San Francisco, CA
Down and Out in San Francisco
Image by Joshua Earle.
For many residents of the United States, especially those in its cities and larger suburbs, the fact of homelessness is quite well established. Camps made up of lean-tos, tents, small fire pits and people exist in parks, woods, along city streets and under freeway bridges around the nation. The reaction to these settlements by residents with houses and local authorities ranges from acceptance and providing services to the unhoused to vigilante and police attacks on the encampments. Despite the differences in these responses, both represent an acceptance of an essential fact: most people living outside because they can’t afford to live inside do so because of the capitalist economy.
Those who support the vigilantes and the police attacks on the unhoused are, in essence, rejecting the humanity of those being attacked and “swept” up (to use a popular euphemism). Whether they acknowledge this truth or not, their actions reveal an understanding that only people with houses matter when all is said and done. Meanwhile, those who work through churches, social services and other organizations that assist the unhoused prove a certain belief that modern capitalism is irredeemable. 
J. Malcolm Garcia worked in an organization helping the unhoused during the 1990s. The agency was in San Francisco. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area from the late 1970s until the mid-1980s. Of the seven or eight years I lived there, I spent a few of them on the streets. Even then, there were several hundred, if not thousands, of unhoused folks making do, keeping away from the cops, hitting the free meals and sleeping where they could. By 1984—after almost four years of neoliberal Reaganomics—those numbers had increased dramatically. So had a certain sense of desperation as funding was taken away from government agencies and non-profits that served the poor—housed and unhoused. I was lucky. I got out. Some of my friends did not.
Since his work in the social services world of San Francisco, Mr. Garcia has gone on to become one of the world’s most unique and honest journalists. His articles focus on those whose lives have been disrupted, even overturned, by US capitalism and its wars. Several collections of his work have been published and received plaudits and awards. This summer, Seven Stories published his first novel, titled Out of the Rain.
Like his journalism, this novel is about people. Based on his experiences as a social worker in an agency that worked with those without houses, Garcia tells his story with a collection of profiles. From the chronic and amiable alcoholic Walter to the tragic life of a crack addict named Varneeta, the author weaves a profound tale of humanity. Lives that most of his readers can only imagine, if even that, are chronicled in bits and pieces. People in recovery struggling with the urge to go to the liquor store instead of work; men fighting off urges to take advantage of vulnerable women they interact with at the shelter and men that give in to those urges; recovering alcoholics and drug users living lives of loneliness because their previous friends are still using and are nothing but a temptation. Informing it all is the primary protagonist Tom who directs the shelter and center that serves as the focal point for the novel’s characters. His job is one that requires compassion, but demands a certain ruthlessness. That ruthlessness is most often related to the other primary informant of the tale: a national and local economy that cuts funding for services to the poor in favor of profits for the rich. For anyone who has been to San Francisco since Reagan took over the country they must certainly agree that it is the rich who matter the most there.
This is a very human story. It is also very honest. Despite the occasionally unbearable misfortunes that happen to different characters at points in the narrative, a certain hopeful spirit remains the novel’s essence. At the novel’s end, Tom has moved on from his role at the shelter and center to a new job helping refugees. His burnout from caring too much while wrestling with politicians and funders who don’t really like the grimness and squalor of lives lived in the street has won out. This novel is his reminder to the reader as to why we need to care.
The San Francisco Giants have signed Florida State outfielder James Tibbs III, their first-round pick, to a contract, as reported by MLB Pipeline.
Tibbs was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. With that selection his pick carried a slot value of $5.272 million. San Francisco was able to get him for several hundred thousand under slot, as he signed for a reported $4.747 million.
Tibbs and the Seminoles reached the College World Series this June, where Baseball America rated him the No. 3 player among those at the annual national championship in Omaha, Neb.
The left-handed hitting Tibbs was a three-year star for the Seminoles, who entered the CWS with the best stat line of his career. He was slashing .375/.497/.813/1.310 with 28 home runs and 94 RBI.
It’s that power that MLB Pipeline said intrigued teams, along with a track record of hitting in college and in the Cape Cod League last year. With the Brewster Whitecape he hit .299 with six home runs, six doubles and 27 RBI and was named an All-Star, Team MVP and Home Run Derby Champion.
