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Francis Michael Jordan (born February 20, 1935) is an American politician and former police chief who served as the mayor of San Francisco from 1992 to 1996.[1] He is a member of the Democratic Party.[2]

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Jordan was born in San Francisco in 1935 and graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School in 1953.[3] He studied political science and government at the University of San Francisco during his time on the police force and graduated in 1975.[4]

Police career and Chief of Police

[edit]

Before becoming mayor, Jordan served as the Chief of the San Francisco Police Department from 1986 until 1990, at which point he resigned to run for mayor.[2][3] He joined the force in 1957[5][6] and was named Chief of Police by then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein in 1986.[7]

Mayor of San Francisco

[edit]
A "Save Our Giants" banner hanging from San Francisco City Hall
Frank Jordan in 1999

Jordan succeeded Art Agnos as the Mayor of San Francisco from 1992, until 1996.[8] Jordan continued Agnos' campaign against the city's chapter of Food Not Bombs and introduced a controversial program called Matrix which aimed to deal with the city's homelessness problems.[9] During his mayoral tenure Jordan played a role in converting the Presidio Army Base into part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, bringing Bay Area Rapid Transit to the San Francisco International Airport, keeping the San Francisco Giants[10] in the city and balancing the city's budget.[11] Jordan was challenged for mayor in the 1995 mayoral election by Willie Brown, who was termed out of the State Assembly.[12] Brown, considered by many to be one of the most powerful African-American politicians in the country, had been defeated only once in a run for public office. Brown and Jordan advanced out of a crowded field to a run-off election, where Brown was victorious. In the 1999 mayoral election, Jordan attempted a comeback bid, but came in third behind Willie Brown and Tom Ammiano.[13]

Foundation executive

[edit]

Since 2001 Jordan has served as special advisor to the president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and is the foundation's principal counselor on the impact of potential grants in the nine-county Bay Area.[14] According to the foundation's 2007 annual report, in that year nearly $53 million in grants was devoted to the San Francisco Bay Area.[15][16]

Personal life

[edit]

Jordan holds a degree in government and political science from the University of San Francisco, where he has served on the Business Advisory Council since 1989, and teaching credentials from the University of California.[14]

Before 2017, Jordan and his wife, Wendy Paskin-Jordan, owned homes in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco and in Santa Rosa, California. However, their Santa Rosa residence was destroyed in the October 2017 Northern California wildfires.[17][18]

References

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[edit]
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Frank Jordan

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Frank Jordan (born February 20, 1935) is an American retired police officer and Democratic politician who served as the 40th from January 8, 1992, to January 8, 1996. A lifelong resident, he joined the in 1957, rising to become chief of police from 1986 to 1991 under mayors and . Jordan unexpectedly defeated incumbent Mayor in the 1991 election by campaigning on a centrist platform emphasizing restoration of public order, cleanup of litter, and reduction of visible through strict enforcement of existing laws rather than new social programs. As mayor, he launched the Matrix initiative, a coordinated effort involving police, , and sweeps to move homeless individuals from high-visibility areas into shelters or treatment, which temporarily improved street conditions but faced accusations of displacing rather than solving underlying problems like mental illness and . His administration secured labor concessions to address fiscal pressures but encountered internal scandals over appointees and policy implementation challenges. Jordan sought re-election in 1995 but lost to State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown amid voter fatigue and a damaging . In later years, he has critiqued subsequent mayoral approaches to , arguing that billions spent on failed to address root causes such as and psychiatric needs, echoing his earlier pragmatic enforcement focus.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

Francis Michael Jordan was born on February 20, 1935, in , . His parents, Frank and Margaret Jordan, were Irish immigrants. Jordan's father worked as a painter and brewery laborer. Jordan spent his early years growing up in , where his family resided amid the city's working-class neighborhoods during the era. Limited detail specific childhood experiences, but his upbringing in a household shaped by immigrant values emphasized discipline and community ties, influences later reflected in his career. No verified accounts confirm siblings or extended family dynamics beyond his parents.

Education and Early Career Influences

Francis Michael Jordan was born on February 20, 1935, in to Irish immigrant parents, with his father working as a painter and brewery laborer. Raised in a working-class Catholic household, he attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School, a Christian Brothers institution, graduating in 1953. After high school, Jordan was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in , an experience that exposed him to structured military discipline amid tensions. Upon discharge around 1955, he returned to and joined the (SFPD) in 1957 at age 22, beginning a 30-year career in that would define his professional trajectory. While advancing in the SFPD ranks, Jordan pursued higher education part-time, enrolling at the and earning a in government (also described as ) in 1975. This delayed but practical academic path, combined with in policing, honed his administrative skills and policy-oriented mindset, influencing his later roles in community relations and within the department. His early immersion in SFPD operations, starting as a patrol officer, reflected a commitment to grassroots rooted in his local upbringing and military background.

