"Shocked by the Misery on SF's street, "I struggle to explain it to myself.

It was from one of Heather Knight's always informative and usually compassionate columns that I learned that the disparity between the poor and the rich in San Francisco is similar to Rwanda's. ("Income inequality on par with developing nations," June 25, 2014), so when I read today's column about tourists being "shocked by the misery on San Francisco Streets," I thought, "The tourists?"

 I wish the tourist industry that is sturggling to explain the "squalor" to horrified visitors would explain it to me.  I don't think, as Handlery says, that our city as failed to address the issue.  It addresses it repeatedly, continuously, unsuccessfully.

  I've been in love with San Francisco since 1966, when I first moved here, and I don't feel unsafe walking down the streets, but I do feel disheartened.  I'm afraid the problem isn't so familiar to us that we "just shrug and keep walking."  Nanette Asimov recently reported on the muffin brigade (January 28 "Muffin makers provide a bit of warmth on SF's streets for a day,")  and I've tried giving food as well as Hand-Up cards, written about in the SF Chronicle ("Basic hygiene items bring a bit of dignity to life on the streets," May 2, 2017 with Heather Knight's byline)
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How can anyone think that we're  "Totally unfazed by the homeless and mentally ill"? as Kelly Powers says.  It's not just the visitors who are dismayed by the misery on SF streets!

Could it have anything to do with HUD's funding being  reduced by almost 60 percent between the times that Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush took office?

Other nations have signed international treaties declaring housing to be a basic human right, but the U.S. has never ratified any international treaty guaranteeing its citizens a right to housing, and in most places how is housing regulated?  The repeal  of the Costa-Hawkins would give cities greater flexibility when setting rent control policies, but this January the repeal effort failed.

While I don't feel unsafe on the streets of San Francisco, I know we have lost the safety net that at one time was provided through social services.

Under Reagan federal spending on subsidized housing went from 20 billion to 8 billion.

In Great Britain the state owns 11 per cent of the public housing, and in France the state owns 16 percent.  What percentage does our federal government own?

The U.S. stands with Thailand as one of the only two UN member states whose legislature has not ratified an agreement recognizing the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living.

Even Obama failed to present an action plan and funding for his "Strategic Plan to End Homelessness."

The federal government needs to respond to the homeless crisis with more housing or more funding rather than less.

Our newly-elected mayor-for-six-months Mark Farrell, along with Supervisor Scott Wiener, sponsored the proposition giving police the ability to clear tent encampments within 24 hours. Will he clear them?  Where will they go then?

Dave Eggers, Mokhtar Alkhanshali, and Elaine Petrocelli at Book Passage, Ferry Building

Dave Eggers and Mokhtar Alkhanshali spoke about the book they collaborated on, "The Monk of Mokha," at Book Passage yesterday evening--and coffee (from the finest red berries) was served!

At a time when the news out of Yemen is tragic, it was good to hear about a hope-filled venture and a project that might help Yemeni farmers.

City College came up in their talk and is first mentioned on page 3, "He had finally saved enough money to enroll at City College of San Francisco..." That was before "Free City."

Here they are with, among others, Erika Delacorte, CCSF retiree (officially) and Petrocelli, founder of Book Passage, who says this is her favorite of all Dave Eggers' books).

Open House at Livable City, Sponsors of Sunday Streets

Livable City had an open house yesterday, and I stopped by because I've appreciated their giving CCSF a place for outreach at Sunday Streets and I was curious about where they hang out between those events. I met Mary Strope, who will be working with Katy Birnbaum, Programs Director. We talked about City College, and she told me that she was at a function with movers and shakers in San Francisco, and they all started talking about how they got their start at City College! It was nice to hear. She'll be taking a course in illustration next semester.

Bookshop West Portal Features Writer Jon Golinger

I think I'll go to tonight's reading at Bookshop West Portal.  Jon Golinger will be talking about his book on winning elections and saving San Francisco:  Saving San Francisco's Heart.

Upcoming Events | Bookshop West Portal

Upcoming Events | Bookshop West Portal

I'm wondering whether other members of CARA would be interested, too.

Since our last CARA meeting, a lot of things we've been talking about have been major news items--like the closing of the Alzheimer care facility on California Street.  

CPMC to shut down Alzheimer’s program; residents scramble for alternatives

CPMC to shut down Alzheimer’s program; residents scramble for alternatives One of San Francisco's only subsidized residential care centers for Alzheimer's patients will shut down ...

A few days later all the people we're trying to flip out (!) were featured in an article about doing just that!  

Democrats in droves seek to topple GOP in California’s congressional races

Democrats in droves seek to topple GOP in California’s congressional races For California Democrats, the flood of candidates looking to unseat GOP members of Congress could be too much of...

And even during our meeting Hene Kelly announced that there was no repeal of the Costa-Hawkings Housing Act!

State committee rejects bill to expand rent control options for California cities

State committee rejects bill to expand rent control options for California ... By Elijah Chiland Opponents said it could discourage development.

Tonight's talk might be interesting!

Photos for the Women's March--from West Portal MUNI to the Embarcadero

Here are some of the signs from the Women's March today, starting in the MUNI streetcar!  It was a beautiful, sunny day (unlike last year!), and there were families as well as young women--and men with "I'm with HER" signs--and people as old as me!  (Hey!)  People were courteous and upbeat.  As usual, I ran into old friends/colleagues I see at these demonstrations!

I learned from the book The Vegetarian Crusades that in the 1800's vegetarians were abolitionists and supporters of women's right to vote.  It's good to see that today's vegans connect their diet  not just with their own health but with what's good for the rest of the world.

I never caught up with the AFT 2121's group, but here's a bright contingency from CCSF.

How unfortunate for Trump that his foul-mouthed callousness lent itself so well to signs like these.

The sign in the background is "People First."

Great to see so many families!  

One funny picture was with a sign over a little girl's stroller, "Fights like a girl."  But she was sleeping on the job!

This was just before the end of the Women's March at the Embarcadero.

Pertinent to the course we've been promoting:  Politics and Government in the Middle East.  I spotted several people carrying a picture of this girl  So who is Ahed Tamimi?  What is Israel's justification for imprisoning her?  What is her justification for slapping Israeli soldiers?  Enroll NOW! Poli Sci 45, Saturdays.  

Gables Office Supplies Store Has Great Christmas Whimsy

Address: 5636 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

Hours: 

Open today · 11AM–6PM

Phone: (415) 751-8152

I'm putting down this info for myself, and I do solemnly swear that I have no association with this store except that I remember it from years ago, when my home was in the Richmond, and I stopped in the walk by to admire their tree made of book and their chain made from text.

Young Seniors on MUNI--a Photo Op

After seeing Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri, I got on the L Taraval to go back.

I tried to respect the queue, since there is such a thing these days.

But once on, lots of young people--mostly young women--were in the seats reserved for seniors and the disabled.

I decided just to consider it a photo op.

Notice in the fourth picture that the reflection of one face over a body in motion looks like a walker with a big head!

There's one picture missing.  One of the young women I took a picture of asked me, "Excuse me.  Did you just take a picture of me?"

"Yes, I did," I said.

"Why?"

"To show how many young seniors ride MUNI."

She then offered me her seat, which I took.  She asked me to delete her photo, and I did.

She said there was "no ill-intention."

We said good bye civilly when it was time for her to get off the streetcar after a few stops.