Religious Leaders Denounce Crackdown on HomelessPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Oct. 05‚ 2007While Mayor Newsom held a press conference yesterday announcing the 2,000th person being housed under Care Not Cash, Religious Witness for Homeless People denounced the City’s crackdown on “quality-of-life” offenses. The interfaith group released a study showing that, in the past four years, the City has spent $7.8 million prosecuting such infractions. The Police, they argued, should focus their attention on homicides and other violent crimes – while the $7.8 million could have been used on more effective homeless outreach and social services. While the Newsom Administration has provided supportive housing for thousands of homeless people, they said, it has also cracked down on offenses like camping, sleeping, public urination and panhandling. This does nothing to solve homelessness other than move the “problem” to a different neighborhood. |