welcome to hardtalk from san francisco. i am stephen sackur. from gold rush to tech boom, this is been a city of big dreams and a big fortune. it prides itself on being progressive, even radical. some call it the woke capital of america. but something is going wrong here. drugs, crime,

homelessness, the term san francisco is a symbol of urban failure. my guest today is the mayor. can she turn san francisco around? mayor london breed. welcome to hardtalk. the recent headline from the economist magazine. describing san francisco like this. fabulously rich and fabulously dysfunctional. do you recognise that description? what family doesn't have a bit of a dysfunction? but i would completely agree with it being dysfunctional because we have a lot of free programmes and things that we do that actually

work very effectively. this is one of those beautiful cities in the world. people travelling to visit and experience our rolling hills and the incitement of san francisco, the nightlife, the great restaurants —— excitement. it restaurants -- excitement. it is restaurants —— excitement. it is true, it is a beautiful city and extremely wealthy city and for the last decade, you've benefited enormously from being one of the tech capitals of the united states. how come all of this wealth sits side by side with so many problems? so many roblems with so many problems? so many problems as _ with so many problems? so many problems as it _ with so many problems? so many problems as it take _ with so many problems? so many problems as it take to _ with so many problems? so many problems as it take to make - problems as it take to make existing after places. but san francisco ten years ago, and with the unemployment rate and even with homelessness, we have seenin even with homelessness, we have seen in this year, 15% reduction in sheltered homelessness because of the great things we are doing we have an extremely low

unemployment rate, even after the pandemic we are not without our challenges but i feel like we are moving the right to get things back in order. i we are moving the right to get things back in order.— things back in order. i wonder if that is really _ things back in order. i wonder if that is really true, - things back in order. i wonder if that is really true, just - if that is really true, just metres from where we sit in city hall, there are neighbourhoods where we see people homeless on the streets, clearly addicted to drugs, some of them shooting up in public. we know because we were advised by their own security that many of the streets around here in downtown are simply not safe. burglaries, car theft, soaring in san francisco. and i wonder, why you have not fixed it? that is not entirely _ why you have not fixed it? that is not entirely accurate - why you have not fixed it? trust is not entirely accurate and let's go back to homelessness. oftentimes, people see someone struggling with addiction on our streets and just assume that they are homeless. we have been able to house people but the challenge we are facing is the challenge we are facing is the fact that we have so many

people who unfortunately are addicted to drugs and a large number of people who were dying from fictional overdoses in our city and we are struggling with managing this problem because in some cases, there are a lot of layers of laws which prevented us from being more aggressive than we need to be and prevent us to be as aggressive as we need to be and we're just doing the best we can. i we're 'ust doing the best we can. . ., we're 'ust doing the best we can, ., ., , ., , we're 'ust doing the best we can. . ., , can. i want to stop you there, if i can come _ can. i want to stop you there, if i can come at— can. i want to stop you there, if i can come at being - can. i want to stop you there, if i can come at being as - if i can come at being as aggressive as we can be. i wonder if that is true. let's start with crime, over recent years, the progressive politics that have come from city hall and filter through to policing and filter through to policing and everything else, they have failed. the idea that you focus on less locking people up and more on treatments and therapies, it hasn't worked stop you will san francisco is a lot more complicated than the

rest of the country. why? bare rest of the country. why? are progressive — rest of the country. why? fife: progressive values are different things to different people here in the city. and to be clear, a lot of folks in san francisco, they want criminal justice reform. they want people to have second chances after making mistakes. for they have proven through a recall of her district attorney is the ultimate accountability and i think one of the biggest challenges that we struggled with, there was a time when accountability was not happening and someone was arrested for a crime and they were released and allowed to fight cases on the outside oftentimes, those cases which are not always violent would get dismissed with no consequence and i think things are changing revenue district attorney, finally, with the open—air drug dealing and some of the other challenges that exist there. people are being held without bail and forced to go to the process of fighting these cases and are being held