Police Career

Rise in the San Francisco Police Department

Jordan joined the in 1957, motivated by a desire to work directly with people in the . He began his career as a patrol officer and steadily advanced through the ranks over the following decades, accumulating experience in frontline policing, administrative duties, relations, and initiatives. By 1986, after 28 years of service, Jordan had worked under six police chiefs and served as an aide to two of them, demonstrating loyalty and administrative competence within the department. His reputation as a tough but fair administrator, earned through consistent performance without major controversies, positioned him for leadership when Mayor selected him to replace retiring Chief Cornelius Murphy as the department's head. This appointment marked the culmination of his internal rise, reflecting the SFPD's tradition of promoting career officers with deep institutional knowledge over external candidates.

Tenure as Chief of Police (1986–1990)

Frank Jordan was appointed Chief of Police of the (SFPD) by Mayor on January 7, 1986, succeeding Cornelius P. Murphy after 28 years of service in the department, which Jordan had joined in 1957. At age 50, he was selected for his reputation as a "tough but fair" administrator overseeing a force of approximately 1,800 officers amid ongoing challenges including urban crime and departmental morale issues. During his tenure, Jordan emphasized operational discipline and community-oriented initiatives, including expansions of neighborhood safety awareness programs and the Senior Escort Outreach Program to assist elderly residents. A significant internal event occurred on November 15, 1989, when Jordan compelled his older brother, Deputy Chief Jack Jordan, to retire following allegations that the deputy had attempted to influence a subordinate's promotion, demonstrating Jordan's commitment to addressing concerns within the department. Jordan's faced increasing friction with Mayor , who assumed office in 1988 and pursued policies emphasizing civilian oversight of police conduct. This culminated in Jordan's , announced on October 20, 1990, after 33 years with the SFPD; he cited a desire to explore other opportunities, though the departure aligned with a dispute in which Agnos demanded Jordan issue a formal written statement on an unspecified departmental matter, which Jordan declined. His exit paved the way for interim leadership under Willis Casey and highlighted tensions between traditional police and emerging efforts.

Key Policies and Incidents During Police Leadership

During his tenure as from February 1986 to October 1990, Frank Jordan emphasized community-oriented policing initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety through targeted outreach and prevention efforts. He established the Senior Escort Outreach Program, which provided safe escort services for elderly residents to reduce vulnerability to , and oversaw the neighborhood safety awareness program to educate communities on . Additionally, under Jordan's leadership, the (SFPD) formed a dedicated Hate Crimes Unit to investigate bias-motivated incidents, reflecting a response to increasing reports of such offenses in the late . These programs positioned Jordan as a "tough but fair" administrator focused on proactive measures rather than solely reactive enforcement. A significant incident occurred on October 6, 1989, known as the Castro Sweep, when SFPD officers conducted a large-scale operation in the Castro District following an against inadequate government response to the AIDS crisis. Approximately 250 protesters marched from the Federal Building to the Castro, where tensions escalated after police declared an ; around 200 officers, many in gear, swept seven blocks, arresting dozens, using batons and motorcycles to disperse crowds, and closing businesses, which affected bystanders and residents. The action, ordered under a zero-tolerance policy by Deputy Chief Frank Reed overriding a milder plan, drew accusations of excessive force and homophobic retaliation linked to prior protests. Jordan acknowledged that about half of the on-duty force—roughly 200 officers—participated but minimized the misconduct initially, later suspending, demoting, or reassigning involved personnel, including his brother, Deputy Chief Jack Jordan. The event prompted lawsuits, internal investigations revealing overreach, and public backlash, including a 2,000-person reclamation the next day.

