More police, criminalization and gang suppression will not end homelessness in San Francisco

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July 1, 2018

By Maria Victoria Ahearne, San Francisco Bay View

“The End of Policing,” a new book by Alex Vitale, examines the histories and failures of policing policies and provides examples of alternatives that successfully divest from dependence on police while strengthening the community. Vitale’s chapters on criminalizing homelessness and gang suppression in particular can be a useful tool in revealing ineffective policies in effect today in San Francisco.

In the morning sun, a vigil to honor Mario Woods and others who have died but are still listed on San Francisco’s gang injunctions was held prior to a Superior Court hearing June 28 to remove those young men’s names. (Photo: Daniel Montes, Bay City News)

Gang suppression is attempted through gang injunctions ordered by San Francisco District Attorney Dennis Herrera on youth residing in low-income, predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods. These are the modern Black Codes of the Bayview Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Fillmore-Western Addition and Mission districts.

Criminalizing homelessness is sanctioned by policies known as the 36 “quality of life laws” imposed by police on unsheltered residents. These policies are proving not to be successful, assuming success is measured in reducing crime and homelessness.

Gang injunction opponents gathered at 9 a.m. June 28 outside the courthouse at 400 McAllister for a vigil honoring the young men who have died while enjoined. At 9:30, the opponents attended a hearing to finally remove their names from the injunctions. (Photo: Daniel Montes, Bay City News)

The data collected, when available, proves policing to not only be ineffective financially but also exposes glaring racial disparities. The researchers producing recent data recommend alternatives to policing, as does Vitale. In order for communities to have a chance to thrive, government policies must be data-driven, with racial justice at its developmental epicenter along with transparency and community oversight.

The highest peaks of aggressive policing are historically paired with the inequality of wealth. Most notably are the policing policies following an economic collapse.

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