In defense of the San Francisco Police Department, it is only a few Police Officers who have been overly zealous, combative and punitive, in their enforcement of the quality of life laws. It is our belief, though, that one officer abusing his or her position of power is one too many.

It has been reported to the Civil Rights Department, and documented in interviews, that one Police Officer in particular, has been especially verbally and physically abusive in her use of excessive force, created great hardship, and at times been downright mean in her interactions with homeless and poor people.

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Hay serios problemas afectando como personas mayores inmigrantes y enfermos terminales se ven dados de alta de las camas de reposo. Nos ha llegado información de que personas con serias enfermedades están siendo desplazadas y se están encontrando en la calle, sin recursos y sin ningún lugar que les acoja.

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On September 8, over 200 of our supporters and art lovers joined us in celebration of the 18th anniversary of the Coalition on Homelessness. It was wonderful to see so many people turn out once again to support our work and enjoy good art, good music and good food, all in good company.

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In a previous issue, we mentioned while meeting with Mayor Gavin Newsom on June 27, 2005, we suggested a separate meeting with himself, Coalition staff, and 10 homeless families, allowing us to present the recommendations from our housing first campaign personally.

Families were eager to find that we indeed were meeting with the mayor to let our voices be heard. While awaiting this meeting we diligently worked on our action plan for this part of the campaign. We compiled a fact sheet to show the importance of our needs being met. Outreach to the shelters and SROs was made to inform the families of what was going on and the need of their support. From these outreaches, and the family members’ participation, we secure dthe base of our campaign and struggle.

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El Comité de Inspección de los Refugios (SMC son sus siglas en inglés) de San Francisco ya está funcionando, pese a algunas dificultades, como la falta de personal, la ausencia continua de dos miembros y la falta de información de contacto o una página web. Los miembros del comité han estado realizando visitas no anunciadas a los refugios y centros de recursos (MSC -Sur, Santuario, Next Door, McMillan Resource Center, Hamilton House Family Shelter y Bayview Hunters Point Resource Center) y han identificado varios problemas que requieren atención. Muchos de esos problemas están siendo resueltos. Las visitas por sorpresa a los refugios continuarán ocurreindo y pueden llevarse a cabo en cualquier momento. El personal de los refugios está obligado a permitir la entrada sin restricciones de los miembros del comité y deben permitirles hablar en privado con los residentes. El SMC puede obtener información sobre los entrenamientos del personal de los refugios, cópias de las reclamaciones de los residents y documentos sobre la aprobación o rechazo de acomodaciones especiales para los casos de personas discapacitadas. El comité también tendrá acceso a los archivos de los clientes.

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Father Louie, could you tell us a little about your background, like where you were born and grew up… a little bit about your family?

I was born in San Gabriel, California in the Los Angeles area in 1932 (chuckles)… a long time ago. My dad was originally born here in North Beach. My dad grew up here and then went into business in Los Angeles, so they moved down there and I was born in Southern California.

I went to college at Loyola University and ended up in ROTC. With ROTC I went in the Air Force for three years and was what they called an Intercept Officer… I flew back seat for jet interceptors. Air Defense… you know, shooting down bombers that were coming to get us.

They sent us up to shoot down a Russian bomber one time. And we fortunately decided to look before we shot and found out that it was an airliner. So, anyway I became disillusioned around that time (laughter). At least, looking back on it, I did.

What years were you in the military?

Oh, that was Korean War—toward the end of the Korean War—around the early to mid-1950s. But during my final years in college I kind of got this buzz on about I should maybe become a priest… or a Franciscan, something like that.

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On July 16, at St. Boniface, more than 200 people, representing themselves individually, as well as 83 organizations cumulatively, gathered to share their views in what was billed as a Housing Justice Summit.

The event spotlighted, and further strengthened, a remarkable unity among the many individual and constituent concerns, which made the Summit a virtual object lesson in what is rapidly becoming a central tenet in San Francisco progressive political circles: The idea that the concepts of “housing” and “community” are inseparable.

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Here at the Coalition on Homelessness we work closely with community members and city agencies. We recently met with the Department of Human Services—they’re the ones who fund and oversee (among other things) the homeless shelters and resource centers here in the City. Our jobs here at the Coalition require the ability to interpret and analyze complex legal and policy directives. Luckily we have a good relationship with DHS and always get prompt assistance from them. Their staff is always extremely polite and accessible. We look forward to each and every meeting with them because of the respect and courtesy they extend to us as well as the valuable information they consistently provide. It is nice to know that there is so much transparency and accountability. They after all are responsible for spending our money to address the homeless problem in San Francisco.

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A couple of years ago, incensed by the blatancy of Brown’s second-term pandering to big business and development, San Francisco’s political left managed an unprecedented level of unity that came “this close” to sweeping Matt Gonzalez into office as San Francisco’s first Green mayor.

Since then, virtually anyone with any interest whatsoever in local politics has been looking to the left with either trepidation or excitement, anticipating the advent of “the next big thing:” the candidate or cause capable of again motivating San Francisco’s impressively numerous and exceedingly disparate progressives to get behind it en masse-to forsake their familiar factionalism in favor of presenting a unified front.

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Homeless Advocates of the Mission (HAM), a group of residents and organizations advocated for just and effective homeless policies in the Mission District, is pressuring City officials to consider a “Community Connect” policy as a neighborhood alternative to Project Homeless Connect and the Homeless Outreach Team. HAM is keeping a close eye on these two new Mayoral homeless programs as they make plans for expansion to the Mission and Castro neighborhoods. The community is frustrated that they haven’t been included in the planning discussions and there is also a growing concern that while the Mayor is creating exciting new programs, the existing fabric of services is being neglected or dismantled. HAM wants the City to ensure that these new programs reflect the assets, needs, and wants of the Mission community and are used to strengthen existing services.

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