SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco’s Chinatown was the center of much of the anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, when many residents didn’t feel safe walking down the street.
On Tuesday, San Francisco’s Interim Police Chief Paul Yep walked the streets speaking to residents and merchants about their pressing needs.
“To make sure that as we change leadership, they meet their captain personally and in person,” Yep said.
Yep said speaking to the community is a key to gaining trust.
“It’s about a partnership,” he said. “We are going to continue foot beats to maintain safety in the area and maintain the relationship, so that is why the captain needs to be here. And then, we want to hear about emerging issues, so we know about the issues in the past. And we will continue to take care of those, such as crime against the elderly, crime against tourists.”
According to SFPD, the city is experiencing the lowest crime rate in over two decades. Violent crime is down 19% throughout the city. But is that enough for communities like this one?
Amanda Yan, owner of Hons Wun Tun House restaurant, says that as a business owner, she thinks Chinatown needs more safety and police on duty at night.
Chinatown has four officers who are on foot patrol every day. One of them is Officer Talent Tang.
“We know the community, but they do like the police and are supportive of the police department, and they want more police officers out here,” Tang said.
New Central Station Captain Christopher Del Gandio was a lieutenant in Chinatown for three years.
“Meeting with the merchants directly and giving them my information so they can reach out to me, and I can know how best to address the issues that they are experiencing,” Del Gandio said.
Chinatown is home to many legacy businesses. According to 2025 data, at least five new restaurants opened. Yep is hoping their efforts keep pushing economic growth.
“What I sense is that, because of COVID, because of the anti-Asian hate, people realized that there is a reset in them, that they want to reconnect with their culture and their heritage,” said Donald Luu of SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce. “Opening a shop, a restaurant in Chinatown is a way to reconnect.”