San Francisco, CA

San Francisco police and street cleaners take aggressive approach to clearing homeless encampments

Published

3 months ago

July 30, 2024

San Francisco police and street cleaners take aggressive approach to clearing homeless encampments

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Police in San Francisco will start clearing out homeless residents living in public areas under new policies announced Tuesday by the office of Mayor London Breed, who has pledged a more aggressive approach to tent encampments following a key U.S. Supreme Court decision.

In a memo, Breed’s office said city workers will continue offering housing and services to homeless people as they work to dismantle tent encampments, but street cleaners, police and other city workers will have greater leeway to prevent tents from popping back up in areas that have been cleared or to prevent smaller encampments from growing into larger ones.

San Francisco has nearly 4,000 shelter beds for an estimated 8,000 people who are homeless. Breed has expanded capacity since taking office in 2018, but the city is still short.

“The goal of this enforcement is for people to accept offers of shelter and know that they cannot remain where they are. Staff will not be required to re-offer shelter in an area where they’ve recently been working to clear an encampment if individuals return to that same area,” said the release.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June made it easier for cities to ban homeless encampments, an issue cropping up in more parts of the country amid the high costs of housing and opioid drug crisis. In California, which is home to nearly a third of an estimated 650,000 homeless people in the U.S., Gov. Gavin Newsom last week ordered state agencies to begin removing tents and structures on state land.

In central California, the Fresno City Council gave initial approval Monday to a ban on homeless camping despite impassioned pleas from residents and advocates that people should not be punished for being poor.

In San Francisco, a multi-department unit goes out to clear encampments at least twice a day, five days a week, with homeless residents receiving advance notice of upcoming cleanings and outreach.

That will continue, but city workers can now return to cleared areas to force out a returning person. Also, new teams of police and public works employees will go out daily to address smaller encampments.

Breed, who is in a tough reelection bid, said the city will still offer services and shelter. But new methods are needed as homeless people reject two-thirds of shelter offers. Enforcement will be progressive, with warnings followed by citations, escalating penalties, and even arrest, according to her office.

Homeless people say they have rejected shelter offers because they can’t take all their belongings or bring pets, or they have had traumatic encounters with staff or other residents. They were among those who sued the city in 2022, alleging the city was not providing notice or making real offers of shelter. The case is pending.

Homeless advocates in San Francisco said at a Tuesday press event that hundreds of subsidized housing units and hotel rooms are vacant and available, but officials are focused instead on encampment sweeps that worsen the situation.

“Our local officials are choosing to confiscate people’s property, survival gear, medications, the last items they’re holding on to after losing everything, instead of offering… a place to live,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness.

Officials with Los Angeles County said at a supervisors’ board meeting Tuesday they disagreed with the governor’s approach to addressing homelessness.

“Criminalization is intentionally not part of the county’s framework because it makes the problem worse by creating more barriers along people’s path to housing, and it runs counter to our goals to create a more equitable system,” said Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum.

—-

AP reporter Jaimie Ding contributed from Los Angeles.

Source link

Click to comment

San Francisco, CA

Daniel Lurie leads in San Francisco mayoral race

Published

6 hours ago

November 7, 2024

Press Room

Daniel Lurie leads in San Francisco mayoral race

Lurie leads in SF Mayor race

Political new comer, Daniel Lurie, currently leads in ranked choice voting for SF Mayor.

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco is still tabulating results from Tuesday’s election, but so far political newcomer Daniel Lurie is holding his lead in the mayoral election.

The counting is not over yet, but things are looking good for Lurie at this point. After 14 rounds of counting, philanthropist and Levi’s heir Lurie is holding a lead with more than 56% of the ranked choice votes.

San Francisco State University political science Professor Jason McDaniel said Lurie has benefited from voters who want change.

“This was an election that’s an anti-incumbent, change election, said McDaniel. “People in this city and around the world really, are upset and are taking it out on our elected leaders. The incumbents and candidates in parties are losing everywhere.”

McDaniel said Lurie also benefited from a strong, well run and well-funded campaign.

“I always tell people, money doesn’t buy elections, but he ran a very good campaign,” said McDaniel. “He spent more, raised more than all the other candidates combined. He ran a very sustained campaign over the last year.”

