The Domestic Violence Challenge

CitiReport
by Larry Bush on 11/02/2012

The advocates and directors of programs aimed at curbing domestic violence and assisting its victims have one thing right: San Francisco is failing and has fallen far behind the standard set in other communities.

The evidence is irrefutable that the city has failed to put into place policies that will better protect against violence against an intimate partner and has a failing record on prosecution of in such cases. So far, however, despite a sustained campaign aimed at blaming Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi for this state of affairs, there has been no discussion of what’s wrong and what is needed to fix it.

The blame for that falls squarely on the political consultants leading a campaign that claims to be about domestic violence but which has done nothing to advance the city’s efforts to meet that challenge. It lies equally with Mayor Lee and his administration and District Attorney Gascon who apparently find this a welcome diversion from examining their own policies and management that has made San Francisco last among Bay Area counties. The focus on the Mirkarimi case has led some to believe that the advocates for organizations involved with domestic violence see it domestic violence everywhere, from raised voices in an argument between romantic partners to actual physical assault. But the evidence is mounting that they see it nowhere except where they can claim a political advantage.

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