Comments on: Courting the Community http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/ Join the Debate! Read and comment on articles posted on actlocallysf.org. Fri, 16 May 2008 18:56:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: Anna Argentine http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-781 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:08:11 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-781 In response to comment #16 -- I find "Punishment for the crime of being poor" an offensive statement. Community court is not about punishment as much as it is about leading people to get along better in the community. I grew up very poor, and I find Carly's statement offensive. It implies that poor people as criminal slobs. We came here with nothing. Yet my family always taught us respect for the community. We did not poop on the streets, or throw trash in the streets, or break car windows, or spray graffiti -- my mom would actually sweep up out in front of our apartment and keep things neat and tidy even after working all day. It's not an issue of poverty -- it's an issue of education and respect. The whole idea of community court is to help people better get along in society without sending them to jail. The state of San Francisco today in this regard is dismal and unacceptable.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> In response to comment #16 — I find “Punishment for the crime of being poor” an offensive statement. Community court is not about punishment as much as it is about leading people to get along better in the community.

I grew up very poor, and I find Carly’s statement offensive. It implies that poor people as criminal slobs. We came here with nothing. Yet my family always taught us respect for the community. We did not poop on the streets, or throw trash in the streets, or break car windows, or spray graffiti — my mom would actually sweep up out in front of our apartment and keep things neat and tidy even after working all day. It’s not an issue of poverty — it’s an issue of education and respect. The whole idea of community court is to help people better get along in society without sending them to jail. The state of San Francisco today in this regard is dismal and unacceptable.

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]]> by: Carly Earnshaw http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-639 Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:02:53 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-639 Punishment for the crime of being poor.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> Punishment for the crime of being poor.
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]]> by: Joanne G�mez http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-601 Thu, 24 May 2007 02:05:31 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-601 I think the concept is in theory a good one, but unfortunately I think it addresses the symptoms, not the causes, which is the general MO for SAn Francisco politics since it's the easiest route, and the one least likely to raise the ire of the politically correct extremists who have an imposed a "tyranny of tolerance" on all SAn Franciscans. Why doesn't any politician have the back bone to refuse assuming the social and financial costs for homeless, mentally ill and drug-addicted individuals who have been sent to San Francisco on one-way tickets by their respective cities? Oh no....that would be too cruel! No we, as kind-hearted, generous San Franciscans should pay the social and financial bills to "help" these people, whose problems originated in other cities, caused by other cities' social issues . WE either need to send these people back or send a bill to the cities who literally ship their problems to us. I'm sorry to sound harsh, but the result IS problems for San Franciscans. This will not only improve the lives of hard-working San Franciscans- whose rights to safety, hygiene, and a sense of well-being are constantly being stomped on, but also force the respective exporting cities to evaluate their social inadequacies aas well as force them to be held accountable for them. Perhaps this will catalyze changes in these towns that should have materialized many years ago.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> I think the concept is in theory a good one, but unfortunately I think it addresses the symptoms, not the causes, which is the general MO for SAn Francisco politics since it’s the easiest route, and the one least likely to raise the ire of the politically correct extremists who have an imposed a “tyranny of tolerance” on all SAn Franciscans.

Why doesn’t any politician have the back bone to refuse assuming the social and financial costs for homeless, mentally ill and drug-addicted individuals who have been sent to San Francisco on one-way tickets by their respective cities?

Oh no….that would be too cruel! No we, as kind-hearted, generous San Franciscans should pay the social and financial bills to “help” these people, whose problems originated in other cities, caused by other cities’ social issues . WE either need to send these people back or send a bill to the cities who literally ship their problems to us. I’m sorry to sound harsh, but the result IS problems for San Franciscans.

This will not only improve the lives of hard-working San Franciscans- whose rights to safety, hygiene, and a sense of well-being are constantly being stomped on, but also force the respective exporting cities to evaluate their social inadequacies aas well as force them to be held accountable for them. Perhaps this will catalyze changes in these towns that should have materialized many years ago.