Entry into Politics

1991 Mayoral Campaign Against

In the November 5, 1991, general election for mayor, former Police Chief Frank Jordan unexpectedly advanced to a runoff against incumbent , securing 32% of the vote compared to Agnos's 28%. Jordan, a political novice and career officer who had resigned as chief in 1990 amid tensions with Agnos over departmental reforms, positioned himself as a pragmatic outsider emphasizing street-level cleanliness and order. His campaign resonated with voters frustrated by visible , including widespread and , which had intensified under Agnos's progressive administration. Key campaign issues centered on public safety and quality-of-life concerns, with Jordan pledging to "sweep the streets clean" of encampments and debris, drawing contrasts to Agnos's perceived leniency toward social activism and tolerance of disorder. Agnos, elected in a landslide as a reform-minded Democrat, faced backlash for policies seen as prioritizing ideological commitments—such as handling of post-1989 Loma Prieta earthquake recovery and responses to protests—over practical governance, contributing to perceptions of a city in decline. Jordan's mild-mannered, non-confrontational style, rooted in his 30-year police tenure, appealed to moderate and middle-class voters, including unexpectedly support in minority and gay communities typically aligned with Agnos. He avoided divisive rhetoric, framing his bid as a return to basics rather than ideological warfare, though critics noted his reluctance to publicly challenge Agnos during his chief tenure. The December 10 runoff saw defeat Agnos decisively, 52% to 48%, in an upset that signaled a shift away from liberal dominance in the traditionally city. and endorsements from eliminated candidates, whose supporters fragmented rather than coalescing behind Agnos, bolstered Jordan's momentum. The victory highlighted causal factors like economic strains from the and post-earthquake discontent, which amplified dissatisfaction with Agnos's handling of fiscal and social issues, rather than any singular policy failure. 's campaign, low on funds but high on grassroots appeal, marked a rare ouster of an incumbent in San Francisco's nonpartisan system, underscoring the electorate's demand for tangible improvements over abstract .

Election Victory and Transition to Mayor

In the November 5, 1991, for mayor, Frank Jordan, the former police chief, emerged as the top vote-getter with 32% of the vote, advancing to a runoff against incumbent , who received 28%. Jordan's campaign resonated with voters by pledging to address visible urban disorder, including homeless encampments and street litter, amid widespread frustration with Agnos's progressive policies. The December 10, 1991, runoff pitted against Agnos in a closely contested race that won decisively, securing 52% of the vote to Agnos's 48%—an upset victory in the city's traditionally liberal political landscape. His platform's focus on practical improvements to public safety and cleanliness drew broader support, including unexpected strength in minority and gay communities. Jordan's transition to office emphasized restoring core municipal functions, with his inauguration occurring on January 8, 1992, as he positioned himself as a "citizen-mayor" committed to populist reforms. Initial efforts included assembling an administrative team to prioritize street cleaning and enforcement against quality-of-life violations, though early staffing changes signaled challenges in aligning his outsider approach with City Hall's entrenched bureaucracy.

Mayoral Administration (1992–1996)

Homelessness Policies and the Matrix Program

Upon assuming the mayoralty in January 1992, Frank Jordan prioritized addressing visible homelessness as a core quality-of-life issue, advocating enforcement measures to reclaim public spaces amid rising complaints from residents and businesses about encampments, public sanitation violations, and panhandling. His approach emphasized coordinating city agencies—including police, health, and social services—to enforce existing ordinances against public camping, urination, defecation, and sidewalk obstruction, while directing individuals toward shelters and treatment where possible. This contrasted with prior administrations' focus on expanded services without strict enforcement, which Jordan argued had failed to deter chronic street presence estimated at around 6,000 individuals nightly in the early 1990s. The centerpiece was the Matrix program, launched in 1993 as a multi-departmental initiative dubbed "Matrix for the Homeless." It deployed police officers in an capacity to issue citations for quality-of-life misdemeanors, clear encampments, and facilitate connections to or services, with sweeps targeting high-visibility areas like parks and transit hubs. In its first six months, the program generated approximately 6,000 citations; by 1994, annual issuances reached 11,562, rising to 14,276 in 1995, surpassing prior years' totals combined and totaling over 20,000 by some accounts. Specific operations, such as Matrix II in in 1995, involved intensive multi-agency sweeps to evict occupants and remove property, aiming to restore recreational access. Proponents, including Jordan, credited Matrix with tangible improvements in street order by rededicating police to nuisance enforcement, reducing visible disorder and boosting public confidence in neighborhoods. Voter-approved measures in 1994, such as bans on loitering near ATMs and partial welfare voucher conversions for , reflected support for this enforcement tilt. However, empirical outcomes were limited: while temporary clearances occurred, the homeless population did not decline appreciably, as underlying factors like and mental illness persisted without scaled permanent interventions. Critics, including advocacy groups like the Coalition on Homelessness, contended it merely displaced individuals without addressing root causes, amounting to a "police dragnet" that criminalized and yielded high . The program's end came with Jordan's 1995 electoral defeat; successor Willie Brown suspended it upon taking office in January 1996, dismissing nearly 39,000 pending citations via judicial order, which Brown and District Attorney hailed as rectifying intimidation without substantive aid. This reversal underscored Matrix's political vulnerability, though data on sustained disorder post-suspension suggested enforcement's role in maintaining civility absent robust service expansions. Jordan's policies thus exemplified a causal emphasis on deterrence over unconditional provision, yielding short-term spatial gains but highlighting enforcement's insufficiency as a standalone solution to entrenched driven by personal and systemic failures.

