Care-Less (Use of) Cash (pt 5 in the series)

by Alexandra Cuff and Joseph Bolden /PoorNewsNetwork

Up earlier than I should have been on a bleak Saturday morning, I stared at the early risers on the 49 bus wondering what clever question I could possibly ask Gavin Newsom about his Care Not Cash initiative. From what I’ve read about him, he seems impenetrable and I imagine that he has a million dollar premeditated answer to anything that challenges his precious campaign that is going to cure our city of the disease of homelessness. I wondered how I would perform when finally face-to-face with the golden boy himself. The sun was nowhere to be seen in the San Francisco august sky. I never ended up writing down the address of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Union so I walked around the province of Market Street and Gough for a few minutes in an overcast-bred daze.

When I saw a score of protesters gathered on the sidewalk I realized I had found my location. I walked over and hung out with other Care Not Cash opponents while wondering what we were doing outside when the campaign rally was inside. I didn’t know that these events weren’t open to all. Turns out the bouncers were just there to keep out folks that weren’t Newsom supporters. I walked past and mentioned that I was with Poor Magazine. I was asked for a press pass and responded with, "we are a poor magazine, we can’t afford passes." The man guarding the door looked me up and down to my worn shoes and asked me, with all sincerity, to please keep it outside if I was going to protest. I assured him I wasn’t going to protest and walked up the stairs to the main event.

I had to pass 2 tables of petition-pushers before finding my seat in the white-dominated sea of people dressed in jeans-Friday office garb. I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never been to a campaign rally before so I was pleased to see the breakfast spread and helped myself to some orange juice. Just then I flashed back to Thursday where I spent the majority of the morning at DHS (welfare) waiting to see my food stamp worker. I always thought it would be cool if there was juice and coffee for all the poor folk applying for assistance. I’m sure that will never happen though for fear that people would have more of a reason to follow through with the grueling intake process…just a thought.

The amusement of watching Gavin walking around the room flashing his Ken doll smile and thanking people for coming was interrupted by Jim Ross, the campaign manager, who was leading the masses in a slow clap. And so the pep rally began. All around me the slow clap got louder and louder leading me to look to the back door where I expected the Giants to gallantly run into the room and begin to warm up for a game. With a couple of yee-haws Ross brought the clap to a normal pace and asked the crowd to "applaud for our protesters outside who don’t support Care Not Cash." I felt like an alien while looking around for non CNC cult members and was steadied at the site of Joe (POOR Magazine columnist) who was sitting a couple of folding chairs ahead of me.

Ross held his hands up letting the automaton’s know that they could stop clapping as he announced that the 23,000 signatures submitted to the Department of Elections on July 8th placed the Care Not Cash initiative on the November ballot. He went on to say that as the campaign manager, he’d been really nervous during the whole process. My immediate reaction was to wonder what personal stake Jim Ross had in seeing homeless people’s GA slashed. He also announced that the campaign finally landed a space on 12th and Irving and joked that if anyone has a chair to donate…playing up to the Newsom-is-not-privileged-and-can’t-afford-a-chair-so-we-need-more-money image.

Newsome appeared and immediately gave the enemy a framework: "You all heard there are some rumblings going about. There is opposition. It’s important to get our message out to people. Whoever thinks the current homeless system works is really deluding themselves." I felt like I was in a scene from the sci-fi miniseries "V" where the underground is getting ready to overthrow the invading aliens. Unfortunately, this event hadn’t the least bit to do with revolution. Chuckles went up all around me and a question I had asked myself over and over was answered: How could so many people (apparently from the signatures over twenty thousand) easily go along with an initiative without listening to the opposition when there are people protesting every Newsom-sponsored event. I sadly realized that people are lazy. They want to see the black and the white. There is homelessness therefore we need a cure. Or, Newsom wants to fight homelessness and everyone that doesn’t agree with his panacea thinks the current system works just great. In other familiar words, if you’re not with Newsom, you’re against all homelessness reform.

