Grassroots Revue
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n o . 6 1 Cops, residents PUBLISHED CENTRAL CITY BY THE SAN FRANCISCO stymied by the STUDY CENTER OCTOBER new sidewalk 2006 encampments TL police summit fails to solve this growing problem BY T OM C ARTER SAN FRANCISCO ENDERLOIN police are so HALLOWEEN stumped for a solution to E MPRESS H OTEL T sidewalk encampments in the HAUNTED Tenderloin and the petty crimes and drug traffic they spawn that they called a summit meeting on Sept. 21 HOUSE to ask TL residents for suggestions on how to lick the problem. Good News for The residents turned out in force, but there wasn’t a hint of a Tenderloin kids solution. “The purpose was to get service PAGE 2 providers and others to help in that Golden Gate Avenue corridor,” Tenderloin Police Capt. Kathryn Brown said afterward. “I wanted their suggestions. But everyone was so focused on the police. “It got people thinking, though, and we were on the same page ‘WHAT I when we left. With time, people will WILL DO come up with ideas. I’d prefer they have the meeting, though. If the FOR police are there, they become the focus.” DISTRICT 6’ Moreover, the common conjec- ture is that the encampments will get way worse before Supervisorial they subside. Esca- lating the problem, candidates “I haven’t some residents ven- P HOTOS BY L ENNY L IMJOCO ture, will be the speak to the Open Mic night cued an outpouring of talent from the residents of the Empress Hotel. seen it this Sept. 29 closing of the 24-hour McMil- voters bad in the six lan Center at 49 years I’ve Fell St., a drop-in PAGE 4 center which han- Grassroots Revue been here.” dled shelter re- servations, and the Sister Karen Kielb mayor’s recent The 90-room Empress is the SRO that Tenants’ talents Prince Charles visited last November. PRESENTATION SENIOR efforts to move COMMUNITY squatters out of Renovated two years ago, it’s the flagship of Golden Gate Park. the Department of Health’s Direct Access to Free holiday meals and food give- COMMUNITY in the spotlight Housing program for the homeless and des- aways are expected to attract more titute chronically ill. The residents, many people. CALENDAR dually diagnosed with addictions and men- The encampment and blocked in show at SRO tal problems, are surrounded with medical sidewalk problems have existed TNDC pool toss and support services. near Tenderloin Health, the drop-in BY T OM C ARTER The Prince of Wales spent more than an and services center for street people among special hour at the Empress, touring with his wife at Golden Gate and Leavenworth. It Camilla, the Duchess of Kent, and talking saw 6,000 unduplicated residents in events T was fitting that Tina Knox sang the with residents. Impeccably mannered, the 2004 and 13,000 in 2005. It added 1930s tune “San Francisco.” When she prince spoke individually with residents and was down and out, the city gave her inquired about addictions, kicking drug its line security employees in PAGE 8 September. a nice place to live in a cozy, made- habits, sleeping outdoors and counseling. Crime is challenging to be the over SRO that has support services for The Empress was at the top of Prince Iresidents. Charles’ list because he has a deep interest ® CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Knox was the first to perform before 30 in finding solutions to homelessness. It also residents at the Empress Hotel’s first Open had a Brit connection. Mic night on Sept. 12 put on by the Eddy About six years ago, a West Cork group Street hotel’s Tenant Council. The crowded of investors threw in with Empress owner Community Room off the lobby seethed Vijay Patel and the partnership plunked with warm feelings and anticipation. down $2 million to renovate the neglected Taquitos, mini bagels, guacamole and chips fleabagger. It had 58 rooms for tourists then and drinks, compliments of the manage- and 30 for residential use. The Corkers ment, made the rounds. And if everyone did- wanted to attract Irish travelers like the n’t feel loved, they felt awfully appreciated. Sheehan Hotel on Sutter did, and called it Knox said Jeanette MacDonald made the West Cork at one point. But after the job song famous in a movie by the same name was done, the city ruled the tourist rooms that ended with the 1906 earthquake. had not been used in three years and that “I love San Francisco,” announced the by law they, too, should become residential, big lady, then gave the song a hearty belt. It agreeing with the point made by lawyer didn’t matter that she mixed up some lyrics. Randy Shaw who heads the Tenderloin