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An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

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Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#51

Post by jiggy2011 »

eob wrote: post #40
djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

I have this reaction every time I visit a west coast city. So far, that includes San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. I've always assumed it has something to do with the climate being more amenable to homelessness. But thinking about it now there must be some other political or structural reasons at play.

Failed startup founders?

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#52

Post by dclowd9901 »

djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

Local law enforcement has told us that, off the books, many East coast cities have actually paid to fly their homeless out of their areas into other parts of the country, California (namely San Francisco) because of their homeless-friendliness.

People wonder what happened to all the crime and homeless in NYC? They were flown out west.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#53

Post by mikebracco »

Sort of off topic but related...

I wonder how the homeless will fair when we become a cash-less society. This may be far off but it's inevitable.

While initially one might think the homeless will be worse off, I can imagine technology actually improving things. Imagine some sort of NFC chip or ID a homeless could obtain from a shelter that would allow someone to give money to them from their mobile phone...and then perhaps gamifying the goodwill (leaderboards based on city or social graph) for the donators.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#54

Post by geebee »

djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

In the mid-90s, when I lived in New York, panhandlers would follow me several blocks while negotiating for change (you got tokens? I take subway tokens!). In Paris in the mid 80s, the same thing happened constantly in the metro station. Panhandlers would also come up to you while you were stuck in traffic, ask you to roll down your window, and try to bum money off you. It was constant. I was punched by a bum in Dublin when I didn't give money.

SF is bad, but I'm always a little surprised when people say it's somehow unique. There does seem to be a more seriously mentally disturbed element to SF, though, I will give you that.

I've heard NY has cleaned up, and I didn't get spanged last time I was in Paris as far as I remember (though someone did try the old trick of pretending to "find" a ring, ask if it belonged to my wife, insist on handing it to her, and then asking for money).

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#56

Post by gee_totes »

dsrguru wrote: post #26
akaru wrote: post #3

I've been homeless. No one in SF is hungry. In a span of a few blocks a person could eat for free 5 or 6 times a day. Money is used for drugs or McDonald's. My advice: don't give anyone money or food. If you want to help, give your time.

As someone who hasn't spent much time in SF but plans to move there very soon and doesn't want to live off of ramen, I genuinely want to know: where does one get those free meals? Edit: namank and iamwill beat me to it.

Most dumpsters/trash cans in big cities have tons of free food, you just have to keep your eyes open.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#57

Post by outside1234 »

dclowd9901 wrote: post #52
djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

Local law enforcement has told us that, off the books, many East coast cities have actually paid to fly their homeless out of their areas into other parts of the country, California (namely San Francisco) because of their homeless-friendliness. People wonder what happened to all the crime and homeless in NYC? They were flown out west.

i can't believe that. it fails the conspiracy secrecy test - there would have had to have been a bunch of people involved and eventually there would have been a scandal.

my bet is that we have mild winters in California that are much less Darwinian.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#58

Post by Osiris »

rdouble wrote: post #14
eshvk wrote: post #6

That was heart wrenchingly sad, thank you for doing this. I live in the Haight and I see people shivering in the cold and realize how good my life is. I am never sure whether to help people or not. I have heard contradictory stories of trustafarians and the whole philosophy that giving people money doesn't help them. Ultimately, despite all the bustle of tech, it feels like we are letting down the poorest of the poor…

Haight is mostly scammers and trustafarians. Well... 'trustafarian' is the wrong word. The gutter punk type kids don't really have trust funds. When I lived there from 2006-2009, there was a very short african american guy who would pretend to be mentally retarded and everyone would give him money. However, he would totally be chillin' non-retardedly after hours at Escape from New York pizza and Milk Bar. Most of the…

I used to walk down Market street and pass guys sleeping at 12pm in a beat up sleeping bag with a garbage bag of stuff next to them. It's hard to believe those people are 'scammers'. But what do you do? Most have metal disabilities or other problems that prevent them from contributing back to society.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#59

Post by rdouble »

Osiris wrote: post #58
rdouble wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haight is mostly scammers and trustafarians. Well... 'trustafarian' is the wrong word. The gutter punk type kids don't really have trust funds. When I lived there from 2006-2009, there was a very short african american guy who would pretend to be mentally retarded and everyone would give him money. However, he would totally be chillin' non-retardedly after hours at Escape from New York pizza and Milk Bar. Most of the…

I used to walk down Market street and pass guys sleeping at 12pm in a beat up sleeping bag with a garbage bag of stuff next to them. It's hard to believe those people are 'scammers'. But what do you do? Most have metal disabilities or other problems that prevent them from contributing back to society.

Market street is a different scene than the Haight.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#60

Post by swang »

wwweston wrote: post #45
rosser wrote: post #11

This is just me, and my approach to the homeless or destitute, but if someone asks me for money, the answer is some form of no (if I even acknowledge the asker). Yeah, you tell me you're hungry or whatever, but I'm not going to risk participating in your next fix. If they ask me for food , however, it's always a yes, assuming I can do it right then (not late for something, have money or my card on me or whatever). Yo…

I know someone who's been experimenting with the same rough idea, but trying to be a bit proactive about things by putting together small kits of food/water/stuff (granola bars, raisin packets, water bottles, gift cards for chain restaurants, socks, toiletries) and keeping a few in the car to just hand out when he gets asked. This is in LA, where you're usually in the car when you see unfamiliar people (down on their…

Probably no on the Subway gift card because they'd probably just find some way to hock it. I'd stick with actual food.
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