30 seconds into Gavin’s soliloquy he was interrupted by an person in a Gavin Newsom mask ( a group of activists began a performance in the audience section below him) – one moment I was resisting a politician’s charm and the next I was at a mime troupe performance. The Newsom mimic danced up in Gavin’s face calling "Oh Gavin, Gavin you are so beautiful, I love you" while a couple other perpetrators in the audience asked questions translating to "why do you want to fuck over the homeless people." The protesters represented Gays Against Gavin. I can’t quote any of what I imagine were clever remarks on the protesters part because in no time Jeff Ross, our trusted campaign manager, had gotten everyone to begin clapping in order to drown out the voice of the forbidden other. I turned around to catch the reaction of some of the clappers and caught a woman behind me turn around to her friend and with a numskulled smile ask, "why are we clapping?" Enough said about that disturbing observation. The infiltrators ran around the room handing out, and throwing, anti-Care Not Cash propaganda which mostly ended up on the floor, unread.

Once things had calmed down and the performers were ushered out by angry Newsom cult members, Gavin got on with his own performance. He began, "the truth hurts." The uproar of whooping and applause started up. I scanned the room and thought, yes, the truth definitely hurts. I could only think of the Stepford Wives. But what gospel was Newsom talking about? I was constantly baffled by his sound bites. He’d refer to a victory and I’d wonder who the fight was against? The poor people? Why? He went on to talk about how the money currently spent to fight homelessness is a form of consumerism and with a furrowed brow said, "you see where that money is going when you drive through the streets – it’s an outrage, a disgrace." I noticed his polished getup and thought of how I couldn’t afford to eat at his restaurant if I wanted to and wondered what he knew about an excess of consumerism.

He went on to make fun of the protesters who peopled the July 18th Care Not Cash (CNC) fundraiser at the Cal Insurance and Associates Building by cheapening their direct action approach without addressing the issues that were brought up by the opposition. He scoffed that the organizers provided dinner and transportation to the folks attending the protest making it sound like a bunch of ignorant homeless people were enticed with a food offering. People actually laughed at this. He said, "they can’t debate the fact that truth hurts and that Care Not Cash is going to turn this around. They are avoiding the facts and attacking the messenger." I assume he is referring to himself as the holy messenger.

More cheering from the drones and he still hasn’t mentioned anything about what the initiative will actually do to benefit the poor and homeless of the city. He also mentioned that if people are whining that there are no services they should be supporting CNC so that we can get organized and make change. After going on a little bit more about how the CNC opponents actually inspire him, he entered the final stage of his act and thanked the supporters of the initiative: SF Medical Society, the police and fire departments, the doctors of SF General and of the Haight Ashbury clinic, and the SF City of Neighborhoods.

Newsom then proclaimed "we have a little skit of our own" and two campaign frat boys got up and acted out the "right and wrong way to ask people for signatures and endorsements." They pretty much insulted anyone who has signed the petition because even in the "right way to ask" they never explained the initiative, they just asked more nicely than in the "wrong way" and the actor playing the passersby signed without hesitation. Newsom closed by reminding us of the protesters outside: "A warning – they have the right to yell outside. Stay calm, ignore it. We don’t want a real conflict. We don’t care about what they yell at us."

I thought I might be able to avoid direct contact with the charming supervisor but when his pep talk was over, I realized that’s all it was – a pep talk – and that I didn’t get any of my questions answered. So I approached the half moon of bodies that had gathered around him to ask questions and/or to kiss his ass. While waiting for my turn to talk with the most popular boy in the room, I was present for the discussion that took place before mine. A man of African-decent (1 of the 3 in the room) introduced himself as a homeless man and let him know that the image of homeless folk that Newsom is creating with this campaign is just a stereotype. He asked Newsom if he’d like to be lumped under the category of politician…because we’re all familiar with that stereotype. Gavin’s eyes scanned the circle of us quickly and his lips held a friendly smile as he explained that he’s spent a lot of time talking with homeless people and has gotten their input regarding the initiative.

When my turn came I wiped the sweat of my palms onto my jeans and introduced myself while shaking his hand. I identified myself and a transplant from a middle class family on long island and went on to explain how GA helped me by providing income to contribute to a casual living situation at a time when I had no employment or home. I related that if I’d been denied cash and had to stay in a shelter, I would never have pulled myself together enough to find work or let alone stay in a nurturing environment where I could cook with friends or sleep in all day if I needed. He looked me in the eye and shaking his head with understanding went on to tell me that CNC will not affect anyone’s cash aid that isn’t living on the street.