accountable like never before. where to use it on this? the district attorney position, the new district attorney seems tougher on policing and incarceration in the previous district attorney but your background is so interesting. you were brought up in one of the poorer neighbourhoods in san francisco. herfamily was poor and you struggle to make it. you actually are an amazing story because of your background because of your grandmother, some of your family members in prison, others were addicted to drugs and i wonder if they gives you and i wonder if they gives you a different take on how to handle the cities problems. i believe it is instrumental in handling the cities problems because i've lived in it never lifted it in a way where is much as i empathise with the challenges of these communities that i grew up in and the lack

of opportunity and support, i feel strongly that there has to be justice when mines are crossed. we grew up in a time where homicides were on the rise in san francisco and in particular in our neighbourhoods where we were not safe. figs neighbourhoods where we were not safe. : , :, ~ neighbourhoods where we were not safe. : , . ,, not safe. as a kid, did you feel very _ not safe. as a kid, did you feel very unsafe? - not safe. as a kid, did you feelvery unsafe? i- not safe. as a kid, did you feel very unsafe? i did - not safe. as a kid, did you | feel very unsafe? i did and not safe. as a kid, did you l feel very unsafe? i did and a lot of instances _ feel very unsafe? i did and a lot of instances because - feel very unsafe? i did and a lot of instances because of l feel very unsafe? i did and a i lot of instances because of my family, because my community because of where i live, because of where i live, because the back—and—forth shootings which lead to, in some cases, people losing their lives. in that instance, we talk about criminal justice reform but there also has to be justice for families who lose people to violence. and accountability for those who cross that line and commit those crimes. that is where i fall in. i believe in second chances and i believe in fairness in her criminal justice system, but i do not believe in letting people get away with murder.— believe in letting people get away with murder. there was a key moment — away with murder. there was a key moment for _ away with murder. there was a key moment for you _ away with murder. there was a

key moment for you when - away with murder. there was a key moment for you when you | key moment for you when you really snapped when you served on the board of supervisors which is like the council here, he became mayor but it was only in december 2021 you declared a state of emergency and particular district close to here call tenderloin, such as the level of crime and drug addiction and homelessness, you declared the state of emergency and you said, it is time the reign of criminals who are destroying our city must come to an end. we have to be more aggressive with law enforcement, more aggressive with her policies, less tolerant and then used a word that i could even use on tv. which is destroyed our city. you believe san francisco is close to the edge. i you believe san francisco is close to the edge.— you believe san francisco is close to the edge. i believe we are coming _ close to the edge. i believe we are coming back _ close to the edge. i believe we are coming back from - close to the edge. i believe we are coming back from the - close to the edge. i believe we l are coming back from the edge. i believe we are in a better place now because this goes back to the police department

making the arrests for people who have committed various layers of crime and then in that same day, or that same week, being released and not necessarily held accountable for what they did. so, now, it's a whole new day with the district attorney stop i or district attorney stop i or district attorney stop i or district attorney is pushing back and is quoted as saying of your new approach and that of the new district attorneys, quoted as saying that chilling people with mental health struggles in putting people who were illegally selling hotdogs on the street were illegally selling hotdogs on the stree— were illegally selling hotdogs on the street into cages, none ofthat on the street into cages, none of that will— on the street into cages, none of that will solve _ on the street into cages, none of that will solve the - on the street into cages, none of that will solve the cities - of that will solve the cities problems. of that will solve the cities problems-— of that will solve the cities roblems. �*, . ,, , , problems. let's back up. he is exaggerating _ problems. let's back up. he is exaggerating and _ problems. let's back up. he is exaggerating and he _ problems. let's back up. he is exaggerating and he is - problems. let's back up. he is exaggerating and he is not - exaggerating and he is not being factual in his representation of his comments. the people that we are arresting are the people who committed violent crimes, including murder and the people we are arresting includes a number of sentinel dealers and fentanyl is killing people at alarming rates in the city and

