The mayor's office reported that Breed's itinerary included meetings with government, business, and airline officials across several Chinese cities.
The invitation for the visit was extended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng during last year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference held in San Francisco. Prior to her departure, Breed expressed her objectives to the local NBC station, which included securing pandas for the San Francisco Zoo, fostering stronger relationships with Chinese officials, boosting tourism, and promoting San Francisco businesses.
"We believe that increased flights, business opportunities, and pandas will significantly enhance the economic opportunities for San Francisco," Breed stated in a press conference. However, back in San Francisco, the mayor's constituents are grappling with issues far more serious than zoo exhibits.
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California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones criticized Breed's decision to travel to China amidst escalating crime and homelessness in San Francisco. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Jones said, "Mayor London Breed's decision to jet off to China in pursuit of pandas while her city grapples with escalating crime and homelessness is a disgraceful evasion of her responsibilities to ensure the safety of San Francisco residents."
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Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher echoed Jones' sentiments, stating, "If you asked a thousand San Franciscans what the biggest problem facing the city is, not a single one of them would say that the zoo doesn’t have pandas. They would say they’re tired of rising crime, sick of soaring homelessness and fed up with a broken government that ignores the city’s problems."
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Despite the criticism, San Francisco officials have claimed that the city's crime rate is "lower than any period in the last ten years" excluding 2020. FBI statistics show a decline in crimes reported to the police in 2023 compared to 2022, although not as significantly as the rest of the country. However, robberies and motor vehicle thefts saw an increase in 2023 over the previous year.
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Doug Yakel, a spokesperson for San Francisco International Airport, believes that the mayor's visit could stimulate the city's economy by generating millions of dollars from airline travel. He expressed hope that three China-based airlines would commence operations at SFO.
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Breed also expressed confidence in her plan to bring giant pandas to the city, although the cost of this endeavor is yet to be determined. She stated, "We expect a pair of pandas, and they are hopefully expected to come as soon as we’re able to raise the resources, do all the permitting, continue to work with the wildlife and conservation group in Beijing for all the paperwork."
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However, Jones suggested that Breed should redirect her resources and focus on addressing the city's issues. Gloria Chan, the director of communications with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, argued that securing pandas for the zoo would be beneficial for the city.
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Meanwhile, the city continues to struggle with homelessness, crime, drug abuse, and economic decline. The city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing reported 7,754 homeless individuals in San Francisco in 2022, a 3.5% decrease from the previous year. In 2023, the city reported 810 drug overdose deaths, more than double the national average.
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In response to the city's drug-dealing epidemic, US Attorney Ismail Ramsey announced a federal initiative to increase arrests of street dealers and raise federal charges against drug traffickers. Despite these efforts, Breed has faced criticism from several high-profile individuals, including NBA star Charles Barkley and San Francisco-based rapper Chino Yang.
In a recent development, Breed announced plans to set a curfew in part of the Tenderloin to help curb crime in the area. In 2023, local law enforcement agencies made over 2,000 arrests for drug sales or drug use in the Tenderloin and seized over 260 pounds of fentanyl. The city reported that work has continued into 2024, with 350 arrests so far this year for drug sales or drug use.
Mayor Breed stated, "Our work around public safety is making a difference, but we’ve got more work to do. We are not letting up on our efforts to make San Francisco a safer and enjoyable city for everyone, and this includes continuing to ramp up police staffing and giving our local enforcement agencies the resources they need to do their job."
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