LAS VEGAS, February 01, 2023–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Plumbing Manufacturers International’s leadership and staff are leading a crusade for safe, clean water for future generations. Their latest stop is the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) 2023, where they are working this week to persuade policymakers and potential allies about the urgency of the association’s PMI’s Rethink Water initiative.

“All across the globe, we all need to rethink how we use water every day,” says Kerry Stackpole, PMI’s CEO and executive director. “Not only how do we use it, but how do we save as much as possible and make it safe for those who will need it in the future. Of all the facets of climate change, its impact on water may be the most profound. “

The enormousness of the challenge makes it somewhat intimidating to address. Where does one begin? Looking at it from the perspective of plumbing manufacturing, Stackpole said he believes you start with your strengths. “For more than 15 years, our industry has been making toilets, showerheads, faucets and other plumbing products that use water more efficiently than the older products most people still have in their homes. We simply need to install more of these WaterSense products, and the water savings will be substantial,” he explains.

That’s why PMI’s first Rethink Water project is legacy product replacement – replacing older, inefficient products with new, more-efficient WaterSense models. At KBIS, PMI hosted a Power Break and Briefing today to inform members, policymakers, other guests and media about the urgency of this project and the need to establish a robust public-private partnership to accomplish it.

EPA’s successful WaterSense program has proved its ability to save water

An Environmental Protection Agency program started in 2006, WaterSense has so far saved 6.4 trillion gallons of water, including 1.1 trillion in the last year counted alone, according to the program’s latest accomplishments report. To be certified to bear the WaterSense label, a plumbing product must use at least 20% less water than a product meeting federal standards established in 1994 by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct).

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American households use about 10 trillion gallons of water each year – which means last year, WaterSense products saved an amount equal to 11% of the total amount used by US households. That’s no easy achievement, but it’s nowhere near the potential of the WaterSense program. That’s because many households still don’t have WaterSense plumbing products installed.

A 2022 GMP Research study commissioned by PMI found that only 23% of California residences have toilets meeting WaterSense standards. More than half of these residences have WaterSense showerheads and faucets, but a strong minority does not, the study found. An earlier GMP study commissioned by PMI found that most states have WaterSense statistics similar to California’s.

PMI estimates that up to 326 billion gallons of water can be saved over 30 years in California by replacing the 26.1 million toilets not up to WaterSense standards with WaterSense toilets. By accelerating the replacement of these toilets, 65.3 billion gallons can be saved within five years, and 95.7 billion gallons within 10 years. Achieving similar savings in all 50 states can increase the gallons saved into the trillions.

But numerical estimates do not reflect the current situation. Because water-efficiency standards are currently set by states, PMI and its allies have started advocating state-by-state for robust legacy product replacement programs, starting with California and other western states having water supplies hit hard by the drought. PMI California government affairs consultant Jerry Desmond and PMI technical director Kyle Thompson have broached legacy product replacement with California water officials, with the hopes of building the idea into a bill this year.

Legacy product replacement isn’t a new idea

In California, toilet replacement or rebate programs have been implemented in Southern California, San Francisco, and other regions and municipalities.

San Antonio, Texas, had a decade-long program that delivered and replaced toilets free of charge until virtually no inefficient toilets were left to replace. Programs replacing toilets free of charge or via rebates have been implemented throughout the nation, primarily at the county or municipal level, in places including Dallas/Fort Worth, Maui, New York City, Seattle, and Tucson. Some of the programs have low income requirements.

Because these programs save water, PMI would like to see legacy product replacement scaled up into statewide programs through which the total savings would be immense. “Part of our challenge is to get policymakers and allies comfortable with audacious, bold solutions,” Stackpole stated. Compared to other water-related solutions on the drawing board, such as desalination and rainwater catchment, legacy product replacement on a larger scale is relatively modest, he explained. “Half-way solutions won’t solve the water crisis. We have to think bigger.”

PMI Board of Directors President Sal Gattone of LIXIL is working closely with Stackpole and the PMI board members on the legacy product replacement challenge. “During this time of climate change and uncertainty, we all need to acquire the role of a conservationist,” Gattone stated. “Modern life relies on the easy availability of water. This access assures our health and safety and our very survival. Hence, we need to collectively respond to water crises and actively work together on sustainable solutions.”

About Plumbing Manufacturers International

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) is the trade association of plumbing product manufacturers that produce more than 90% of the United States’ plumbing products, represent more than 150 iconic brands, and develop safe, reliable and innovative water-efficient plumbing technologies. PMI members contribute more than 464,000 jobs and $85.5 billion in economic impact to America’s economy.

With a vision of safe, responsible plumbing – always, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance contributing to water efficiency and savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction through its Rethink Water initiative and other programs. PMI members manufacture water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and other products at more than 70 locations across the country and market them online and in more than 24,000 home improvement stores, hardware stores and showrooms in all 50 states. For more information on PMI, contact the organization at 1750 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 1500, McLean, Va., 22102; phone: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. safeplumbing.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230201005140/en/

Contacts

Ray Valek, ray@valekco.com, 708-352-8695

The post At KBIS, Plumbing Producers Worldwide Promotes Rethink Water Initiative – A Campaign for Protected, Clear Water for Future Generations appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Though keeping our domestic spaces warm this winter is essential, so is the even flow of fresh air. These products guarantee that this can occur in the healthiest ways possible.

Courtesy LG

LG Art Cool Premier Wall Mount Split System with LGRED
LG

With one of the highest SEER ratings in the industry, the LG Art Cool Premier Wall Mount Split System with LGRED offers AEC professionals a design-forward solution that doesn’t compromise on energy efficiency. This inverter variable split system seamlessly connects with the LG ThinQ app providing remote cooling and heating controls.

(Courtesy Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US)

PKFY-NLMU Wall Mounted Indoor Unit
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS)

Perfect for tight spaces, the PKFY-NLMU Wall-Mounted Indoor Unit by Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US is whisper-quiet, running at just 22 dB(A). Connected to the CITY MULTI®R2-Series, Y-Series, WY-Series, WR2-Series, and S-Series VRF zoning systems, the unit uses the least amount of energy needed to maintain an area’s desired set point.

