Editor,
Jon Mays’ recent column, “Again with the troops,” mocking President Trump’s call to bring in the National Guard to San Francisco, was incredibly tone-deaf. His line that “the Tenderloin is always going to Tenderloin” isn’t witty — it’s dismissive of the real suffering happening there every day.
A recent poll showed that a majority of San Franciscans support bringing in the Guard to remove the drug dealers, because the city’s streets have become unsafe and unsanitary. As someone who frequents the Civic Center area, I constantly have to watch my step for human waste, navigate around people in mental crisis, and witness drug dealers, many here illegally, selling fentanyl in the open.
Do the children growing up in the Tenderloin not deserve safe, clean neighborhoods? The vast majority are low-income and minority residents, among the most vulnerable. They shouldn’t have to live surrounded by addiction, filth and fear while local leaders turn a blind eye and columnists make jokes about their community.
If only the National Guard’s role weren’t limited mostly to protecting federal buildings and agents; if Gov. Newsom allowed, they could actually protect the people suffering on our streets. City officials have failed to do their jobs for years, and residents are paying the price. San Francisco’s poorest neighborhoods deserve action, not mockery.
Grace Xuereb
Burlingame
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(1) comment
Thanks for your letter Grace which also sums up my feelings on Jon's column. The usual suspects in the DJ comment section seemed to find it witty and clever though so I guess he got what he wanted. Sad, would have preferred a real discussion about the humanitarian crisis happening on the streets of San Francisco and potential solutions instead of childish mockery.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.