Halloween results predictable
Most residents of San Francisco correctly observe that the Bush policy on Iraq is ineffective. It is.
So goes our city government, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, and the other supervisors because they knew their constituents would attend the Halloween party in the Castro.
Months ago I e-mailed our city government leaders and shared 15 points that the high school I teach at uses to prevent violence – gang or otherwise. They were common sense measures. Our city leaders accomplished about half of the recommendations; a grade of "F" in my book.
The results were predictable, not only because of my ignored recommendations, but because the city has allowed the Castro to become a stomping ground of urban blight, homelessness (what happened to Newsom's work in this area when we elected him?), and increased crime. My facts are not checked, but I understand that over 25 people were arrested in the Castro on Halloween, even considering the smaller crowd. I was told there were some stabbings as well. Of course, we know 10 people were shot.
The Patio bar and restaurant has been vacant for seven years, contributing to an environment of urban blight. Consider the long-term closure of the Pendulum as well. Where were our city leaders? At a kibbutz? What message does this send to criminals? It tells them we're ripe.
Is this good for the Castro? Where is our city leadership?
Don Miller
San Francisco
Halloween violence a disgrace
How many more years will it take the leaders of San Francisco to realize that the Castro no longer can handle the dangerous influx of Bay Area residents who view the Castro as the Halloween epicenter?
The Merchants of Upper Market and Castro and the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association coincide with their view that neighbors and businesses mostly do not want this event in our neighborhood. Safeway becomes a battle zone with fences surrounding the perimeter of the store and many merchants must shut their doors due to security issues.
Unfortunately, while I love my neighborhood, I now make it a point to stay with friends outside of the Castro as it is just such a chaotic mess that nobody seems to be able to control. I know I am not alone in my views.
What a disgrace to our city and our community that the Castro made national television news with images of stabbings, gunfire, uncontrolled crowds, and poor police protection.
Yes, there was police involvement, but yet again, not enough to control the riotous crowds. Where are the police chief and the mayor during all this? I think they should be the ones to tell the victims' families the news of the stabbings and the shootings. (How many other incidents are not being reported such as muggings as well as hate-crimes?)
When I first moved to San Francisco years ago, Halloween was an event that was much anticipated and enjoyed. Today, this event is a security threat to the neighborhood, businesses, and the throngs of people who come into this neighborhood from far away who never come during any other time of the year. Is it really worth it?
Eli Blair
San Francisco
Deploy the National Guard
I was the person in 1989 who pioneered the idea of collecting donations at the entrances to Castro Halloween, thus turning that event into a fundraiser. Subsequently, donations are collected at many outdoor celebrations benefiting important nonprofit charities.
Considering the unavoidable violence at Castro Halloween this year, I believe this event now needs to be discontinued, by force, if necessary. If the California National Guard needs to be deployed, then so be it.
Kenneth Bunch
a.k.a. Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch
San Francisco
Church should stand by its mission
I read with great disbelief the B.A.R. story that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence could no longer hold their bingo fundraisers at the social hall that they were renting from Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in the Castro ["Church ends drag bingo nights," November 2].
Even in the years before I moved to the Castro, I have always considered MHR as my parish church and have always been proud to be a part of a "welcoming and inclusive" Catholic community. MHR, in a sense, was my last refuge, a place where I can be comfortable practicing my faith despite what the Vatican preaches about homosexuality. I was born and raised Catholic in the Philippines, having gone to Catholic school from kindergarten through college (yes, run by nuns!) On many occasions, it was hard for me to come to terms with both being gay and Catholic – until I found MHR.
Having worked and volunteered for AIDS organizations in San Francisco and Hawaii, I have always been appreciative and supportive of the AIDS support program at MHR, as I have been with the charitable work of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. I am therefore extremely disappointed – no, angry – that MHR would deny the Sisters the venue that would help support their good work on behalf of the gay community, AIDS organizations and other worthy causes.
While I know that the decision to deny the Sisters further use of the church hall for their fundraising activity is one that is dictated from officials of the archdiocese, I expect MHR to courageously stand by its mission statement and continue to open its doors to all members of the community. After all, the beautifully renovated church facilities on Diamond Street couldn't have been made possible without an aggressive fundraising campaign that was supported for the most part by the very same community that supports or benefits from the good work of the Sisters.
Rene Astudillo
San Francisco
How many slaps does it take?
Over the last several months I thought about returning to the Catholic Church after many years of absence. I attended Mass at Most Holy Redeemer Church in the Castro a few weeks ago, and found it continues to be a supportive church for its diverse congregation.
The Catholic Church was part of my comforting traditions while growing up. My two best friends are priests. Yes, the Catholic Church is not supportive of the LGBT community, but the church recently announced it would reach out to the gay community, as long as you are celibate. Hey, it's a start.
Then, last week, reports surfaced that the church tossed the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's monthly bingo game out of Most Holy Redeemer. The Sisters' bingo helped raise needed money for AIDS programs.
How many more slaps in the face does it take for the LGBT community to realize the Catholic Church will never come around? Most Holy Redeemer is an anomaly in San Francisco, but the diocese has ultimate control over the community.
As of today I am an official recovering Catholic.
Edward DeMasi
San Francisco
Prop. 215 party a blast
The party celebrating the 10th anniversary of the passage of Prop. 215 Saturday night was so great and so important. I could have done without the Arnie [Schwarzenegger] plug personally but it was a very fun time. Many thanks to Dennis Peron for having the courage he has so people can get their medicine. Many thanks to those who had a hand in making this celebration happen. What a night.
Ryan Meek
San Francisco
Kudos to Mike Marshall
On behalf of the board, staff, volunteers, and clients of AIDS Emergency Fund, I am writing to express my gratitude to Mike Marshall for his leadership of Under One Roof these past two years ["UOR's Marshall resigns," October 26]. We are all very sad to see him go, but we know that with his long history of LGBT political action and community organizing, he will continue to contribute to this community in new and different ways once he's had a well-reserved rest. AEF is one of the larger recipients of Under One Roof's generosity. The thousands of dollars per year of store profits that they direct to AEF help us pay the bills for low-income people with AIDS who are too sick to work. During his tenure there, Mike has strengthened Under One Roof's partnership with all its beneficiaries, found new and creative ways to raise additional funds, and brought new visibility to the store.
His leadership after Hurricane Katrina literally saved lives. The Above and Beyond Fund that he established within Under One Roof raised and re-granted $70,000 to devastated AIDS service organizations in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. As a member of the committee that made the granting decisions, I spoke directly to executive directors along the Gulf Coast who were themselves homeless and struggling to keep their agencies operating. Grants from the Above and Beyond Fund went for things like gasoline money for volunteers to drive prescriptions from the one open pharmacy in Gulfport, Mississippi to rural clients along the coast. Each of these agency heads expressed surprise and profound gratitude that the people of San Francisco would reach out and help people with AIDS in the rural South. I doubt it would have happened so fast and so well without Mike's vision and action.
Mike Smith, Executive Director
AIDS Emergency Fund
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