(courtesy Bosch)

CDi Series: SM Rev C
Bosch

Bosch’s leading geothermal solution, the CDi Series: SM Rev C residential water source heat pump meets the highest ENERGY STAR standards. Available in two sizes, the system incorporates a two-stage scroll compressor, an ECM constant air monitor for superior comfort, and connects to Bosch’s EasyStart diagnostics app.

(courtesy 3M)

Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Healthy Living 2200 filters
3M

The Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Healthy Living 2200 Filter by 3M is perfect for keeping a wide array of HVAC units hygienic and hypoallergenic. The insert captures microscopic particles like pet dander, smoke, bacteria, viruses, and odors but also larger fragments like mold spores, dust, and pollen.

Courtesy Carrier

infinity
carriers

Third-party testing has demonstrated that Carrier’s new and improved Infinity air purifier can inactivate 99% of the murine coronavirus. Its MERV 15 rated filter treats the airflow flowing through most HVAC systems by creating a cloud of electrically charged ions that attach, pull apart, and eliminate airborne dust, pollen, viruses, and germs.

(Courtesy Uponor North America)

Stainless Steel Manifold
Uponor North America

The brand new Stainless-Steel Manifold application by Uponor North America is a corrosion-resistant alternative for cooling and heating application. Available in two sizes, the manifold comes preassembled for faster install. Both variants include full-port ball valves with temperature gauges and integrated flow meters.

The post Enhanced HVAC options be certain that interiors keep protected and hygienic appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The Golden City is losing its shine as one of the largest United States-based cryptocurrency exchanges closes its San Francisco-based headquarters.

Kraken CEO Jesse Powell retweeted an announcement stating that the exchange will close its global headquarters at 548 Market Street, in the center of San Francisco. In the statement, a copy of which was initially tweeted by San Francisco-based political commentator Richie Greenberg, Powell states:

“We shut down Kraken’s global headquarters on Market Street in San Francisco after numerous employees were attacked, harassed and robbed on their way to and from the office.”

A spokesperson from Kraken told Cointelegraph that their “responsibility has been, and always will be, to ensure the safety and security of our team members,” adding that Kraken has “no plans to establish a new, formal global HQ” following the San Francisco closure.

A poor advertisement for living in California’s financial center, the statement also alleges that “San Francisco is not safe” and crime is “dramatically underreported.”

BREAKING: KRAKEN CEO Jesse Powell @jespow today issued a statement regarding rampant crime in San Francisco and the failures of DA @chesaboudin . pic.twitter.com/7gx7PldQM0

— Richie Greenberg (@richieSF2016) April 7, 2022

Coinbase, another US-based cryptocurrency exchange, also wants to close its San Francisco headquarters in 2022; however, no mention of crime or homelessness was cited regarding the decision. Instead, Coinbase is following the lead of its competitor Binance to become a fully remote, global company.

The Kraken spokesperson explained to Cointelegraph that Kraken was “one of the first companies in the world to pioneer the remote-first model.” The focus on “round-the-clock crypto services,” especially relevant given that crypto markets are 24/7 is key. Kraken continued:

“While we [Kraken] have no plans to change our status as a US-based entity, the location of our headquarters doesn’t affect how we run our business.”

The Twitter community was quick to respond to the Kraken news, sharing dark anecdotes of working in San Francisco.

I worked at Market St for few months, it is crazy, it turns into skid row after 6pm. I’m from Europe and never seen anything like it. Still have flashbacks of the things I witnessed. Just tried to look away and not get stabbed. Remember walking in the smell of skunk and pee.

— Markus (@markustallinn) April 7, 2022

The living situation has allegedly become so dire that there are applications that track human waste around San Francisco, with “Snap Crap” among the most popular. The apps help San Franciscans navigate the city without putting their foot in it.

A San Francisco poop map. Source: ARCgis

Comments from the Twitter and Reddit community shed light on how soaring rental prices have made homelessness more common, while crime is “rampant.” The average rent is now roughly $3,000 per month, and the San Francisco Chronicle has estimated that there are more than 18,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city.

Related: Bolt to enable Bitcoin and NFT access via Wyre acquisition

A report in 2020 revealed that San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area boasted the highest concentrations of crypto investments. In light of Kraken’s decision and the social crises in San Francisco, the region’s hold on crypto and the future of finance may falter.

Other US cities and states have made clear their intentions to attract crypto capital. Texas, for example, hosts pro-Bitcoin (BTC) Senator Ted Cruz, while Web3 and crypto payments have been lauded by the mayor of Austin.

The post Kraken shuts down world headquarters as a result of ‘San Francisco isn’t secure’ appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

A San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange’s CEO announced the closure of its Market Street headquarters in the city for good — and blasted San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin in the process.

Kraken CEO Jesse Powell, in a statement first shared by Boudin recall organizer and conservative mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg on Twitter, appeared to shame Boudin for employees getting harassed and for “crime, mental illness and drug abuse” in the city.

“San Francisco is not safe and will not be safe until we have a DA who puts the rights of law abiding citizens above those of the street criminals he so ingloriously protects,” Powell wrote in the statement. Powell also praised the police in his statement, saying they were “known to arrest the same offenders dozens of times” thanks to Boudin. (Powell misspelled his own name in the statement provided to Greenberg.)

A Kraken spokesperson confirmed the company’s departure from San Francisco — but notably, did not mention Boudin as the reason for the company’s exit from downtown, only alluding to Powell’s comments by saying that there is a need “to ensure the safety and security of our team members.”

“Kraken was one of the first companies in the world to pioneer the remote-first model. We have team members in more than 70 countries around the world, enabling us to offer a range of round-the-clock crypto services in just under 200 jurisdictions around the world,” the spokesperson said in an email to SFGATE Wednesday.

The spokesperson added, “We have no plans to establish a new, formal global HQ at this time.”

