By Brent Begin
San Francisco Examiner

A joint effort between police, prosecutors and the Mayor’s Office has yielded results in one of The City’s most overlooked crime issues: smash-and-grab car burglaries. Also known as “boosts,” car burglaries are a significant problem in San Francisco: In 2006, there were more than 15,000 incidents — an average of 41 per day — prompting the Mayor’s Office to convene a special car-boosting task force to combat the growing problem. Taking a proactive route, the police conducted surveillance in addition to responding to calls from car owners. On Sept. 9, eight officers specifically targeted the most vulnerable areas in The City and conducted stings. Read more »

By Heather Knight
San Francisco Chronicle

As debate rages over how to solve San Francisco's seemingly intractable homeless problem, city leaders, academic researchers and even some formerly homeless people themselves say progress is being made every Thursday afternoon inside Department 15 at the city's gloomy Hall of Justice. For a couple of hours each week, the courtroom fills with dozens of defendants with serious mental illnesses who have been charged with or convicted of crimes ranging from misdemeanor theft to felony assault and robbery. Almost all were homeless or on the brink of living on the streets at the time of their arrests, and many of them struggle with drug or alcohol abuse.  It sounds like a scary scene, like many city residents' worst fears gathered together in one room. But it's surprisingly touching - and according to Superior Court Judge Mary Morgan, who presides over the court, it's "the most hopeful thing happening in the criminal justice system." Read more »

By John M. Glionna
Los Angeles Times

Forget the driver's license and credit cards. The most important piece of plastic in Cheng Wang's wallet is his new medical identification card featuring a picture of a heart and this city's signature skyline. Wang, who has diabetes and other ailments, says the Healthy San Francisco program saved his life. When he immigrated here in May to be closer to his elderly mother, the 64-year-old Taiwan native brought enough pills to last seven months. When those ran out, he didn't know what to do. He had no medical insurance. And it scared him. Then he learned about a groundbreaking city health plan that provides a network of care to residents regardless of their ability to pay, immigration status or existing medical conditions. Read more »

By Emma Andersson, Stella Burch, Margot Mendelson & Marisol Orihuela
Yale University

Issuing municipal identification cards to undocumented resident immigrants is an inexpensive and effective method by which the City of San Francisco can improve public safety and immigrants’ ability to engage positively and productively in the City’s civic life.  Under current law, undocumented immigrants in San Francisco have no access to official forms of identification.  Without such identification, undocumented immigrants cannot prove their residence, which puts them in significant personal danger and poses a threat to the City’s general public safety.  Many banks do not allow undocumented immigrants to open a bank account, leaving immigrants with no choice but to carry large amounts of cash on their person or hidden in their homes.  As a result, immigrant communities are prone to suffer from disproportionately high rates of theft in their homes and upon returning from work. Read more »

Earlier in the year ActLocallySF.org hosted an article in support of Bus Rapid Transit on Geary Blvd. in San Francisco. Below is another view for the proposed BRT line for Geary.

By Planning Association for the Richmond

The image of unimpeded, predictable and comfortable transit from the Richmond District to downtown described for a BRT System is attractive, even seductive. However, the reality is that there are many unanswered questions, including what service levels will be provided and how BRT would work at key intersections and east of Van Ness Avenue. Read more »

By Jane Meredith Adams
Chicago Tribune

As Democratic presidential candidates unveil proposals for universal or near-universal health care for all Americans, San Franciscans already are signing up for a new program that guarantees free or sliding-scale medical care to all uninsured adults. The program provides a network of care to city residents, regardless of existing medical conditions, immigration status or ability to pay. The plan began in pilot form in July. Expanding citywide this week, it is the first attempt by an American city to tackle the health-care crisis, with the assistance of state and federal funds. Unlike other universal health-care plans being proposed, Healthy San Francisco is not insurance -- because health coverage doesn't travel with the individual. Care is provided and paid for only at clinics and hospitals in San Francisco. Read more »

By John DeStefano, Jr.
Mayor, New Haven, CT

Our American values are built upon a careful balance of individual rights and initiative weighed against shared community action and institutions.  In New Haven, we have chosen to accomplish that goal by engaging all of our residents and offering a resident card irrespective of immigration status.  Not all agree with this direction.  And, some ask “What part of ‘illegal’ doesn’t the City understand?”  But, they miss the point and they miss our American history.  The point is that by not acting, the Federal government is winking its eye and tacitly acknowledging and legitimizing the presence of some 13 million undocumented residents. Therefore, we must, for reasons of public safety and for reasons of building a strong community; implement our own solutions.

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By Rachel Gordon
San Francisco Chronicle

The number of injury collisions in San Francisco caused by red-light jumpers has dropped by more than half over the past decade, a dramatic decrease that officials attribute in part to cameras mounted at nearly two dozen treacherous intersections in the city.  In 1998 - the year after the first red-light cameras were mounted at a handful of intersections in San Francisco - the number of reported injury crashes involving red-light violations was 773. In 2006, the number was 374, according to data compiled by the city. Read more »

By Charles J. Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney
San Francisco Sentinel

If the community justice center concept can work in Red Hook, Brooklyn, it can work anywhere.  Why am I so certain? Because as Brooklyn’s elected district attorney for the past 18 years, I have seen the neighborhood of Red Hook transformed. Ten years ago, Red Hook was a high-crime community that had lost much of its hope and energy. Today, the waterfront neighborhood—which includes both the largest public housing development in Brooklyn and blocks of quaint row houses—is revitalized, with safe streets, safe parks, new businesses, and supportive citizens who are working together on even greater improvements.  Who is responsible for this transformation? There are many who can take credit. But there is no question that the Red Hook Community Justice Center is among the vital players.

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