Michael Shellenberger: How Progressives Threaten Cities

As 2021 came to a close, questions about crime and homelessness in San Francisco dominated headlines locally and nationally. In addition to high-profile smash-and-grab robberies in San Francisco's Union Square and malls outside the city, the publication of Michael Shellenberger's new book, San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities, also drew attention to increasing disorder on San Francisco's streets; the book and its arguments received attention across the political spectrum from media around the World.
A Bay Area resident for more than 30 years, Shellenberger says progressive policies are, in good part, the reason for homelessness and crime in San Francisco (and similar cities on the West Coast). From homeless encampments to open-air drug markets and retail robberies, he says progressive leaders have gone beyond merely tolerating these issues and now actively enable them through specific public policy choices by urban lawmakers and district attorneys. Shellenberger believes that urban problems such as homelessness and drug dealing aren't primarily from a lack of housing, money for social programs or other "root causes." Instead, he feels the real problem is an ideology that designates some people, by identity or experience, as victims entitled to destructive behaviors and a hands-off approach to law enforcement that coddles them. The result, he says, is an undermining of the values that make cities, and civilization itself, possible.
Please join us as Shellenberger makes one of his first local public appearances to discuss his controversial book and the new crime policies launched in San Francisco.
NOTES
This program is supported by the Ken & Jaclyn Broad Family Fund. Complimentary copies of Shellenberger’s San Fransicko will be available to in-person attendees thanks to their support.
Photo by Gabriel Harber.
JANUARY 24, 2022
SPEAKERS
Michael Shellenberger
Founder and President, Environmental Progress; Author, San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities
Melissa Caen
Political Analyst; Attorney-Moderator
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[@theunshaved1]

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, lived in the Tenderloin in San Francisco for 15 years, and was addicted to heroin in the 90s. I was lucky to get out of that lifestyle. There are so many reasons why this problem festers in exclusively liberal/progressive cities. Progressives (generally) enable bad behavior and put more emphasis on policies with good intentions rather than good results. Then when those policies don't work, or even make the problem worse, they'll claim their adversaries don't care. Progressives love to virtue signal, from NO NUKES bumper stickers to I SUPPORT UKRAINE banners on their Facebook profile pic, the irony is that they're far more close minded, uninformed, and self righteous than the conservatives they despise.

[@kinghenry238]

More than the conservatives? Would this have been true 5 years ago or do you think the Republicans have been reformed?... Or have the Dems just got that far off the deep end?

[@sdfswords]

Very well articulated!

[@Lisa-my5sy]

This is nothing but facts

[@banditnip0345]

When I became homeless in the 70's & 80's as a result of my alcohol & crack addiction. I lived alone in a patch of public woods in my wal-mart dome tent in my wino encampment. Then I went & got the help I needed at the Veteran's Domicillary in Bedford Massachusetts. There they addressed my addiction problems with a combination of medications & individual & group therapy. I eventually got sober & have been paying rent for the past 15 years & have 9 years sobriety. People need to get physically well first and then the counseling & therapy can work. It can be done.

[@copernicansun744]

Two words to describe this interview - common sense. The echo chamber's walls are so thick it takes someone of Shellenbergers bona fides to break through to liberals on things the rest of us have seen as obvious for years by just opening our eyes. Kudos to Commonwealth Club for hosting this interview even though the critique points directly at their core audience. I for one will continue to follow your schedule if you have the courage to continue to invite alternative voices to the table that may cut against the progressive/leftist/liberal ideology.

[@darbyheavey406]

Nothing he says is new…if he were a GOP Senator he would be described as a Nazi.

[@melflo4651]

I thought “common sense” is one word?

[@Will111ism]

Well said 👏 from #Scotland

[@angeleculbertson1755]

So, instead of tax payer dollars going to help people defeat their addiction, we are paying to support their addiction and to help dealers distribute their drugs. This is insane!