Public Safety and Crime Reduction Efforts

Jordan's administration emphasized aggressive policing strategies to combat rising crime and disorder inherited from the prior mayoral term under , where violent crime had surged amid perceptions of lax enforcement. Drawing on his experience as Police Chief from 1986 to 1990, Jordan advocated for a "broken windows" approach, targeting quality-of-life offenses such as panhandling, , and illegal camping to deter escalation to serious crimes. This included reallocating police resources toward street-level enforcement, with the stated goal of restoring public order and reducing overall criminal activity through visible deterrence and swift response. A initiative was the , launched in 1993, which deployed multidisciplinary teams of police officers, social workers, and health aides to dismantle homeless encampments and issue citations for violations. The program resulted in over 4,000 arrests for nuisance offenses in its initial phases and more than 20,000 citations overall during Jordan's tenure, aiming to connect individuals to services while enforcing laws against public disorder. Proponents, including city officials, attributed early successes to a 14% decline in serious crimes and reductions in quality-of-life violations in targeted areas during the program's first five months, arguing that concentrated enforcement disrupted criminal networks exploiting street chaos. To bolster department capacity, Jordan's 1995 budget proposal allocated funds for 111 additional police officers, contingent on economic performance, as part of broader efforts to increase patrols and response times amid ongoing fiscal constraints. Citywide major offenses reportedly fell 17% in June 1995 compared to the prior year, aligning with national trends but credited locally to heightened visibility and accountability measures under Jordan's direction. These policies reflected a causal emphasis on enforcement as a prerequisite for , prioritizing empirical outcomes like clearance rates and incident reductions over expansive social spending, though sustained impacts were debated amid broader demographic and economic shifts.

Economic and Administrative Initiatives

Upon assuming office in January 1992, Mayor Frank Jordan mandated a 10% reduction across all city departments to address a projected $150 million shortfall, emphasizing fiscal restraint without immediate tax increases. This initiative aimed to stabilize San Francisco's finances amid economic pressures from the . In summer 1994, Jordan secured $100 million in concessions from city employee unions, deferring deeper cuts and preserving essential services. By 1995-96, his avoided the mass layoffs threatened in prior years, instead allocating funds for 111 additional police officers while maintaining a lean structure described as compassionate and equitable. Jordan outlined a comprehensive long-term fiscal plan projecting nearly $1 billion in savings through detailed cost analyses and efficiency measures, prioritizing balanced budgets over expansive spending. Despite initial campaign pledges against tax hikes, he proposed an $11 million utility tax on businesses to bolster revenues, reflecting pragmatic adjustments to revenue shortfalls. These efforts addressed what Jordan characterized as the most severe budget crises in his tenure, focusing on structural efficiencies rather than new entitlements. On the administrative front, a pivotal placed the (CAO) position under direct mayoral oversight, transitioning it from an independent, decade-long term insulated from political . This change enhanced executive control over operations, curbing bureaucratic autonomy and aligning departmental functions more closely with mayoral priorities. Broader charter attempts, incorporating Jordan's proposals with those from supervisors like Barbara Kaufman, sought to modernize but failed to advance to the 1994 ballot due to ' reluctance. These initiatives underscored Jordan's push for streamlined administration to improve responsiveness and reduce inefficiencies in San Francisco's municipal framework.

Major Controversies and Criticisms

Jordan's Matrix program, initiated in August 1992, drew significant criticism for its aggressive enforcement against homeless individuals through quality-of-life citations for offenses such as sleeping in parks or public urination, resulting in over 20,000 citations by the mid-1990s. Critics, including homeless advocates and progressive activists, accused the program of criminalizing and merely displacing rather than resolving , likening it to a "revanchist" broken-windows policing that prioritized visibility over addressing underlying causes like mental illness and . The initiative faced legal challenges, culminating in a court ruling that dismantled it, with opponents arguing it exacerbated tensions without providing sustainable or services. While supporters viewed it as necessary for restoring public order, detractors from San Francisco's activist community—often aligned with left-leaning media outlets—portrayed Jordan's approach as insensitive to vulnerable populations, reflecting broader ideological clashes over enforcement versus compassion in a city with entrenched progressive influences. Administrative decisions during Jordan's tenure sparked accusations of incompetence and poor judgment, particularly in high-profile staff upheavals and appointee selections. In his first months, Jordan dismissed key figures including chief, budget director, and , amid reports of botched firings and exposes revealing operational disarray. Controversies arose over appointments, such as the attempted dismissal of Agency head Ben Hom in , which devolved into a public fiasco, and the 1995 nomination of retired judge John Ertola for a top administrative role that was halted due to procedural errors. Critics, including political observers and city commissioners, labeled Jordan a "reactive, unorganized chief executive" lacking policy depth, with some attributing issues to reliance on informal advisers and his fiancée, Wendy Nelder, fostering perceptions of and lightweight leadership. These episodes, covered extensively in local press with a progressive bent, contributed to narratives of instability, though defenders argued they stemmed from the challenges of transitioning from police chief to in a fractious political environment. A notable personal gaffe occurred in October 1995 when Jordan participated in a , posing nude in his shower with disc jockeys Mark Thompson and , leading to a published that embarrassed his re-election campaign. The incident, intended as publicity but perceived as undignified, drew mockery and amplified criticisms of Jordan's judgment, with opponents using it to question his fitness for office amid a tight race against Willie Brown. Jordan issued an apology, but the event underscored broader critiques of his unpolished style, rooted in his background, as out of step with San Francisco's image-conscious electorate.

