Proposition Q: San Francisco tent cities would be banned
SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) -- Voters in San Francisco will decide on Nov. 8 whether to approve Proposition Q, a measure that would ban tent cities and was proposed because of a growing number of issues that stem from the homeless encampments.
A recent fire in the rear of homes in Potrero Hill has added fuel to the fight for Prop. Q because supporters say it would stem nuisance crimes.
"Part of it is the rapes, the fires, the drug abuse, the other criminal activity and the rodents and feces that we see all the time," said San Francisco Supervisor Mark Farrell, who introduced the measure and strongly supports it.
A new report released by San Francisco Fire Department shows that the number of fires reported in the tent cities, which are havens for homeless residents, has been increasing in recent years.
- In 2005, 35 fires at homeless encampments were reported.
- In 2014, the number jumped to 52.
- In 2015, the number soared to 100 fires at the tent cities.
- In 2016, projections shows crews will have responded to at least 110 fires at the tent cities.
"Why are we putting firefighters in harm's way when we can get rid of these tent encampments and put a roof over their heads," Farrell said. "That should be where the city focuses" on.
Floyd Rollins II, secretary of the San Francisco's Fire Department Local 798 union, said: "When you're going in to an encampment you don't know you know what you're crawling in and what you could be possibly stepping in."