Mayor of San Francisco disses the war on drugs  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

You got it, dude.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, the youngest mayor in San Francisco in 100 years, has a fresh pair of eyes about crime.  He's not afraid to speak out - we've got to respect that.  At City Hall yesterday, he told reporters that the national war on drugs in the U.S. is a total failure.  Thank you, the cat is out of the bag!

"If you want to get serious, if you want to reduce crime by 70% in this country overnight, end this war on drugs," he said.  "You want to get serious, seriously serious about crime and violence, end this war on drugs."  He says the local jails are overcrowded with drug offenses, whereas violent criminals are too often let go for lack of room.  San Francisco Sheriff, Mike Hennessey, agreed with him.  This isn't just a San Francisco problem, though:  it's nationwide.  We just don't have enough people trying to change it.  Or who are "serious, seriously serious" about it.

"The war on drugs is not working," Newsom continued.  "The war on drugs is not working because we are relying on law enforcement instead of on treatment...It's laughable that anyone could look at themselves with a straight face and say 'oh, we're really succeeding.'  I mean, it's comedy.  And as I say, shame on my party, the Democratic party, because they don't have the courage of their private thoughts, because we don't want to appear weak on this topic."  I agree with this 100%.  Except the part about looking at myself with a straight face and talking to myself.

   

More News >>