Per the MLB Draft tracker, the Giants did not have a second- or third-round pick. So San Francisco’s next two selections are, as of this writing, unsigned. That would be fourth-round pick Dakota Jordan, an outfielder from Mississippi State, and fifth-round pick Jakob Christian, an outfielder from the University of San Diego.
The Giants have signed the rest of their selections from the first 10 rounds. That included Santa Clara third baseman Robert Hipwell, Alabama pitcher Greg Farone, Southern Miss pitcher Niko Mazza, University of Illinois-Chicago shortstop Zane Zielinski and Murray State pitcher Cade Vernon.
The Giants have had some recent success getting their first-round picks to the Majors, the most recent being outfielder Heliot Ramos, who was selected No. 19 overall pick in 2017 out of the Leadership Christian Academy in Puerto Rico. He represented the Giants in the All-Star Game earlier this month.
The Giants’ 2020 first-round pick, catcher Patrick Bailey, starts behind the plate for San Francisco.
All MLB teams must have their draft picks signed by Aug. 1.
(Round, player, school, position, bat/throw)
Bold: Reported signing
Round 1: James Tibbs III, Florida State, OF, L/L
Round 4: Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State, OF, R/R
Round 5: Jakob Christian, University of San Diego, OF, R/R
Round 6: Robert Hipwell, Santa Clara, 3B, L/R
Round 7: Greg Farone, Alabama, P, L/L
Round 8: Niko Mazza, Southern Miss, P, L/R
Round 9: Zane Zielinski, University of Illinois-Chicago, SS, R/R
Round 10: Cade Vernon, Murray State, P, S/R
Round 11: Andy Polanco, Central Pointe Christian Academy (FL), Dominican Republic, OF, R/R
Round 12: Zander Darby, UC Santa Barbara, 3B, L/R
Round 13: Drake George, Lewis-Clark State, P, R/R
Round 14: Jeremiah Jenkins, University of Maine, 1B, L/L
Round 15: Evan Gray, St. Louis University, P, R/R
Round 16: Tyler Switalski, West Virginia, P, R/L
Round 17: Hunter Dryden, Whitworth University, P, R/R
Round 18: Ryan Slater, Florida, P, R/R
Round 19: Ryan Ure, Oklahoma State, P, R/L
Round 20: Fernando Gonzalez, Georgia, Panama, C, R/R
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San Francisco, CA
SF voters react to Pres. Biden's prime-time address: 'Huge moment in American politics'
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Dozens gathered at Manny’s in San Francisco Wednesday eager to watch President Joe Biden’s historic address to the nation.
The highly anticipated event saw the President explain his decision to no longer run for reelection in November, as well as what his plans were for the rest of his time in office.
“This is the first time since 1968 that a sitting president has chosen not to run for reelection. A huge moment in American politics,” said Manny’s owner, Manny Yekutiel.
During the speech, Biden highlighted his most valued accomplishments over the last four years, and highlighted the need to continue to unite the country.
His message resonating with viewers like Lily Lamboy, who says she became emotional watching the President speak.
VIDEO: Biden on decision to exit 2024 race: ‘I revere this office. But I love this country more’
President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country’s democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reele
“I actually think I walled off a lot of my feelings and emotions around politics because I felt so hopeless over the last few weeks,” Lamboy said.
Biden also taking time to note the importance of passing on leadership to the next generation, namely Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris remains the presumptive Democratic nominee to take on former President Donald Trump in this year’s election.
“To have someone who’s going to be better able to get out on the campaign trail, who’s going to be better able to speak to the issues, how they affect working class people, people of color,” said Carolyn Wysinger.
Wysinger says she also was impressed by Biden’s speech.
TIMELINE: The 24 days that turned the 2024 presidential election upside down
She says, as a Black woman, seeing herself represented in the Vice President has been inspiring.
“There was just so much excitement around Kamala that everyone wanted to be a part of it. And I’m hearing so many different stories about women who are running in down ballot situations and their fundraising has spiked, their visibility has spiked,” Wysinger said.
And while Biden’s term won’t end until January, for many here – Wednesday’s address felt like saying goodbye.
“That’s all we can hope for is that we serve our country, we do our absolute best. And when we’re in our 80s we get to have some time with our families to enjoy our lives,” said Lamboy.
Democratic delegates will formally choose their candidate for the election at their convention next month.
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