SF Mayor Lee's Homeless Center = 'Mission Accomplished'?

There's a banner at San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's homeless Navigation Center's entrance on Mission near 16th Street reading "Street to Home" and it reminded me of President George W. Bush's banner "Mission Accomplished" regarding alleged peace and democracy in Iraq.

It takes more than colorful signage with minimal wording to convince me a politician and his policies are actually solving a problem.

Check out this video that shows San Francisco's mayor hasn't exactly delivered on his promise of moving homeless folks from the street into a home:

SF Fire Dept: Homeless Can Now Use Our Toilets to Poop

Here's some good news for homeless people and the general public that is a step in creating a better environment on San Francisco's streets and assisting the homeless with maintaining adequate personal hygiene. My toilet access project was seeded in February and has now borne fruit.

FYI, the toilets I've demanded public access to were all created and are maintained with taxpayer funds.

On behalf of the City, the Department of Public Health, after four months of pushing them and the Mayor's homeless office and director Bevan Dufty (who broke a promise to address lack of public toilets), and the top brass at the SF Fire Department, informed me of some radical changes:

"Thank you for your advocacy to increased toilet access for San Franciscans. We are pleased to update you on the following efforts to increase bathroom availability:

"Fire Station Restrooms: Nearly all of the San Francisco Fire Stations are open for public restroom use. Any member of the public may ring the Fire Station doorbell and will be let in to use the toilet between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

"Automatic Public Toilet Program: There are 25 self-cleaning public toilets in San Francisco. Here is a list of the locations:

"1. Fisherman's Wharf: Jefferson & Powell Sts. 2. Fisherman's Wharf: Jefferson & Powell Sts. 3. Bay & Taylor Sts. 4. Coit Tower, Pioneer Park 5. Washington Square: Union St. & Columbus Ave 6. Pier 7 7. Justin Herman Plaza 8. Market & California Sts. 9. Transbay Terminal: Mission & 1st Sts. 10. St. Mary's Square: Pine & Quincy Sts. 11. Union Square: Geary & Powell Sts. 12. MacCauley Park: Larkin & O'Farrell Sts. 13. Boedecker Park: Eddy & Jones Sts. 14. Market & Powell Sts. 15. Civic Center: Grove & Larkin Sts. 16. UN Plaza: Market & 7th Sts. 17. Embarcadero & Harrison Sts. 18. Stanyan & Waller Sts. 19. Market & Church Sts. 20. Market & 17th Sts. 21. Mission & 16th Sts. 22. Twin Peaks 23. Mission & 24th Sts. 24. South Van Ness Ave & Cesar Chavez St. 25. Drumm & Clay Sts.

"Pit Stop Program: San Francisco Department of Public Works has expanded their toilet access program from six toilets in three locations in the Tenderloin to include two toilets in the South of Market and to the Mission District where the Pit Stop program has taken over a JCDecaux public toilet.

"Outreach: To ensure that homeless individuals are aware of the bathroom options, flyers will be distributed at homeless shelters, via SFHOT, and at the Project Homeless Connect Every Day Connect office. Thank you again for your advocacy on this issue.

"Signed,
Chief Joanne Hayes-White, San Francisco Fire Department Director
Barbara Garcia, San Francisco Department of Public Health Director
Bevan Dufty, Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE)"

It's terrific that the homeless now have more places to poop and pee and also wash their hands, and on top of that the City is publicizing the expanded options. What needs to happen now is for the fire and health department public information offices, and the Mayor's Office, to issue press releases about the changes.

Here's the list of fire houses, there are over forty of them, where toilets are now available for public use every day:

$22K for SFPD to Cover SF Giants Opening Day, But . . .

Earlier this month, I asked the San Francisco Police Department how many officers they assigned to cover the SF Giants opening game in April and was informed the number was more than 30 cops, but no price tag was disclosed. Follow up requests were sent to the department, producing more deets from three staffers in the legal division:

"1. You requested 'Names of all officers or personnel, their divisions or bureaus, assigned to the ball park and their duties that day.'

"As to the remaining number of officers and officer names, SFPD declines to disclose that information pursuant to Cal. Govt. Code § 6254(f).

"The number of officers and the names of the officers are considered intelligence information and security procedures, which if disclosed would compromise security and officer safety. These documents are records of security procedures compiled by SFPD for law enforcement purposes.

"As to your request for their duties, SFPD officers provided security at the ballpark.

"2. You requested 'Cost of total police time and expenses for SFPD coverage at the game.'"

"Cost total: $22,620.34"

That quite a few pretty pennies. The answers raised new concerns for me. Since the owners of the Giants have a few bucks in the bank, I wondered if they picked up that $22,600 tab. SFPD said:

"1) You requested, 'Was the City reimbursed by the SF Giants for the expenses listed or did taxpayers pick up the tab?"

