<p><span>A widespread view that cities have become less safe in recent months is transforming local politics. </span>Eric Adams<span><span> </span>became Mayor of New York City on a tough-on-crime platform. Anxiety about public safety has also played a significant role in the ongoing Los Angeles mayoral race. In San Francisco,<span> </span></span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/why-san-francisco-fired-chesa-boudin">Chesa Boudin</a><span>—a reform-minded district attorney—was recalled by voters by a significant margin last week. Boudin had instituted a number of progressive reforms, from liberalizing bail policies to reducing jail populations through diversion programs. But those changes were buried by the perception that the city had descended into a state of chaos. His recall has been cast as a referendum on crime and on the public’s attitudes toward progressive criminal-justice policies. What were the voters in San Francisco blaming on Boudin? The<span> </span></span><em>New Yorker</em><span><span> </span>staff writer<span> </span></span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/benjamin-wallace-wells">Benjamin Wallace-Wells</a><span><span> </span>recently wrote about Boudin’s recall. He speaks with the<span> </span></span><em>New Yorker</em><span><span> </span>senior editor<span> </span></span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/tyler-foggatt">Tyler Foggatt</a><span>.</span></p>
A widespread view that cities have become less safe in recent months is transforming local politics. Eric Adams became Mayor of New York City on a tough-on-crime platform. Anxiety about public safety has also played a significant role in the ongoing Los Angeles mayoral race. In San Francisco, Chesa Boudin—a reform-minded district attorney—was recalled by voters by a significant margin last week. Boudin had instituted a number of progressive reforms, from liberalizing bail policies to reducing jail populations through diversion programs. But those changes were buried by the perception that the city had descended into a state of chaos. His recall has been cast as a referendum on crime and on the public’s attitudes toward progressive criminal-justice policies. What were the voters in San Francisco blaming on Boudin? The New Yorker staff writer Benjamin Wallace-Wells recently wrote about Boudin’s recall. He speaks with the New Yorker senior editor Tyler Foggatt.