California Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the state’s National Guard and highway patrol to assist San Francisco officials in their efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis that has been plaguing the city. Newsom announced on Friday that this collaborative partnership would provide more law enforcement resources and personnel to crack down on crimes associated with the fentanyl crisis, hold poison peddlers accountable, and increase law enforcement presence to improve public safety and confidence in San Francisco.
According to the governor’s office, San Francisco had the second-highest overdose rate in the US in 2021, and in the first three months of 2023, the city saw a 40% increase in overdose deaths, many of which were caused by the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl. As part of the initiative, Newsom has directed the CalGuard to identify resources that would support the analysis of trafficking operations and specifically focus on disrupting trafficking rings.
“Two truths can co-exist at the same time: San Francisco’s violent crime rate is below comparably sized cities like Jacksonville and Fort Worth — and there is also more we must do to address public safety concerns, especially the fentanyl crisis,” Newsom also said, specifically taking aim at cities with Republican mayors.
