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Mayor Breed, SFPD and community leaders urge vigilance ahead of Lunar New Year
Summary
At a Lunar New Year public-safety press conference, Mayor London Breed and SFPD Chief William Scott urged residents and merchants, especially seniors in Chinatown, to report scams and suspicious activity; officials noted increased patrols, expanded cameras and LEP services.
City leaders and public-safety partners held a Lunar New Year crime-awareness press conference ahead of community celebrations, urging vigilance and reporting, particularly for seniors and merchants in Chinatown.
Mayor London Breed thanked San Francisco SAFE and law enforcement for partnership and said the city has added security cameras and bilingual officers in Chinatown. "Let's also make sure it's a safe one," she said, urging the public to report scams and to approach officers for help and limited-English-proficiency services.
Police Chief William Scott highlighted the role of cameras and media exposure in solving crimes and said the city recorded its lowest homicide rate since 1961 while acknowledging other crime concerns such as car break-ins and assaults. "Be aware when strangers ask for money. Don't follow strangers anywhere," he said, offering practical safety advice and urging community members to get to know their beat officers.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Board President Norman Yee, Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu and Supervisor Shamann Walton also spoke, each emphasizing community reporting, prosecution of "blessing" extortion scams and increased foot patrols during the holiday. The press conference closed with a merchant walk and small safety giveaways such as mouse pads and whistles.
Officials urged community members to report crimes so statistics accurately reflect need and resources can be allocated accordingly.
