Filthy Streets of San Francisco: "Urinetown," not the musical

SF Chronicle ^ | 7-21-02 | Kevin Fagan

[Oldeconomybuyer]

For more than a decade, the stench and spectacle of urine in the streets of San Francisco has constituted an embarrassing crisis that just won't go away, no matter how politicians, activists and cops tried to attack it.

Leaders ranging from former Supervisor Bill Maher to Mayor Willie Brown thumped lecterns and devised cleanup plans. Police cracked down and made arrests. City Hall launched a fleet of sidewalk-sweeping Green Machines. Homeless advocates cried for more compassion. And still the defilement of San Francisco spread, like an ugly tide, year after year.

[ppaul]

This is what happens when the socialists in charge of our government locate all the "social services" - the give-away programs for bums and winos - in the nicest areas of our downtowns. Then, instead of letting cops walk the beat, twirling their nightsticks and telling the riff-raff to "move along", the "leaders" pass "compassionate" ordinances which allow the human vermin to loiter, sleep on the choicest spots of grass and park benches, and defocate and urinate on the sidewalks. And we, the public, just put up with it in the name of the two 21st Century dieties - Tolerance & Diversity.

[Miss Marple]

Well,unsophisticated Miss Marple of the Midwest is sitting at her keyboard dumbfounded. Is this really true? I have never been to San Francisco so I have no way to judge the accuracy of this story.

[snopercod]

San Francisco, the Perfect Liberal Society.

[Tripleplay]

How come no mention of the health hazzards?

[cinFLA]

The "homeless" on welfare get a "cost-of-living" adjustment if they file in San Francisco. The state takes the federal guidelines and puts a multiplier on it based on the higher cost of living in SF.

[Tripleplay]

Is it true? Michael Savage on the radio (From San Fran) complains all the time

[ECM]

Yes, it's true and very disturbing.

It's fun being accosted by severely mentally ill individuals when you walk on 'their' turf.

Every time I think I have it bad living in LA, I just think of SF and I'm immediately cheered up ;)

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"The penniless who turn the outdoors into a rest room do so as a statement -- a cry of rage that has everything to do with helplessness and frustration, and not much to do with any shortage of urinals or threat of punishment."

Yes, even in public urination, the San Francisco Chronicle can find a reason to blame society and call for more socialism.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you for the confirmation (I think).

Well, I am sorry that a city with such beautiful scenery has been marred with this type of behavior. I don't understand why the citizenry hasn't risen in outrage.

[sten]

Well, Miss Maple, I spent a year in San Francisco and I can tell you that yes, it is all true. I started to call it San Fran-cesspool. I was amazed when I read stories of how the middle income kids would leave their homes on Friday night and live on the street for the weekend. They would experience the homeless "life style"... for whatever reason. My first week I was walking over homeless people on my way out of work. On the second week I almost stepped in human feces right at the doorway.

My friends took me to the Haite-Ashbury area where the Grateful Dead use to hang out. Everyone was unwashed, filthy, and drugs were rampant. All in the name of being an individual. I mentioned to one of them there, if they are trying to stand out in the crowd, the easiest way would be to wash and wear a nice suit. He was visibily shaken when he realized I was right.

People that live around the area refer to San Francesspool as "Sodom by the Sea."

[Mogger]

[chance33_98]

"Guards, that's what we are, and we take our job very seriously," says Mannix. "We might get into fights when other guys try to steal our spot, but we stay put and make sure that store is safe."

Now there is something to aspire to. < /sarcasm>

[Mogger]

[Mogger]

[SR71A]

I grew up in and near the City (that's how I'll always refer to San Francisco, but never as "Frisco"). In the late 50's and early 60's it was such a beautiful and, yes, classy city. I remember that women, even middle class, by an unwritten rule, nearly always wore a hat and gloves when they went downtown to shop.

Now, it is a cesspool, and I couldn't stand to be there any more.

Of course, in those days they had laws against vagrancy, and involuntarily committed crazed people. Nowadays, that's just not PC, of course. The "reforms" in the 70's and 80's that emptied the mental hospitals didn't help either.

[Gorzaloon]

Well,unsophisticated Miss Marple of the Midwest is sitting at her keyboard dumbfounded. Is this really true? I have never been to San Francisco so I have no way to judge the accuracy of this story.

It's True.

Despite the "poor Victim" tone of some of this story, many of the ones I saw appeared to be good physical specimens, and not asylum escapees: They were professional beggars who would not work.

I have not been there for a few years, so possibly a freeper who is unfortunate enough to live or visit there can give us an update.

I won't be going back.

[hmc48]

I grew up near San Francisco in that era, too. My grandparents used to take me to "The City" for the weekend and always insisted that I wear my white gloves. Sunday morning we would go to Glide Memorial Methodist Church when it was a beautiful, dignified place of worship. We'd usually see a movie downtown on Sat. night, then walk down Market St. to our hotel. Can't even imagine walking ANYWHERE at night there now. So sad to see what's happened to that beautiful city.

[uncbob]

They need a Guiliani out there

[beaversmom]

I have never been to San Fran either, but this is about the fourth article I have read about the problem in that city. It's gross--it's one place that I'll never make travel plans for.