Health Violations Plague Housing Meant To Help S.F. Residents In Need
A San Francisco Chronicle investigation reveals health and safety problems in the single-room-occupancy hotels that are part of the city's supportive housing network. Meanwhile, homeless people who lived along the Santa Ana river are being uprooted.
San Francisco Chronicle:
Aging SRO Hotels Raise Health, Safety Issues For Housing Homeless
Most of the 75 complexes, which cost the city $112 million annually to operate, are considered generally safe and well-run. But a San Francisco Chronicle investigation into health and safety issues in those residences found persistent problems among the oldest — the century-old single-room-occupancy hotels, or SROs, that house more than 60 percent of the people in supportive housing. The Chronicle’s probe found chronic maintenance issues, health code violations and frustrated residents at a handful of these city-funded SROs. (Fagan and Palomino, 12/5)
Orange County Register:
Options Running Out For Homeless Living Along Santa Ana River Bed
The lack of an immediate, viable alternative for shelter is recognized as well by public officials and homeless activists, some of whom estimate that the burgeoning number of riverside dwellers has reached as many as 1,000 people. There are those like Romero who have lived in and around the river bed for decades. (Walker, 12/5)
In other news from across the state —
The Mercury News:
Hetch Hetchy Work Leaves Palo Alto With 'Musty' Water
Palo Alto residents were subject to drinking water in recent days that had “musty” or “earthy” overtones.City leaders said Monday the unpleasant smelling and tasting water is safe to drink and the city continues to conduct daily water testing. The noticeable difference resulted from a blending of the water supply that happens when the Hetch Hetchy water distribution system undergoes annual maintenance, City Manager James Keene said at the City Council meeting. (Lee, 12/5)
East Bay Times:
Quick-Acting, ‘Calm’ Teacher Saves Vacaville Fifth-Grader’s Life
Hemlock Elementary fifth-grader Alaina Cortijo will always remember what happened at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and she will forever regard her teacher, Angelo Marubayashi, in a heroic light. After hearing, then seeing her choke on a slice of orange, he calmly performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life. “I thought I might die,” Cortijo said Friday afternoon during an interview at the Vacaville campus, with her mother, Katrina, sitting next to her in Marubayashi’s class, Room 13. (12/5)