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by Andrew DellaRocca/PNN Community Journalist
The other day on my doorstep I found one of Gavin Newsom's propaganda
materials for his Care Not Cash, Proposition N campaign. It was one that I
had seen months before, so I was familiar with its literature. I was
surprised, however, that it was still being circulated, what after the
discovery by Prop N's opponents of all of the lies that have been
perpetrated by Newsom's campaign materials. I hoped that after such actions
as the numerous press releases which have been released outlining the
falsehoods, and the lawsuit which was filed against the campaign a few weeks
ago, Prop N's proponents would have changed their strategy and eliminated
lies from the campaign. But, there on the door-hanger it was, the hallmark
of the Care Not Cash illusion:
"[M]edical professionals have found that cash-only systems contribute to
drug and alcohol overdoses. A recent study in the New England Journal of
Medicine showed a direct correlation between cash grants like those given in
San Francisco and drug overdoses."
The Proposition N campaign, which seeks to reduce cash assistance to
homeless General Assistance recipients, has relied heavily on the
superstition that cash assistance is directly related to addictive disorders
and drug overdoses. This message has invaded San Francisco's mainstream
media outlets for the past months. Ironically, proponents of Proposition N
have been unable to find medical or statistical evidence to support these
claims. So, instead, they have published false statements like the one
above.
The study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 341, #20,
on November 11, 1999, does not show any correlation between cash grants and
drug overdoses, as Proposition N's proponents boldly claim. Instead, the
study, entitled "An Increase in the Number of Deaths in the United States in
the First Week of the Month," analyzed all computerized death certificates
in the United States for the period between 1973 and 1988. It found an
increase in all types of deaths for the first week of the month, not solely
overdose deaths, and did not examine the income source of the deceased. A
correlation between public assistance and overdose was neither studied nor
found. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine has issued a cease and
desist order to Supervisor Newsome to stop erroneously using their logo in
campaign materials.
Many concerned citizens and advocacy organizations have decided to conduct
their own research into the possible connection between cash assistance
programs and drug overdoses. In addition to discovering the true
conclusions of the frequently referred to New England Journal of Medicine
article, which actually contradict Propositions N's claims, similar studies
were found, none of which support the Care Not Cash statements, nor
Proposition N's proposed remedies. The Journal of American Public Health
will soon be printing a study by the Urban Health Study that examined
commonalities in drug overdose. While the study did find that living alone
in Single-Room Occupancy Hotels was a major factor related to drug overdose,
there was no demonstrated relationship between the payment of checks and
drug overdoses in San Francisco over the past three years. Likewise, the
San Francisco Department of Public Health Epidemiology Homeless Deaths
Study, which was conducted from 1996 to 1999, found no correlation between
receipt of cash assistance and overdose. Overdose deaths occurred
throughout the year.
While most informed citizens realize that taking away cash payments from
homeless people will neither decrease drug overdose deaths nor cure epidemic
homelessness, some feel that Proposition N's policies might alleviate some
of San Francisco's financial burden. In 1996, the Federal Government
eliminated Supplemental Security Income benefits, a large part of which is
cash payment, for people with disabling substance dependence. The
California Policy Research Center published a study of this policy's effects
in Los Angeles, and concluded that taking cash payments from substance users
increased financial burdens in other areas of government, and did not appear
to help the addicts recover. "Loss of SSI was associated with more unstable
housing, greater incarceration, lack of stable employment, and decreased
income." The report can be found at www.ucop.edu/cprc/podus.pdf .
Taxpayers interested in saving San Francisco a few dollars will be duped if
Proposition N passes, as a similar pattern will likely occur.
Free societies foster creative expression. Gavin Newsom's Care Not Cash
campaign has certainly been a practice in creativity. In addition to false
references to scientific studies that support his claims, his campaign
frequently refers to similar "successful" programs in neighboring counties.
The truth is, in Alameda County, where cash benefits have been reduced,
there has been a substantial increase in homelessness. And in San Mateo
County, homeless people are able to put the housing amount deducted from
their check into an escrow account they are then able to use for move-in
costs. Proposition N does not provide a similar benefit.
When a work of the imagination burrows itself into the practice of civic
policy, it can assume a false cloak of legitimacy. People seduced by the
Care Not Cash campaign's romanticism begin to mistakenly attribute genius to
its civic application. The true genius of the Proposition N campaign,
however, is confined to its presentation only. If the public embraces the
strategy of the campaign, a dangerous policy will sneak through at the
ballot-box, and begin its damage immediately. |