Everybody felt the vibe, and they showered Housing Clinic. The appeal was turned her with applause. down and the West Cork group bowed out. Randy Wilson, who handled introduc- The Extra’s stories by Anne Marie Jordan in tions and helped organize the session, May and August of 2002 told the tale. explained before Knox sang that the Now, the grassroots performers felt they evening would show that “whatever we go were getting the royal treatment. Encampments with rowdy crowds through in life, we still have our talents” to “Thanks for this,” said baritone Rob have sprung up on Ellis Street in the display. And the show sprung it out from last three weeks. behind the doors. ® CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Cops can’t solve sidewalk camps ® CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 not the only solution,” Brown said, has four officers on bicycles and “and we need long-term solutions four that work on homeless out- top issue of District 6 candidates and your suggestions.” reach. But it is “rare that we can for supervisor. Lt. Larry Minasian, day watch staff a foot beat” during the day, Spurred by murders in the commander, said, “It’s not a home- she said. Taking cops out of cars GOOD less problem.” Often cops are “jeopardizes safety” because it Western Addition in his District 5, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi intro- called to handle situations that are lengthens response time to emer- duced legislation in May that basically medical, such as sub- gency calls. She said her ideal is “a would increase police foot patrols stance abuse, defecation and uri- foot beat on every block.” But the for... in a part of his district. It fit in with nation. The problem is dealers funding isn’t there. for... the growing popularity of commu- supplying addicts. TL police are The litany was a repeat of NEWS nity policing, where police and called several times a day to exchanges during the Sept. 12 concerned citizens stay in close Tenderloin Health, he said. People Alliance for a Better District 6 TENDERLOIN KIDS Once again served there hang around and meeting at the TL police station. they can test their courage in the haunt- contact, and many of Mirkarimi’s board colleagues jumped to be cause problems. The featured speakers were Lt. ed house at 118 Jones St. on Hallow- included. Charlie Orkes of SFPD Field een, from dusk until 9 p.m. This year, “The idea caught on like wild- NO ANSWERS Operations, Supervisor Mirkarimi Elaine Zamora will wait outside as the fire,” District 6 Supervisor Chris “It would be great to come up and a representative from Daly’s Queen of Hearts, perhaps cradling an Daly said Oct. 2 at the board’s with one or two ideas we can fol- office. ax primed to lop off heads. She will Select Committee on Ending Gun low up,” he said. “We need more foot beats,” direct kids through the gruesome door- and Gang Violence to which the But there was none. The first said Elaine Zamora, manager of hour was spent grilling the police the North of Market/Tenderloin way into her for- ordinance had been re-referred for changes. Daly amended the Ten- about what happens to people Community Benefit District. “Can’t mer law office who are arrested, because they are we take them from car patrols?” waiting room that derloin and Southern police dis- tricts into the one-year pilot pro- right back on the street. “No,” Orkes said. “Car patrols will be transformed gram as did Supervisors Sophie “We’ve been trying to protect are for pursuit and quick reaction. into a cemetery, Maxwell and Tom Ammiano for DeMarillac school for years,” You can’t expect an officer to run down a cobwebby their districts. The measure calls for Minasian said. “We get calls in the and cover six to eight blocks.” hallway laden with “at least” one beat officer to walk morning and when the kids are So much narcotics-related icky things hanging from the ceiling, two of three daily police shifts. out in the afternoon. There’s a crime creates a catch-22, Brown 1,000-foot rule. But there’s a min- said. It takes cops off the street. and into the witch’s lair. There, a larger PROBLEM IS GROWING imal number of cases going to “We send a patrol to Ellis and than life-size witch will be stirring a court. So it doesn’t serve us.” Jones and 10 minutes later they’re bubbling cauldron. If kids make the For months, Tenderloin resi- dents have been telling Capt. Drug peddling arrests within right back in the station doing roundtrip back to the door, the tradi- Brown in public meetings and in 1,000 feet of a school carry greater paperwork,” Brown said.