Urban Alchemy and the Normalization of Crime

Legalized crime

No-bid contracts have been a controversial topic for many years and that has been particularly relevant in the case of Urban Alchemy, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that has received millions of dollars in funding from the city through no-bid contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, under a state of emergency to address the issue of homelessness and the unsanitary conditions plaguing the streets of Tenderloin.

The murky details surrounding the contracts between Urban Alchemy and City Hall have left many uneasy, as questions about the fairness and transparency of the bidding process abound. With a sizable portion of San Francisco taxpayers' hard-earned money, millions, at stake, the lack of clarity around these agreements is troubling indeed. Compounding the issue is the nonprofit's decision to withhold a significant portion of their financial records from public view, a move that has only fueled suspicions of impropriety. The CEO, Lena Miller, has been particularly reticent about revealing her own compensation, even as her connections to powerful players in City Hall have propelled Urban Alchemy's expansion. In a city already beset by economic inequality and political scandals, this lack of transparency only adds to the pervasive sense of unease among San Francisco's citizens.

As concerns mount over the lack of a competitive bidding process for Urban Alchemy's urban revitalization efforts, reports from SF residents and small business owners in districts 5 and 6 paint a disheartening picture of increasing crime and the illegal violent drug trade moving into new areas. Many residents report seeing little to no progress in improving the areas in which they live and work.

The harsher reality is that many residents have observed that practitioners are merely pushing the blight and crime around to other locations, while some even appear to be engaged in drug dealing or providing cover for drug dealers. To make matters worse, many practitioners seem completely checked out, and glued to their phones while a vast array of criminal activity continues unchecked on their designated blocks. This inaction and lack of accountability have led to the alarming fact that crime has not only persisted but has expanded and increased under their watch.

This has now become an expanded state of the normalization of crime When non-profits and city leaders normalize crime like drug dealing, it sends a dangerous message that illegal activities are acceptable and even encouraged in our society. This normalization of crime not only undermines the rule of law and the justice system but also puts the safety and well-being of the community at risk.

Drug dealing, in particular, is a serious crime that has far-reaching consequences, such as addiction, violence, and even death. Normalizing this criminal activity only serves to perpetuate a cycle of harm that can negatively impact entire communities.

Moreover, when city leaders turn a blind eye to crime, they fail in their duty to protect the citizens they are meant to serve. This lack of action can embolden criminals, leading to an increase in criminal activity and a decrease in public safety.

It is the responsibility of city leaders to uphold the law and promote the safety and well-being of their constituents. Normalizing crime only undermines this responsibility and reinforces the notion that the rule of law is optional, rather than mandatory.