Coronavirus Creates Openings for Affordable Housing

Posted March 31, 2020 by Randy Shaw

Nonprofits Must Seize on Weakened Private Market The coronavirus did not end the urban affordability crisis. To the contrary, it is only a matter of time before urban America’s restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues are filled and pre-pandemic housing
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SF should shift Tenderloin tents to Civic Center Park

San Francisco Endangers Tenderloin Residents

Posted March 31, 2020 by Randy Shaw

City Intentionally Increases Tenderloin Coronavirus Risks There were 232 tents in San Francisco’s Tenderloin yesterday morning. That’s by design. The city is converting the working-class neighborhood into a containment zone for drug dealers and the unhoused. That’s why Tenderloin residents
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“Slay The Dragon”–Review

Posted March 31, 2020 by Peter Wong

The politically apathetic rationalize their failure to vote by claiming “if voting could change things, the government would make it illegal.” Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance’s alternately rousing and infuriating documentary “Slay The Dragon” provides a brutal reality check. Power-hungry
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Will the Coronavirus Help End Homelessness?

Posted March 24, 2020 by Randy Shaw

Stimulus Package May Signal Political Shift Few thought it would take a pandemic to get the United States to finally end its homelessness crisis. Yet there has been more talk in recent weeks about getting people out of encampments and
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City Ignores Lack of Social Distancing in Tenderloin

Posted March 24, 2020 by Randy Shaw

City Not Enforcing Social Distancing I recently wrote about my forty years working to improve San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood (“After 40 years the Tenderloin at Another Crossroads,” SF Chronicle, February 23). I particularly highlighted how the city has long allowed
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Reviews From Cinequest 30

Posted March 24, 2020 by Peter Wong

The 30th Cinequest became one of many local film festivals to have a Coronavirus-related cancellation. Cinequest 30 will still happen, but during the dog days of August. Fortunately, before the cancellation decision came down, attendees had a chance to see
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America Must End No-Fault Evictions

Posted March 17, 2020 by Randy Shaw

Protecting Tenants Beyond Pandemics Cities and states are blocking evictions during the coronavirus. And Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley have called for a national moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. Such concern is heartening. But it shouldn’t take a
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Government Must Rescue Small Businesses

Posted March 17, 2020 by Randy Shaw

Cities, States Must Cover Small Business Rents Even before states and cities urged or required the closure of bars and restaurants, the coronavirus was decimating revenue. In California, State Senators Scott Wiener and Lena Gonzalez introduced legislation last week preventing
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