[@MrMet-ih5jv]

This was great to watch. I moved from Miami to the Bay Area last year and while there’s no denying California geographically is a beautiful state, the homelessness and amount of trash in the city (SF,San Jose, Oakland) is like nothing over seen. I will definitely buy Michaels book

[@concernedcitizen1729]

Just curious what made you move? I only ask because theres a lot of talk of people moving in the opposite direction. Trying to see how much is just propaganda and whats real. I moved to the Miami area and was surprised by how little the crime makes national news but its definitely on local.

[@connieatkinson418]

Michael Shellenberger is a most honorable, compassionate, honest straight shooter. This is the kind of liberal conservatives can admire, respect, and work with. He is truly a well-wisher of all humankind. God bless his work.

[@theholepicture]

As a conservative I love articulate former democrats that can speak to democrats without the vitriol democrats have given me. As a kid I flirted with Jerry Rubin's marxism for a very short time till I saw the giant flaws by 18 years old.

[@bevatkey4206]

I have bought and read your book, but was so powerful to hear you put it into words. I'm from Vancouver BC and there is much we can learn and apply here as well. Thank you for your hard work, insights, great explanations and enthusiasm for this subject!

[@deniseboudreau3778]

We need someone to promote this book in Canada. I live in a city that has all the earmarks of pathological altruism. Currently taking steps to soften the police force. Handing out free needles, creating "hubs" for the homeless to have access to more and more services. The homeless population is becoming aggressive despite millions of dollars in social services streamlining through a community which is now being destroyed. A housing First initiative right in my backyard with plans for major expansion. All of this without any public consultation. It just perpetuates and feeds the social system and all those who benefit by keeping addicts high. There does not seem to be any recourse for lost businesses or lost property values when entire neighbourhoods experience this slow death process. But how do you dismantle a government that purports to show compassion and in so doing, makes the social atmosphere much worse? They are stuck on ideologies and will not step down.

[@mandywhorwal642]

It's sad that he has to prove he's a liberal with a 10 minute resume before anyone will listen to him. Just be aware, folks, of what it takes to get people who think like this to wake up. Give government all your money.. what could possibly go wrong?

[@angeleculbertson1755]

It's also funny that the host says we can't really argue with all of the statistics in this book, but when conservatives come with statistics and facts, progressives call names and try to shout them down.

[@darbyheavey406]

I was of a similar view after I saw homeless people freeze to death on the streets of Philadelphia in the 1980s. The same people came into the ER every few weeks and then they would come as an OD or an exposure death. I one set up a ventilator so we could raise his body temp to a range where we could legally declare him dead. If this guy was a conservative this would get zero attention unless they called him a bigot.

[@wilhouts6173]

…”give the government all your money, what could go wrong.” Yes, but what about a Flat 10% tax/Fair/Reasonable tax base in order to have a functioning Representative Government. Doesn’t have to either/or.

[@TheJustina102085]

Exactly; when recommending his book I find myself giving a preface statement that describes Shellenberger’s political history in order to give it credibility..

[@lordrichardson4447]

ive seen several people refer to this guy as a far right extremist. its super sad. and pathetic. They are completely brainwashed

[@BoddickerOCP]

Excellent talk. We need more people to tell it like it is and use facts rather than ideology to guide policy.

[@commonwealthclubworldaffairs]

Thanks for watching! You can catch more upcoming programs here: www.commonwealthclub.org/online

[@manonamission3244]

The ideology that drugs are more harmful than mass incarceration and disenfranchisement is absurd. Where was the gang violence before drug prohibition? Alcohol created mafias, narcotics make cartels. Legalization is the only common sense approach. Else, why not extend it, prohibit cigarettes and sugar, see how that goes.

[@jamesbarlow6423]

Americans don't want to know how it is

[@pbkelly3]

Great conversation about one of California’s most intractable problems. Bravo to the CC and M Schellenberger!

[@commonwealthclubworldaffairs]

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch more upcoming programs here: www.commonwealthclub.org/online

[@voyowee]

Such an important book. Enjoyed the conversation.

[@commonwealthclubworldaffairs]

You can catch more upcoming programs here: www.commonwealthclub.org/online Thanks for watching!

