California

Last edited Sun Oct 31, 2021, 06:17 PM - Edit history (1)

When I left San Francisco fifteen-plus years ago, the Board of Supervisors was loaded with pseduo-progressive fringe loons more concerned with making "statements" on international matters than dealing with local issues. Because of all these stories about store closures and in-your-face shoplifting, I presume that's still the case.

Security, as things stand now, cannot act to stop shoplifters. If you touch a criminal in SF, especially if you're not a cop, there are lawyers waiting to try to redistribute your "wealth" and the wealth of your employer.

I have personal experience with this. A few years ago an obscenity-screaming idiot attacked me at a bus stop while I was still dressed for work, and when I defended myself they tried (but failed) to have me arrested. Because I was wearing my work uniform--and had reported the incident to my employer, since the bus stop was right in front of my workplace--a few weeks later my employer told me lawyers were threatening to sue them on behalf of my attacker. Unfortunately for the lawyers, this threat opened access to the arrest report to me, complete with my attacker's rather unique name. A couple of minutes Googling revealed that my attacker has a lengthy history of pulling this shit, and the occasional peek at public records shows that they get arrested every two or three months on average for physical assault. Yet they somehow had legal representation that I can't even afford to fantasize about.

Throughout the Bay Area, criminals and violent individuals are left to their own devices because it's easier for the public to do nothing--and demand everyone else do nothing--than make tough choices. This is the result. Stores don't stay open in high-crime areas.