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After a historic wait, part of Governor Schwarzenegger's brilliant budget move includes slashing "over $500 million in programs affecting seniors and people with disabilities." One of these programs, it seems, was a $347-a-year tax credit for low-income senior renters. But yesterday low-income tenants of-a-certain-age were hopping cross, crabnabbit! And many of them, along with the supervisor/star Tom Ammiano, took to the steps of City Hall to show Sacramento what's what. See, they want their kickback back!
Anyway, seeing as how we're not a part of the AARP sect yet, thus this issue doesn't affect our immediate future, we just don't care about it. Oh, we kid! But BeyondChron's Paul Hogarth waxes politically active on yesterday's renter rebate rally, which you can read here.
But what we do care about? Protest pics. And lots of 'em. You know, who's wearing what? Who was there? Were there any whimsical protest signs? Any choice taser action? And at what point did said protest lose its original intent? To find out more, check out these images.
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Not directly related, but kinda ... why do we invest so much more in people at the end of their lives as opposed to children? Oh right - kids can't vote for politicians. No wonder our kids can't speak or read english.
As an afterthought, I am happy to kick in an extra $250 or whatever on my property taxes to help pay public school teachers in San Francisco better ... I still question government spending priorities for the old versus the young.
RinconHillSF, if you bothered to attend yesterday's rally you would have learned how the $347-a-year rebate -- which ONLY goes to very low-income senior tenants -- has a real impact.
These seniors live on SSI -- which is about $800 a month -- to rent a dingy, 10X10 residential hotel room in the Tenderloin, at about $500 a month. The rent broken down by square foot is more expensive than a luxury apartment in Pacific Heights. These folks never have enough money for anything, and a $347 check from the state government once a year is a small token to help them out.
St. Anthony's Dining Room was there to report that one third of their clients who come in for a free meal are seniors. Not all of these folks are homeless. Quite a few live in the SRO's on Sixth Street or in the Tenderloin, but who simply don't have money at the end of the month to buy their own food -- after rent.
$347 a year. So the old guy in the Tenderloin doesn't always have to go to the soup kitchen to be fed. Have a little heart, Arnold ... he won't raise taxes on millionaires to solve the budget crisis, but he'll get rid of that tax credit? Shameful.
Perhaps that $800 a month would go a lot further in a different city, one not so expensive as SF?
Oh, so in other words you're telling "those people" to "go move somewhere cheaper"? That's pretty arrogant ...
Oh touchy, touchy, Paul.
Listen, I agree with you - it's awful that this rebate is being cut.
But don't get all self-righteous when it's suggested that there is a chance that someone might be better off living somewhere else.
Do you not see it as "pretty arrogant" to suggest that a "dingy 10x10 residential hotel room in the tenderloin" is superior to living somewhere cheaper in Oakland or Redwood City or a different state?
Although it may appear cheaper to go live somewhere else, I doubt in reality it would be. Think about it, if these seniors move to some lesser city, they will wind up paying through the nose for services that are provided here at a fairly minimal cost: public transportation is what immediately springs to mind. Therefore, I have no problem giving them a rebate.
Acting like living here is some kind of civil right for able-bodied people who just don't want to work/better themselves -- that's where I have a problem.
Actually I support the War on Seniors. It's an unpopular position with them being cute and defenseless and all. But wake up people, it's them or us. So once your life crystal turns red, it's the Carousel for you.