A San Francisco store owner, originally from Afghanistan, voiced his frustration with the city’s Democratic-led officials, accusing them of inadequately addressing the rampant crime problem, Your Content has learned.
The store owner, named Zaid, compared the situation to Afghanistan and Iraq, stating that the city had become worse than those war-torn countries. Zaid’s tobacco shop was targeted by a group of thieves who smashed his store windows and made off with approximately $100,000 worth of merchandise and cash.
Zaid’s remarks reflect the escalating lawlessness in the West Coast metro area, as official crime statistics reveal a 25 percent increase in homicides and a 17 percent increase in robberies compared to the previous year.
Disturbing footage captured the thieves launching their attack on Zaid’s store, swiftly ransacking his business within a mere 20 minutes.
Despite reporting the incident to the police, Zaid expressed his lack of faith in their ability to take effective action due to alleged staffing shortages.
The store owner criticized the city’s soft-on-crime policies implemented by Democrat lawmakers, emphasizing the prevalent drug issue and homelessness crisis that compound the problem.
Having resided in the United States for over three decades, Zaid asserted that San Francisco’s deterioration, particularly over the past two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is unparalleled.
The soaring crime rates have instilled fear in potential shoppers, who worry about being robbed or having their vehicles broken into.
Zaid even contemplated shutting down his business, prioritizing safety over his livelihood.
The inadequacy of city officials, including Mayor London Breed and Governor Gavin Newsom, in addressing the crime problems has led to mounting public pressure.
In fact, a furious resident recently expressed their frustration by throwing a brick at the mayor.
The alarming robbery incident underscores the ongoing struggle San Francisco faces with its uncontrolled crime wave.
The surge in crime has been accompanied by an increase in homicides by 25 percent compared to the previous year, while robberies and arsons have risen by 17 percent and seven percent, respectively.
The city’s streets are filled with thousands of homeless individuals, and drug abuse continues to plague the population.
Critics attribute the city’s decline to the pandemic, which prompted many tech employees to leave during lockdowns.
The option of remote work and visible signs of urban decay have deterred their return, exacerbating the situation and resulting in a sharp rise in overdose deaths among the homeless population.
To counteract San Francisco’s tarnished reputation, city officials recently invested $6 million in a marketing campaign titled ‘Always San Francisco’ aimed at attracting tourists back to the city.
This campaign includes the city’s first-ever television commercial, featuring a music video showcasing the metro’s diversity and uniqueness.
However, the downtown recovery of San Francisco has been alarmingly slow compared to other major cities in the US and Canada following the pandemic.
The city hopes to revive its tourism industry, which saw a significant decline in 2020 due to the pandemic’s impact,‘according to FOX News.
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