"Do you mean there is no cut in cash aid for people that aren’t homeless?" I asked dubiously. He explained that only 30% of people on GA are homeless and those are the people they want to help by ensuring they get off the street. Hm. "Well why would you provide shelter vouchers for people instead of cash when shelters are already free? Also, there aren’t enough shelters as of now to house everyone." Newsom assured me with complete body language (an empire’s strike three hand signal) that "this is a voucher-less system!" Then he went on to talk about how we are the last county in the nation to provide cash benefits and that he has spent a lot of time in New York City observing the way in which they are dealing with homeless issues.

"Ah so where are all the homeless people in New York?" I asked. "I’m going home to visit the parents in August so I’ll definitely make sure to talk to homeless people there and hear about how much better their lives are since the city has been cleaned up." Immediately Newsom told me about how horrible the intake conditions are in New York and explained that it’s just a start. I told him I’ve read that the shelters are practically prisons and he agreed with me wholeheartedly. So I asked him a couple other questions, two regarding housing: how the act will affect SRO occupants and where is all of this housing you speak of that the now homeless have to look forward to if CNC passes. I also asked how welfare recipients who are reaching the 5 year time limit this year will be affected by the initiative. His answers were suave and I realized that although my heart was into the investigation, I hadn’t done enough research to ask the piercing questions I fantasized I would be able to.

I thanked him for his time and stood around while Joe Bolden from POOR, asked the golden question: "Are you going to run for mayor in the upcoming election." Newsom gravely answered no and to bring humor to the discussion added, "I would never be addressing homelessness if I were running for mayor – its way too controversial. If I were running for mayor I would be working on playground initiatives." Joe and I walked toward the exit and remarked at how creepily sincere Newsom’s demeanor was

So I still have questions that aren’t answered and realize that I have a lot of research to do, namely in finishing my read of the entire initiative which can be found online at www.carenotcash.org. And if anyone cares, there’s a pretty funny picture of Newsom on the home page that links to a live video stream that provided entertainment to me and my housemates this very evening. I can say that I was pretty disappointed that most of the protesters outside remained outside and more informed folk didn’t infiltrate the campaign rally. I also think it sucks that the Gavin Q&A sessions are not held in public – not even that morning when almost all of the potential questioners were his supporters.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at the AMC 1000 catching $30 in free movies after my boyfriend and I snuck in. Even among all that escapism (free, too) I couldn’t shake Newsom’s face from my mind. I kept thinking of questions I should have asked Newsom. How are people who are living in shelters going to afford medicine on less than $2 a day? CNC says nothing about increased housing for homeless nor does it guarantee any increased services. People supporting Care Not Cash need to start asking themselves questions brought up by the opposition. Folks need to put themselves in the shoes of a mother of four who won’t be able to save a dime towards transitioning out of the shelter when her cash aid is cut. Or someone with diabetes that needs to pay close attention to their diet and medicinal needs.

As the pamphlet that was handed out by the Gays Against Newsome suggested, "Its time that rich San Franciscans stop viewing themselves as the victims of homelessness. The problem with homelessness is NOT that the wealthy have to see people sleeping outside and be asked for money while walking down the street." Are those turning their heads from real solutions and supporting CNC doing so to assuage any guilt they may have from never looking a panhandler on the sidewalk in the eye? During Gavin’s speech, the woman behind me was whispering "poor souls" or "god bless them" at the mention of both homeless people and of those protesting the initiative! I guess it’s easier to let other people do the thinking for you especially when you’re not affected by any outcomes. For those of us that don’t believe in putting the issue of homelessness in the hands of god or in the hands of Gavin Goosesom, we need to keep educating ourselves and others about the possibility of real solutions. And we need to show up and ask CNC supporters and Newsom himself the questions that we know won’t be answered if the initiative passes in November.

To find out more about the Continuum of Care, a plan designed by homeless scholars and advocates to create real change and lasting solutions to homelessness, contact the Coalition Against Increased Homelessness at 415.864.8372.