[@waynr]

I often feel conflicted when it comes to problems around drug use and homelessness. I've always leaned pretty far left of center despite growing up in a very conservative family and community so I often have to really work to suppress some of my built-in conservative biases, especially when it comes to matters of social vs individual responsibility. I often hold my tongue in conversations with more radical leftists because they are perfectly willing to ostracize those who don't kowtow to their ideological biases when it comes to policy matters like this. I am always a bit conflicted internally. It was nice to listen to this seemingly fact-based discussion of the problem. I'm also a big fan of Shellenberger's views on nuclear energy.

[@theunshaved1]

Keep going brother and don't hold your tongue. That's how we lose.

[@Rocchio753]

If you can’t speak your mind amongst your crowd without receiving vitriol and being ostracized, your crowd is in a cult.

[@david8905]

" I often have to really work to suppress some of my built-in conservative biases..." Are they biases or simply values? What is wrong with conservative values?

[@Yagetwhatyavoted4]

@@david8905 nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong with having a set of moral values, regardless of what you identify as politically. A value system should never be projected as politically based. I’m perfectly fine admitting the fact that many liberals live life following a set of values that are good for fellow man. The problem always arises when someone has a disagreement in political views and then that person is labeled as in compassionate or ignorant of others problems. Why?

[@lizicadumitru9683]

@@david8905 Biases stem from values

[@jbp122]

It’s interesting that the moderator mentioned that she was only open to reading the book after she realized the author was a liberal.

[@danielgorz7594]

I am a conservatively leaning Moderate and I wanna say thanks for posting this interview. It was eye opening! I agree with nearly everything this man said. Excellent Talk! This proves my thought, we need more moderate policies!

[@UNCIVILIZE]

Glad to see Michael working on the Twitter Files. Thank you.

[@banditnip0345]

My 30 year old neighbor is a gang unit cop and is the most caring & kind person that I know.

[@justmyopinion9883]

Thank you for sharing this informative conversation. I will look for Michael Schellenberger's book at the library; it should be a great read.

[@rpdaley0]

As a moderate leaning right, I found everything you said to be right in line with how I believe we need to tackle this issue. Love your talk and the fact that the audience welcomed what you said was great!

[@manonamission3244]

Legalization makes more sense than incarceration. Black markets mean violence and poverty are guaranteed outcomes.

[@carriersailor2474]

@@manonamission3244 You just have missed his discussion on how the Skandies and Portugal have gone through all this already. We see the mess of the addiction issue. We have the history of alcohol prohibition due to how much problems booze causes - and happily, the other drugs are not as culturally bound to us as booze, or we'd be totally messed up. Those Euro countries showed that the "dream" of legalizing drugs completely simply doesnt work. This talk makes plenty of sense, and if you listen to it again, you'll get this, if you are not too wedded to that "legalize all drugs" dream.

[@johnfranklin8319]

@@carriersailor2474 Legalizing drugs will without doubt, create more addicts, period. Bad idea.

[@lordrichardson4447]

@@carriersailor2474 agreed. This just woudlnt work in our society. I think that once upon a time we possibly could have legalized all drugs, just cause people were much more put together as human beings and I think we could have potentially been responsible with it, but not today.

[@hamm0155]

Excellent talk, very strong points!!

[@theglanconer6463]

Thank you. I just wish people would open their eyes and see what they are doing to their children, to the (partly broken down) society, the addicted, the poor, the mentally ill and the next (party indoctrinated) generation. Virtue signalling doesn't save lives, aux contraire; it kills.

[@kinghenry238]

Yes.... Hopefully his next book??

[@stevehoughton3854]

Terrific speech….humanity grounded in realism!

[@theother1406]

Rents practically tripled over night in 2002 in San Diego. I was a single mom with a toddler. I was born in San Diego and so was my child. I would like to see a "Birth right" law with deep discounts on rent. I have resented off and on all my life all of the transplants that would come and go and the rich ones stayed and exploited, gentrified. I have to live in a po-dunk desert town in the next red state over, I'm not a happy camper. I guess we'll all take turns getting a taste of what the Native Americans felt.

