Read on Twitter
What the SFDA's race was, and was not, about. A thread.
So for some people, there's the horse-race analysis of elections. This can be somewhat interesting, in the same way that a game with instant replay is interesting. 1/
So for some people, there's the horse-race analysis of elections. This can be somewhat interesting, in the same way that a game with instant replay is interesting. 1/
There are people w/ actual expertise who analyze the outcomes.
Here's a real expert explaining how ranked choice voting played out in this election. His analysis raises questions about "progressives" and "moderates" in such an election. 2/ https://twitter.com/ValisJason/status/1193636689073164289?s=20
Here's a real expert explaining how ranked choice voting played out in this election. His analysis raises questions about "progressives" and "moderates" in such an election. 2/ https://twitter.com/ValisJason/status/1193636689073164289?s=20
It's an interesting analysis that leads to deeper questions: why was @chesaboudin able to build a broad-based coalition? Why were others unable to do so? Why did voters reject the candidates who did not authentically "signal" their goals & accept the one who consistently did? 3/
Then, there's this: right-wing punditry, masquerading as electoral expertise.
In this piece, disappointed men spout nonsense. Chesa "ran to the left of Hugo Chavez." They make meaningless statements--RCV is "election by algorithm not campaigning." 4/ https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/diaz/article/Takeaways-from-the-San-Francisco-election-14822703.php
In this piece, disappointed men spout nonsense. Chesa "ran to the left of Hugo Chavez." They make meaningless statements--RCV is "election by algorithm not campaigning." 4/ https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/diaz/article/Takeaways-from-the-San-Francisco-election-14822703.php
What does this even mean? Did Diaz or the men he quotes even look on social media to see f'ing photos or video of 100s of voters & volunteers, let alone actually attend an event or debate?
(BTW, am I dropping the f-bomb the way a woman should? The way John Burton would?) 5/
(BTW, am I dropping the f-bomb the way a woman should? The way John Burton would?) 5/
Clearly, they didn't speak to an actual grass roots campaigner, volunteer, or possibly even a voter. They certainly did not speak with anybody actually impacted by the criminal punishment system.
This leads us to the real problem w/ such "analysis."
This isn't a game. 6/
This leads us to the real problem w/ such "analysis."
This isn't a game. 6/
. @chesaboudin laid bare the problems with the criminal punishment system in SF.
There is gross racism. SF has a Black population of 5% & a jail population of 50% Black people. The disparities from arrest to sentencing are far worse than in other American cities. 7/
There is gross racism. SF has a Black population of 5% & a jail population of 50% Black people. The disparities from arrest to sentencing are far worse than in other American cities. 7/
According to this, 84% of SF jail's current population is un-sentenced.
This means that pre-trial detention, whether based on an inability to pay or on another judicially-determined vague standard, preventative detention is being grossly overused. 8/
http://www.bscc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Jail-Pop-Trends-Through-Q2-2019.pdf
This means that pre-trial detention, whether based on an inability to pay or on another judicially-determined vague standard, preventative detention is being grossly overused. 8/
http://www.bscc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Jail-Pop-Trends-Through-Q2-2019.pdf
There are so many other problems with our system. Chesa catalogued them. He's lived it personally & through his work. He heard from voters who daily experience it.
If Diaz or the men with whom he spoke cared, they could read about these problems here. 9/
https://www.chesaboudin.com/issues
If Diaz or the men with whom he spoke cared, they could read about these problems here. 9/
https://www.chesaboudin.com/issues
There are 4 mil. people in US jails, prison, or under surveillance. It's shameful.
It's an emergency.
But an emergency is only perceived as such by those it affects. Homelessness is an emergency if one is on the street; not so much from the comfort of one's home. 10/
It's an emergency.
But an emergency is only perceived as such by those it affects. Homelessness is an emergency if one is on the street; not so much from the comfort of one's home. 10/
These men who speak so callously have clearly not been affected by the emergency of mass incarceration or abusive policing. Have they ever set foot in a jail, let alone known someone who's been abused by a sheriff's deputy, or listened to a mentally ill person sob in custody? 11/
They care little about police violence. It will not be them, or their children that could be forced to the ground at gun point, or worse. It's not their community where children are routinely told to stand against a wall in public to be searched and humiliated. 12/
So because they have this position of power & privilege, they support the system of punishment and the status quo. They are upset it is being questioned by a broad base of voters. They do not understand why their "law & order" candidates were rejected by the voters. 13/
They have no outrage at the brutality of our system- a brutality leveled against the poor, the ill, and people of color.
Instead, they do a "civility check" on @SandraLeeFewer, who expressed righteous outrage at the POA & tell her she should "take a lesson" from a white man. 14/
Instead, they do a "civility check" on @SandraLeeFewer, who expressed righteous outrage at the POA & tell her she should "take a lesson" from a white man. 14/
Unfortunately, such articles will continue to be written as people in power fail to imagine a different way forward. They will continue to mock and criticize those who daily see & live the violence & racism in this system. 15/
They will also amplify every crime, fail to consider deep solutions, & attempt to stoke fear. They will write about good guys & bad guys as if it's a game. They will urge harsh punishment & seek to return us to tired, failed policies. 16/
But voters didn't want the old, failed policies.
They wanted the change that voters across the country who voted for @DA_LarryKrasner, @DARollins, @SarahFairVT, @KimFoxxforSA, @parisa4justice, @HingeleyJim, @SteveDescano, & @WesleyBell4STL wanted. 17/ https://theappeal.org/politicalreport/voters-beyond-big-cities-rejected-mass-incarceration-in-tuesdays-elections/
They wanted the change that voters across the country who voted for @DA_LarryKrasner, @DARollins, @SarahFairVT, @KimFoxxforSA, @parisa4justice, @HingeleyJim, @SteveDescano, & @WesleyBell4STL wanted. 17/ https://theappeal.org/politicalreport/voters-beyond-big-cities-rejected-mass-incarceration-in-tuesdays-elections/
So, while those who insist on structural change should call out such articles and punditry for what it is, it need not be a deterrent to the real work at hand.
It can be treated like the POA mailers that now rest in garbage cans across the City. 18/
It can be treated like the POA mailers that now rest in garbage cans across the City. 18/
And people of good will can start the real work – not a game – that @chesaboudin called for: decarcerating San Francisco.
End.
End.
