The intensity of the race between State Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi went up a notch last week when police officers arrested a suspect for allegedly vandalizing an unofficial mobile installation critical of Chan.
An Instagram account called @connie_cab_sf, first posted photos of a car resembling a New York City yellow cab near Dolores Park on Aug. 3, emblazoned with the slogan “Take a Taxi Because Connie Hates Muni.”
The attack-ad-on-wheels resembled the primary season’s “Saikat Mystery Machine,” a guerilla campaign technique tied by the San Francisco Chronicle to political prankster and former City Hall staffer Conor Johnston.
Who is behind the funding and deployment of the taxi is unclear. Johnston declined to comment.
On Aug. 7, the cab account posted a photo of the taxi with a banner that read “Connie Chan wants to cancel Outside Lands,” apparently parked near Golden Gate Park.
That same day, police arrested 21-year-old Patrick Hoffman in the Richmond District, after the suspect allegedly stomped on the taxi’s windshield and fled the area, department spokesperson Officer Richard Rueca wrote in an email.
“… after a brief foot chase the suspect was detained,” Rueca wrote, adding that Hoffman was arrested for misdemeanor vandalism.
Chan’s spokesperson said the campaign is not aware of any connection between Hoffman and the campaign.
“We unequivocally condemn vandalism and any damage to property,” said Chan campaign spokesperson Ian Krager. “The person responsible for this crime should be held accountable.”
Wiener’s campaign is aggressively pursuing Richmond District voters and on July 30 moved into Chan’s home district, opening a satellite headquarters at 4300 California St.
On Aug. 3, a chatbot created by Wiener’s campaign meant to mock Chan’s record was launched. It was scuttled four days later, after drawing criticism as racist and misogynistic from voters, political organizations and several members of Congress, including Pelosi, who is backing Chan.
The Wiener campaign spent some $20,000 on two billboards, both in the Richmond, advertising the website. Both were taken down shortly after the chatbot’s demise, but not before one billboard was vandalized with spray paint.