[@cristianion2056]

Probably if SAN DIEGO GIVE MORE PERMITS TO BUILD MORE 🏠 RENT WOULD BE CHEAPER. BUT SOMEHOW ONLY SOME OF CONSERVATIVES DO THAT

[@theother1406]

@@cristianion2056 I've never, ever heard of any "conservative" care about anyone other than their own tribe and themselves.

[@maximusthemerciful9452]

@@theother1406 yet lots of Californians moving to red states because they can’t take it here anymore. Funny how that works. Liberals running to states with less regulation.

[@tomwright9904]

I suspect the solution might be to move more states over....

[@ryannichols5352]

Wonderful interview. He touches on many aspects of the landscape - he is well researched. The paradox to the problem(s) is that those with the power are consumed with their own vision of personal success - hence Cal is just a stepping stone for them.

[@PatrickFerryCoach]

He is such a good thinker and expressing good ideas great ... thank you!!!

[@oregoneyes6673]

So many cogent thoughts in so little time. Thank you.

[@Will111ism]

Subbed & liked 👍 Ty GB this shakey #World

[@mm5478]

I'm a liberal democrat and have been all my life. Grew up in the Sunset District. Mr. Shellberger's thesis is absolutely correct.

[@user-ph1gu2jb5b]

This is a wonderful man, I am so moved that he would care so deeply about our outcast. I call them"our" because they are our neighbors. God bless you Michael. Bless you.

[@em-dy3hn]

THANK YOU!

[@jm-ig2mq]

After being a big fan of his 'Apocalypse Never' book, I've just discovered he wrote this. Ordered it immediately. I imagine it's as no-nonsense, factual and eye opening as his work on environmentalism. Can't recommend enough.

[@em-dy3hn]

We need someone like you in Canada too!

[@hazeluzzell]

The interviewer has a very strange attitude…

[@travisbitters7964]

Thank You!

[@SASA-il3wt]

Michael Shellenberger for California governor. Next election June 7, 2022.

[@tgirard123]

We just moved to Portland Oregon and a lot of what's happening in San Francisco is happening here. Luckily, they're starting to see some of the consequences in San Francisco and the city is starting to make significant change here. We'll see...

[@narayanprasad4008]

My understanding is that drug addicts do not want to be in shelters , preferring to be on the streets . Shelters are monitored and there are rules and regulations there that affects don't like . They want to ge allowed to use drugs as and when they please .

[@kingclover1395]

It was the realization that all the things I believed as a Progressive were actually the cause of the problems I wanted to solve, rather than the solutions, that make me no longer a Progressive.

[@g7wilson]

Excellent.

[@banditnip0345]

They could learn by the model the Veteran's Administration has in Homeless Domicillary Programs where they combine (Work Therapy) & physical, phyciatric & addiction therapy. It worked for me & many other homeless veterans. I went through it in 1994 and here in 2022 I'm 65 years old & happily sober 9 years now from everything with no meds needed at all.

[@JohnnyB719]

Guys like this should be running things

[@narayanprasad4008]

But , the speaker does not address the elephant in the room . Why do we have so many drug addicts ? Poor parenting , breakdown of family units , single parents unable to provide moral guidance ? Why is our govt not tackling drug supply ?

[@patshelby9285]

Two much profit for too many donors?

[@bobthebuilder9553]

Wish they hadn't prefaced this with a Gavin Newsom ad.

[@KITCHENCOOKIEJARTHIEF]

Thank you Michael

[@lordrichardson4447]

Did she just really ask if he interviewed homesless people over zoom? cause she cant imagne actually going to meet with one face to face? wtf lol

[@UNCIVILIZE]

As regards requiring accountability from those receiving benefits - You said that's what they actually need and I agree. This is a crisis of spirit too. Every Human needs purpose and to prove themselves and to be accountable. That's part of what's missing and part of how we ended up here in the first place. No one really wants to be a victim. So, well said. Few people understand this part.

[@banditnip0345]

We can attend city and town hall meetings to give suggestions about things that have worked for us.