people have to be held accountable for that. we cannot just allow people to burglarize businesses and think they are not going to be held accountable in some way. and accountability is notjust accountability is not just jail, accountability is notjust jail, accountability can mean other things but tojust jail, accountability can mean other things but to just let people go who commit crimes is no longer tolerated and san francisco. no longer tolerated and san francisco-— no longer tolerated and san francisco. how far do you go because _ francisco. how far do you go because the _ francisco. how far do you go because the new _ francisco. how far do you go because the new district - because the new district attorney has said, this i have this wrong, she has talked about some extraordinary measures like trying drug dealers for murder if they supply a drug that ends up with the user of those drugs dying. and it is that to you the kind of harsh approach is going to change the city? in of harsh approach is going to change the city?— of harsh approach is going to change the city? in 2020, we had over— change the city? in 2020, we had over 700 _ change the city? in 2020, we had over 700 people - change the city? in 2020, we had over 700 people die - change the city? in 2020, we| had over 700 people die from drug overdoses. in 2021, over 600 and we are on track this yearfor 600 and we are on track this year for close to 600 and we are on track this yearfor close to 600 600 and we are on track this year for close to 600 people dying from drug overdoses in san francisco. and what's happening with the people who

are dealing with those drugs, fentanyl specifically, it is fenta nyl specifically, it is killing fentanyl specifically, it is killing people, including our children as well in 15—year—old kid died from the fentanyl drug overdose and as far as i'm concerned, i support for the district attorney is do to try to deter the continuation of the rapid open air drug dealing in our city because we need to do something more than just, it's more thanjust do something more than just, it's more than just about arresting but there has to be consequences associated with those arrests. d0 consequences associated with those arrests.— those arrests. do you worried that republicans, _ those arrests. do you worried that republicans, not - those arrests. do you worried that republicans, notjust - those arrests. do you worried that republicans, notjust in l that republicans, notjust in california but across the nation are now portraying san francisco as this poster child of failure for progressive and some would say, woke policymaking. you are in the firing line now.— firing line now. sadly, and

politics. — firing line now. sadly, and politics, most _ firing line now. sadly, and politics, most elected - firing line now. sadly, and - politics, most elected leaders, in some ways or another, try to point the finger at someone else to make it look as though they are doing something better and that's not always the case. here in san francisco, you call it what you want but ultimately, we are going to lead by example and proposing the kinds of ideas that are going to lead to change to make our state better.— our state better. deeply some olicies our state better. deeply some policies of _ our state better. deeply some policies of gone _ our state better. deeply some policies of gone wrong? - our state better. deeply some policies of gone wrong? let'sl policies of gone wrong? let's take another policy which is concerning immigration and the immigration and crime are the key messages the republicans are not pedaling nationally about what is wrong with the democrats. 0n immigration, this city is defined as a sanctuary city. which means that if immigrants make it to san francisco, they are not going to be prosecuted on the basis of their illegality in this country. they are protected from federal law. does that

play well with the people here or across the nation? i think it is really sad that a country founded by immigrants who came here from europe would imply that no other immigrants but try to come to this country are welcome to stop watching the lobby and forest? the welcome to stop watching the lobby and forest?— lobby and forest? the laws should not _ lobby and forest? the laws should not matter - lobby and forest? the laws should not matter your - should not matter your immigration status or not. when you cross the line and commit a crime in san francisco, you need to be held accountable just like anyone else. it should not matter whether or not you're an immigrant who has come here and whatever means you have come here. we are getting away from the point of addressing the challenges with crime in general. it can'tjust be based on your immigration status. �* :, , ~ status. but of the striking thins status. but of the striking things is _ status. but of the striking things is the _ status. but of the strikingi things is the juxtaposition status. but of the striking i things is the juxtaposition of extreme wealth and extreme deprivation and poverty and

sometimes the two things come together and there is the case in february 2021 of dustin walker, an addict in san francisco who died on the street outside a house that later sold roughly $5 million and his body had lain untouched on that smart street unreported for 11 hours. and again, you tell me that san francisco is not dysfunctional.— not dysfunctional. san francisco _ not dysfunctional. san francisco is _ not dysfunctional. san francisco is a - not dysfunctional. san francisco is a major i not dysfunctional. san l francisco is a major city not dysfunctional. san - francisco is a major city and we have challenges. we have people who struggle with not just drug addiction but alcoholism and other things and what we have always tried to do is meet those challenges with opportunities to support people and as someone who grew up with and as someone who grew up with a family who struggled with addiction, you're not going to be able to force someone who struggles with drugs into

