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Drug market sweeps yield a lot of arrests, but few prosecutions in San Francisco

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Drug market sweeps yield a lot of arrests, but few prosecutions in San Francisco


Big sweeps, but few prosecutions in San Francisco. 

At this point, law enforcement officials are standing by the strategy of enforcing and tracking down where drug markets move even if they aren’t leading to many prosecutions at this point. 

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San Francisco’s Police Department has highlighted several high-visibility enforcement efforts, including just over a week ago at the intersection of Market and Van Ness to show the renewed effort to crack down on open-air drug markets and use. 

So far no charges

While that sweep resulted in 40 or so arrests, so far no one has been charged. 

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Law Professor David Levine from UC School of Law San Francisco said police can arrest someone based on probable cause, but prosecutors need to meet the higher bar of beyond a reasonable doubt to win a case. 

“There’s a big difference between the standards police use to make an arrest versus what the prosecutors use to initiate a prosecution and ultimately what they need to win a case in front of a jury,” said Levine.

What they’re saying:

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San Francisco police issued a statement reading in part, “17 of the arrests at Market and Van Ness were for outstanding warrants that were sent to the appropriate jurisdictions. These efforts have led to better outcomes. Our streets are cleaner and safer where we enforce the law.” 

Calling it successful 

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’ office also weighed in, calling the enforcement a success and saying most of those arrested were cited for misdemeanors and will appear in court within the next month or so.

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The DA released a statement reading in part, “Successful prosecution and law enforcement requires a robust, collaborative partnership among agencies, and we are committed to working with our partners to offer guidance on what we need to meet our burden of proof.”

Supervisor Matt Dorsey, whose district includes the South of Market, agrees that simply having police disrupt drug markets and use is an important step, and can even be a tool to get drug users into treatment, and impact the demand side of the drug trade. 

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“The party is over”

“This isn’t about going back to the war on drugs,” said Supervisor Dorsey, “It is about telling people that the party is over. We have to restore public order in San Francisco.”

Legal experts say even without prosecutions, law enforcement may be sending a message. 

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“Because you’re going to make these criminals at least a little more careful about what they’re doing,” said Levine. “They’re going to be a little bit more discreet about what they’re doing.”

What’s next:

The DA said her office will be meeting with SFPD next week to discuss the recent enforcement, and offer guidance on what her attorneys need to successfully prosecute cases. 

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San FranciscoSan Francisco Police DepartmentNewsBrooke Jenkins



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San Francisco, CA

This Week: Bike Ambassador, Lake Merritt Loop, Cayuga Street – Streetsblog San Francisco

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This Week: Bike Ambassador, Lake Merritt Loop, Cayuga Street – Streetsblog San Francisco


Here is a list of events this week.

  • Tuesday Bicycle Ambassador Training. This online training will get you up to date on what’s going on with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and teach you how to sign up new members. Tuesday, March 31, 5-7 p.m. Sign up here for Zoom link.
  • Tuesday Lake Merritt Loop Group Ride. Join Bike East Bay for this monthly after-work, slow-paced bike ride. Tuesday, March 31, roll out at 5:30 p.m. from Lake Merritt BART, east side of Oak Street between 8th and 9th Streets, Oakland. Ends at 19th Street BART, 20th Street at Broadway. RSVP here.
  • Wednesday Cayuga Slow Street Upgrade Open House. SFMTA and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission invite neighbors to share feedback on proposed traffic calming and stormwater infrastructure. Wednesday, April 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Excelsior Branch Library, 4400 Mission Street, S.F.
  • Wednesday Save Bay Area Transit Info Session & Signature Gathering Training. Join SFBike, Connect Bay Area, and Stronger Muni for All to learn about the two transit funding measures that can close the deficit and how you can get involved to support them. Wednesday, April 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Rikki’s, 2223 Market Street, S.F. RSVP required.
  • Friday Woman and Non-Binary Bike S.F. Coffee Club. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Coffee Club is a place to meet new people, talk bikes, share tips, and caffeinate. Friday, April 3, 8-9 a.m. Cinderella Bakery, 436 Balboa Street, S.F.

Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.



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Bay Area residents hold rally in SF as war with Iran enters 2nd month

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Bay Area residents hold rally in SF as war with Iran enters 2nd month


SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — With the war in Iran about to enter a second month, calls for regime change continue.

“I’m here just to be a voice for the people of Iran. What they want? Free Iran. What they want? To have a normal life, which they can’t have. They are murdered by the Iranian government,” said Mahsa Garakani, Marin County resident.

Hundreds of Iranians from across the Bay Area marched along San Francisco’s Embarcadero on Sunday.

“We’re just echoing what our people want from the inside all our families. A lot of people don’t understand the minimal internet access they have. They are sending us videos telling us what they want, and we’re going to keep doing this every week until they have their freedom,” said Ali Lohrassebi from Pacifica

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“We are here to support president’s actions, President Trump and all this administration’s actions on Iran taking strikes on the regime, killing them all and we are asking them to continue this until the regime changes,” said Sayna Ibrahimi, Los Altos Hills resident.

Iran live updates: IDF launches ‘widespread’ strikes in Tehran

And while this group of rallygoers is very much in favor of the war, there is a group of local Iranians with a much different opinion.

“The first thing we would like to see happen is bombs stopping. That’s the first thing. Before that, people are just in survival mode,” said Babak Sani, Oakland resident.

Babak Sani is one of the voices calling for an end to the war…and for the people of Iran to have control over who their next leader is.

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“What the war does is it sets back any kind of movement for democracy. It sets back the aspirations of the people. The idea of self-determination is one of the first things that came up right away in our first gathering and it’s been in the heart of our discussions throughout,” Sani, Oakland resident.

Still there are no signs of the war ending soon, The Washington Post is reporting the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of limited ground operations, that could involve raids by special operators.

Axios reporting The White House is also considering deploying up to 10,000 more troops to the region.

Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Get out of the house with these SF events

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Get out of the house with these SF events


San Francisco isn’t letting the rain that’s in the forecast damper residents’ moods. 

Here are some of the top events to check out this week in The City. 

Daniel Grace at Book Passage (Monday)

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Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra (Monday)

Out of This World Showcase (Monday)

San Francisco’s Next Congress Member? The Candidates Debate (Tuesday)







Congress

State Sen. Scott Wiener, center, progressive-activist Saikat Chakrabarti and Supervisor Connie Chan are among the candidates vying for the congressional seat representing San Francisco. 

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An evening with Nathan Bickert and Levi Gillis (Tuesday)

Portrait painting (Wednesday)

Felt collage art workshop (Wednesday) 







YBCA

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts provides participants with materials for its drop-in workshops.



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Live Music: France, Pateka, Agnes Martian (Wednesday)

Artist reception (Thursday)

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SF steps up efforts to designate local landmarks amid push for housing

New accelerated program adopted to preserve historic and cultural resources in balance with updated zoning rules


Why the venture industry’s dark days don’t mean it’s doomed

With few IPOs and exits, firms have been struggling to send money back to investors and raise new capital from them — but experts see a turnaround coming

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Where every culture is beautiful: Carnaval season commences

Thirteen competitors will perform for a chance to headline the Mission parade and festival

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Downtown First Thursday (Thursday)

Wood Engravers’ Network 5th Triennial Exhibition opening reception (Thursday)

After Dark: Immersed in Verse (Thursday)







Exploratorium

Exploratorium patrons will be able to participate in activities such as an exercise in which people explore the connections between language and phyiscal movement.

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An evening with Anthony McGill and Gloria Chien (Friday)

Dirty Pop! First Fridays (Friday)

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‘16 x 20’ opening reception (Saturday)

Launderland Circus (Saturday-Sunday)

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Easter Mountain Lake Park 5K (Sunday)

Bring Your Own Big Wheel (Sunday) 







BYOBW

The annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel event takes place on Vermont Street in Potrero Hill.



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