Defeat and Post-Mayoral Career

1995 Re-Election Loss to Willie Brown

In the November 7, 1995, general election for mayor, incumbent Frank Jordan received 70,764 votes, comprising 33.66% of the total, while challenger Willie Brown, the former Speaker of the , edged him out with 72,955 votes or 34.71%, advancing both to a December runoff under the city's requiring a majority. Other candidates, including Roberta Achtenberg with 56,538 votes (26.90%), trailed significantly. Jordan's campaign emphasized his record of reducing serious crime by over 20% since 1992 and implementing street-cleaning initiatives, positioning himself as a no-nonsense administrator focused on public safety and fiscal restraint. However, critics, including Brown, argued that Jordan's approaches, particularly the Matrix program for managing , merely displaced visible street populations without addressing root causes like mental illness and , leading to voter fatigue with perceived inefficacy. Jordan's re-election bid was hampered by a series of missteps, most notably a October 27, 1995, radio stunt in which he appeared nude in his shower with disc jockeys Mark and Brian, singing "" during a intended to humanize his stiff public persona. The incident, captured in photographs and widely publicized, drew ridicule and accusations of indecorum, with Jordan later apologizing for what he called a misguided attempt to connect with younger voters, but it reinforced perceptions of him as out of touch and undignified amid a competitive race. Brown, leveraging his charisma, legislative savvy, and broad coalitions—including strong support from African American, labor, and progressive communities—campaigned on promises of compassionate governance, economic revitalization, and a break from Jordan's "" style, framing the incumbent as emblematic of failed status quo policies. The December 12, 1995, runoff occurred amid rainy weather that suppressed turnout to 45.52% of 425,969 registered voters, totaling 193,913 ballots cast, conditions that reportedly favored Brown's denser urban base over Jordan's more suburban-leaning supporters. Brown secured victory with 107,500 votes (56.68%), defeating Jordan's 82,173 (43.32%) by a margin of over 25,000 votes, marking the first defeat of an incumbent mayor in since and ending Jordan's tenure after one term. Post-election analysis attributed the loss to voter desire for change after four years of Jordan's administration, despite measurable gains in and city cleanliness, as Brown's political stature and narrative of renewal resonated more effectively in a city grappling with persistent social issues like . Jordan conceded the following day, acknowledging the electorate's preference for Brown's vision while defending his own efforts to restore order.

Executive Roles in Housing and Foundations

Following his defeat in the 1996 mayoral election, Jordan transitioned to executive positions in the philanthropic sector. In March 2001, he joined the as a special advisor to the president, leveraging his public service experience to inform the organization's initiatives. The foundation, established by the late co-founder and his wife in 2000, focuses on environmental conservation, scientific research, patient care, and Bay Area community projects, with assets exceeding $7 billion by the mid-2000s. Jordan's tenure, which lasted until approximately 2010, involved advising on strategic grantmaking and policy matters, drawing on his background in municipal governance. No verifiable executive roles in organizations appear in Jordan's post-mayoral record; his prior mayoral efforts had emphasized reforms, such as appointing leadership to the Housing Authority and promoting resident management programs, but these concluded with his term. In 2010, Jordan founded Frank M. Jordan and Associates, a offering expertise in , leadership, and , though specific client engagements remain undocumented in public sources. This venture allowed him to maintain influence in civic affairs without formal elected or nonprofit executive titles tied to housing.