[@jodihouts6032]

I personally believe they should fire the top 10% "earners" of the homeless programs, and promote the "workers" with parameters of successful improvements for continuing in those positions. The way it is set up now, individual "success" is achieved by continuing or expanding the problem.

[@wendellbabin6457]

Speaking of the Gipper, RIP, "We're here from the Government, and we're here to "help"".

[@onederb71nln83]

Problem is I live in a small suburb mid-low class. None of my friends or co workers care enough to read a book or watch a interview like this, I barley know anyone that really reads during their free time at all. In the same manner most of them could figure out how to get a print to work with a laptop.

[@Leann68]

You lost me on the heroin and Methadone argument, Methadone works it’s just the methadone clinics push to high dosage of Methadone maintenance.

[@Iluvpaws_1]

Blaming Reagan for de institutionalization is such a trope. He was forced by bad court rulings. I’m glad someone finally came out w the truth-we can blame the mad rights movement for much of the homeless problem

[@shokuchideirdrecarrigan7402]

In the mid-70’s an ex-mental patients group (self-identified) called NAPA organized around a film called “Hurry Tomorrow” which played at the Clay Theatre with the intention of closing Napa State hospital and others and legally ending forced drugging of mental patients. In 1976 they staged a sit in in Gov. Brown’s office and showed him the film. Gov Brown seemed to come on board, with the intention of closing the hospitals and opening community care centers. Eventually the hospitals closed but Brown was followed by a string of Republican govs and the community care centers never opened. Laws were changed to protect the right to refuse treatment. What Reagan did as President was end government funded employment programs. Simultaneously SF mayor Feinstein entered into the “Manhattanization” of SF driving up housing prices. Also Hong Kong investors looking for a new place to put their wealth because Hong Kong was reverting to China began buying up SF properties, building apartment buildings on single family lots, and charging greatly increased rents. During that decade rental housing (mine) went from $250 for a Richmond district house to $1200 for an outer mission house. During that decade, homelessness became a huge problem throughout the nation and in San Francisco. By the way for those who did have jobs, wages did not increase for middle and low income folks. All of this preceded tech. Haven’t read Sicko but I hear nothing of the history I witnessed and experienced from 1973 to 2005 which is when I left. SF is still a beautiful city but it is a very much changed. Sadly.

[@wilhouts6173]

Public housing is still more efficient than incarceration housing for $100,000 to $400,000 each, with little or no rehabilitation. Social programs Can include social workers and drug programs to assist those ready for an increased Quality of Life.

[@charles597]

Providing housing without enforcing the law just leads to said housing being destroyed and going to waste. Drug dens is all that would result.

[@notloki3377]

legend has it one day, micheal shellenberger will fill his power meter to the max setting and turn into matt walsh.

[@Malignus68]

My favorite observation from Shellenberger's book: People like Oprah, Dr. Phil, Joyce Meyer...they make millions by telling their audience, "It's within your power to improve your life, you should be trying to do so, and here's a seemingly endless number of way you can begin"...but say those same words to a high school drop-out, or pregnant teen, or drug addict, or homeless person, and you'll invoke the fiery wrath of every progressive in this country.

[@banditnip0345]

Lakeland Florida has a city ordinance if you get caught urinating in the public, you get a 3 day jail sentance. Some people like that because they will be getting 3 hots & a cot in jail.

[@wilhouts6173]

Yes, good/wise use of Incentives has been the way Government ( at least the Federal) has moved people/corporations/the military in the desired direction. Can Tax high, give rebates.

[@travishall6442]

As a former drug addict, the war on drugs has been a good thing and should continue

[@adamhauskins6407]

It will ,treatment/human storage will just be added to it but law enforcement will continue even if legalization sloves most of the problems caused by vice

[@whatwouldjohngaltdo1409]

Glad he’s running now!

[@kevintischer263]

I have been a follower of Michael for some time. I agree with many of his points and I particularly appreciate how he was truthful acknowledging that there is in fact no climate crisis. I also admire his courage and conviction endorsing nuclear power - something I have been championing for decades. My issue is - who is this interviewer? She is a poor at interviewing (I do not think she is totally prepared - I do not believe she read the book) and brings nothing to this forum. Am I wrong?

