Homelessness and the New Mayor of San Francisco

New San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has conceded the election to Daniel Lurie. Breed’s failure to adequately deal with San Francisco’s homeless problem and the associated atmosphere of crime related to it was clearly the principal cause for her defeat.  

Right wing media relentlessly used the homeless encampments in San Francisco and in California in general as propaganda to illustrate the failure of the Democratic party-- which helped to elect Trump and the Republicans.

But unless the new Democratic mayor of San Francisco--  bans people from camping out  anywhere they desire on the streets of San Francisco-- he will fail too. And the Democratic brand  will continue to be tarnish amongst America's voters. 

People camping out on the street need to go to-- licensed municipal campsites-- that provide public toilets, free food, policing and social services. Anyone caught sleeping on the streets needs to be immediately transported to such facilities. Such facilities can't simply be places to dump people but have to be routinely cleaned and maintained.

And anyone caught using drugs in public needs to be sent to a State run drug rehab center (outside of the cities) for 30 days for the first offense, 60 days for a second offense, and 90 days for each subsequent offenses. The State also needs to provide free housing in publicly owned hotels--- out side of the cities-- for individuals too mentally disabled to be employable.

Democrats need to show the nation-- that they can get the job done-- by completely clearing the city streets of people sleeping or camping out anywhere they desire. 

But Democrats also need to show compassion by providing homeless individuals with safe and clean municipal and state licensed places to reside.

Marcel F. Williams