San Francisco Mayor London Breed introduced a budget proposal on Thursday that makes good on a campaign promise to increase police staffing despite facing a nearly $800 million two-year budget deficit.
Breed, who is facing a tough reelection in November, has pitched a $46.7 million increase to the police department’s budget, bringing it to an all-time record high of $821.6 million. Her plan requires the approval of the Board of Supervisors, which won’t be easy since some of the more progressive members have voted against increases for police spending in the past.
From left, San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Mayor London Breed, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D‑CA) walk to a news conference in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The San Francisco Police Department is about 500 officers short of the level recommended by an independent staffing analysis.
Breed wants to fund four police academy classes of 50 recruits each over the next year, doubling the 25-person classes of the past. She’s pledged to spend even more if SFPD recruitment exceeds those levels. Her police-friendly budget also includes $3.7 million in new technology for the department.
“We have made real progress on public safety in San Francisco,” Breed said in a statement outlining her proposal. “One …