Partitions are okay…. when they’re to guard President Xi! Democrat-run San Francisco erects safety limitations for Communist chief’s APEC go to – after first clearing out all of the homeless

After being blasted as a ‘ghost city’ and a ‘ruined metropolis’ by Chinese language media shops, San Francisco officers haven’t solely cleaned up the troubled metropolis forward of President Xi Jinping’s go to however erected partitions for safety.

Xi is about to attend the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit within the San Francisco Bay space, the place he’ll meet President Joe Biden for the primary time in over a 12 months. 

Not solely has the town been cleaned up considerably and the homeless eliminated however they’ve erected metal safety partitions within the downtown space for the Communist ruler’s go to. 

Biden, very like many Bay Space liberals, campaigned closely towards partitions, particularly the one Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump constructed partially on the US/Mexico border. 

Speaker of the Home and San Francisco-based Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and former mayor and present California Governor Gavin Newsom have additionally slammed the notion of partitions. 

DailyMail.com reported Friday that metropolis officers are shooing the homeless out of the downtown and to different elements of the town forward of the summit, with the mess prone to return as soon as APEC leaves city. 

The Chinese language authorities, in the meantime, is posting 100 non-public safety guards across the luxurious St. Regis lodge the place their diplomats and enterprise executives are staying, supplementing safety in a metropolis their media has likened to ‘hell.’

The unprecedented measures are designed to current a clear and glossy picture throughout the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit, the town’s largest gathering of world leaders since 1945, and stop the kinds of avenue spectacles which have battered the town’s repute.

The town expects the convention, which kicks off Saturday and can run by means of November 17, to attract greater than 20,000 individuals and generate upwards of $50million in income. 

The realm additionally noticed a number of protests on Sunday, with anti-capitalists becoming a member of forces with pro-Palestinian marchers.

Others, nevertheless, blasted Xi as a dictator and demanded he free Tibet, including ‘your time is up!’ 

Matters for the assembly of Biden and Xi are anticipated to incorporate the Israel–Hamas warfare to russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s ties with russia, Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, human rights, fentanyl, synthetic intelligence, in addition to ‘truthful’ commerce and financial relations, administration officers mentioned. 

‘Nothing can be held again; the whole lot is on the desk,’ one senior Biden administration official informed reporters.

Not solely has the town been cleaned up considerably and the homeless eliminated however they’ve erected metal safety partitions within the downtown space for the Communist ruler’s go to

An indication indicators highway closures as safety preparations are beneath means on the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit

Folks stroll by means of a safety gate as safety preparations are beneath means

Demonstrators maintain placards throughout the “No on APEC” protest on the sidelines of the convention

‘We’re clear-eyed about this. We all know efforts to form or reform China over a number of many years have failed. However we count on China to be round and to be a significant participant on the world stage for the remainder of our lifetimes.’

Officers declined to supply particulars in regards to the location of Biden’s and Xi’s assembly, citing safety considerations. 1000’s of protesters are anticipated to descend on San Francisco throughout the summit. 

The 2 males final met at a G20 assembly in November 2022 in Bali. They haven’t spoken since.

However a number of prime Cupboard officers – together with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo – have traveled to China as each side attempt to maintain relations open.

At their sitdown in San Francisco, Biden is predicted to boost the delicate problem of China’s affect operations in America together with the standing of U.S. residents that Washington believes are wrongly detained in China. 

Since their final assembly, the U.S. has expressed considerations about Chinese language espionage within the U.S. In February a Chinese language spy balloon made its means throughout the US till an American fighter jet downed it off the coast of South Carolina.

The administration can be involved about China’s navy aggression in Taiwan.

However the primary purpose of the assembly is to maintain communication going. 

Officers declined to supply particulars in regards to the location of Biden’s and Xi’s assembly, citing safety considerations. 1000’s of protesters are anticipated to descend on San Francisco throughout the summit

Some protesters blasted Xi as a dictator and demanded he free Tibet, including ‘your time is up!’

‘The objectives right here actually are about managing the competitors, stopping the draw back danger of battle and making certain channels of communication are open,’ mentioned an administration official. 

The beleaguered California metropolis might have cleaned up and improve safety in response to being labelled a ‘whole failure’ by some China-based shops as the town prepares to host Xi subsequent week.

Whereas the town gears up for the occasion, U.S. Chinese language Radio used the headline ‘Ghost city San Francisco to have main blood alternate as APEC will deliver the most secure week in historical past to the town.’

Different headlines embody the phrases ‘rubbish metropolis, ‘ruined metropolis’ and ‘fallen metropolis’, as crippling drug points and widespread homeless issues proceed to trigger issues for the town. 

One other headline from the Chinese language website Phoenix additionally mentioned the town had fallen right into a ‘dying cycle’. 

One article additionally states: ‘San Francisco was as soon as a jewel on the West Coast of the US, however because the Democrats superior their radical agenda. 

‘Now it has turn out to be a mecca of crime, the streets are in disarray, and it’s quickly slipping in the direction of the standing of a ghost city.’

