Dear Fellow San Franciscans,

The front-page San Francisco Chronicle story yesterday was a heart-wrenching litany of the human consequences of our failed homeless service system.

I want to change that system ñ and replace it with a proven model that will save lives. That's why I have been working to create real care in San Francisco by removing much of the cash from the system and replacing it with services.

This is the model that is working in other cities. The majority of medical experts agree ñ when you hand out cash, you facilitate drug and alcohol dependency. We will not be able to make real change until we replace this cash with housing, drug treatment and other vital services.

I have fought for fundamental reform with measures such as Care Not Cash and the Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance ñ an ordinance that decriminalizes panhandling but requires that those who violate the ordinance be given treatment such as drug and alcohol recovery.

I have worked for a series of other fundamental changes including all day shelters, a coordinated intake system so we know best how to address the needs of homeless clients, increased drug treatment, and more affordable housing.

I know that my work on homelessness has led some to attack me. I knew when I started trying to address this problem in a substantive way that could happen. But at a certain point, I could no longer sit by and pretend that our current system was working.

It has failed ñ and the cost of that failure is people dying on our streets. I just can't defend that anymore. We need real change ñ proven plans ñ and honest answers. That is what I am trying to provide.

My opponent in the race for mayor has just published his homeless plan. Prior to that, he was largely silent on the issue other than to oppose Care Not Cash and Proposition M, the Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance. I have reviewed his plan ñ and it is simply more of the same.

Politics and posturing won't save lives. What will save lives is real reform ñ and that is what I am offering.

I hope you will take a moment to consider our record on providing real care to the homeless before you vote. Thank you.


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