It was a shock yesterday morning to find out local entrepreneur Bob Lee (whom I honestly have never heard of until yesterday) was stabbed to death in the early morning near the Rincon towers. A ritzy part of San Francisco downtown that you typically wouldn’t associate with violence. But nothing like a rich white guy getting killed, seemingly senselessly, to garner widespread outrage. Where was the same energy for that Asian kid who got stabbed on the bus?
Discussion is good. We need to continue talking about how bad crime has become in San Francisco. Those who cite numbers to the contrary can shove it. Car break ins happen daily, unabated. Homeless encampments everywhere. There’s open drug markets in the Tenderloin district. Rampant retail theft is forcing store closures. Sure, the odds of me getting stabbed in San Francisco is lower than other cities, but in this case, feelings don’t care about your facts. We don’t feel safe!
Feelings vote. Either with feet (plenty of people have moved out of the region), or at the ballot box. We successfully recalled our disastrous previous District Attorney, and voted in someone who does prosecute. The heavily Asian Sunset district voted out an incumbent Chinese supervisor. Anyone in government who continues to allow for the status quo will soon arrive at the finding out phase of fucking around and find out.
Tech bros (and brodettes) have lots of power in San Francisco. I hope Bob Lee’s death will not be in vain. Let the outcry of his death add to the chorus of discontent that may then grow into an absolute avalanche. Rest in peace.
Not actually French.