In an try and fight the continued points, residents have additionally determined to begin blasting the Star Wars title theme to maintain homeless individuals from sleeping on the sidewalks. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom, left, is seen right here with Chinese language President Xi Jinping, proper, who’s making ready to go to the state subsequent week

Homeless individuals collect exterior San Francisco’s Federal Constructing on August 19, 2023 in San Francisco, California

The town has struggled with an overdose epidemic partially pushed by the unfold of the artificial opioid fentanyl

One constructing on the nook of Van Ness Avenue and Eddy Avenue within the metropolis now has two audio system above a bus cease to make use of them as a deterrent. 

The San Francisco Customary reported that one unhoused individual, Oscar Pancho informed them: ‘It is f***ing annoying.

‘It is like jazz or circus music, or one thing. It does not work anyway; they nonetheless s**t over there with the music on.’ 

Jennifer Friedenbach, head of the Coalition on Homelessness, informed the usual that  speaker methods are unusual however believes that they’re a tactic meant to discourage homeless individuals from settling.

Friedenbach mentioned: ‘We’ve heard of this as an anti-homeless measure. I don’t suppose it’s notably efficient. [Homeless] individuals don’t have anyplace to go and loud music does not change that.’

The Customary additionally reported that 99 planters had been arrange in that space to dissuade homeless individuals from sleeping on the aspect walks. 

The town has struggled for years with rampant fentanyl use and deadly overdoses, and is on tempo for its deadliest 12 months but. 

As of October 29, the San Francisco Police Division reported homicides within the metropolis are up 7 p.c, theft is up 14.4 p.c and motorcar theft is up 8.3 p.c.

The highlight can be on the town because the Chinese language President meets with President Biden for the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit

One article says the town has fallen right into a ‘dying cycle’ and one other says the California metropolis turn out to be a ‘mecca for crime’

The San Francisco Customary additionally revealed the town has filed an software to construct a psychological well being heart for homeless people who find themselves uninsured on Market Avenue.

Infrastructure within the space has additionally left clients saying the shop is inaccessible and inconvenient.

Within the first 5 months of 2023, preliminary stories present there have been 346 overdose deaths within the metropolis – a rise of greater than 40 p.c from the identical interval in 2022.

Newest figures present that overdose deaths are persevering with to rise, hovering in August with an extra 84 deaths, 66 involving fentanyl.

Economists had additionally beforehand warned the town is spiraling into an ‘city doom loop’ – a vicious circle of interconnected traits and forces that ship cities into financial and social wreck.

Over the previous 12 months, dozens of excessive profile retailers introduced they might be vacating the downtown space of the town.

Retail stalwart Outdated Navy introduced they might be shuttering their flagship retailer within the space final month, turning into the newest chain to exit the town.

Nordstrom additionally introduced they might be closing all of their places within the metropolis.

A map reveals the key companies which have left, or plan to depart, San Francisco in current months

In April, Complete Meals introduced it was closing all their places, with Anthropologie and Workplace Depot having additionally made the identical selections.

Earlier this week, pictures additionally emerged of a desolate Ikea in downtown San Francisco as clients say persistent development, lack of parking and excessive crime has saved them from purchasing on the retailer. 

One person by the title of MissionLoco posted pictures on X, previously Twitter, inside the shop exhibiting stocked cabinets however almost empty aisles with no clients.

‘The brand new Ikea is useless as a doorknob. Exterior, the development noise is deafening. The road scene, disheartening,’ the person mentioned.

On October 1, a person went on a stabbing spree close to 4th and Market Streets, simply blocks away from Ikea. 

One person shared on X, previously Twitter, photos of the brand new downtown San Francisco retailer almost empty aisles with no clients

The pictures present stocked cabinets however no clients round. Folks have mentioned no parking and close by crime has deterred them from going to the shop

Three individuals had been assault and police mentioned the assailant was a suspect in an assault that occurred close to Market and Battery streets earlier that day, reported KGO.

In an effort to extend officers on the streets, the San Francisco Police Division (SPFD) went on a recruitment drive by visiting 4 Texas campuses in September. 

A police spokesperson informed the Customary that the variety of estimated purposes this 12 months is 2,104, almost a 20 p.c improve from 1,756 final 12 months. 

Following widespread requires reforms that swept the nation following the homicide of George Floyd, the division within the California metropolis had it funding minimize.

Mayor London Breed was one of many first to overtly converse out in help of defunding the police.

Drug addicts and the homeless congregate within the Tenderloin District of the California metropolis 

Open air use of sophistication A substances is rampant among the many homeless inhabitants of the town 

Mayor London Breed has beforehand mentioned that the town is altering for the higher, however has additionally mentioned that the Tenderloin and South of Market areas nonetheless current challenges 

Breed introduced $120 million can be minimize from the police and sheriff’s departments to reinvest in applications that assist black and brown communities.

The next 12 months, Breed u-turned on the choice and elevated the police price range as the town confronted a rampant rise in property crime and looting.

In September, the boss of Salesforce hit out at officers within the metropolis for less than making it ‘secure’ throughout the firm’s annual conference. 

Salesforce Inc. CEO Marc Benioff mentioned he had pushed officers within the California metropolis to scrub the place up earlier than the corporate’s annual convention, named Dreamforce. 

In response, Mayor London Breed mentioned: ‘It isn’t simply due to Dreamforce. There are different conventions. That is what we do for each conference that involves SF.

‘My pushback is San Francisco altering. Issues are getting higher.’

Regardless of this, Mayor Breed did concede that some areas of the town, notably the Tenderloin and South of Market, did nonetheless current challenges.