Arrest in Bob Lee killing silences critics who blasted San Francisco conditions

The high-profile killing of tech executive Bob Lee last week sent San Francisco’s reputation spiraling down around the world. City Supervisor Dean Preston was more vocal in his response to those who jumped to conclusions as they denigrated San Francisco. “There’s a well-oiled machine that is ready to politicize and exploit any tragedy in San Francisco,” Preston told The Chronicle after the arrest. Since the pandemic began, homicides have ticked up in San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area, mirroring a national trend. There were 56 homicides in San Francisco in both 2022 and 2021, 48 in 2020 and 41 in 2019.