Later Public Commentary and Endorsements

In August 2023, Jordan publicly criticized Mayor London Breed's policies, arguing that housing individuals in hotels without addressing underlying and issues—prevalent in approximately 70% of the homeless population—fails to resolve the crisis and merely relocates problems. He advocated instead for mandatory treatment programs, echoing his earlier Matrix initiative, and stated that billions spent under Breed had yielded insufficient results due to lack of enforcement and accountability. In October 2024, Jordan joined former mayors Willie Brown and in co-signing a letter urging the and to investigate interim mayor Mark Farrell for alleged ethics violations related to his business dealings and public statements. Jordan endorsed philanthropist in the 2024 mayoral race on March 26, 2024, praising Lurie's focus on public safety, addiction treatment, and as reminiscent of his own administration's successes in reducing street disorder through and . He contrasted this with the current leadership's approach, asserting that Lurie would prioritize restoring order without relying on ineffective spending. Lurie ultimately won the election in November 2024.

Legacy

Achievements in Restoring Order

During his mayoral tenure from 1992 to 1996, experienced substantial declines in rates, including a 20% overall reduction citywide, which supporters attribute in part to Jordan's emphasis on and enforcement of minor offenses. In alone, total felonies dropped by 25.2%, with decreases exceeding 20% in murders, rapes, robberies, and burglaries, outperforming national trends in several categories. These reductions occurred amid a broader national decline in the , but 's decreases from 1992 to 1998 were unmatched by ten comparable U.S. cities, suggesting local policies played a contributory role. A key initiative was the Matrix program, launched in 1993, which deployed police to issue citations and make arrests for "quality-of-life" violations such as public camping, panhandling, and , often linked to homeless individuals. The program resulted in over 20,000 citations and approximately 4,000 arrests in its early phases, correlating with a 14% drop in serious crimes and a 27% reduction in quality-of-life offenses within the first five months of intensified enforcement. Proponents, drawing on broken windows policing principles, argued that addressing visible disorder prevented escalation to , fostering a restored sense of public order in neighborhoods previously plagued by encampments and litter. Jordan's background as police chief informed these efforts, prioritizing basic services like street cleaning and visible patrols over expansive social programs, which he claimed reversed the "collapse of " under prior leadership. While critics contested the program's long-term and fairness, empirical on felony clearances and resident surveys from the era indicated improved perceptions of safety, with business leaders crediting the administration for stabilizing areas. These measures laid groundwork for sustained quality-of-life improvements, influencing subsequent debates on enforcement versus accommodation in urban governance.

Criticisms and Long-Term Impacts

Jordan's Matrix program, implemented in 1993 as a multi-agency initiative to address visible through citations for offenses like sleeping, public urination, and open drug use, faced accusations of inhumane treatment from homeless advocates and city supervisors. In March 1995, the adopted a resolution denouncing the program for generating "an atmosphere of hostility" toward unhoused individuals and redirecting police resources away from substantive services like support. Critics, including groups like the Coalition on Homelessness, contended that such enforcement measures exacerbated poverty by imposing fines and arrests on those least able to comply, trapping them in cycles of incarceration without tackling causal factors such as and housing scarcity. These policies were also faulted for lacking empirical grounding in long-term efficacy, with detractors arguing that displacement tactics merely shuffled problems across neighborhoods rather than reducing overall counts, which hovered around 5,000-6,000 unsheltered individuals during Jordan's term. Progressive voices portrayed Jordan's approach as overly punitive and politically motivated, appealing to middle-class voters frustrated by but ignoring systemic inequities—a view echoed in his 1995 electoral defeat to Willie Brown, who campaigned against Matrix as persecution of the vulnerable. In the long term, the program's abrupt termination under Brown—marked by the dismissal of 39,020 citations and warrants in April 1996 by Municipal Judge Herbert Donaldson—coincided with renewed street disorder, as enforcement waned and encampments proliferated in areas like Golden Gate Park. San Francisco's homelessness surged to over 8,000 by 2019, with chronic issues of fentanyl overdoses and mental illness persisting amid billions spent on housing-first models that Jordan later critiqued for enabling dependency without accountability. While short-term data showed a 25.2 percent decline in total felonies in 1994, including drops in robbery and burglary, these gains eroded post-1996 as permissive policies supplanted structured enforcement, contributing to perceptions of policy whiplash that undermined sustained public order. Jordan's era underscored the causal role of consistent deterrence in managing urban decay, yet its rejection highlighted institutional resistance to enforcement amid San Francisco's left-leaning governance biases, perpetuating debates over compassion versus realism in addressing behavioral drivers of disorder.