As the district attorney recall approaches, sentiments such as the one raised by Powell will likely only grow louder, as will support Boudin. (On Wednesday, the R&B singer-songwriter John Legend publicly endorsed Boudin.)

San Francisco is indeed experiencing a crisis in increased drug use — and residents do believe that crime has gotten worse over the past year, even if the underlying data supports a more nuanced conclusion. Figures provided by San Francisco police show that reports of violent crimes such as rape, robbery and assault are at lower levels than they were before Boudin took office, but reports of some property crimes are increasing.

As many employees express a desire to continue to work from home, companies across industries and cities are beginning to ditch pricey office spaces. Their decision to close their offices — and not open a new location — certainly has financial benefits for the companies.

Many San Francisco tech companies have embraced the pandemic-induced transition to remote-first work — just as Kraken has. Tech heavyweights from Salesforce to Meta (with one notable exception) are granting employees the option of flexible work, and with that has meant a reduction or total closure of offices, especially in one of the most expensive markets in the United States.

A report from commercial real estate agency Kidder Mathews finds that more than 20% of offices are still vacant. In a recent update, the agency wrote that there is “an uptick in tenant prospects, yet it seems they are not quite ready to make the jump to return to the office.”

Take the company’s word for it: Remote work has been beneficial for Kraken.

“Kraken’s remote-first model has enabled us to take significant strides in bringing global expertise and knowledge to the cryptocurrency industry,” the company spokesperson said.

The post Kraken shuts down HQ as a result of ‘San Francisco isn’t protected’ appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

San Francisco this week quietly opened a large sanctioned parking lot for homeless people and made dozens of Bayview spaces available for those living in RVs and cars.

Despite stiff opposition, including a lawsuit from some neighbors, the Vehicle Triage Center at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area welcomed residents Wednesday, marking the beginning of a two-year program designed to provide vehicle residents with a safe place to park, sleep, and connected to services being.

Ultimately, the site will have 130 parking spaces, but it’s starting at 57 while officials get the program up and running.

The vehicle center is part of an attempt to help the city’s skyrocketing population living in RVs and cars — a pressing problem in the southeastern part of San Francisco, which has by far the largest number of inhabited vehicles in the city.

While many homeless people and their advocates agree that a large licensed parking lot is badly needed, some people the space is intended to serve have resisted moving there from a nearby property on Carroll Avenue. They told The Chronicle on Wednesday they didn’t want to go to the new location because, among other things, it has limited electricity and banned propane tanks and generators.

“That pretty much makes your RV a storage unit,” said BA Anderson, who has lived on the Carroll Avenue property since the city designated it as an emergency parking lot late last year. “No one would say, ‘I’ll rent you this house, but you can’t cook.’ Treat people like people.”

Anderson emailed city officials a list of demands Wednesday, asking for immediate access to electricity, heating, hot and cold running water, mechanic help and more.

He included photos of a few dozen signatures that he said were from people who lived in vehicles and organized themselves into a tenants’ alliance.

Neither the city nor its contractors would allow The Chronicle on the Carroll lot or the new location. But Emily Cohen, an assistant director for the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said officials had received the list of demands and were trying to respond.

“We’re definitely always interested in hearing from the clients on our programs,” said Cohen. “We want to make these programs as accessible, welcoming and dignified as possible.”

The city didn’t plan to address every complaint. Individual propane tanks and generators aren’t allowed because they pose a fire hazard, Cohen said. But the city tried to solve other problems, such as insufficient electricity supply.

“There are long-term plans for the power supply, but it’s going to take a while to get it up and running, so we’re working on an interim solution,” Cohen said. “There is currently limited power capacity available.”

The new site, which the city spends $2.8 million a year to operate, has running water, officials said.

City officials established the Carroll lot as a short-term emergency parking lot more than two months ago after a rainstorm caused flooding along the Hunters Point Expressway, where scores of people lived in vehicles. Some of the vehicles – and the belongings of the people inside – were badly damaged.

Officials say they only have access to the Carroll property until the end of the month, so they’re trying to get everyone to the new location as soon as possible.

As of Thursday noon, 17 households living in 15 RVs and two cars had moved from the Carroll property to the new vehicle center, according to Cohen. About 25 mobile homes and 42 cars remained.

Some homeowners involved in a local neighborhood group have filed a lawsuit against the secure parking lot, but its opening has not been delayed. Yet neighbors continue to resist what they see as an attempt to shelter the homeless in a corner of town.

“We shouldn’t be burdened with the uneven burden of housing these people,” said Shirley Moore, a longtime resident who lives in a house near the RV site. “If you’re going to let them park on our streets, let them park on the streets in every community throughout San Francisco and don’t focus them on our area.” It’s about balance.”

City officials point to the high concentration of people living in RVs and cars as justification for opening a large center to cater to them.

Regulatory District 10, which includes Bayview-Hunters Point, had more than 500 occupied vehicles in November — up from about 300 in April 2019, city data said. District 10’s latest count was far higher than that of the next most concentrated area, District 7, which had about 150 inhabited vehicles in November.

“The one common denominator that we can all agree on is that we have a lot of people living in vehicles in District 10,” said Supervisor Shamann Walton, who represents the area. “My job is to make sure we are responsive to the needs of the community and also to the needs of people who are not housed in vehicles or on the road. You can do both.”

About 20 vehicle residents gathered outside the Carroll property Wednesday afternoon to discuss the next step. Several said cooking and generator restrictions were one of the main reasons they didn’t want to move to the new location. Local residents also worried about whether the site would have enough water and electricity.

“They make it really impossible for people to be there,” said Cynthia Keener, 57.

She said she uses a nebulizer twice a day because she has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and she doesn’t think the new property has enough infrastructure to accommodate her needs. She wondered if it wouldn’t be better to park her vehicle back on the street instead of driving to the sanctioned Candlestick Point lot.

Sonya Rekula-Talone, 54, said she and her husband had their own generator powering their vehicle, which was parked in the Carroll parking lot, on Wednesday. Her husband uses a walker and she works night shifts, so she was very concerned about the ban on generators at the new location.

