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Plaintiff Ayman Farahat (center in front ) and Shotwell Street neighbors announce their lawsuit against the city  at the Jose Coronado Playground in Mission District. Photo by Portia Li

Shotwell Street neighbors in Mission District sue SF city for failing to enforce laws against sex trafficking, prostitution, and public disorder

SAN FRANCISCO — Five residents of the Shotwell Street neighborhood in the Mission District filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco for failure to maintain a safe and clean environment for them. Instead they are facing challenges where they reside and work including sex trafficking, prostitution, tent encampments and public disorder.

  • (SAN FRANCISCO) In March 2024, the Asian Justice Movement (AJM) took a lead to publicly demand the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to reopen the investigation on the 63-year-old Yanfang Wu death case in July 2023 and release the related video footage. District Attorney candidate Ryan Khojasteh followed and filed a public records request with both the SFPD and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office (SFDA).

    District Attorney candidate Ryan Khojasteh filed a public records request with SFPD on March 13, 2024 seeking to release the documents and video footage related to the Yanfang Wu death case. Courtesy Ryan Khojasteh
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) When rapper and restaurateur Chino Yang released his music video, San Francisco Our Home, in November 2023, he expressed his frustration on the crime situation of San Francisco in lyrics by criticizing Mayor London Breed's failure to address the issues. By then his restaurant was broken into 7 times in 3 years. On August 5, 2024, the restaurant was hit for the 9th time in less than 4 years.

    Gum Sum Jewelry on Stockton Street in Chinatown was vandalized in the early morning of August 2. It was the second time in 2024. Courtesy photo
  • (OAKLAND) Over 500 Asian elderly tenants at the Westlake Christian Terrace in Oakland have lived in fear since July due to daily violent robberies and attacks. Asian community leaders weighed in to demand Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao take immediate actions to protect them.

    Community leaders Carl Chan (1st from left) and Charles Jung (1st from right) join Sister Marie Taylor and Maria Tsang demanding Oakland Mayor Thao take immediate actions to protect tenants at Westlake Christian Terrace. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) Kyra Worthy, former Executive Director of SF SAFE which had been under the grant contract with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) for decades to provide crime prevention programs citywide, was arrested and charged with 34 felonies of fraud and misuse of public funds.

    SF SAFE former Executive Director Kyra Worthy (center) joins a merchant walk hosted by then Taraval Police Station Captain Robert Yick (2nd from left)  in Sunset District in 2018. Photo by Portia Li
  • (OAKLAND) Governor Gavin Newsom announced on July 11 his plan to increase deployment of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in Oakland to crack down on crime. Newsom also was critical of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price for lack of cooperation that led to his decision to redirect the state resources.

    Governor Newsom (first from right) announced on July 11 to increase deployment of state law enforcement in Oakland to combat crime. Courtesy Governor’s Office
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) A 79-year-old Chinese woman driver faces four felony vehicular manslaughter charges for killing an entire family of four in a crash on March 16 at the busy West Portal neighborhood public transit hub.

    79-year-old Mary Fong Lau (center), who attends a court hearing for arraignment with her supporters, faces 4 charges of felony vehicular manslaughter for the West Portal crash killing a family of four on March 16. Screenshot photo
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) There has been no secret for over a decade that San Bruno Avenue business corridor in the Portola neighborhood is one of the high crime areas in San Francisco for anti-Asian hate incidents and violence. While 64% of the residents in Portola are Asians, they face daily challenges of racial harassment, especially after school hours.

    Latest data indicates that 64% of residents in San Francisco’s Portola neighborhood are Asians. Merchants and residents face a daily challenge of anti-Asian violence and harassment. Photo by Portia Li
  • (Oakland) Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to install 480 new high-tech cameras, which would aid in identifying vehicles through reading the license plate numbers, in the City of Oakland and along the East Bay freeways to combat crimes.

    Governor Gavin Newsom announces to install 480 high-tech cameras in Oakland and on state freeways in the East Bay to combat criminal activity and freeway violence. Courtesy Governor’s Office
  • (Oakland) Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao named Floyd Mitchell from Texas as new Chief of Police in Oakland after a one-year search for a permanent police chief. Community leader Carl Chan hopes for more police presence at Oakland Chinatown under Mitchell's leadership.

    Mayor Sheng Thao (left) names Floyd Mitchell from Texas as new police chief for the City of Oakland. Courtesy Mayor Thao’s office