Current Mayor London Breed trails at this point with more than 43% of the ranked choice vote, with more votes to be counted.

McDaniel said while many say conditions in the city are improving, Mayor Breed may pay a price with voters who think back to the last few years and post-pandemic conditions. “Her core support in the city didn’t collapse, she managed to hold together, but she wasn’t able to get beyond that,” said McDaniel.

“Once there were enough voters who were convinced the city was headed in the wrong direction, and again we’ve seen that around the world, that voters feel that way, enough of them blamed her and supported someone else.”

San Franciscans who voted for Lurie said they’re hopeful. “On my ballot yesterday I noticed it was ranked choice voting and there were 10 different candidates and I think nine different slots,” said Wendy Hernandez. “I did vote for Lurie at the top.”

Voters say if he goes on to win he would have to earn the confidence of those who didn’t put him at the top of their ballot. “Oh that’s sad news,” said Tutone Lyles Naranjo.” I wouldn’t want to vote for a billionaire.”

“He was my third choice.” said Mark Philpott of Lurie. “I heard him and the others speak at a debate led by the Harvey Milk Club and I went with Aaron Peskin. He’s old San Francisco. He has 20 years experience, I think.”

Our political analyst said while the incumbent mayor may pay a price for post-pandemic conditions, that doesn’t necessarily extend to incumbent supervisors.

Three incumbent supervisors are facing challengers in the city. In one of those races, to lead the Richmond District, the challenger Marjan Philhour leads the incumbent Connie Chan by just 35 votes at this point, with more results expected in that race and others tomorrow.

Source link

San Francisco, CA

Watch: Scaffolding damaged by high winds in San Francisco

Published

14 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Watch: Scaffolding damaged by high winds in San Francisco – CBS San Francisco

Watch CBS News

Winds in the 30 mph range partially collapse scaffolding on a building in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood Wednesday morning.

Source link

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 10 game

Published

21 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 10 game

The San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves in very similar situations heading into Week 10. Both teams have four wins, are currently in second-place in their divisions, and have suffered tough losses to their divisional foes in first. They’ve also both suffered a myriad of injuries to their star skill position players and both teams have taken losses at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs.

There is one key difference between these teams though. The 49ers are coming off a bye, while the Buccaneers just played on Monday Night Football. The 49ers should be well-rested, while the Bucs might be more banged up than usual, getting one fewer day to recover.

With both teams missing key players, like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk on the 49ers’ side as well as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the Bucs’ side, you’d think both teams would be struggling on offense. However, both teams rank top-ten in points per play.

Here are our experts’ predictions for this Week 10 showdown.

PROP TALK: These are the best prop bets for NFL games this week

Buccaneers vs. 49ers odds, moneyline, over/under

The 49ers are favorites to defeat the Buccaneers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Spread: 49ers (-5.5)
Moneyline: 49ers (-250); Buccaneers (+200)
Over/under: 50.5

Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds and Monday Night Football odds.

New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.

FEELING LUCKY? Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week

NFL Week 10 odds, predictions and picks

Lorenzo Reyes: 49ers 28, Buccaneers 20

The Buccaneers play up to elite competition, with the top strength of victory (.647) — or the combined winning percentage of teams Tampa has defeated. The Bucs, in fact, are the only team above .600 in that stat. But the 49ers are coming off a bye week, and one they needed to heal up. Frankly, I can see this going both ways and would likely look elsewhere for a safer play, but given the extra rest — and the fact that Tampa has a slightly shorter week after playing Monday night — I’ll cautiously back the Niners.

Tyler Dragon: 49ers 25, Bucs 21

Will Christian McCaffrey make his season debut this week? San Francisco is coming off a Week 9 bye. While the Bucs are playing on a short week. The 49ers know they need to start performing better if they want to reclaim top status in the NFC West. San Francisco should win this game whether McCaffrey plays or not.

Richard Morin: 49ers 28, Buccaneers 27

San Francisco desperately needs to get going, but it won’t be an easy task on the road in Tampa Bay. I think the 49ers pull out the win, but the 5.5-point spread is a bit much for me.