“I will not leave my husband alone in the dark when he can barely walk,” she said.

Anderson, meanwhile, said that as of Thursday, some residents of the Carroll property were determined not to go to the new site until their demands were met, and he continued to lobby them.

“You don’t want to go anywhere where the situation is worse than here,” he said.

JD Morris is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris

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The city of San Francisco is nearing the opening of a safe injection site that would be the first in the United States.

Mayor of London Breed on Tuesday passed a law to buy a property in the city to act as a safe injection site and provide behavioral health services. Next, the planned takeover will go through a public process with the Supervisory Board for approval.

A safe injection site, also known as a safe drug use site, provides a clean place where people can bring illegal drugs and use them with sterile supplies under the supervision of trained personnel ready to respond in the event of an overdose. The sites also serve as a bridge between drug users and services such as rehabilitation.

Critics argue that injection sites encourage drug use and crime in the surrounding neighborhood. Proponents cite research that suggests injection sites can reduce overdosing, risky behavior, and limit drug use in public spaces. Sites have been up and running in Europe for decades, and more recently Australia and Canada, but attempts to open them in the US have faced litigation.

The city has been considering opening a site for years, and while the federal government and state don’t legally allow injection sites, the city passed law last year to approve a site through an overdose prevention program, KTVU reported. In addition, State Senator Scott Wiener is pursuing laws that allow San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles to open them.

SFGATE contacted the mayor’s office for answers to questions about the potential location.

Q: Where would the proposed site open?
ONE: The city is considering a location in the Tenderloin district at 822 Geary St. and 629 Hyde St. (corner of Geary and Hyde), the mayor’s office said.

Q: How quickly could the site open?
ONE: It could open in the spring.

Q: What does the site cost?
ONE: $ 6.3 million.

Q: Who would pay for the project?
ONE: Money from Proposition C, a gross income tax measure for homeless assistance that was passed with 61% of the vote in 2018, would fund the project. Prop. C has raised millions in revenue, but funds have been tied up in a lawsuit following a lawsuit that argued that a two-thirds majority was required to pass the tax. A superior court judge in San Francisco ruled in 2019 that the tax was legal. An appeal was lodged against this judgment and a state appeals court upheld it in summer 2020.

Q: Who would be running the site?
ONE: “We are discussing with our non-profit partners about their ability to open and operate safe consumption programs directly for those in need,” said a statement from the mayor’s office. “The city is also looking into creating a city-sponsored program to work with nonprofits to operate sites, identify potential locations, and develop a strategy to ensure that the surrounding areas see a tangible difference on our roads. ”

Q: Will the site offer additional services?
ONE: “The suggestion is to use this website for a variety of behavioral health needs,” the city said. “The legislation does not dictate the type of services offered on the website.”

Bay City News contributed to this story.

The post A secure injection website may very well be opening in San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

For years, San Francisco’s quest to have a safe drug use website has been more talk than action.

Officials like Mayor London Breed reiterated their support for these sites – where people can use drugs under the supervision of health professionals who can reverse overdoses – but have been cautious about moving forward without the approval of the state and federal governments.

Now that is starting to change. Following a board vote in October calling on Breed to use their emergency powers to open a safe consumption point, The City is quickly acquiring a building in the Tenderloin that could house the site. Officials are also working out the legal and logistical details of the operation.

The two safe toons in New York City that opened in November – which have not yet been closed by federal officials – have put pressure on the federal government to clarify their legality. And a bill by State Senator Scott Wiener could pave the way for California to legalize safe consumption locations by early 2023.

Still, many challenges remain in getting one or more of these sites up and running in San Francisco, where 545 people died of overdoses between January and October.

On Wednesday, the board’s budget and finance committee unanimously voted to purchase 822 Geary St. and adjacent property that could house a secure consumption point. The matter will be submitted to the full committee for approval on Tuesday, where it is expected to be passed.

The way from there is less clear.

The authority responsible for opening a safe consumption point is the Department of Public Health (DPH). In a statement, a department spokesperson wrote that The City “remains in the exploratory phase of opening a safe toast”. The department is “considering” using the room at 822 Geary both as a safe place to consume and as a crisis diversion unit that would provide 15 behavioral medicine beds. The $ 6.3 million purchase price for the site would come from Prop. C, the city’s 2020 homeless service tax.

DPH plans to host community meetings and provide other opportunities for the public to get involved in its plans for 822 Geary, which so far have largely taken place behind closed doors. While city officials had previously targeted an opening date as early as next spring, DPH employees reported at the budget and finance committee meeting on Wednesday that the facility could open by September.

At the same time, city attorney David Chiu has begun reaching out to federal and state officials regarding a safe consumption point in San Francisco and is advising the mayor on how to proceed, according to spokeswoman Jen Kwart.

It could be clear soon, with a letter from the Department of Justice expected by Jan 5th on a case of a safe consumption point in Philadelphia. Also in January, Wiener plans to reintroduce SB 57 into the state legislature, a bill from last year that would legalize safe consumption locations in major California cities, his office confirmed. If passed, the bill – the latest in a long line of attempts to legalize safe consumption locations at the state level – would not come into force until January 2023.

The location of the planned location in San Francisco and the related communication from The City have already triggered criticism.

Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic and an occasional employee of Examiner, supports safe consumer locations but is opposed to the Geary location. Glide Memorial Church or another existing needle swap closer to the heart of the tenderloin would make more sense, he said. Shaw also said the location is linked to the tenderloin’s history as a “containment zone” for drug use.

“This idea that the Tenderloin is the place because that’s where the drug dealers are – I mean, The City put the drug dealers in there,” Shaw said.

But for harm reduction advocates, the Geary site is just a first step. “For this program to be successful, there must be more than one location,” said Gary McCoy, policy director at HealthRIGHT 360, who previously went on hunger strike to campaign for The City to open a safe place of consumption. . “One location would not have the capacity needed to be successful and actually save the lives we need to save.”