treatment. probably have to do is make sure that the opportunities when people want to get clean, when they want to turn their lives around, that those things are available. to dismiss all of the great work we have done with rehab and the support that we've done for people for turning their lives around the programmes like this, these programmes have changed the lives of we have people who were former addicts out there working in communities to help support people who were former addicts out there working in communities to help support people were struggling with addiction. :, ,:, , :, addiction. one of the points of the particular— addiction. one of the points of the particular story _ addiction. one of the points of the particular story and - addiction. one of the points of the particular story and about| the particular story and about that very unfortunate individual, it reflects on the crazy expense of property in san francisco. for so many people. i san francisco. for so many --eole. :, san francisco. for so many neale, :, :, san francisco. for so many people-— san francisco. for so many --eole. :, :, people. i do not disagree with that. people. i do not disagree with that- the _ people. i do not disagree with that. the average _ people. i do not disagree with that. the average house - people. i do not disagree with | that. the average house prices well over $1 — that. the average house prices well over $1 million _ that. the average house prices well over $1 million in - that. the average house prices well over $1 million in the - well over $1 million in the point is, it is changing the city and maybes because the tech money came in so quickly and so much of it that right

now, if you are middle—class, that alone struggling in san francisco, you cannot afford to buy a home in the sea. more and more people are leaving.- more people are leaving. taking us back a bit. — more people are leaving. taking us back a bit, premise _ more people are leaving. taking us back a bit, premise between | us back a bit, premise between 2010 at 2015 were starting to see significant rise in the tech industry inner—city and providing tax incentives and other things, we created eight newjobs other things, we created eight new jobs for everyone other things, we created eight newjobs for everyone new unit of housing may the focus on jobs and the focus on the economy and not on infrastructure, transportation, housing has really put us in a very challenging situation. he is already unaffordable to live in san francisco but it has gotten worse which is why my push has been aggressive in terms of building housing in the city almost by any means necessary. the city almost by any means necessary-— necessary. but it's not happening- _ necessary. but it's not happening. if - necessary. but it's not happening. if one - necessary. but it's notl happening. if one looks necessary. but it's not - happening. if one looks at the planning procedures in the

city, it is clear that people frankly in the elite who have made their money and homes in the city, they are making every effort to stop big housing developments, new units being built inside the city and they are succeeding and that is why the word dysfunction, while your housing situation is so dysfunctional and a thousand people living on the streets and many for us to leave because they simply cannot afford it. :, because they simply cannot afford it. . , because they simply cannot afford it. :, , ., , afford it. that number was reduced — afford it. that number was reduced to _ afford it. that number was reduced to under - afford it. that number was reduced to under 8000. l afford it. that number was i reduced to under 8000. but afford it. that number was - reduced to under 8000. but only 'ust. but reduced to under 8000. but only just. but others _ reduced to under 8000. but only just. but others in _ reduced to under 8000. but only just. but others in the _ reduced to under 8000. but only just. but others in the state - just. but others in the state of california. _ just. but others in the state of california. but _ just. but others in the state of california. but one - just. but others in the state of california. but one in - just. but others in the state i of california. but one in every hundred people, _ of california. but one in every hundred people, one - of california. but one in every hundred people, one in - of california. but one in every hundred people, one in everyi hundred people, one in every hundred people, one in every hundred people, one in every hundred people homeless in san francisco. �* , ., ~ hundred people homeless in san francisco. �*, w francisco. let's take it back. some significant _ francisco. let's take it back. some significant changes . francisco. let's take it back. some significant changes in | francisco. let's take it back. i some significant changes in our ability to build housing because of the state, mandated housing elements which over the next eight years require us to

