San Francisco Tech Worker Offended By Homeless Population


The real world divide between the “haves and have-nots” is clear, as San Francisco tech workers express disdain with the city’s homeless population. The Guardian talked to high earning, tech-savvy workers who are outraged at the growing homeless population that they encounter on their way into offices buildings.

Privileged Techies Bothered By Seeing Homeless Population

San Francisco tech entrepreneurs make big bucks in Silicon Valley. The privileged lives these workers live seems to impair the ability of some to employ empathy for the less fortunate. One worker feels that the “wealthy” shouldn’t have to endure the “pain and struggle” of “riff raff” as they commute to their jobs.

Homeless Population Put “Away” For Big Money Tourist Events

Over 7,000 people are without physical addresses in San Francisco and their”home” is the streets. Bridges and freeway overpasses provide makeshift housing for people and their meager belongings. When big money events draw tourists, “clean-ups” and city sweeps are done so visitors don’t have to witness those down on their luck.

Rich Techie Pens Open Letter To San Francisco Officials

Commando.io founder and tech entrepreneur, Justin Keller, penned an open letter to San Francisco mayor Ed Lee, and police chief, Greg Suhr, expressing his displeasure with the homeless population:

“I am writing today, to voice my concern and outrage over the increasing homeless and drug problem that the city is faced with. I’ve been living in SF for over three years, and without a doubt it is the worst it has ever been. Every day, on my way to, and from work, I see people sprawled across the sidewalk, tent cities, human feces, and the faces of addiction. The city is becoming a shanty town … Worst of all, it is unsafe.”

Human Despair Makes Affluent Techies Uncomfortable

Keller offers no suggestions for bringing about positive change for those experiencing homelessness. He just wants them to go away. That way he and others in his privileged class won’t have to witness human despair.When folks on Twitter went after him over his lack of sensitivity, he proffered up a weak apology for using the term “riff-raff” to define people who would likely do better if they had the means and resources. He called his word choice “insensitive and counterproductive.”

He got that part right. San Francisco is one of the most costly places to dwell in the U.S. and not everyone can pack up and move when hard times hit. Empathy and positive suggestions are certainly more productive ways to address the homeless epidemic.

Featured Image by Franco Folini via Flickr, available under a Creative Commons license.

 

 

 

C. Imani Williams is a human rights and social justice activist. She writes to empower and give voice to those silenced through systematic oppression. Her work has appeared in Between the Lines, Michigan Citizen, Tucson Weekly, Harlem Times, Dope Magazine and various news and popular culture blogs. Follow the unapologetically black political culture critique @ https://twitter.com/Imaniwms and https://www.facebook.com/You-Have-The-Right-540358412796352/?fref=ts