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]]> by: lik roper http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-599 Wed, 23 May 2007 15:52:05 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-599 as for comment #11 above; "homelessness has gotten worse and drug crimes and the murder rate have skyrocketed under the watch of mayor Newsom"...ahem! how about "under the watch of the bush administration!?" it IS a top down country, you know!... it's all about this; when you spend $500 zillion dollars to rebuild a military that al gore just nicely downsized; then allow 911 to happen a few days after diane fienstein came to dick cheney just days before warning of an imminent attack -- only to be turned away until "next month"; let's just say everything tends to go to sh#t, and that is clearly not gavin's fault...<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> as for comment #11 above; “homelessness has gotten worse and drug crimes and the murder rate have skyrocketed under the watch of mayor Newsom”…ahem! how about “under the watch of the bush administration!?” it IS a top down country, you know!…

it’s all about this; when you spend $500 zillion dollars to rebuild a military that al gore just nicely downsized; then allow 911 to happen a few days after diane fienstein came to dick cheney just days before warning of an imminent attack — only to be turned away until “next month”; let’s just say everything tends to go to sh#t, and that is clearly not gavin’s fault…

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]]> by: lik roper http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-598 Wed, 23 May 2007 15:41:30 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-598 sometimes people are so far gone that it is nearly impossible to bring them back because their bodies and brains have been so damaged by the lack of proper nutrition and alcohol... i have a guitar player friend who has been assisted by countless friends (including me) but he won't let up on his hard liquor drinking (etc?)... and the governments' answer of incarcerating him just screwed him up even worse after he allegedly got raped by gang members, so...<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> sometimes people are so far gone that it is nearly impossible to bring them back because their bodies and brains have been so damaged by the lack of proper nutrition and alcohol…

i have a guitar player friend who has been assisted by countless friends (including me) but he won’t let up on his hard liquor drinking (etc?)…

and the governments’ answer of incarcerating him just screwed him up even worse after he allegedly got raped by gang members, so…

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]]> by: lik roper http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-597 Wed, 23 May 2007 14:56:15 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-597 here is some food for thought for the law enforcement community out there -- it may be arcanely connected to the subject at hand, but still connected nonetheless -- check out these links: http://www.patriotpoliticiansleadwars.com/ http://www.yourchristianpresident.com/ http://www.jackmclamb.com/ www.likroper.com<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> here is some food for thought for the law enforcement community out there — it may be arcanely connected to the subject at hand, but still connected nonetheless —

check out these links:
http://www.patriotpoliticiansleadwars.com/
http://www.yourchristianpresident.com/
http://www.jackmclamb.com/

www.likroper.com

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]]> by: rob bregoff http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-594 Tue, 22 May 2007 16:24:22 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-594 It would be great if this works, but given that homelessness has gotten worse and drug crimes and the murder rate have skyrocketed under the watch of mayor Newsom and Ms. Harris, you can't blame us for having doubts. Political ploys don't solve problems.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> It would be great if this works, but given that homelessness has gotten worse and drug crimes and the murder rate have skyrocketed under the watch of mayor Newsom and Ms. Harris, you can’t blame us for having doubts.
Political ploys don’t solve problems.
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]]> by: Gloria http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-593 Mon, 21 May 2007 20:41:14 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-593 What I have to say it BRAVO, BRAVO to the Mayor and D.A. Kamala Harris that they are taking steps for progess. I am a resident of SOMA and it has been a suffering time for me living in this neighborhood. I am grateful to the Mayor and D.A. Harris that they are working together on this project it has been long overdue. THANK YOU MAYOR ALONG WITH MY BLESSING THANK YOU D.A. HARRIS Sincerely, Gloria<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> What I have to say it BRAVO, BRAVO to the Mayor and D.A. Kamala Harris that they are taking steps for progess. I am a resident of SOMA and it has been a suffering time for me living in this neighborhood. I am grateful to the Mayor and D.A. Harris that they are working together on this project it has been long overdue.