build around 82,000 units. 0ver build around 82,000 units. over 50,000 units in two and 30,000 that are going through the process and once his housing element gets through, like a number of units, we anticipate of that 50,000, at least 30,000 of those units are going to be able to build at a rapid pace that we have ever seen in the city anything that's going to be really exciting for housing production in san francisco and i'm looking forward to that and it's going to make a huge difference for the challenges that we experience with homelessness but what i don't want a discount is effective for the past two years, over 5000 units, new places for formerly homeless people up been established in her portfolio so, we been working very aggressively to support this population and is challenging as it is sometimes because of mental illness and because of mental illness and because of mental illness and because of substance abuse

disorder. to because of substance abuse disorder. :, ,, because of substance abuse disorder. :, ~ . disorder. to think the tech boom, disorder. to think the tech boom. if — disorder. to think the tech boom. if you _ disorder. to think the tech boom, if you all— disorder. to think the tech boom, if you all up, i disorder. to think the tech boom, if you all up, has i disorder. to think the tech i boom, if you all up, has been good for san francisco? i think financially _ good for san francisco? i think financially it _ good for san francisco? i think financially it is _ good for san francisco? i think financially it is been _ good for san francisco? i think financially it is been a - good for san francisco? i think financially it is been a boost i financially it is been a boost for budget and providing the kinds of resources necessary to do all the things that we need to do to run a major city. and the fact that it grew so fast better housing. but the fact that it grew so fast better housing.— the fact that it grew so fast better housing. but has not made you _ better housing. but has not made you over _ better housing. but has not made you over reliant i better housing. but has not made you over reliant on i made you over reliant on companies like twitter, luber, sales force, which are massive players in this city? they have leverage and the people who own them, the big billionaires, some of them live in and around san francisco, they have leverage too and i wonder if you're feeling if that's altogether healthy? i don't know that's _ altogether healthy? i don't know that's entirely - altogether healthy? i don't i know that's entirely accurate. you know, like many of our big companies, including sales for when you have native san francisco members who have invested not only in doing well

with the company but working to support the programmes in san francisco, our companies, many of our company is very actively engaged but not only paying their fair share of the texas and then some but also being involved in supporting the community for programmes and initiatives stop by look at elon musk, the new owner of twitter. he slashed the workforce which is definitely going to affect san francisco but not only going to affect san francisco but not onl— but not only that, with his other key _ but not only that, with his other key businesses, i but not only that, with his other key businesses, he| but not only that, with his i other key businesses, he has moved it out of california. i know it was not in san francisco but it was in california and he left it with california and he left it with california used to be the lead of opportunity, now it has become it is becoming more so the land regulation, or litigation, over taxation and scorn. the text billionaires —— text billionaires no longer

seem to love it here. i don't know if that's _ seem to love it here. i don't know if that's entirely i know if that's entirely accurate.— know if that's entirely accurate. . , ., . accurate. that is a direct . uote accurate. that is a direct quote from _ accurate. that is a direct quote from elon - accurate. that is a direct quote from elon musk. i accurate. that is a direct i quote from elon musk. but his actions are _ quote from elon musk. but his actions are completely - actions are completely different. it is my understanding that twitter isn't going anywhere that the plan to stay in san francisco and they're going to start hiring and boosting their personnel because they know that all tech companies know about san francisco, this is where the talent is in san francisco doesn't rise and fall with the tech industry. and we have gone to very challenging times with the dot com bust of the things we continue to come out of that a stronger city. we are here to work with companies, which are to work with people who want to be here and folks are going to say what they want to say but at the end of the day, and my conversations with the number of the ceos, they want to be in san francisco because again, this is an amazing city, regardless of the challenges,

regardless of the challenges, regardless of the dysfunction, it is an amazing city and that's where the talent is. we talked about _ that's where the talent is. we talked about your extraordinary rights from very difficult beginnings from where you are today in city hall. he was seen as a rising star in the democratic party. ijust wonder what your take is and where the party is perspective you think the party needs to learn from what happened in san francisco that being all a progressive, all—out liberal isn't going to work? that that leftist approach to a democratic party politics is about isn't what works across this nation? you may feel _ works across this nation? you may feel some _ works across this nation? you may feel some of _ works across this nation? you may feel some of the - works across this nation? ym. may feel some of the policies we push for a bit over the too progressive for the country to follow but often times, the examples in the things that we do here in san francisco, the rest of country follows. when i shut down the city during covid—19, everyone thought i was crazy. and that all of a sudden, everyone else in the country had to shut their cities and their states down to

