Homelessness = SF’s Biggest Problem?
The City Insider reports that San Francisco residents have rated homelessness as the city’s biggest problem. Really? I would have thought it was crime – you know, with the over dozen murders we’ve had this year alone along with the numerous reports of theft and battery. Who are these people?
According to the Chron:
A new Chamber of Commerce poll of 500 registered voters found that residents are still supremely frustrated by homelessness. Pollsters…asked respondents to name the city’s most pressing issue and allowed them to name more than one. Thirty-two percent mentioned homelessness, beating out jobs and the economy (26 percent), the city budget (21 percent), education (21 percent) and Muni (17 percent).
I am really surprised that crime didn’t even make this list, and I wonder where these residents actually lived within the city and what their socio-economic demographics are? And with the SFUSD system being a total crapshot how come education was ranked behind the city budget? I guess if you are wealthy enough to send your children to elite, exorbitantly priced private schools, you don’t really need to bother about the public schools. But the homeless guys you have to walk around on the way to the opera, they are a real problem.
For more, go here.
Tags: crime, homelessness, issues, sf, surveys
3 comments
Jane
March 16, 2011I’m a young professional, no kids, and rent. I take Muni and ride my bike.
More than the school budget or crime, homelessness affects my daily life. Whether it’s piss on my doorway, seeing human feces on the sidewalk or getting harassed for money, it’s a part of the day I really detest.
That’s probably why so many other people say the same thing. Opera? Who can afford the Opera? Do you live in Pac Heights or what, ’cause I don’t know where you’re coming from.
Jane
March 16, 2011I’m a young professional, no kids, and I rent. I take Muni on rainy days and ride a bike on nice days.
More than the school budget or crime, homelessness affects my daily life. Whether it’s piss on the doorway to my building, seeing human feces on the sidewalk, seeing all the trash thrown onto the street on trash day or getting harassed for money, it’s “really” a problem that brings SF down.
Maybe you live in Pac Heights or something and don’t encounter any of the above. But seriously, opera? Maybe that’s where you encounter the homeless. Besides, if I could afford it, I’d go to the ballet.
Anhoni
March 17, 2011Hi Jane,
Thanks for writing in.
I agree – it IS a big problem. I was just surprised that those surveyed stated it as THE biggest problem in all of SF. Especially over crime.
And – I understand where you are coming from “More than the school budget or crime, homelessness affects my daily life.”.
And – no, I do not live in Pac Heights. I’ve always lived in the 94110. :) Where we have our fair share of homelessness.