Assessments from Diverse Perspectives

Conservative commentators and policy analysts have credited Jordan with restoring public order in San Francisco through initiatives like the Matrix program, which used police enforcement to dismantle homeless encampments and reduce visible street disorder, arguing it halved the homeless population compared to later years under more permissive policies. These efforts aligned with a broader "broken windows" approach to , appealing to voters frustrated by the liberal governance of predecessor , and were seen as a necessary corrective in a city plagued by rising vagrancy and litter in the early 1990s. Jordan's background as police chief further bolstered this view, positioning him as a pragmatic leader prioritizing over expansive social spending. Liberal and progressive critics, including tenant activists and homelessness advocates, condemned Jordan's Matrix strategy as punitive and ineffective at addressing root causes like mental illness and , claiming it merely displaced rather than solved by "herding" individuals out of the without sufficient housing or services. They highlighted administrative missteps, such as staff turnover, appointee controversies, and minor scandals, as evidence of incompetence and over-reliance on backroom influences, portraying his tenure as a lightweight interlude that failed to advance equity or progressive reforms. Sources from this perspective, often aligned with San Francisco's activist neighborhoods, argued that Jordan's moderate pivot alienated core liberal constituencies, contributing to his 1995 defeat by Willie Brown despite initial voter support for change. Neutral observers and political analysts noted Jordan's achievements in stabilizing key institutions, such as retaining the Giants baseball team and resolving the 1994 newspaper strike, which preserved economic and media continuity amid fiscal pressures. However, his public gaffes, including the infamous shower photo incident with disc jockeys on October 13, 1995, underscored perceptions of inexperience, eroding his image as a "citizen mayor" and amplifying criticisms across the spectrum. Mainstream assessments, like those in early coverage, debated whether his amiable but unpolished style reflected genuine or administrative inadequacy, with outcomes varying by metric—strong on short-term order but weak on long-term innovation.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family

Jordan married Wendy Paskin-Jordan, who has served on the San Francisco Employees' Retirement System board and managed capital investments. The couple, described by Jordan in 2017 as best friends, resided in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa, California, prior to 2017. Jordan has a son, Frank Jordan Jr., who participated in family celebrations following his father's 1991 mayoral election victory. The son, along with his wife, experienced a home intrusion by a stray bullet in in October 2022 while preparing their children for bed, highlighting Jordan's grandchildren.

Health, Religion, and Later Years

In his later years, Jordan has remained engaged in San Francisco civic discourse, endorsing candidates such as for mayor in March 2024 and critiquing current leadership's handling of in August 2023. He has also pursued personal endeavors, including hand-writing a titled Frankly Speaking, producing amateur wines like Fillmore Cabernet and Pacific , and traveling to 40 countries. Additionally, he served as a special advisor to the . In October 2017, Jordan and his wife Wendy lost their Santa Rosa home to the , one of the deadliest wildfires in history. Jordan adheres to the Catholic faith, having been raised under the guidance of the Christian Brothers at Cathedral Preparatory in . His spirituality has been shaped by personal encounters with figures such as and , whom he met during his public service career. No major health issues have been publicly reported for Jordan, who at age 82 in 2017 described himself as free of and cognitively sharp. Born on February 20, 1935, he reached his 90th birthday in 2025 while continuing to participate actively in political commentary, indicating sustained physical and mental vitality into advanced age.