deal with covid—19. and i don't think we get enough credit for really changing what happens in the us in the world based on the us in the world based on the things in the ideas that may sound unusual or crazy to other people, they end up becoming things that others, they want to know and implement and they're always looking to san francisco for new and innovative ideas.- innovative ideas. final question. _ innovative ideas. final question, talking i innovative ideas. final| question, talking about innovative ideas. final- question, talking about new and innovative ideas, i've called you a rising star, what are someone like you think of your national leader, your president joe biden, running again in 2024. if joe biden, running again in 202a. if you were to succeed by the end of his second term, he would be 86 years old. for you, as a young democrat, leader, does that make any sense at all crucial if you are able to do thejob, doesn't matter crucial if you are able to do the job, doesn't matter what age you are. nancy pelosi is another example of that. she

takes care — another example of that. she takes care of _ another example of that. she takes care of san _ another example of that. ’sie: takes care of san francisco like no other elected leader and she is amazing to work with. so, from my perspective it's really about whether or not you're doing the job, what kind ofjob you're doing and doesn't have an impact on her city and i know that oftentimes, people like me, 0k, what's my next move and people think about what their next move is but i am in thisjob looking for the nextjob. i love san francisco and is someone who grew up in poverty, and in a very challenging environment, i know what is possible we make the right advancements and put the right policies they can really change, that's what i'm for. london breed, thank you very much forjoining me on hardtalk.—

hello. fog has been quite a big feature of our weather over the last few days. in some places, quite persistent and reluctance to clear and there will be fog around to start friday morning. once again, however, that fog should start to lift and clear to give some spells of sunshine with a bit more of a breeze developing. but a really murky start for parts of east wales, the midlands down into the west country. but there is some mist and fog and low clouds to be found elsewhere as well. through the day though, with the easterly breeze starting to pick up, some of that mist and murk and low cloud will lift to give a bit more in the way of sunshine. some showers feeding into eastern england. northern england likely to stay quite cloudy for much of the time. similar story for scotland, rather grey and drizzly. a little bit of brightness developing

out towards the west. northern ireland should see some sunshine highs of ten degrees there for belfast. feeling colder than that if it stays grey and murky where you are. now through friday night, we keep this easterly breeze that will feed some showers into eastern parts of england, particularly some clear spells. not as much fog by this stage because of the extra breeze. temperatures generally holding above freezing. some places may see a touch of frost high pressure way off to the north east of us centred across northern europe. but that is just about dominating the weather at the moment, fending off the frontal systems. for the most part, however, this band of cloud could bring a little bit of patchy rain to northern ireland and certainly northwest scotland through saturday and at the other end of the country will see some cloud just filtering in from the near continent, bringing maybe some bits and pieces of rain and drizzle into southern counties of england. elsewhere, some spells of sunshine, some showers in the east and feeling quite chilly in the east of the breeze, which will still be with us into sunday. i think we'll see more

of that cloud feeding up from the south. quite cloudy for many of us, actually. best of the sunshine in the west. there will also be some showers, some of which could be wintry over higher ground. top temperatures around five, six or seven degrees. just a taste of what is to come next week because it looks pretty likely that we'll see north or north—easterly winds feeding a plunge of cold air across the uk. and that brings with it the chance of some wintry showers. now, the details of the forecast will change between now and then. and there should be a lot of dry weather around, but some wintry showers are possible and it is set to feel really quite cold.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines — a dramatic night in qatar as japan beat spain and germany crash out of the world cup. charges dropped against bruce lehrmann, the australian political advisor accused of rape, in the interests of the alleged victim's mental health. the un requests a record $51 billion for "shockingly high" humanitarian needs, predicting that at least 4% of the global population will need its help next year another royal row over racism raises questions as the woman accusing lady susan hussey of 'othering' her at a formal event speaks out.

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