Data from the chief medical officer’s office shows the tenderloin is a good place to start. The data shows that 21% of drug overdose deaths in The City in 2021 occurred there – more than any other neighborhood – with a further 17% in adjacent Nob Hill, near the planned location at 822 Geary.

While San Francisco is proceeding cautiously, outgoing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio offers another blueprint: to dare the federal government to shut down safe consumption points in that city in a year the US recorded 100,000 overdose deaths. De Blasio “didn’t care about NIMBYism because this is an emergency,” said McCoy. “I don’t think anyone wanted to be first, but I hope New York City motivates everyone else who wanted to.”

bschneider@sfexaminer.com

The post San Francisco strikes towards opening a protected drug use web site appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Der neue sichere Parkplatz der Stadt wird rund um Candlestick Point verstärkt durchgesetzt.

Ende Oktober kündigte der Bürgermeister von San Francisco, London Breed, Pläne für einen sicheren Parkplatz für Menschen an, die in ihren Wohnmobilen im Candlestick Point State Recreation Area im Viertel Bayview-Hunter’s Point untergebracht sind. Der geplante Standort wird 150 Parkplätze mit einer Kapazität für 177 Bewohner umfassen und über Strom, Beleuchtung, 24-Stunden-Sicherheitsdienst, Toiletten, Trinkwasser- und Schwarzwasserpumpen für die Entsorgung von Wohnmobilabfällen verfügen. Die Site, die offiziell als „Fahrzeugtriagezentrum“ bezeichnet wird, wird auch Fallmanagement- und Wohnungsdienstleistungen umfassen, die Menschen in eine dauerhafte Unterkunft bringen sollen.

Die Strategie ist teilweise eine Reaktion auf einen beschleunigten Trend, dass Menschen während der Pandemie in ihren Fahrzeugen leben. Im November lebten nach Angaben der Stadt 673 Menschen in Wohnmobilen, Wohnmobilen und Lieferwagen und weitere 332 in Personenkraftwagen in ganz San Francisco. Im Januar 2020 waren es 554 bzw. 260.

Für Menschen, die keinen anderen Unterschlupf haben, bietet das Wohnen in einem Fahrzeug Schutz vor Witterungseinflüssen, Hitze, einen Platz zum Schlafen, Kochen und die Toilette zu benutzen. Aber der Ansatz hat Nachteile; Trinkwasser zu finden ist schwierig, und Wohnmobile produzieren Abfall, der schwer zu entsorgen ist, was zu Beschwerden von Nachbarn führt. Und Beamte der Stadt fahren häufig ab oder ziehen Fahrzeuge ab, in denen Menschen leben. Die Parkgesetze der Stadt – einschließlich eines Parkverbots auf öffentlichen Straßen für mehr als 72 Stunden – machen es den Menschen, die in ihren Fahrzeugen leben, leicht, Tickets zu sammeln. Fünf oder mehr unbezahlte Tickets können dazu führen, dass ein Auto oder ein Lieferwagen abgeschleppt wird, manchmal auch als „Armutsabschleppdienst“ bezeichnet, da sie Menschen, die in ihren Fahrzeugen Schutz suchen, unverhältnismäßig stark beeinträchtigen.

Der neue Standort wird einen sicheren, sanktionierten Ort zum Parken sowie Ressourcen bieten, von denen die Stadt hofft, dass mehr Menschen mit Ressourcen verbunden sind und weniger Beschwerden über Schutt und Abfall auftreten. Aber die Stadt verdoppelt auch die Durchsetzung, um mit Wohnmobilen außerhalb des Parks umzugehen.

Und das geplante Gelände wird vorübergehend sein – die Stadt hat nicht angegeben, wie lange es dauern wird, verhandelt jedoch mit dem State Parks Department einen zweijährigen Pachtvertrag für das Land. Befürworter von Personen, die in Fahrzeugen untergebracht sind, befürchten, dass dies nicht lange genug sein wird, um Menschen dauerhaft unterzubringen – und die Stadt hat bereits eine Vorkehrung getroffen, um nahegelegene Wohnmobile abzuschleppen und zu bezahlen, wenn sie den sicheren Wohnmobil-Standort einrichten. Der San Francisco Chronicle berichtete, dass die Stadt eine Vereinbarung mit dem State Parks Department getroffen hat, dem das Land gehört, das die Stadt pachten wird, um die Polizeipräsenz im Park zu erhöhen und Fahrzeuge auf den angrenzenden Straßen abzuschleppen.

„Bei jedem Programm, das sie öffnen, kommt es zur Durchsetzung, weil das System es so macht“, sagt Kelley Cutler, eine Organisatorin der Coalition on Homelessness San Francisco.

Ob das Gelände im Candlestick Park den Bewohnern zu dauerhaften Unterkünften verhelfen kann, bleibt abzuwarten. Ein früherer Fahrzeug-Triage-Standort in San Francisco war von November 2019 bis November 2020 in Betrieb und zeigte laut einem Bericht des städtischen Rechnungsprüfers gemischte Ergebnisse. Der Standort, der auch vom San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) beaufsichtigt wurde, stellte 29 Parkplätze für 75 Personen in der 2940 San Jose Avenue in der Nähe des Balboa Park BART State zu Gesamtkosten von 1,6 Millionen US-Dollar zur Verfügung. Die Stadt schloss einen Vertrag mit einer gemeinnützigen Organisation, die Wäsche-, Dusch- und Sicherheitsdienste bereitstellte.

57 Prozent der Bewohner des San Jose Avenue-Geländes hatten Anspruch auf geförderten Wohnraum und der Rest war mit Fallmanagern verbunden, die versuchten, die Gäste durch „Problemlösung“ neu zu beherbergen, einschließlich Arbeitsvermittlung, Kleinstipendien und Kontaktaufnahme zur Familie Mitglieder. Aber der Bericht sagt, dass nur 25 Prozent der Bewohner das ganze Jahr über in Wohnungen untergebracht wurden. 8 Gäste wurden aus gesundheitlichen Gründen in Hotels untergebracht oder untergebracht. Und 7 Personen – insgesamt 3 Haushalte – wurden gebeten, die Website aufgrund von Verhaltensproblemen von Mitgliedern ihres Haushalts zu verlassen.

