CHINATOWN NEEDS MORE COPS

Interesting caption for an essay, don't you think? "Chinatown needs more cops." And no, this has nothing to do with Chinese crime. Neither Chinese on Chinese crime, nor Chinese on innocent pure white folks who never did anyone any harm and don't deserve it. Instead, it has to do with street people. And the assorted loonies that the police have so helpfully chased away from the downtown shopping areas.


Why did the various loose ends end up in Chinatown?


Because unlike merchants in Union Square and along Market Street between Montgomery and Powell -- the places where tourists drop their money and show how much they appreciate a colourful and festive metropolis like San Francisco -- the folks who live and work in Chinatown are somewhat hesitant to call the authorities at the drop of every single hat. Their tendency is to believe that if they don't attract overmuch attention from the police force, they won't be treated like crap when they really need a bit of law-enforcement.

Which allows some pretty unstable people to roam about terrorizing honest folks just trying to make a living.

Such as the insane black gentleman with whom I got into an altercation at one of my favourite eateries.

Apparently the rangy looking dude is a regular pest there. They refused to allow him to use the bathroom, they would not mollify him with any dumplings even though he screamed and shouted, and when they asked him to leave he got abusive and started pushing the woman who owns the place around. He even spat on the counter, overturned things, and smashed the tip jar, and was about to smack the proprietress.
Who is only five foot tall and weighs less than me.

So I chased his nasty skank ass out.

Before continuing my meal.

Which was delicious.


This is not something I am supposed to do. If we hadn't started tolerating the whackjobs in this city and declared it a sanctuary so many years ago, it would not be something I would have to do.

Yeah, the city finally did something about the hobo jungle in Hang Ah Alley. Probably only AFTER one of those people groped some child in the nearby playground. But the nuts are still hanging out at Washington Square, and every time I walk past that area I see at least one of them trying to threaten some of the little old gambling addicts that play cards there all day long.

And guess what? The seediness has started to return; the shifty campers are slowly infiltrating Hang Ah Alley again.

Which is right next to a tennis court and a volleyball area.
And very near a playground with children.
Where there are few adults.
Elderly adults.
Mostly.


There are enough crazy people in Chinatown who already belong there that they don't need any more. And there are far too many children and vulnerable oldsters to permit the near-complete absence of either the mental health professionals OR the trained keepers of the peace.

Chinatown is one of the main reasons that tourists come to this city. Chinatown is picturesque, photogenic, fascinating, and something you just won't see in Fumbuck, Iowa. Chinatown helps lay the golden egg that much of this city feeds on. Chinatown is overcrowded, not at all prosperous, and because of both apathy and neglect by Recology and the Department of Public Works (and others), Chinatown is a health-hazard waiting to happen.


Nice that we have so many tourists, as well as all the carpetbagging yuppies from elsewhere in the country. And programmers, business majors, hipsters, and reasonably prosperous artistic types, who all move here. But if we don't take care of our own, we won't have that enticing golden reputation much longer.


All we'll have are nutcases and speed freaks terrorizing honest folks just trying to make a living.



Chinatown needs more cops.




==========================================================================
NOTE: Readers may contact me directly:
LETTER BOX.
All correspondence will be kept in confidence.
==========================================================================