To paraphrase, “Is this what the suburbs do to you?” In a joking tone, John Hamasaki
In an attempt at a dunk on a CEO who claimed a coworker had been a target of auto robbery in the city, lawyer and former police commissioner John Hamasaki, who campaigned unsuccessfully for San Francisco district attorney in November, said as much on Sunday.
Horizon3.ai CEO and founder Snehal Antani tweeted that a visiting teammate had his car window broken and two bags were taken while out to eat in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Lost passports, expensive equipment, etc. totaled $10K.
That’s why I’ll be sending out security briefing materials to San Francisco visitors in advance of their trips, Antani said. This is a major consideration for me in deciding whether or not to set up a shop in the city, as opposed to working with a distributed team and doing infrequent whiteboarding sessions.
And my teammates will be deeply affected by this, because being robbed strikes at your very essence, especially when thousands of dollars are at stake. Without a strong emphasis on security, downtown cannot revive.
When campaigning against incumbent San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a special election on November 8th, her opponent, Brett Hamasaki, made fun of Antani and his staff for being too protected.
“Interesting,” Hamasaki said in response. Would you be scared forever’ if someone shattered your car window and took your belongings? Is this the effect of living in the suburbs? Protect you from the harsh realities of city life, so that you’re devastated by them when you encounter them.
As he was “living payment to paycheck,” his window was broken into twice. As for my sense of personal safety, it didn’t change even though it was a financial disaster. This is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you. I can’t fathom the kind of hell you must inhabit to think that this is the worse thing that has ever happened to you.
Not that it doesn’t stink, he emphasized. Maybe you’re not cut out for the fast pace of city life. This is not a quiet suburban neighborhood. Crime is a problem. I’m relieved that it’s mostly property crimes and not physical assaults. Even though I’ve been on the receiving end of violent crime, I’ve always felt secure in San Francisco.
Antani said, “Take note: this occurred to my co-workers visiting the city, not to me.”
Former San Francisco Police Commissioner Hamasaki was a strong advocate for Chesa Boudin, the district attorney who was recalled in June 2022 for allegedly being too lenient on crime.