24/7

by Ace Tafoya/ PNN Community Journalist

I peer outside my studio apartment window into the streets of the Tenderloin. All religions, races, creeds and sexes queue up for Glide Memorial Church’s daily feedings. How many are on G.A. (General Assistance) or homeless, I wonder. I say to myself that most people in that line will be effected by Proposition N in some way and the slashing of G.A. checks from $390 to $59 a month come July 1st of this year. I shudder in disbelief.

The coalition to repeal Prop. N, in front of City Hall is having an on-going “24/7 Vigil #2” to stop the implementation of Prop. N. “Everybody’s going to be effected in one way or another,” exclaims Starr Smith of the Coalition On Homelessness at the press conference in front of City Hall I attended last week. “Not just single adults, but my family will be hurt by Proposition N, even though my family isn’t on G.A.”

My worn, torn and dirty tennis shoes hit the pavement as I walk throughout the TL. A police car with lights flashing screams by. Two older gentlemen are having a conversation about the upcoming Chinese New Year. “Of course it will effect our business (the passing of Prop. N),” Rico from Chico’s Pizza on 6th Street relays to me as I stop in for a slice before the press conference. “Most of the 6th Street residents are on G.A. or SSI.”

“Proposition N or Care Not Cash is unjust. It’s gonna make more people homeless,” cautions John McDermott, co-ordinator of “24/7 Vigil #2” while standing on the red carpet at City Hall that was intended for the Opera Singers set to arrive in grand fashion. “The city is unjustifiably coming down and ripping the poor off!” Adds Colleen Kaelin, advocate for the homeless and member of POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights), “I don’t believe what the city is trying to do to the homeless people in San Francisco is right! We need affordable housing, we need living wage jobs, we need medical care, and we need immediate action on medical situations.”

Maceo Brown waved a picket sign at the conference that read “Prop N (Care Not Cash) Smoking Gun In The Hand Of City – Father Will Make More Homeless On Gavin Newsom”, while Father Louie said a prayer.

I leave the press conference and trek on over to the San Francisco Main Library, home to many houseless people during the day to rent a CD and movie. I get back home in time to watch the guys in the yellow jackets given by Glide hand out meal tickets to the people that have been standing in the line for dinner. There are many people waiting tonight. Something tells me when this initiative is in effect that there will be many more people to serve.

I close the door to my small studio and think of what Andre Rucker, a member of POWER said to me once about all this rubbish Prop N. will bring, “This is inappropriate to ask for my fingerprints if I can’t pay a hotel fare and need to stay in a shelter.”

The line outside is moving swiftly now as I contemplate joining it, since I don’t have much for dinner. I haven’t yet, but one day I’ll swallow my pride and grasp a ticket. I feel warm inside knowing there are places like Glide and St. Anthony’s that actually care for people in need. Perhaps Gavin Newson, Trent Rhorer and the rest of their co-horts could actually give a damn about these people in San Francisco.

This vigil is on going. Please support them by showing up, honking horns, blowing whistles or holding up a sign. This measure truly does need to