6-Fold Increase In San Francisco Homeless Citations Directly Coincides With Ed Lee’s Tenure As Mayor

[KamaAina]

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/04/6-fold-increase-in-san-francisco-homeless-citations-directly-coincides-with-ed-lees-tenure-as-mayor/

There’s been a significant increase in recent years in the number of citations issued in San Francisco to the homeless who camp out in the city’s parks and open spaces.

The San Francisco Examiner reports in 2011, 165 citations were issued. Last year, the city issued 963— a six-fold increase that coincides directly with Mayor Ed Lee’s tenure in the Mayor’s office....

Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director with the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness, said those citations only perpetuate homelessness.

“People are unable to pay the fines. It goes to warrant, they do jail time, their credit is messed up and when it’s time for them to finally get a housing offer, they’re turned down because of the poor credit history because of the warrant,” she said. “It doesn’t lead people off the streets. It doesn’t get people to move to another area because they have nowhere to go. It doesn’t get them to go into shelter, because there’s no shelter beds available.”

Surprise, surprise! </gomer-pyle>

[arcane1]

1. Imagine that! n/t

[Brother Buzz]

2. Is this the same Ed Lee who pledged to not to seek election if appointed interim mayor when......

Gavin Newsom resigned in 2011?

[KamaAina]

3. That would be him.

"Go right to the source and ask the horse, he'll give you the answer that you'll endorse, he's always on a steady course, talk to Mr. Ed!"

[daredtowork]

4. Check out this month's East Bay Express

Last edited Wed May 13, 2015, 10:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Outstanding article on the court fine - prison - unemployment - poverty cycle in Oakland. Sorry I'm on my Kindle so can't link. This in-depth article draws on research done by the East Bay Community Law Center. This is a great focus for law and policy activism in the Bay Area.

In the same East Bay Express is a short article describing real estate double dealing and insider trading by Senator Diane Feinstein's husband. He's like a vacuum cleaner hoovering up all the money in California, but he never gets nailed for it. Feinstein seems blissfully detached from the dirty money as well, even though the wealth and money ensconces her in political power.

[KamaAina]

5. The East Bay Express is down to monthly?!

[daredtowork]

6. Oops it's weekly

Here's the specific article.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/the-high-cost-of-driving-while-poor/Content?oid=4269240

[KamaAina]

7. (big sigh of relief)

We've already lost the Bay Guardian!