"The SF Giants paid $15,287.83 to the City for SFPD services at the game.

"2) You requested, 'Why were so many cops pulled off their regular duties on opening day, regardless of whether the team paid for the $23,000 costs or not?'

The majority of the officers assigned to the SF Giants Opening Day on April 13, 2015 were scheduled off and were working overtime paid by the SF Giants. Therefore, most of the officers were not reassigned from their “regular duties” to provide SFPD services at the event.

Hmmm, I wonder what the actual number is for that "majority". We taxpayers were left with a minor tab of $7,300 or so, which is info that needs sharing and is in keeping with my effort to expand transparency at the police department. Among the SFPD officers at the game were the CSI unit's photographer and videographer.

Thanks to a public records request, I obtained fifteen-minutes of footage and trimmed it down to a wee bit over two-minutes. Check it out:

Why Won't Lesbian Herstory Archives Join Pride This Year?

Let's get real about what LGBT Pride marches and celebrations in San Francisco, New York and a few other cities, have become. Parties certainly, vehicles for corporations to tap into the gay market and wallet, opportunities for straight and LGBT politicians to softly seek votes and donations, and political agendas that extend only from joining the military, marriage rights and ignore social justice concerns.

I laud the Lesbian Herstory Archives of New York City for opting out of participating in the Big Apple's huge Pride March. The women who made this decision are heroines of the highest homo order and we need more of them. Here's the email the group circulated today:

Due to the shift away from contingent-based groupings, the increased commercialization of the LGBT Pride March, and the diminishing interest of members of our communities in this event as reflected in fewer marchers each year behind the banner, the Lesbian Herstory Archives has decided not to officially participate in the Sunday June 28th Lesbian and Gay Pride March [in Manhattan].

We will be celebrating pride by taking part in the Brooklyn Pride Parade on Saturday June 13th, starting at twilight, and the Dyke March on Saturday June 27th, starting at 5 pm.

 Come March with us! Come help spread the word about the Archives! Happy Pride to all!

SF LGBT Homeless Shelter Opens June 17 in the Mission

The four-year long and tortuous route to begin operations at the two-dozen bed shelter for homeless LGBT folks, located at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue near 22nd Street, may soon reach its destination. As regular readers know, I've watchdogged this project after reading reporting from Seth Hemmelgarn at the BAR, and have often decried the lack of visible action, information and leadership from David Campos.

You'd expect an elected official who started his City Hall career in 1999, going from the City Attorney's Office to the Police Commission to the Board of Supervisors, would know how to press levers of power, but we're talking Campos here.

This note from Wendy Philips, the executive director of Dolores Street Community Services which has the contract to operate the shelter, heaps praise upon Campos and other City officials and that is part of her job. My task, however, is to pull back the curtain and request Campos' and his staff's emails about the shelter and see what they reveal.

Let's look at Mayor Ed Lee's energetic photo-ops, in an election year, putting the gloss on cutting ribbons at various housing and shelter projects.

There's the Navigation Center at Mission and 16th Street, the youth residence in a former hotel over in the Marina, a presser at the vets' statue next to the War Memorial Opera House promising give every homeless vet a place to live off the streets, the opening of veterans' housing at Mission Bay, and a few other events dutifully documented by the mayor and the media.

(Photo credit: Rick Gerharter.)

Expect a bit of civic hoopla at South Van Ness and 22nd come June 17, right smack dab in the middle of Pride. Philips' letter:

The shelter is scheduled to open on June 17th so the homeless folks would be able to move in that day. The construction is still in progress, including the ADA upgrades but the plan is for everything to be finished so all necessary inspections can be completed before folks are scheduled to move in.

As for City agencies and officials keeping their promises, I would say absolutely. Key leadership has been provided by Supervisor David Campos and his staff, Mayor’s Director of HOPE Bevan Dufty, and the Human Services Agency.

We have also had great support and cooperation from the Department of Building Inspection and the Mayor’s Office of Disability, as well as the SFPUC and SFFD, all of whom have responded very quickly to requests for inspections, modifications, etc.

NYT: Gay Irish Hero Panti Bliss Omitted, HRC & Adams Quoted

Here's a letter I'm circulating to my various global LGBT contacts, after the stunning victory over the past few days across the Republic of Ireland.

I'm calling b.s. and heaping shame on the Gray Lady, the New York Times, for ignoring and omitting the unquestionable and crucial role Panti Bliss, alias Rory O'Neill, a drag artiste of many talents, in legalizing gay marriage in Ireland.

