'Ultra-woke' San Fran DA Chesa Boudin sparks furious backlash for saying 'no-one is above the law' after announcing tax evasion case - when the city is rife with crime and shoplifters aren't being prosecuted
Ultra-woke San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin's Twitter victory lap for prosecuting a public official's crime was met with a fiery backlash as the city struggles with soaring crime rates.
Boudin announced on Thursday the prosecution of San Francisco Public Works official for allegedly concealing more than $250,000 in income from his wife's merchandising company.
'Public officials must serve the public, not use their position for their own financial gain. No one in San Francisco is above the law,' Boudin tweeted.
But rather than praise, the tweet was widely mocked for being out of touch when the city is rife with crime.
Many of the Bay Area's stores, like Walgreens and Target, either closed for good or were forced to close hours earlier, due to rampant shoplifting, California Retailers Association President and CEO Rachel Michelin has said in statements.
In the last month, there have been multiple shoplifting videos that went viral, including one on June 14 where a man is recording filling a garbage bag full of items in a Walgreens, eluding a security guard and riding out on his bicycle.
More recently, on Tuesday, at least nine shoplifters smashed Nieman Marcus display cases, snatched armloads of handbags and other items, and sped off in getaway cars before police arrived. This was caught on video, which went viral on social media.
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San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin hit with backlash on social media after saying 'no one is above the law' during citywide crime spree
Twitter user The DUDE said in response to Boudin's tweet, 'No one in San Francisco is above the law. What? Oh, except for shoplifters, car smash&grabbers, bag snatchers, home invaders, those who assault others at random, armed robbers, and more. Nice job ruining the city Cheesy. #worstDAinthecountry.'
'Are you kidding me? Anyone who commits a crime in this city is above the law,' Terry tweeted. 'Start prosecuting drug dealers and thieves. Try to make this city safer for once. Do your job. You are not in the public defenders office anymore. Do your job, or resign before you are recalled.'
Janet Davidson tweeted, 'Except all the criminals looting in Safeway, Target, Walgreens, Neiman Marcus, drilling thru garage doors, smashing car windows, etc, etc, etc.'
Asian Today tweeted a sarcastic response: 'Silly public works manager. Pay attention please. Next time rob neiman marcus and do some meth. Chesa will give you a trophy.'
On Tuesday, an Instagram video went viral after it captured the moment at least 10 people stole loads of designer bags from Neiman Marcus in San Francisco and fled undeterred
The Neiman Marcus video’s surface comes less than a month after another shameless shoplifting case was caught on camera. Footage showed a brazen robber, on his bicycle, as he filled a garbage bag with products at a San Francisco Walgreens and bicycled out of the store - as a bystander and security guard watch
The man rode his bike to the store, filled a garbage bag with stolen goods and rode away
Several people hit Boudin's Twitter victory lap with harsh criticism for his soft approach to crime, particularly shoplifting which is forcing stores to close
Shoplifting cases have become common in San Francisco, where charges of property theft less than $950 in value was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor in 2014 - meaning that store staff and security do not pursue or stop thieves who have taken anything worth less than $1,000.
For months, Boudin has been feuding with the city's cop union leaders, with both blaming each other.
Since last year, assaults are up 5.1percent, burglaries are up 4.2percent, car thefts are up 3.4percent and arson is up 15.3percent, according to San Francisco Police Department's crime stats.
Over the same time period, rape has dropped 20.2percent and robbery, which is a violent crime, dropped 11.9percent.
Larceny is the most common crime committed in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Police Department's Crime Dashboard
Boudin became district attorney of San Francisco in 2019, pledging a commitment to restorative justice over incarceration.
His parents David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin were members of the Weather Underground, a radical left militant organization involved in a series of terror attacks in the 1970s.
Boudin was 14 months old when his parents left him with a babysitter so they could take part in the botched robbery of an armored car that left two police officers and a Brink's truck guard dead. Both were convicted of murder as a result.
Boudin became district attorney in 2019 and pledged a commitment to restorative justice over incarceration
His father Gilbert is still in prison for murder and robbery, while his mother was released after serving more than two decades inside.
But his critics say he's soft on crime, which they claim led to at least two murders.
He was condemned in January after allowing a robber - Troy McAlister - to get out of prison on parole.
After he was released, he allegedly killed Hanako Abe and Elizabeth Platt as they walked across a street in the SOMA neighborhood. Police believe McAlister allegedly stole the vehicle from a woman he had just met on a dating app. Police found a gun and drugs in his car.
Domestic violence suspect Joseph Williams was released twice before he allegedly murdered a seven-month-old baby in April because Boudin said the alleged victim, who was in a relationship with Williams, didn't want to file charges.
California State law considers domestic violence a crime against the state, with campaigners saying it was Boudin's duty to find a way to make a case stick.
Boudin's comment angered domestic violence advocates in San Francisco who say he fundamentally misunderstood the nature of family violence cases.