[@thequietpoet]

Michael: Nobody wants mass incarceration? My little devil's voice on my shoulder says "Your 401K wants mass incarceration".

[@johnfranklin8319]

Disfunction wasn’t the cause of Skunkworks at Lockheed, it was a top secret program in 1943 to build the first jet plane for the US Military and the lack of floor space made them come up with a circus tent to shield the project from anyone inside or outside the company that didn’t have the security clearance.

[@singjosingsing]

Hospitals are financially decimated from the pandemic of the last 2 years. I’m not sure where this surplus is, but it is unsustainable to spend a ton of money on non-compliant patients. You do know the Netherlands has comfort-centered treatment before health problems are end-stage. This will always be deemed unethical here.

[@siobhanstrauss8492]

I’m addicted to chocolate donuts and coffee atm

[@wilhouts6173]

I understood ‘de-funding’ the police to mean ‘re-allocate’ funding to include Social Workers to handle domestic disturbances…backed up by the police. So, I guess, it would be the re-allocating the funding now used to buy the ‘last years’ Military Hardware/Tanks for our city streets.! I agree, shutting down Police precincts is Not the way. Better, more up-to-date Training of Police to deal better with the current needs is crucial.

[@stevewheeler6118]

As a Conservative, this is a breath of fresh air. Both Liberals and Conservatives have allowed our debates about what we disagree upon to degenerate into name calling and abuse. We have allowed our desire to wield power and enforce our will to obscure all that we hold in common. As a result, the country is adrift, and our most radical elements dominate the conversation, which is no longer a conversation at all but a shouting match. Our genius in the United States is for compromise and negotiation in good faith. I pray that the political center can seize control from the fringe elements for whom politics is a zero sum game.

[@jennysteves]

I live in a small town where rents are high, rentals scarce, and winters are frigid. There is no homeless shelter in our town. The closest shelter is in a city 20 miles away and it is dirty and dangerous, with no warm space nearby to spend each day. I’ve befriended two people who are presently without a home in our town. Neither are addicts; one has occasional anger issues. Both worked full time until their bodies gave out and they were let go. Fast food jobs don’t cover rent and food in our town. Perhaps Michael’s profile of homelessness fits best in large liberal cities with survivable winters. It is a poor match for our small town. And yes, we have addiction and mental health issues here, too. Sign of the times. Still, I plan to read San Fransicko .. I’m glad the homeless problem in this large US city has been effectively nuanced. p.s. I don’t buy the nuclear power solution but I fully embrace the green illusions of wind, solar etc. We are witnessing signs of civilization decline and possible collapse, as they all eventually do. Nuclear waste in a collapsing civilization is a bad idea. Our real predicaments of ecological overshoot, overpopulation, fossil fuel gluttony and dependence, increased polarization and the rich-poor divide etc have been largely ignored. Climate change, which is a result of our predicaments rather than a cause, is an easy focus and profit capture for our corporate run world.

[@alisabown8175]

I'm so impressed with Michael's work. Not impressed with the interviewer. A good interviewer asks poignant questions and fades into the background. She enjoys the stage too much.

[@garyheaton3637]

The recurring theme in this speech is that when confronted by uncomfortable facts the first things liberals do is ask if a conservative person is giving the information.

[@lieshtmeiser5542]

Thats how it goes these days. Us conservatives are treated with derision for having faith, and having values, but yet the facts speak for themselves...

[@lordrichardson4447]

@@lieshtmeiser5542 its pretty crazy to see this happening today. Currently, its the right, conservatives who are the tolerant side, they are far more accepting of different perspectives and different people. Speaking generally of course. obviously their are people on the extreme edges with the right as well, but it seems much of the entire left are extremist.

[@kinghenry238]

Ahhh equal protection under the law. One of the biggest issues in our age and it is finally brought up by a candidate. With that and reasonable requirements for housing aid, this gubernatorial canidate is looking good.