Bliss kick-started the referendum a few years back, decrying anti-gay oppression and taking on the Catholic church and conservative leaders. She also operates a gay bar in Dublin, is openly HIV positive and was a dominant figure in mainstream and various social media platforms in Ireland and elsewhere. Pretty much everywhere except the Times. Here's my letter:

Dear Global Friends,

I join with you all celebrating the fantastic separation of church and state in Ireland this weekend, with the Irish electorate voting 62 percent yes for gay marriages. We lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people were on the ballot and won, and we couldn't have done without many straight allies.

Powerful media outlets such as the New York Times must update their contact lists for global gay activists and groups. It shames me that the USA's most influential paper, and friend of the gays, couldn't find any LGBT activists beyond America's borders to comment on the importance of the Irish vote to folks abroad.

Sunday's Times coverage mentioned gay advocates around the world and their reaction, and the only group quoted was the Human Rights Campaign, an American organization known more for glitzy dinners and sucking up to the Democratic Party than anything to do with international LGBT issues.

No mention of Panti Bliss. Same goes for Monday's coverage which included a photo of her and Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, enjoying the celebration at Dublin Castle on Saturday after the votes were counted.

The Times has given more space to Adams, a straight ally, and the HRC group, which is always hogging media attention that rightfully belongs to others who do actual and effective organizing, than to Panti Bliss. Some things never change.

As the world gives credit to where it is due, at the high-heeled feet of Panti Bliss, and all the LGBT and allied Irish voters for this major leap forward for social justice and so much more, I hold out hope that the New York Times will eventually profile Panti Bliss and her beautiful courage.

Queer cheers,
Michael

Joyous 'Carmina Burana' From SF Symphony Chorus

The Sunday, May 17, evening concert at Davies Hall by the San Francisco Symphony Chorus under the superb direction of conductor Ragnar Bohlin was like a glass both half empty and half full. Let me explain.

Starting with Igor Stravinsky's "Mass", which as performed sounded more like a sketch more than a complete work and didn't impress this listener, the first half of the concert was pleasant enough filler and also included a short choral work by Francis Poulenc. The chorus sounded fine, but in my section of the audience we were anxious to get to the intermission and section half of the evening.

The main attraction was Carl Orff's classic lustful and celebratory "Carmina Burana" and the singers and musicians performed with just the right amount of gusto to excite my ears, from start to finish.

When the drummers banged their instruments, a rich and vibrant sound stirred me. Many sections were sung with so much glee and verve by the symphony's chorus and the Pacific Boychoir, I wanted to join them in the singing and merry-making. Maybe the programmers will consider a sing-along "Carmina Burana" performance in the future. That would surely be a sell-out.

Soloists soprano Joanna Taber, tenor Jonathan Thomas and baritone Michael Taylor stood out with their remarkable vocal talents which blended so well with the hundred-plus choral members' joyous delivery.

Each piece of the work had its moment of glory and all added up to a marvelous performance that raised the roof of the hall. Well-earned rousing applause erupted at the conclusion, with the audience giving a much-deserved standing ovation to the artists on-stage. A joyous concert we will long remember.

Trans Flag Flies at Half-Mast to Mourn LGBT Teen Suicide

Tragedy strikes an individual member of our queer community. Another LGBT teenager has taken his own life. Some facts from the San Diego Gay & Lesbian News:

"On Monday, May 18, San Diego transgender teen Kyler Prescott died by suicide. He was 14-years-old. [...] and the world will never know him as an artist or an animal rights activist or an accomplished pianist. But one thing is for sure, his death will bring awareness to people and their need for education on issues that reach beyond the physical aspect of growing up and into the hearts of children and their coping spirits."

An indoor memorial was held for Kyler over the weekend and the rainbow flag that usually flies high in a public plaza in the heart of the gay section of the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego, was lowered in his remembrance. People also gathered at the flagpole for an outdoor candlelight service, according to this FB page created by Kyler's survivors. The Hillcrest business group that maintains the flagpole has a FB page that explains why the rainbow flag was replaced with the transgender flag for Kyler.

Dear Kyler, rest in peace. You died way too young.

SF Mayor Lee: No Budget Files on US Mayors Confab

Like magic, nominally independent nonprofit committees spring up to assist Mayor Ed Lee and his tech titan buddies put out the City's red carpet for opulent photo-ops for themselves and at our expense. Sure, the mayor is claiming no records about the City's allocations for the upcoming U.S. Conference of Mayors, wink wink, but rest assured much time on the City's clock and municipal monies are being used for the event.

Earlier this week, after filing my request, I learned these deets from Emily Green of the SF Chronicle:

"The celebration [of City Hall's 100th anniversary]will coincide with the city’s hosting the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ annual meeting. The celebration and lights are being paid for with $2.2 million in private dollars and $1.8 million in public funds."