Next City bat HSH um Klärung der oben genannten Verhaltensprobleme, erhielt jedoch zum Zeitpunkt der Veröffentlichung keine Antwort.

Trotz des Versprechens, dass das Gelände zu einer Verringerung der illegalen Entsorgung von Wohnmobilabfällen führen wird – lange Zeit ein Problem im Park – hat das geplante Gelände vorhersehbar den Zorn der Einheimischen geweckt, die glauben, dass es die Präsenz von Wohnmobillagern verlängern wird. (Befürworter sagen jedoch, dass die örtliche Opposition gegen Menschen, die in Wohnmobilen leben, eine verstärkte Durchsetzung vorantreibt, die in Fahrzeugen untergebrachte Bewohner vertrieben und die Obdachlosigkeit verlängert hat.)

Das Viertel Bayview-Hunter’s Point war in der Vergangenheit mit Unterinvestitionen konfrontiert; es wurde Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts, als es überwiegend schwarz war, neu gezeichnet; 1963 drehte der Autor James Baldwin einen Dokumentarfilm über seine schwarzen Bewohner, in dem er minderwertige Wohnverhältnisse und industrielle Schadstoffe hervorhob. In den 90er und 2000er Jahren wurde ein Großteil der schwarzen Bevölkerung durch die Sanierung vertrieben. Einige lokale Gegner der Site haben diese Geschichte als Beweis dafür angeführt, dass die Nachbarschaft als Wegwerfartikel behandelt wird.

„Ursprünglich dachten wir, ein Triage-Center für Fahrzeuge wäre eine gute Idee, aber wir wussten nicht, dass es im State Park sein würde, und das ist einfach ein schrecklicher Ort dafür“, sagt Marsha Maloof, die Präsidentin des Bayview Hill Nachbarschaftsverein, der sich dem Standort widersetzt. Maloof sagt, dass die Nachbarschaft und der State Park unter zu wenig Investitionen leiden und die Gemeinde jahrelang darum gekämpft habe, ihn offen zu halten. Es leidet immer noch unter einem Mangel an Müllabfuhr und nicht funktionierenden Toiletten, sagt sie.

Sie sagte, die Stadt könnte Ressourcen dorthin bringen, wo Wohnmobile derzeit geparkt sind, anstatt sie in den Park zu bringen.

Maloof und der Nachbarschaftsverband haben Gespräche mit Bürgermeister London Breed, dem Präsidenten des Aufsichtsrats von San Francisco, Shamann Walton, und mit der Stadtplanungskommission geführt, sagt jedoch, dass niemand offen für eine Änderung des Standorts schien.

„Das Vehicle Triage Center am Candlestick Point wird ein Maß an Dienstleistungen und Sicherheit bieten, das für die Menschen, die in ihren Fahrzeugen in der Gegend leben, benötigt wird“, sagte Bürgermeister Breed in einer Pressemitteilung.

Gwendolyn Westbrook, Direktorin des United Council of Human Services, bewirbt sich um den Vertrag über die Erbringung von Dienstleistungen auf dem sicheren Parkplatz von Candlestick Point. Die Ablehnung des sicheren Wohnmobilstellplatzes aufgrund der Geschichte des Viertels sei wenig sinnvoll, da der Wohnmobilstellplatz das Gelände sauberer mache und langjährige Bewohner dauerhaft beherbergen solle. Sie sagt auch, dass die Leute, die derzeit in der Nähe des Parks parken, langjährige Einwohner von San Francisco sind, die aus Erschwinglichkeitsgründen vertrieben wurden, und viele stammen aus dem Bayview.

„Die wissen im Grunde nicht, wovon sie reden“, sagt Westbrook über die Gegner des sicheren Parkplatzes. „Die Leute da draußen sind aus San Francisco. Sie haben hier draußen die Gentrifizierung durchgemacht und die Leute sind auf der Straße gelandet“, sagt sie. Einige der Leute, die im Lager leben, sind Leute, mit denen sie zur High School gegangen ist, und einige leben seit 15 Jahren in einem Fahrzeug in der Nachbarschaft, sagt Westbrook.

Westbrook hofft, dass die Stadt den Candlestick Park lange genug in Betrieb hält, damit die Menschen umgesiedelt werden können.

„Ich hoffe, dass sie es behalten können, bis die Leute in Wohnungen untergebracht sind, denn was soll das alles machen, und dann schließt man es und die Leute sind immer noch da?“ Sie sagt. Westbrook fügte hinzu, dass es einige Zeit dauern kann, bis die Stadt genügend Wohnungen für einkommensschwache Wohnungen baut, um Bewohner unterzubringen.

Laut Cutler with Coalition on Homelessness, der auch im Aufsichtsgremium für den sicheren Parkplatz an der San Jose Avenue tätig war, ist die Schwierigkeit beim Übergang in eine Wohnung ein Zeichen dafür, dass nicht genügend bezahlbarer Wohnraum zur Verfügung steht, um Menschen zu „triagieren“. der Sprachgebrauch der Stadt. Cutler sagt, dass die Daten des San Jose Avenue-Piloten auch durch die für die Site verwendeten Auswahlkriterien verzerrt sind. Nach Angaben des Rechnungsprüfungsbüros fand die Site Kunden, indem sie über ihr Homeless Outreach Team Flyer verschickte; Personen, die Anspruch auf geförderten Wohnraum oder andere Leistungen hatten, wurden priorisiert, ebenso wie Personen mit gesundheitlichen Problemen, die sich aus dem langfristigen Leben eines Wohnmobils ergaben. (Die Candlestick Point-Site wird auch nur auf Einladung zugänglich sein, was nach Ansicht der Stadt wichtig ist, um zu verhindern, dass sich mehr Wohnmobile von außerhalb der Nachbarschaft versammeln, was als “Magneteffekt” bezeichnet wird.)