[@briancam_2000]

GREAT BOOK! HARVEY MILK AND JIM JONES NEVER KNEW THE CONNECTION.

[@megg.6651]

Michael Shellenberger for PRESIDENT!!

[@banditnip0345]

Housing first is a recepie for disaster . If you do it, you'll be seeing alot of overdoses and fires caused by irresponsible mulled up tenants who haven't worked on sobriety.

[@barbarabrooks4747]

Many of the homeless have relatives who really cafe, but they don't have the means of knowledge to set up a conssrvatorship for their mentally ill and/or addicted relative. People need cheap or free assistance to get a conssrvatorship so that they can force their loved ones into treatment. It's much more humane to having caring relatives make these decisions, rather than the state. Police could then enforce the contractor's orders and take the person to either the public hospital for detox or treatment or a private facikity. Many mentally people will take their meds if they know that they will be forced to return to a mental hospital according to their parents opinion of need, rather than having to be an immediate danger to self or others.

[@tomwright9904]

So... in all of this you have to consider the existence of single episode psychosis and the extreme side effects of antipsychotics and potentially damaging effects of state interventions. There are two British entertainers Paul Merton and homeland actor David Harewood both of whom experienced psychosis and both of whom to my knowledge recovered without medication and could have had their lives greatly harmed by compulsory medication. The way things work in the UK is that you often have a measure of revolving door detention and forced drugging. Where people will get detained held for 1 to three months get put on medd then released and stop taking meds. It may be better than alternatives

[@wilhouts6173]

yes, the Victim Ideology is an unbalanced approach. Limits & boundaries with rewards for accomplishments and progress is how we all learn and grow. How do we improve that system.?

[@markmiddaugh9359]

I went to Cuba in 2001 thru Global Exchange.

[@robertasirgutz8800]

Cities require governance, and policy. We have to use the vote. We've been here before. NY State suddenly closed ALL State mental hospitals, now they're on our streets.

[@wendellbabin6457]

1:01:37 Tarnished?! WOW!

[@gggnumber1]

OMG, that was one, maybe the only, conservative joke that was actually very funny; "Gavin Newsome pledges to get to the bottom of 'Who's in charge of California.' " On a related note, it always amazes me when the CEO or similar is being questioned and the answer is something like, "I don't know." There are lots of variations to that answer, all of which are annoying. If the person, supposedly, running the company doesn't know, ....... just Who does. Yes, that's right, Who. Dooh!

[@wilhouts6173]

YES, the three P’s. We can fix/improve How we do things. Technology is available to help us make this next evolutionary step to improve our society/civilization. Disfunction/imbalance is the pain motivation to more away from no long works….as we work together on it.🌞

[@artneville5994]

Michael: please run for governor!

[@jacquestaulard3088]

no sound! All these are censored

[@kristinadutton3259]

He’s on the right track in some ways, but his ideas are also a bit conflated- or perhaps his presentation of the issues is a little convoluted. Definitely an over generalization of progressive thinking around these things- it is problematic but some of it is also extremely helpful. Stanford Prof Robert Sapolsky is a liberal who talks about abolishing the criminal justice system as it stands now, but the reasons Sapolsky gives for why and how we would rework the system is far from what SF’s policies look like now, and also different than traditional models. There IS thinking out there that makes sense, but given the complexity of political dynamics it takes time to achieve these things, and going back to old ways isn’t always the answer. I say this as a Bay Area citizen with a schizophrenic sister living in the midwest. I don’t see good much in the way of good models for the mentally ill in really any of our states or cities.

[@lionCnet]

I have schizophrenia but have a strong support system and don't do drugs. I deal with people who have untreated mental health issues and substance abuse, I'm a security guard. I do notice the problems in nyc and they are worse than people really know. Some of those addicts will kill for their next fix. The homeless kill each other and work for their dealers. They are being used by their dealers in many ways.

