The California Legislature enacted the state’s first anti-vagrant statutes in the mid-19th century, targeting Native Americans and Mexican-Americans. Since then, policymakers and voters have regularly acted to rid city streets of people who are homeless or indigent. This brief timeline highlights some key years and actions.
Author Archives: Sara Bloomberg
Sara Bloomberg is a freelance journalist who has been published in the San Francisco Bay Guardian, 48 Hills Online, the Ingleside Light, El Tecolote, KQED and Fog City Journal. She studied journalism at City College of San Francisco and politics and language studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Posted inNavigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?, News
‘Quality of Life’ Citations at Record Lows
As San Francico police respond to more calls for “quality of life” volations, citations have declined sharply in recent years, and the courts have been throwing out warrants for violations, quietly decriminalizing homelessness citywide, an analysis of city records shows.
Posted inAging, Homelessness, Housing, Navigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?
As Shelter Wait Times Soar, Older Homeless in Limbo Daily
The wait time for an emergency shelter bed for homeless San Franciscans has hit a record high, as growing demand outstrips availability, city records show. Among those waiting weeks on the list recently were someone 97 years old and three people in their 80s.
Posted inCity Hall, Elections, Government & Politics, News
After Exporting Raisins, Tech Pioneer Brought Campaign Finance Disclosures Online
David Montgomery never planned to go into software engineering and never thought he would be a trailblazer bringing campaign finance disclosures online to help hold candidates, lobbyists and committees more accountable to the public.
Posted inCity Hall, Elections, Food Systems, Health
Study: Health, Economic Benefits Emerging From Mexico’s ‘Soda Tax’
A Mexican tax on sugary beverages has reduced consumption since 2014, and as a result is projected to help cut rates of diabetes, improve overall health and bring other indirect cost savings, according to a study published Tuesday.
Posted inCity Hall, Elections, Health
Diabetes, Obesity Drain S.F. Economy Even More Than ‘Soda Tax’ Backers Proclaim
Proposition V, which would tax distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages, underplays big health and associated costs linked to those drinks. Top estimates approach $1 billion a year.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Housing, Media, Technology
What Nevius Gets Wrong About Tech and Politics
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Chuck “C.W.” Nevius is imploring tech companies “to get into politics, particularly grassroots politics in cities like Oakland and San Francisco.” But he misses the obvious: the tech industry is and has been deeply involved with local politics, led by Ron Conway (photo).
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, City Hall, Elections, News, Open Government, Public Safety
$2 Million Fills War Chests of S.F. Candidates as Races Heat Up
With two months until Election Day, more than $2 million has been amassed in the collective war chests for local candidate campaigns, 90 percent of which has been raised for six Board of Supervisors seats.
Posted inCampaign Finance: The Rising Cost of Winning Votes, Data Privacy, Elections, Open Government
What Don’t We Know About Campaign Finance?
The Public Press spent six months digging and sorting, and many hours talking with staff at the Ethics Commission for clarification on the best ways to find and distill the information on the 2015 elections.
Posted inCity Hall, Elections, Housing, Neighborhoods, Open Government
Big Money Already Pouring Into November Campaigns
San Franciscans will not vote for nearly three months, but big money is flowing into the fall election already. Local campaigns have spent $3.15 million, with more than half going to just six of 25 measures on the ballot.