Look at the map above. There have been over 300 reported crimes clustered around 16th and Mission St. in just the past 3 months. The large majority of them were violent — assault and battery, strong armed robbery, rape, stabbing, shooting, etc. On average, more than 5 people a day within a few blocks of that plaza will be victimized, not including the crimes that go unreported. Other pockets of the Mission are similarly dangerous.

This isn’t an anomaly. This is a bad trend that’s getting worse. Last year, reported crime in the Mission reached a 5-year high, with robberies and assaults seeing the biggest jump. With recent stabbings, murders, robberies, and shooting after shooting, we are well on our way to another “record” year. Even normally quiet areas in the district have seen an uptick in crime, with students, seniors and young women often the victims. In an interview after another fatal shooting right outside his La Mission Market, owner Adil Elmakazoumi asked, “Is it just my imagination, or is crime getting worse?”

Yet, we constantly hear that the biggest problems facing the Mission come from techies, hipsters, and their artisanal coffee shops. That’s the narrative that David Campos and his allies have been pushing since he decided to run for State Assembly. It’s part of a cynical strategy by his group to scapegoat tech and attract blocs of voters who are uneasy about growing inequality. Yes, gentrification is a real concern, as some have been saying for many years. Several of my closest friends have been priced out of our neighborhood. It’s a painful and traumatizing experience. But you know what also hurts? Getting stabbed or robbed. That’s no fun either. And for the last six years, Campos has done little besides escalate tension between police officers and residents. In fact, top law enforcement officials recently scolded Campos for having an “anti-law enforcement agenda” and condemned him for stirring up anger to elicit votes (see here and here).

This is a calculated pattern of behavior by Campos.

Case in point, Police Chief Greg Suhr and a group of elected officials just announced the creation of a task force to temper a spike in murders in the Bayview/Hunters Point area.

Seeing an opportunity to appear tough on crime, Campos issued a press release and held an opposing press conference to repudiate the task force, arguing it didn’t do enough. Joining Campos were some of his closest allies, including members of SEIU 1021, led by former firebrand Supervisor Chris Daly, and Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi. In case you somehow missed the sordid history, San Franciscans currently pay Mirkarimi a $200,000 annual salary to be Sheriff, despite being charged with domestic violence and admitting to abusing his wife. This is SOLELY because Campos and 3 others used legal gymnastics to reinstate their old colleague and political ally. Campos and Mirkarimi supporters mocked, heckled, and physically intimidated domestic violence advocates during the Sheriff’s hearing, and Campos’ deciding vote to reinstate Mirkarimi enraged victim’s advocates everywhere.

At the Bayview press conference, Campos and Mirkarimi were at it again, taking turns to applaud each other while denouncing the lack of willpower from city officials to address violence. It was a repulsive spectacle from a group of individuals who have made their careers jeering from the sidelines. Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the Bayview, criticized the press release and “photo opportunity,” writing in an op-ed that, “Their flagrant and insincere use of tragedy in the Bayview for their own political gain is exacerbating the problems rather than working with me, the mayor, Police Chief Greg Suhr and others to create and implement real solutions.”

Unfortunately, “working with others” and “creating real solutions” are antithetical to how Campos operates. His campaign has attempted to blame every imaginable problem on the tech sector while ignoring that: (1) Campos and Mirkarimi sponsored and worked together to pass the biggest part of the so-called “Twitter Tax Break,” and (2) all the gentrification in the Mission that Campos bemoans has occurred under his watch. (To be clear: I’m not opposed to the tax exemptions, but just pointing out that it is quite hypocritical for Campos to vilify something he played a major role in). But with each violent crime committed, another spotlight shines on Campos’ public safety failures. Our neighborhoods are getting more dangerous, and the feeling is palpable. After six disastrous years, the residents in the Mission and Bernal are tuning out his platitudes and demanding accountability. What does Campos do in response? He gets on a stage and demands the city do more to fight violent crime — in the Bayview. It’d be nice if he could muster the same “courage” for the neighborhoods he’s supposed to represent in City Hall.

Sampling of crimes committed near 16th and Mission in the past 3 months. You can view crime data in your neighborhood here.