[@negativeionz]

I spent a year volunteering in Seattle a little over 10 years ago in a "transitional housing" facility with a lot of exposure to recently homeless people trying to get housing services there. I have about 10 years of edu in psychology and neurobio. It was not 100% 10ish years ago it was like 50% of those people were neurotic as fuck or addicts. Maybe 75% tops. A lot of them just had horrible life experiences that lead them there. This makes me suspect of anything else he says. If you're looking at complex human behavior and your results are "everyone is 100%" in a group as large as The US homeless population, you're not doing research. But you might be a cultural anthropologist pretending to do it.

[@jodihouts6032]

Listen again please. He didn't say 100% homeless, he said 100% those entrenched in encampments.

[@tomwright9904]

24:00 mentioning deinstitutuonalisation without talking about neuroleptics is misleading

[@normalizedinsanity4873]

This is infantile in the extreme

[@wendellbabin6457]

1:03:46 Until somebody, somewhere, anywhere admits that illegal immigration issue is confounding a lot of these issues AT LEAST "they" are wasting their time and "Other People's Money". And Billionaires are NOT stupid if anything else. And most have failed many times. One of the lessons of that is you learn to recognize and admit the stink of failure and stop throwing good money after bad. Or in Religious Speak Sow's Ear purse making.

[@sidneybristow815]

Yes, he is running for office. He makes sense and has solutions and ambition and he cares about the City. He’s not driven by greed or controlled by a group of millionaires and billionaires. He knows consequences of laws and regulations and chooses wisely. Running for Governor but I wish he was President! Gavin is weak and his speeches make no sense.

[@thomaspassmore3455]

I'm just glad I'll be dead and gone by the time It gets so bad people will be jumping off high rises.

[@hollyhold6960]

Police presence definitely curtains crime. Of course.

[@adacasas511]

The flirtatious giggles of the moderator, Melissa Caen, are markedly inappropriate, given the topic. Very insensitive and of course obvious. Mr. Shalellenbergers wife might agree. So disrespectful! Smh

[@antoniogil5156]

san fran-see-coh? Why?

[@Johnconno]

It's good that they all live in California.

[@vicm6561]

So Michael have you had an audience with California Governor ? Cause here it is a year later and he does nothing but bash DeSantis.

[@wendellbabin6457]

57:12 Should be plenty of Military bases in the middle of nowhere basically abandoned and left to rot that have facilities that taxpayers have ALREADY paid for that could be repurposed for a lot of what he is advocating. Married housing. Single people barracks, male and female. Acute Hospitals or dispensaries. Even "jails" for temporary holding the temporarily lost causes for transfer to harder core treatment or prison where required. Pools. Gyms. Commissaries. Even airfields or helipads at minimum. The Lot. And secure. Or more so at least. Many are in areas where the local economy was gutted when the base closed. And still are. And hopeless otherwise. And probably have their own drug problems. Sounds like a win-win. Won't be Betty Ford, obviously, but that is probably part of "the Problem". And we DO NOT want to turn these bases into that. Tough love and finish growing up and/or provide or replace the obviously missing Parenting or Parent(s) a lot of these folks could use. When will the Left realize a hand up should not degenerate into a hand OUT. Their is never ENOUGH of anything. I don't care how many Billionaires bank you try to zero out. Feds could bankrupt all of them and it will do NOTHING when most of it would be outright wasted, backdoored into Political Funding or spent on the wrong things for the wrong people and make every problem they toich exponentially worse. EVERY TIME. Because tough, perpetual, problems take TIME patience and most importantly WISDOM. From what I have seen is that is sorely lacking on ALL sides of every "Aisle". And likely any that could be conceived in future because this is Humans we are dealing with after all. And when have any of us ever made sense? Or will. Thomas Sowell is fond of saying, and he is correct as usual...There are no "Solutions", only trade offs.

[@californiahummus]

SEARCH - Recall Mayor London Breed petition

[@scottdavis3571]

We don't need something hierarchical. We can organize those things as a work group.

[@thomaspassmore3455]

Is there a lot of Poo 💩 on the sidewalks in San Francisco? I might have to go there soon and don't want to step in someone else's Pooo.! Mine is bad enough when I drop a deuce on my kitchen floor and accidentally roll in it. Just can't imagine rolling in unknown shizzle know what I mean yo?