Entries by Christopher Calton

Rethinking “Harm Reduction”

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San Francisco has long been the unofficial “harm reduction” capital of the United States. Harm-reduction policy operates on the premise that total abstinence from drug use is often unrealistic and that it is better to “meet addicts where they are.” Ever since the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic opened in 1967 to provide medication-based addiction treatment, the City by the Bay has pioneered policies and practices designed to mitigate the potential dangers of drug use.

San Francisco Has A Black Market for Housing. That’s as Bad as It Sounds.

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he owners of three single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels in San Francisco’s Chinatown recently settled a lawsuit with the city, agreeing to pay a hefty fine of more than $800,000. Among their alleged crimes was that they “illegally converted, combined or added unauthorized housing units” to their properties. The allegations expose something that should be humiliating for […]

Gavin Newsom Cannot Escape His Embarrassing Legacy on Homelessness

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California Governor Gavin Newsom would very much like to be president. As one of the Democratic Party’s more charismatic leaders, he certainly has a shot. But Newsom’s presidential ambitions are burdened by the sorry state in which his leadership has left California—the cost of living is sky high, crime is out of control, and the […]

To Reduce Homelessness, Donald Trump Must End Housing First

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Homelessness in the United States has grown by nearly 19 percent since its low point in 2016. In 2023, the unhoused population reached its highest levels since we began tracking homelessness, but with the new year and new administration come opportunities to reverse this troubling trend. To do so, President-elect Donald Trump must reverse Obama’s […]

Governor Gavin Newsom Wants You to Think Homelessness in California Is Improving. Do Not Be Fooled.

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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its Annual Homelessness Assessment Report for 2024. The report showed that California homelessness grew by only 3 percent between 2023 and 2024, while total US homelessness increased by a shocking 18 percent. California Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to pat himself on the back for California’s […]

Newsom Signs Dozens of New Housing Bills with No New Ideas

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been on a signing spree lately for new housing bills. To his supporters, the dozens of bills he signed represent a massive effort to overcome the decades-long housing shortage. Unfortunately, the new legislation reflects the same tired ideas that have consistently failed to resolve California’s housing crisis.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

Removing Homeless Encampments Doesn’t End Homelessness

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In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the Supreme Court recently upheld cities’ rights to enforce ordinances against public camping, a euphemism for the homeless encampments that now litter many U.S. municipalities. Weeks later, toward the end of July, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order instructing state agencies to remove encampments from state property and urging local officials to do likewise.

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