References

  1. https://www.csmonitor.com/1993/0525/25031.html
  2. https://www.nndb.com/people/865/000047724/
  3. https://www.foundsf.org/Mayor_Frank_Jordan
  4. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-11-mn-153-story.html
  5. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mayor-Jordan-s-legacy-3114273.php
  6. https://www.norcalmediamuseum.org/?page_id=2209
  7. https://abc7news.com/post/former-mayor-frank-jordan-san-francisco-homeless-london-breed/13684242/
  8. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-09-mn-1977-story.html
  9. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Nice-man-grew-tough-in-office-3119080.php
  10. https://www.nobhillgazette.com/people/lucky-guy/article_05fa1764-203b-524d-a521-356ef8941b14.html
  11. https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/frank-jordan-endorses-lurie-for-sf-mayor-over-breed/article_26a85542-ebc2-11ee-a293-636dcc9387fb.html
  12. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Jordan-named-S-F-police-chief-1986-2462637.php
  13. https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/your-sfpd/chiefs-sfpd
  14. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-08-mn-552-story.html
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  17. https://www.nyclu.org/uploads/2017/01/NYCLU.CivilianReviewPolicing.CaseStudyRep.1993.pdf
  18. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-20-mn-2283-story.html
  19. https://daniellurie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/lurie-press-23.pdf
  20. https://www.ebar.com/story/47062
  21. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-07-mn-1406-story.html
  22. https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Agnos-unseated-in-mayoral-race-1991-10780672.php
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/26/us/san-francisco-mayor-in-tough-bid-for-re-election.html
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/12/us/liberal-city-elects-a-moderate-mayor.html
  25. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/12/12/san-francisco-mayor-loses-in-upset/ad765dbf-4c45-4677-bbf5-272d3772dcb0/
  26. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-12-mn-293-story.html
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/18/us/new-mayor-s-shaky-start-has-san-francisco-puzzled.html
  28. https://www.city-journal.org/article/san-francisco-gets-tough-with-the-homeless
  29. https://www.kqed.org/news/11765010/timeline-the-frustrating-political-history-of-homelessness-in-san-francisco
  30. https://projects.sfchronicle.com/sf-homeless/letters-from-the-mayors/
  31. https://www.city-journal.org/article/caught-in-the-matrix
  32. https://darrellowens.substack.com/p/san-francisco-40-years-of-failure
  33. https://www.foundsf.org/Homeless_policy_failure
  34. https://www.sfpublicpress.org/quality-of-life-citations-at-record-lows/
  35. https://www.cohsf.org/Punishing.pdf
  36. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/police-homelessness-front-line-postmortem-san-franciscos-matrix
  37. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Matrix-program-dies-in-S-F-court-3155141.php
  38. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/09/us/with-appeal-to-past-ex-police-chief-puts-san-francisco-mayor-on-the-run.html
  39. https://www.csmonitor.com/1993/1209/09041.html
  40. https://www.city-journal.org/article/dont-bet-against-san-francisco
  41. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Jordan-Budget-Calls-for-111-More-Cops-Plan-3031085.php
  42. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NOTEBOOK-Brown-Hits-Jordan-on-Crime-Stats-3020925.php
  43. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-12-me-275-story.html
  44. https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/OPEN-FORUM-My-Strategy-for-a-Balanced-Budget-3018241.php
  45. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jordan-s-budget-poses-3145172.php
  46. https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/EDITORIAL-Jordan-for-Mayor-A-Plan-for-the-3018721.php
  47. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-02-mn-5642-story.html
  48. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Jordan-Tries-Again-Picks-Ex-Health-Official-for-3040119.php
  49. http://sfpl.org/pdf/libraries/main/sfhistory/archives-and-manuscripts/select-committee.pdf
  50. https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:%252F13030%252Fc84q7sqk
  51. https://dx.doi.org/10.7228/manchester/9781526107350.003.0004
  52. https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/S-F-Abandons-Matrix-Program-But-Brown-says-2999337.php
  53. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-in-Turmoil-Over-Top-Administrative-Job-3041820.php
  54. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-21-mn-5636-story.html
  55. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Shower-sorrow-No-soap-Mr-Mayor-3119696.php
  56. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/MATIER-ROSS-Frank-s-Shower-The-Story-Behind-3017896.php
  57. https://sfelections.org/results/19951107w/index.html
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  59. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Timing-is-everything-as-voters-tell-Jordan-he-s-3116487.php
  60. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Jordan-Tries-for-Lighter-Image-Rivals-3021761.php
  61. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-13-mn-13648-story.html
  62. https://sfelections.org/results/19951212w/index.html
  63. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/moore-foundation-staff-expected-to-double
  64. https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-jordan-00777a6
  65. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/06/11/chicago-isnt-alone/
  66. https://rocketreach.co/frank-jordan-email_113561502
  67. https://sfist.com/2024/10/07/former-mayors-willie-brown-art-agnos-and-frank-jordan-call-for-investigation-of-mark-farrell/
  68. https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/lurie-endorsement-former-mayor-race-19368136.php
  69. https://sfist.com/2024/03/28/daniel-lurie-gets-endorsement-from-former-mayor-frank-jordan/
  70. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/08/us/urban-crime-rates-falling-this-year.html
  71. https://www.cedus.it/files/ShatteringBrokenWindows.pdf
  72. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-Supervisors-Blast-Homeless-Crackdown-3040340.php
  73. https://homelesslaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Housing-Not-Handcuffs.pdf
  74. https://www.sfpublicpress.org/a-legacy-of-criminalizing-transience-and-homelessness/
  75. https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Judge-Dismisses-More-Than-39-000-Matrix-Charges-2986238.php
  76. https://www.abc7news.com/post/former-mayor-frank-jordan-san-francisco-homeless-london-breed/13684242/
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  82. https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/S-F-s-ex-first-lady-back-in-capital-management-3262549.php
  83. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/11/11/as-one-bay-celebrates-the-other-mourns-loss/f13dd347-5d68-4c1c-b7bd-45953a1d7b31/
  84. https://sfist.com/2022/10/18/former-sf-mayors-daughter-sees-bullet-from-sunday-night-shooting-crash-through-home/
  85. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Jordan-former-SF-mayor-loses-his-home-to-12273907.php
  86. https://www.sfchronicle.com/election/article/san-francisco-mayor-race-19748340.php
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