THANK YOU MAYOR ALONG WITH MY BLESSING
THANK YOU D.A. HARRIS

Sincerely,
Gloria

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]]> by: Jan Haniffy http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-590 Thu, 17 May 2007 19:54:16 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-590 The May 13 article and Community Court idea certainly sounds like someone is recognizing part of the problem in San Francisco. A quote that is equally applicable to this city with regards to crime including the issue of sanctuary status: "A nation which WILL not enforce its laws soon finds it has few it CAN enforce, and then it ceases to be a nation." by M. McLemore, Pike Road, AL. I've watched the young black faces gradually leave the staff of the Fillmore McDonalds only to be replaced by employees with limited English-language ability. Illegal aliens? I've watched the escalating crime in that neighborhood as more young African-Americans hang out during the day and sell bootlegged CDs/DVDs out of the trunks of cars in Webster Plaza. A Community Court is of little value if enforcement of local and federal laws is not upheld. What lesson does this city provide on the rule of law? When criminals receive more social services and support than citizens there is something very wrong. Here's hoping that the crisis in this city will truly be addressed and the grandstanding on international issues will stop.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 5</li> </ul> The May 13 article and Community Court idea certainly sounds like someone is recognizing part of the problem in San Francisco. A quote that is equally applicable to this city with regards to crime including the issue of sanctuary status: “A nation which WILL not enforce its laws soon finds it has few it CAN enforce, and then it ceases to be a nation.” by M. McLemore, Pike Road, AL. I’ve watched the young black faces gradually leave the staff of the Fillmore McDonalds only to be replaced by employees with limited English-language ability. Illegal aliens? I’ve watched the escalating crime in that neighborhood as more young African-Americans hang out during the day and sell bootlegged CDs/DVDs out of the trunks of cars in Webster Plaza. A Community Court is of little value if enforcement of local and federal laws is not upheld. What lesson does this city provide on the rule of law? When criminals receive more social services and support than citizens there is something very wrong. Here’s hoping that the crisis in this city will truly be addressed and the grandstanding on international issues will stop.
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]]> by: Sarah Huey http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-589 Thu, 17 May 2007 18:40:57 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/05/14/courting-the-community/#comment-589 The homeless issue goes hand in hand with the impossible cost of living in this City. Without the help and support of family, my own kids would be in sad shape trying to survive here, they'd have to leave or would get so overwhelmed they'd end up destitute. Is that anyway for any city to expect healthy happy citizens? I think the worst homeless are the one's who are addicts, alcoholics, or insane or all of the above, and to just let it go on and on and on without any intervention has been the worst thing about San Francisco. The cost of housing is depressing, the un-controled crime is depressing, the homeless and their plight is depressing. For such a beautiful location with such great promise, why can't there be a way to make it work? I'm sick of seeing one bedroom houses go for nearly a million dollars? How crazy is that? That happens because investors, not families, are buying and holding the property. Let them buy apartment buildings and leave single family homes to the people who work and live here. There ought to be a law! Homeless people need shelter and if that means institutional care, what's wrong with that? Keep them off the street and give them a safe place to try to turn their lives around. Muni drivers? how many of them actually live in San Francisco? Most of them probably commute from way outside the City to a job that takes them past homes they can't ever expect to afford. Why would they have any interest in their jobs or the people? Same thing for the police and firemen. And if we have another emergency, where's that going to leave the citizens of San Francisco when the fire department and police department is unable to provide personnel? We have too many outside investors driving the home prices and rents outside the affordability range and leaving the workers completely at a disadvantage. City government should sit up and take notice and do something about it. And teachers, let's not forget them. How many of our teachers in the future will be able to afford to live in the same city they work in on the salaries they get? How will that impact the schools, and the children?<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> The homeless issue goes hand in hand with the impossible cost of living in this City. Without the help and support of family, my own kids would be in sad shape trying to survive here, they’d have to leave or would get so overwhelmed they’d end up destitute. Is that anyway for any city to expect healthy happy citizens? I think the worst homeless are the one’s who are addicts, alcoholics, or insane or all of the above, and to just let it go on and on and on without any intervention has been the worst thing about San Francisco. The cost of housing is depressing, the un-controled crime is depressing, the homeless and their plight is depressing. For such a beautiful location with such great promise, why can’t there be a way to make it work? I’m sick of seeing one bedroom houses go for nearly a million dollars? How crazy is that? That happens because investors, not families, are buying and holding the property. Let them buy apartment buildings and leave single family homes to the people who work and live here. There ought to be a law! Homeless people need shelter and if that means institutional care, what’s wrong with that? Keep them off the street and give them a safe place to try to turn their lives around. Muni drivers? how many of them actually live in San Francisco? Most of them probably commute from way outside the City to a job that takes them past homes they can’t ever expect to afford. Why would they have any interest in their jobs or the people? Same thing for the police and firemen. And if we have another emergency, where’s that going to leave the citizens of San Francisco when the fire department and police department is unable to provide personnel? We have too many outside investors driving the home prices and rents outside the affordability range and leaving the workers completely at a disadvantage. City government should sit up and take notice and do something about it. And teachers, let’s not forget them. How many of our teachers in the future will be able to afford to live in the same city they work in on the salaries they get? How will that impact the schools, and the children?
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