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I think San Francisco is going to have a major issue if we do not address the cleanliness & safety of our streets.
As residents can no longer go to gyms, restaurants, stores etc - they are either at home or on the streets. And the streets are, on average, unpleasant. (1/x)
As residents can no longer go to gyms, restaurants, stores etc - they are either at home or on the streets. And the streets are, on average, unpleasant. (1/x)
As a walker, runner, cyclist & driver I travel around SF quite often.
Recently what I have seen is pretty horrific.
Trash all over, blankets, clothing & cardboard boxes left in front of storefronts. Tents everywhere once you are south of California and east of Van Ness. (2/x)
Recently what I have seen is pretty horrific.
Trash all over, blankets, clothing & cardboard boxes left in front of storefronts. Tents everywhere once you are south of California and east of Van Ness. (2/x)
I've never seen trash like this in my life - anywhere in the world. It is worse than the slums of many developing countries I have visited.
Many piles around cans where people must be rummaging. Business storefronts have massive pileups. (3/x)
Many piles around cans where people must be rummaging. Business storefronts have massive pileups. (3/x)
Yesterday I went to the Ferry Building to support local farmers & businesses.
My experience was awful.
I was scared to park (tents nearby) and nervous to walk the two blocks to the farmer's market. I must have passed 50+ people that looked mentally unstable.
My experience was awful.
I was scared to park (tents nearby) and nervous to walk the two blocks to the farmer's market. I must have passed 50+ people that looked mentally unstable.
I felt alone & unsafe. A single woman walking past so many people staring, doing things under blankets or inside clothing that made me feel deeply uncomfortable. I left thinking I won't return to the farmer's market on a weekday again. This made me so sad.
This is my hometown.
I grew up going to the Embarcadero and walking & riding Muni all over. Now I'm nervous to venture out. It feels desolate, like a dystopian version of the city I call home.
I grew up going to the Embarcadero and walking & riding Muni all over. Now I'm nervous to venture out. It feels desolate, like a dystopian version of the city I call home.
The streets are filled with potholes, we have released 400 people from city jail, and burglaries are up 77% on the Eastern side of the city (where I spend a lot of time). Entire neighborhoods feel un-walkable due to tents. The Castro, SOMA, the Tenderloin.
One of my friends hasn't left her 400 sq foot studio in five weeks b/c she is too scared to walk around SOMA. Another is leaving SF for the summer because she's scared to walk with a newborn. How can we accept this? How is this okay? Do residents & business owners have rights?
I am starting to believe that we place "the individual" above all else. This is in many ways a radical classically liberal POV. We value somebody's right to do drugs, pitch a tent, go to the bathroom wherever they way above many other rights. What about a social contract?
Perhaps it is time that we think about the city that we want to become. We need a social contract. A give and take. We need to care for our homeless and ill, but residents must get something in return. Safety, security, rule of law.
We have an initiative on the upcoming ballot to spend more on homelessness and mental health. Mayor Breed was against Prop C, stating that we need a proper audit of how we spend before we spend more. I've been modeling it out. I think we are spending over $1B on homelessness.
It is likely that in the coming years we will need to spend *more* if we want to treat people with dignity and respect, and care for our elderly, sick, addicted and homeless. However, if citizens are going to support more spend, they need to see results. Let's do the audit.
Eastern side residents - your supervisors are @AaronPeskin and @MattHaneySF. They are both very passionate about making SF better. Follow them on Twitter. Engage.
District 2/Northern Residents - @SupStefani is an SF powerhouse, working tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe & sound. Follow her & get involved. She listens.
For those of you in the Castro & Noe - follow @RafaelMandelman. He's hosting fireside town hall chats on zoom that have room for more people! His staff seems extra awesome.
Mission & Bernal folks -- your Supe is @HillaryRonen. She has a lot of fire & cares deeply about the residents of SF. Follow her & engage!
This is a time to get involved & engaged. We are going to be facing hard times ahead. Anticipating a $2B budget shortfall (this is huge!). Read the @sfchronicle. Follow @hknightsf -- her writing feels like the heartbeat of the city.
I will forever leave my 
in SF. Even if right now it's breaking a little...
I believe we can make things better.
Now's the time to treat this city like our home, not a place we just live.
in SF. Even if right now it's breaking a little...I believe we can make things better.
Now's the time to treat this city like our home, not a place we just live.
