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by Staff Writer
In an attempt to answer the onslaught of pro-Care Not Cash Letters published in the Letters to the Editor section of the San Francisco Chronicle, several conscious citizen's have submitted comprehensive critiques of Care Not Cash to the SF Chronicle Editor, but alas, none of these letters of have been published. Here is an example of two recent letters sent in for publication;
Letter #1
To the Editor;
Gavin Newsom's Care-Not-Cash campaign cites Chicago as a success
story. Chicago implemented a similar program in the early 90s.
I was in Chicago in November, 1999 and talked with homeless advocates.
They described a picture that they said was typical in Chicago.
Many homeless shelters are located next to temporary work agencies.
Early in the morning, shelter occupants walk over to the temp
agencies. The temp agencies drive them to locations throughout the
city, where they work all day at far below minimum wage. In the late
afternoon they are driven back, where they turn over almost all of
their day's earnings to stay another night in the shelter. In the
morning, the process starts over again. So although these homeless
people are part of the regular workforce, they are trapped in a
condition of virtual slavery, with no escape.
That is what Care-Not-Cash will create in San Francisco. By stripping
homeless people of money, Care-Not-Cash will create a captive
no-or-low-wage work group. Right now, these folks clean the streets
and Muni cars and do laundry at SF General Hospital, but who is to say
that Newsom's corporate supporters in the Hotel Council, the
"Committee on Jobs", or the Chamber of Commerce won't decide they are
needed to clean hotel rooms, do telemarketing, or to bus dishes?
Historically, most workers' living standards go up and down with those
of the lowest rung of the workforce. Everyone who works, has worked,
or would work has a stake in defeating this measure.
Thank-you,
Michael Lyon
Emergency Coaltion to Save Public Health(ECSPH)
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Letter #2
To the Editor;
It is libelous to assert that homeless advocates have not responded
logically and comprehensively to Gavin Newsomeís Care Not Cash Initiative.
The corporate media, which dominates information in the bay area, has chosen
to ignore arguments by opponents of the Care Not Cash initiative. This does
not mean that a rational response has not been designed. Organizations such
as POWER, the Coalition Against Increased Homelessness, the Coalition on
Homelessness, and POOR Magazine, have all released material that
dissects Newsomeís initiative, and finds it dangerous. Likewise, a
comprehensive alternative proposal has been floated by the Coalition Against
Increased Homelessness. These organizations, which lack a PR budget
comparable to Newsomes, have only been able to find voice in alternative
media outlets such as the Street Sheet, The San Francisco Bay View and PoorNewsNetwork Perusal of these publications will reveal to the public the true failure of the initiative.
If Care Not Cash successfully addressed the issue of homelessness in the
city, Newsome would have the backing of the advocate community. Persons who
devote their lives to the study of such problems do not ignore the
implications of proposals designed to further their cause, nor do they work
to defeat them, should those proposals be sound in their efforts.
Unfortunately, Care Not Cash fails on both points, and has therefore earned
the condemnation of those who are truly devoted to the eradication of
homelessness.
Andrew M. Della Rocca | 
