walker and Larry Yee in opposing the policy, said that he supported ending biased stops. But Byrne questioned whether approving the policy would achieve that goal.

Byrne said more important than passing a policy that could be used to punish officers for making pretext stops was changing police culture.

Byrne said more important than passing a policy that could be used to punish officers for making pretext stops was changing police culture.

“If the rank and file of the police department cannot be brought along to the importance of this issue and the only way that the commission thinks that they can be brought around is by punishing them if they don&#8217;t, then we have a problem,” Byrne said.

“If the rank and file of the police department cannot be brought along to the importance of this issue and the only way that the commission thinks that they can be brought around is by punishing them if they don't, then we have a problem,” Byrne said.

“If the rank and file of the police department cannot be brought along to the importance of this issue and the only way that the commission thinks that they can be brought around is by punishing them if they don&#8217;t, then we have a problem,” Byrne said.

Walker voted against the policy after expressing trepidation that the policy would restrict officers from enforcing state laws.

Walker voted against the policy after expressing trepidation that the policy would restrict officers from enforcing state laws.

She also noted that, since Jan. 1, officers throughout California have been required to tell drivers their reasons for pulling them over under a new state law that she hoped would have the desired effect of reducing racial disparities.

She also noted that, since Jan. 1, officers throughout California have been required to tell drivers their reasons for pulling them over under a new state law that she hoped would have the desired effect of reducing racial disparities.

“We are doing that now,” Walker said. “That is what we&#8217;re doing without changing a thing.”

“We are doing that now,” Walker said. “That is what we're doing without changing a thing.”

“We are doing that now,” Walker said. “That is what we&#8217;re doing without changing a thing.”

But the commissioners who supported the policy argued that there was ample evidence the policy would reduce racial disparities without impacting public safety. They also emphasized that the proposal had undergone a robust public meeting process that included input from rank-and-file officers.

But the commissioners who supported the policy argued that there was ample evidence the policy would reduce racial disparities without impacting public safety. They also emphasized that the proposal had undergone a robust public meeting process that included input from rank-and-file officers.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looming-election-threat">Looming election threat</h2>

Wednesday’s vote could mark the last time that the commission, which has long served as a powerful check on the San Francisco Police Department, can independently approve a contentious policy without first enduring <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/27/san-francisco-mayor-breed-march-2024-ballot-measure-explainer/">a cumbersome public meeting process</a> envisioned by Mayor London Breed.

San Francisco mayor wants to give cops a long leash. Here’s what you’ll be voting on

Wednesday’s vote could mark the last time that the commission, which has long served as a powerful check on the San Francisco Police Department, can independently approve a contentious policy without first enduring <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/27/san-francisco-mayor-breed-march-2024-ballot-measure-explainer/">a cumbersome public meeting process</a> envisioned by Mayor London Breed.

Proposition E, which the mayor is asking voters to approve March 5, would require the commission to hold a public meeting at every police station in the city before it even considers changing rules for officers. Only the chief of police would have the power to waive the process.

Proposition E, which the mayor is asking voters to approve March 5, would require the commission to hold a public meeting at every police station in the city before it even considers changing rules for officers. Only the chief of police would have the power to waive the process.

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