„Im Grunde haben sie sich die Rosinen ausgesucht, wer reingekommen ist, und die anderen haben sich einfach nicht qualifiziert, und die Quoten, mit denen Leute von dort ins Wohnungswesen kommen, waren nicht großartig“, sagt Cutler. Bei der Suche nach Personen, die sich für eine Wohnung qualifiziert haben, besteht die Gefahr, dass das Programm Leute auslässt, sagt Cutler. „Innerhalb der Wohnmobilbevölkerung ist das sehr vielfältig, es gibt Familien, Senioren, Berufstätige, viele Menschen unter diesem Dach, die in Fahrzeugen leben.“

Die Zunahme der Durchsetzung trotz fehlender offizieller Dienste ist ein Thema, das sich in der Vergangenheit der Koalition gegen Obdachlosigkeit angenommen hat. In einem kürzlich veröffentlichten Bericht beschuldigte die gemeinnützige Organisation das Healthy Streets Operating Center, die behördenübergreifende Taskforce der Stadt, die für die Räumung von Lagern zuständig ist, Durchsuchungen durchzuführen, unabhängig davon, ob Ressourcen für die Menschen, die zum Verlassen aufgefordert wurden, verfügbar waren oder nicht. Dies würde gegen Martin gegen Boise verstoßen, der behauptete, dass Beamte keine Obdachlosenlager ohne verfügbare Unterkünfte räumen können.

„Ich kann Ihnen nicht sagen, wie oft Leute nur um diese magische Karte gebeten haben, die Sie jemandem geben können, der nicht untergebracht ist“, sagt Cutler. „Es ist nicht so, dass die Leute serviceresistent sind, sondern dass es nur sehr wenige Ressourcen gibt.“

Cutler sagt, dass es einen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Pushback der Gemeinde wie dem der Nachbarschaftsvereinigung und der Durchsetzung gibt; Dies führt oft dazu, dass die Stadt die Durchsetzung jedes Mal erhöht, wenn neue Obdachlosendienste wie ein Tierheim oder eine Navigationsseite eröffnet werden. Und obwohl Programme wie der sichere Parkplatz nur vorübergehend sind, bleiben die Beschränkungen in der Regel noch lange nach ihrer Aufhebung bestehen.

„Egal, wohin Sie in der Stadt gehen, um Ressourcen für Menschen ohne Unterkunft zu schaffen, es ist ein Kampf“, sagt Cutler. „Um die Gemüter der jetzigen Bewohner zu beruhigen, setzen sie weiterhin mehr Strafverfolgungsbehörden ein. Das ist kein Problem der Strafverfolgung.“ Sie sagt, dass Fahrzeuggemeinschaften aufgrund von Nachbarschaftsbeschwerden ständig vertrieben werden, nur um sich in einer neuen Nachbarschaft zu versammeln, wo sie schließlich vertrieben werden. „Das geht schon seit Jahren so“, sagt sie.

Im Moment treibt die Stadt den Plan für einen vorübergehend sicheren Wohnmobilstellplatz und eine verstärkte Durchsetzung voran und strebt einen Starttermin im Januar 2022 an. Anfang November richtete die Stadt auch einen Notfall-Wohnmobilstellplatz in der Carroll Avenue 1236 für Menschen ein, die in Fahrzeugen entlang des Hunters Point Expressway leben, die von den jüngsten Stürmen betroffen waren. Dieser Park bleibt geöffnet, bis der Candlestick Point-Standort fertig ist, sagt die Stadt.

Cutler sagt insgesamt, dass der Plan, den Leuten Ressourcen zur Verfügung zu stellen, gut ist Ernennung, das geht in die richtige Richtung“, sagt Cutler. Sie warnt jedoch davor, dass es eine falsche Bezeichnung ist, es als Triage-Zentrum zu bezeichnen, da dies impliziert, dass alle Menschen direkt in eine dauerhafte Unterkunft übergehen werden. “Das ist einfach nicht die Realität, die Realität ist, dass es Zeit brauchen wird.”

Anmerkung der Redaktion: Nach Redaktionsschluss stellte das San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) Next City eine Kopie der Ausschreibung für den sicheren Parkplatz zur Verfügung, die besagt, dass der Standort 4 Mitarbeiter und einen Fallmanager beschäftigen wird und wird Überweisungen zu psychischen Erkrankungen, Sozialleistungen und Arbeitsvermittlungsstellen anbieten.

Auf Fragen zu Personen, die zur Ausreise aufgefordert wurden, sagte die HSH, sie könne sich zu bestimmten Fällen nicht äußern, nannte aber eine Liste möglicher Verstöße, darunter die Verweigerung der Einhaltung von Maskenpflichten, Gewalttaten, „störendes Verhalten“, das ein klares Risiko darstellt an andere, die eine Waffe und Eigentumsvernichtung besitzen.

Roshan Abraham ist Korrespondentin für Wohnungswesen von Next City und ehemaliger Stipendiat von Equitable Cities. Er hat seinen Sitz in Queens. Folgen Sie ihm auf Twitter unter @roshantone.

The post San Francisco Will Open a Protected Web site For Folks Residing In RVs, However It May Lead To Extra Towing appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SACRAMENTO (CBS SF / CBS Sacramento) – A young boy who was abducted Friday night in Sacramento – and set off an amber alarm in the East Bay – was found safe early Saturday morning in Hayward with the alleged perpetrator who abducted him.

A yellow alarm was raised on Friday evening in Alameda and Contra Costa counties for the child, three-year-old Leo Norvell, after being abducted from Sacramento just before 5 p.m. on Friday.

The suspect is 30-year-old Joshua Yago, who, according to the CHP, should be considered armed and dangerous.

Authorities posted on Twitter that the child was found safe shortly before 3 a.m.

** The AMBER Alert has been deactivated. The child has been located. ** https://t.co/p4BPV5gyey

– CHP – Alerts (@CHPAlerts) November 13, 2021

Authorities did not initially say whether Yago had also been found, but Sacramento police confirmed shortly after 8 a.m. that he and the boy had been found and taken into custody in Hayward. Police said they are working to reunite the boy with his family.

