If you want the housing crisis to be over and done with/solved/end of story, the political arena may not be the best place to start, according to some editorial powers-that-be. (San Francisco Chronicle). The op-ed page recently had a full-throated condemnation of the gubernatorial hopefuls who, at the last debate, coughed up platitudes about housing but ducked on supporting any specifics — specifically, state Sen. Scott Wiener’s bill to go light on regulation and up the housing supply. The editorial did point out that the candidates were full of ideas on increasing spending on low-income housing.
Hmm. What is happening with that sector here in San Francisco? Recent Public Press stories have highlighted the issues of housing and homelessness.
- San Francisco has a new technology platform that will give shelter and housing to those with the greatest need and ration scarce affordable housing. “City Rolls Out Tech Platform to Improve — and Ration — Shelter, Housing for the Homeless” (San Francisco Public Press).
- The city’s rent assistance program for families appears to be a work in progress: with subsidies, families are housed, usually in places like Oakland, Richmond and points way yonder. But when the financial assistance ends, it’s anyone’s guess where the families end up. “Most Homeless Families Helped by City Rent Programs Move Out of S.F.” (San Francisco Public Press).
- Housing, yes, it’s complicated: Some city residents demanded that the Planning Commission keep its promise to build a community center that now faces the possibility of being scuttled in favor of an affordable housing project. “Bayview Community Rallies in Opposition to Housing at Site of Promised Community Center” (San Francisco Examiner).
- For the latest on how the body politic is reacting to Wiener’s housing bill, read all about it in “What to Know About the Housing Bill That Has People Freaking Out From Marin to Compton” (CALmatters).
- There is the artistic approach: Graphic designer Erik Schmitt’s response to “No Vacancy for the Homeless” — an article that talks about SROs with rooms to spare in a town where thousands lack shelter — was to design labels that looked like nutritional information labels, but cited “Housing Displacement Facts,” such as “unoccupied rooms” and percentages “left vacant.” “Guerrilla Art Project Uses News for ‘Housing Displacement Facts’” (San Francisco Public Press).
Pollution Just Won’t Quit
- Although lead paint was banned 40 years ago, lead poisoning among children is still a major problem in the Bay Area. KALW News environment and health reporters Angela Johnston and Marissa Ortega-Welch spent more than a year collecting data, conducting interviews and tracking down public records to draw attention to this heretofore overlooked issue. They discovered the troubling nexus of childhood lead poisoning and the intractable Bay Area crises of housing, immigration and public health. “Persistent Poison: Lead’s Toxic Legacy in the Bay Area” (KALW Crosscurrents).
- Toxic emissions control is not in the works for scores of older buses in Muni’s fleet, even though hundreds of new buses that lacked pollution-control devices are being upgraded. “Pollution-Control Program not Upgraded on Scores of SF’s Muni Buses” (Mission Local).
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Other Matters, Large and Larger
- Things are still nasty in the taxicab/ride-sharing world. The San Francisco Federal Credit Union is suing the city Municipal Transportation Agency, claiming the agency let Uber and Lyft kill the cabs and taxi-permit sale program. “Lawsuit: SF Let Uber and Lyft Kill Taxi Cabs, and Stuck Credit Union With the Bill” (Curbed San Francisco).
- For everyone who wants California to become bluer than blue, take heart: These folks are on the road and raising hell. “Activists Take to the Road” (Noe Valley Voice).
- Did you know that a quarter of the nation’s immigrants live in California, about 10.7 million. Get the 411 at “Just the Facts: Immigrants and Political Engagement” (Public Policy Institute of California).
- Get exercise and education about San Francisco’s waterfront. The Port of San Francisco is sponsoring two walking tours and an open house this month during which the agency will talk about its proposed update of the Waterfront Plan. “Port of San Francisco Offering Public ‘Walkshop’ Tours” (Hoodline).
