Seven SF supes support ‘Vision Zero’ plan to end homicides, violent crimes

San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton is calling on The City to come devise a comprehensive plan to end homicides and violent crimes.

The plan, called Vision Zero on Homicides and Violent Crimes, would be similar to The City’s plan on ending traffic fatalities, in that city departments and nonprofit organizations would work together solving the issue.

Walton stood with family members affected by gun violence and brutal violent attacks who agree The City needs to act to end the violence.

Yik Oi Huang, 88, lived in Walton’s district in Visitacion Valley when she was brutally attacked Jan. 8.

Sasanna Yee, Huang’s granddaughter, attended the rally Tuesday on the steps of City Hall. Yee said she witnessed a number of violent incidents in her younger years while she lived in southeastern portion of The City and wanted to bring peace to that community.

Yee said:

“I’ve been coming forward to speak for those who don’t have voice in our community. It’s just the not Chinese community that is hurting, it’s all communities.”

Walton’s resolution, which he introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, requests that Mayor London Breed work with district supervisors to identify a violence prevention coordinator for each district that will orchestrate resources and provide a safety plan.

The coordinator would collaborate with San Francisco police, the Department of Public Health, Public Works, the school district as well as faith-based organizations and community leaders.

Additionally, Walton wants more foot patrol officers assigned to crime-ridden areas identified by current and past data, would increase the number of patrol ambassadors and establish a program with formerly incarcerated persons to speak with at-risk youth.

Walton said:

“We have to take the steps that say we will prioritize resources, services, in areas where we know hot spots exist, where we know violent crime has existed in the past.”

Walton said as of July 19, The City experienced seven murders and 55 shootings, 17 of those resulting in injuries.

Walton said:

“Although these are not the high numbers we used to see, this senseless violence has to stop.”

Sha’ray Johnson, mother of 15 year-old Day’Von Hann who was shot and killed July 8 in the Mission District, said:

“These kids, they have so much that they can build on [like] college. Things that we should be able to give them.”

Supervisors Hillary Ronen, Rafael Mandelman, Catherine Stefani, Aaron Peskin, Ahsha Safai and Matt Haney have all signed on as cosponsors to Walton’s resolution.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.