Imagine that, close to two-million buck in public funds and the mayors has no budgetary records about it. If you believe in Santa Claus, you'll accept at face value the contention that the mayor's office also has no contact for the nonprofit outfit organizing the conference next month. The response from the mayor's sunshine liaison, which arrived yesterday:

"This letter responds to your Public Records Request sent on May 12 and your May 20 email clarifying your request, in which you request the following documents for the time period of January 1, 2014 through May 11, 2015:

"1. Any and all documents regarding budget allocations and expenses from the Mayor’s Office for the US Conference of Mayors in San Francisco.

"2. Documents regarding or reflecting all costs the City is ensuing for hosting the US Conference of Mayors in San Francisco.

"Response: The Mayor’s Office does not have any documents responsive to your request. Please note, the US Conference of Mayors San Francisco Host Committee is fundraising for and responsible for costs associated with hosting the US Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in San Francisco this June.

"I don’t have a contact for the US Conference of Mayors San Francisco Host Committee at this time, but I will obtain a contact if you’re interested."

3 Events, Same Day/Time, Inept Organizers Killed the Mission

When I read legacy or social media comments about "saving" the Mission district of San Francisco, I pay no heed to the writer or person quoted. The bohemian Mission that many believe can be saved was lost more than a decade ago and the efforts to retain vestiges of what once an affordable and very artsy and Latino neighborhood, are not to be taken seriously. Let's go over four event today that back up my point.

First up, the coordinators of Plaza 16, San Francisco resident Andy Blue and Maria Zamudio, who lives in the East Bay and is a paid community organizer with Causa Justa, held their regular monthly meeting tonight, May 21 at 6 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church in the Mission. After two-years of existence, here is what Blue and Zamudio promised for tonight, the usual vagueness and no specific agenda:

"We are all City planners! The monthly Plaza 16 meetings at St. John’s Church are now focused on our community process to create a vision and plan for development at 16th and Mission that truly serves the needs of the existing community. This is exciting work and we need your contributions."

If after dozens of large and small meetings, some not open to all members of the Mission and controlled by the nonprofit mafia, this group does not have a vision and plan then there is nil reason to waste time at their meetings. Forget about influencing City policy or stopping developers from this gang that can't organize for shit. Occasional big rallies don't stop developers or Mayor Ed Lee and his cronies.

Second, also tonight and at the same time and promoted by Plaza 16, was this event at L's Cafe in the Mission:

"Plaza 16 joined forces with Our Mission No Eviction, Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, ACCE, Eviction Free San Francisco, Poor Magazine, and other groups to organize the Mission Takes City Hall action on May 8. This group has its second follow up meeting this Thursday."

There is a finite number of folks who can make it to meetings and it's shameful that both meetings were at held simultaneously at different locations. Dividing and diluting the interest of regular folks and forcing them to choose one or the other meeting is a sign of terrible weak organizing and planning.

Third, would you believe there was a third event tonight? Guess the time. From the Plaza 16 Facebook page:

"May 21st: Steps of St. Peter’s Catholic Church (on Alabama St and 24th St) 
"6PM - 8PM
"Thousands of Working Families Displaced from the Mission and San Francisco; Latino Catholics Launch a Tenant Education Campaign. Prayer March in the heart of the Mission District to lift up the crisis faced by hundreds of families being pushed out of their homes, and to ask for a stop to Evictions and a Moratorium on Building of Luxury Apartments: We Need to Protect and Create Affordable Homes for Families."

If all the communication technology we have at our fingertips and in our palms are not currently used by the dozens of Mission Inc groups and community "organizers" to coordinate events and plan for maximum impact of actions, that don't all occur on the same day and time, I don't hold out hope that the leaders will gain the brains to overcome their ineptness.

Oh, but there is a fourth event you need to know about, again promoted by the Plaza 16 Facebook page for this event at 3 pm today in the Bayview district pulled together by the Alliance Californians for Community Empowerment:

"In the wake of the May 8th City Hall Shut down by Mission groups, Bayview residents facing immediate displacement, ACCE members, will be demanding to ensure that their neighborhood is included in a moratorium on market rate housing construction until local housing conditions, affordability, and preservation of existing African American community are addressed."

Just like the three 6 pm meetings tonight, this Bayview afternoon action is about the sure-to-fail moratorium on housing development in the Mission from Supervisor David Campos in same fashion.

So, we have Mission Inc leaders unable and unwilling to better coordinate events and actions, all eggs are placed in the Campos moratorium basket and the Mission will witness more market rate and luxury housing construction, and additional evictions. The old Mission is dead. Get used to it and part of the blame can be laid at the doorstep of Mission Inc.