In the San Francisco Bay Area, the burden of dealing with the issue of homelessness has fallen mainly to a few so-called “liberal” municipalities: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and Richmond, while neighboring communities contribute less to the solution and/or actively try to deter the homeless in various ways. A single municipality or county cannot be expected to be able to solve this problem. Once a homeless population is “chased” from one location. They often move on to another location, often in another city.
Suggestion:
I believe we need to consider implementing, widening, and strengthening the power and scope of regional governance, for example, a supercharged ABAG in the Bay Area.
Some right-wingers say they love Jesus, seeing him as their personal savior and claim they want to re-make the U.S. into a “Christian” nation. However, when one reads the New Testament, one wonders which texts they’re reading. (quotes from KJV).
Here are prominent quotes from the liberal Jesus they eschew:
“Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” [J 13:14]
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” [MT 7:1]
“Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” [L 6:41]
“Blessed are the peacemakers” [MT 5:9]
“Behold the fowls … they sow not, … yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” [MT 6:26]
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” [J 8:7]
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” [J 3:17]
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages … healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” [MT 9:35]
“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” [MT 23:28]
“Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” [J 2:16]
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” [MT 19:24]
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” [MT 22:39]
“When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” [MT 6:5]
“I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” [MT 12:7]
“They need not depart; give ye them to eat.” [MT 14:16]
“Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.” [L 11:46]
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” [L 12:48]
“All ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [MT 11:28]
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” [MT 11:28]
“Depart from me, ye cursed … for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink …” [MT 25:41]
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” [MT 23:27-28]
In the San Francisco Bay Area, the burden of dealing with the issue of homelessness has fallen mainly to a few so-called “liberal” municipalities: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and Richmond, while neighboring communities contribute less to the solution and/or actively try to deter the homeless in various ways. A single municipality or county cannot be expected to be able to solve this problem. Once a homeless population is “chased” from one location. They often move on to another location, often in another city. There have been many attempts at the municipal, county, and state level to address homelessness, most have proven inefficient. And while there may be better solutions for single aspects of homelessness, I suggest that these may not in the end be effective until we reexamine and reform our system of federalism.
In the US there have been a few attempts to address regional problems to deal with some levels of community safety, health, development, and infrastructure such as ABAG in the Bay Area, the governance structure is weak and often suggestive rather than authoritative.
I believe we need to consider implementing, widening, and strengthening the power and scope of regional governance. This system could be applied to the major population regions in the state–San Diego, Los Angeles, Bay Area, and Sacramento.
In the case of homelessness, in a regional governance scenario,
All of the neighboring municipalities would be obliged to contribute materially and monetarily to the issue.
This would entail coordinated construction of housing infrastructure distributed evenly throughout the Bay Area and not only in the usually overburdened municipalities.
Proportional taxation to even out resource imbalance would also be implemented.
No bending of regulation via exceptions would be allowed (such as the community of Woodside’s attempt to declare itself a mountain lion sanctuary to avoid building affordable housing).
When some people talk about safety They bring up personal accountability Or speak when only theirs is in doubt. This makes me remember The time I lived on Maxwell Hungry as I quested for work. A scrounger with discernment I feasted on the curb with my buddies On cold chicken wings and some stale Ripple.
We passed him along Clark Street, The family out for an evening treat. He sat huddled against a wall Bracing against the chill of fall. In a ragged suit, with one lame foot, He was covered in grime and soot. When I paused to look, eyes fixed, My stomach began to twitch. “Hey, what’s wrong with that man? The sign says, ‘I need a hand.’” “Now, don’t you get too near. It’s nothing to worry about, dear.” “But, it’s damp and cold today. We can’t just walk away!” “Okay, Kenny here take a dime. But, quick, we’ve got little time.” As I rushed back, coin in hand, A smile broke out on the man. Not enough, and only a start, This enkindled a very young heart.
