SanFrankenstein

San Francisco prides itself on helping the homeless, and it even created a special committee for grievances from those kicked out of shelters.

But this month, it began a new experiment that treats the homeless more harshly than the city’s other policies. After lengthy training, police began enforcing an ordinance that bans sitting or lying on sidewalks during daytime hours.

The measure, which was approved by 54 percent of city voters in November, has drawn criticism from homeless groups and the down-and-out themselves.

The new approach comes at a time when the city is working to bolster tourism and local businesses in a tough economy.

Many residents have welcomed the ordinance, which was spearheaded by a neighborhood group from 1960s counterculture haven Haight-Ashbury…

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14 Comments!

  1. DoubleU
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 8:20 pm |

    The counter-culture eventually becomes the culture… and then someone needs to speak truth to the new power. I thought there was a lot of homeless hippies in the 60s.

  2. DougM
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 9:16 pm |

    Man, you know you’ve hit rock bottom when you’re embarrassing even to hippies.

  3. SondraK, Lympian Slayer
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 9:17 pm |

    They’re the man now.

  4. Gwillie
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 11:29 pm |

    Counterculture is all well and good until it effects YOUR property values

  5. mojo
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 11:39 pm |

    Here ya go.

    Hey, I’m a giver.

    http://www.27bslash6.com/

  6. Colonel Jerry USMC
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 12:41 am |

    I remember, in the late 90s, I had back surgery at a hospital in San Francisco. 2nd day after operation I wandered outside on a 2nd deck patio to have a smoke. Weirdest people walking below on the sidewalks I ever saw. Then came wandering a blond haired girl, mebbe late teens. Cleaned up & normal she would have been a beauty, but instead she was in a drug haze, wandering off the sidewalk onto the street and back to sidewalk. Talking gibberish to herself with arms waving madly…

    All the people ignored the child. When she got just below me up on the 2nd deck patio, in my best Marine DI voice is said, “YOU—-STOP![she did but had no idea where the voice was coming from...] Then I said, “YOU ARE DISGUSTING AREN`T YOU?”[no answer, but head on a swivel...]“ANSWER ME!”[pause,then "yes."] “SAY I CAN CHANGE!”[head on swivel...] “SAY IT,NOW!”[she is scared now and says it...]“LOUDER!”[she yells it...still no clue where voice is coming from...] “WANT TO KNOW WHY?”[no reply,just confused...]“WELL,DO YOU?”[...quickly she yells"Yes"...]
    “HAPPINESS IS WHY!”[...she stops trying to find the voice; looks straight ahead and says,"I want happiness"...]“GET IT YOURSELF, UNDERSTAND?”["Yes/pause/Yes"...]“I WILL WATCH YOU, UNDERSTAND?”["Okay"...]“NOW STAY ON THE SIDEWALK AND WALK TO HAPPINESS,UNDERSTAND?["...walk to happiness...]“NOW, AND REMEMBER I WATCH!”[...she walks ahead, straight...and turns the corner and disappears...]

    For a long time I wondered what ever happened to her. My fear was that she would become a Catholic Nun!

  7. Stick
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 5:35 am |

    Dude, the homeless are harshing my buzz.

  8. Annoyed White Male
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 6:08 am |

    The majority does not rule in San Fran. Political correctness and a twisted view of “rights” does. I’m amazed the place still manages to operate as a functioning city. Once you peel back the veneer the tourists see, it’s a rather disgusting place. I shook the dirt from my sandals when I left.

  9. Claire, Unreasonable, Ideologically Stubborn Ruralite
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 8:24 am |

    But homeless advocates say city residents, who overwhelmingly elect liberals to office, remain skewed against the poor and the Sit-Lie ordinance demonstrates that.

    “San Francisco has traditionally been conservative when it comes to its own poor people,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness.

    whaaa????

  10. Claire, Unreasonable, Ideologically Stubborn Ruralite
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 8:25 am |

    See? this is why I LOVES me some Colonel Jerry, Sir!
    *big kiss*

  11. mojo
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 8:49 am |

    Realite: The mark left after reality bites you on the ass.

  12. mojo
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 11:12 am |

    PS: Next time you’re strolling down Post and stumble over a smelly bum, passed out and sprawled across the sidewalk – just take a leak on him.

    FOR FREEDOM!

  13. Henri Claude
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm |

    ..great idea, mojo….

  14. LLoyd
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 9:34 pm |

    “Kieran, a 23-year-old homeless man from Canada who declined to give his last name, received a warning slip from police.”

    “You’re not allowed to sleep anywhere, to sit anywhere, to lie anywhere,” he said. “So where are you supposed to go?”

    Duh#2:
    There is some bite to the so-called Sit-Lie ordinance, which applies from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. First-time offenders receive a verbal warning, while second-time violators can be cited and fined $50 to $100. Further offenders are subject to fines up to $500, and community service or jail time could also be required” (Uh, where are they getting the fine money?????)

    Big Duhhhhhhhh???:
    “But homeless advocates say city residents, who overwhelmingly elect liberals to office, remain skewed against the poor and the Sit-Lie ordinance demonstrates that.

    “San Francisco has traditionally been conservative when it comes to its own poor people,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness.” (Slaps head.)

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