The GOP's egregious shutdown of the federal government will have wide-reaching effects (other than your noble attempts at being a fantasy Daily Show writer, as evidenced by Facebook and Twitter). In addition to, say, the families who won't receive a WIC payment today or those who won't get treatment from the National Institutes of Health, it will also hit us on the local level.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point, Lands End, and Muir Woods will be closed to visitors. Open areas like Crissy Field, however, will remain open. Bay Area national parks see an estimated 17 million visitors per year. Most of the parks' employees will be sent home without pay.
Also of note: "people who purchased Alcatraz cruises—which often sell out weeks in advance—would be given a refund or the option to reschedule their visits," reports SF Appeal.
Most of the 169,000 federal employees in the Bay Area will be furloughed sans pay. Also, as The Chronicle reports, "At greater risk are the 31,000 people who rely on federally funded public housing at the San Francisco Housing Authority, which is technically not a city agency. "
Mail will still be delivered. Social Security and Medicare benefits will also continue. Back in the niners, however, when the shutdown last 21 days from 1995 into 1996, people saw delays in the issuing of Social Security, Medicare, veterans' checks, and passport and visa applications.
Here's a list of things you need to know about how the government shutdown will affect you.
Update: SFist commenter Allyson E-B alerts us that Mayor Ed Lee made an official statement regarding the shutdown. Describing himself as "extremely concerned," Lee said: "[A] prolonged government shutdown could affect the more than 31,000 San Franciscans served by the San Francisco Housing Authority and the more than 31,000 families relying on subsidized food and nutrition programs. Our most vulnerable residents are the people who stand to suffer the most from Congressional Republican inaction." He adds that Congress’ actions have jeopardized programs funded by the $447 million in federal government funds.