UPDATE: Both Yago and Norvell were found together in Hayward this morning by the Hayward Police Department. The amber alarm has been canceled and Norvell is safe and in good health. Efforts to reunite Norvell with his family will be coordinated. https://t.co/SicJsQZbnl

– Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) November 13, 2021

According to the Sacramento Police Department, Yago is the suspect in a double shootout that injured a man and a woman on Friday at Block 3900 on 63rd Street.

Norvell is the child of the female victim. According to police, Yago and Norvell know each other.

The victims of the shooting did not receive life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Police said Yago will be charged with the kidnapping and previous shooting. The investigation into the crimes remains active.

The post Boy Kidnapped in Sacramento Discovered Protected in Hayward; Kidnapper Arrested – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

We start with the bad news.

We’re not going to end homelessness.

The scale is too daunting. There are now over 550,000 homeless in America, including over 150,000 in California.

People without shelter have been a persistent problem for decades. And now, with COVID and the dubious economy, people who never dreamed of being homeless are living in cars or tents on the street.

There’s even a report stating that if the pandemic recession is as severe as feared, homelessness could increase 49% in the US and 68% in California.

It is terrible.

Luckily we got a lot of advice here in the Bay Area. John Oliver took up homelessness on his HBO show “Last Week Tonight”. His solution? Give them a home.

He advocates permanent supportive living (PSH). Just place every homeless person in PSH.

Problem solved.

All that remains for San Francisco to do is upgrade its permanent support accommodations and we’ll have that under control in no time.

Apart from the fact that San Francisco has more PSHs than any major city in the United States.

To be honest, I didn’t believe that. So I went to the San Francisco Controller’s Office to find the 2017 report.

In fact, when compared to PSH beds per 100,000, San Francisco is slightly ahead of Washington DC and well ahead of cities like Philadelphia and Boston.

“And,” said a city official, who did not want to be named, “our streets still look like shit.”

So it’s not as easy to solve as it sounds.

It is unsustainable to place every unprotected person, especially with a growing population, in permanent supportive housing. Last month, The City announced it had hosted 1,200 people in hotels. But with a homeless population of over 8,000, that hardly throws a spanner in the works.

In addition, the National Academy of Science conducted a study on PSH and “Improving Health Outcomes in People with Chronic Homelessness.”

At first it was said that permanent living was not a panacea. It states: “There is a lack of evidence” to show “improved results”.

But it also called into question the economic viability of inpatient living. The “high capital costs” are “a major obstacle”. It names regulatory problems, permits and neighborhood resistance.

As we know, this is not just a San Francisco problem. It’s the Bay Area too. And it would be a wonderful day if all of the surrounding areas could put together a single, workable homelessness program.

I am not holding my breath.

But when they did, consider some overwhelming numbers. A report by bayareaeconomy.com in 2019 estimated it would cost $ 12.7 billion to provide permanent shelter for the 28,200 that needed it.

San Francisco has an impressive $ 1.1 billion homeless budget this year. But even with a conservative estimate of $ 450,000 per unit for Bay Area construction costs by the Bay Area Council’s Economic Institute, it would have to be tripled (8,000 x $ 450,000 = $ 3.6 billion) to accommodate everyone .

That’s a big chunk for a city trying to avoid a COVID recession. And by the way, where is the money for low-income housing and teachers?

Alright you say what’s your plan

Well, it’s not perfect, but I’d come back to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s idea of ​​safe sleeping places. These are organized places where tents can be set up safely and The City can provide services such as toilets and even showers.

There is one in the Civic Center now, and although the public reacted with horror when it was founded, it has been around for over a year and the problems are minimal.

There are several advantages. First, people who live in tents like the idea. In fact, two people who work with the homeless told me that up to 10% of tent residents actually have a place to stay. They prefer to live in a tent community. (In some cases, honestly, to be around your dealer.)

They also live with a partner, have a pet, and have their own space. Granted, it’s not a hotel room, but maybe the locations could be a way to transition into living when the rooms open up. At this point you are either accommodated or you are on the street.

Mandelman’s attempt to expand the program failed at the meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee in April 2021.

But it’s still a popular idea, and Mandelman is said to be considering putting it up for election across an entire city.

The politically intimidating Coalition on Homelessness initially backed the idea but has since hit a 180 and is against it. Instead, they say, they want permanent supportive housing. And so it goes.

There were some concerns about the cost of the campsites originally. A budget analyst report estimated it would cost $ 190 per tent per night, which would run into millions of dollars.

Supporters say these numbers have been skewed by the pandemic and that the cost would be much lower. If that’s true, we’d like to see receipts.

Still, websites could be up and running in a short amount of time. Almost no construction is required. It would be a matter of finding open areas and having a group, probably a nonprofit, oversee them.

Of course, that kind of crazy, pie-in-the-sky idea will probably never happen. What big American city would be crazy enough to try something like this?

Well, Los Angeles, for example. In September LA passed a two-pronged homeless camp law.

First, it restricted tent camps in several residential and commercial areas in the city. Tents must not be placed in doors, next to schools, or on sidewalks. Orders are enforced by the police.

But the city has also set up a prototype for a safe place to sleep. It offers space for 95 tent sites, toilets, showers, restaurants and social services. There is even a basketball court.

It is a beginning.

It also seems like the most honest approach to homelessness. We cannot accommodate everyone. There is no possibility.

But instead of ending homelessness, we may need to think about coexistence. Nobody wants a tent to block their door. But letting someone live in a safe space doesn’t sound like a bad idea, even if it’s a tent.

There is also a glimmer of hope. It was worse than that and we made it through.

After the Great Depression, there were over 2 million homeless in the United States. And homeless campsites have sprung up across the country.

And they stayed there until President Franklin Roosevelt worked out a nationwide relief plan called the New Deal.

A Comprehensive National Plan to Reduce Homelessness?

Now there is a concept.

Contact CW Nevius at cwnevius@gmail.com. Twitter: @cwnevius

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