I just took this video of a Legion security guard who the Union Square Business Improvement District (aka BIDs) pays to get rid of poor people. I know the man who was being targeted… he’s my unhoused neighbor who is a sweet guy who’s just trying to survive on the streets. He’s very kind to me and my dog Delilah… she’s a tough one to win over.
The reason I started recording is because the security guard approached him and woke him by kicking his arm. Naturally he was startled awake and the security guard put his fists up and was threatening to assault him. He was telling him to go across the street…. which is right outside of the BID district.
Apparently this has become the norm. There are so few resources due to COVID… yet enforcement has increased. The situation on the streets is really rough. Hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but it’s almost impossible for folks to get hotel rooms. It’s really difficult to get anything.
Here is a similar incident I wrote up last week, but didn’t post. It provides more context so I’ll post it now…
I was walking Delilah this morning near Union Square and I noticed two Legion security guards approaching a woman who was sitting down quietly resting. I knew all too well what was going down and I wasn’t about to keep my mouth shut and just watch them abuse someone because it’s their job to get rid of poor people. The person had no belongings and was simply sitting down against the wall… the sidewalk is really wide there so they weren’t obstructing the walkway. The businesses on this block are entertainment venues and so they are currently closed due to COVID. This person was being targeted for their mere existence as an unhoused person in a Business Improvement District (BIDs). You can read more about how shady BIDs are here: https://wraphome.org/homeless-exclusion-districs/
This kind of harassment has sadly become routine and so unhoused people have become accustomed to being targeted and most folks in this area tend to move along quickly because they aren’t looking for trouble. If they push back it can put them at risk for being harassed even more. I try to do my part as a housed resident to push back when I see my unhoused neighbors being treated poorly.
I asked the security guards (one wasn’t wearing his mask) what they were doing…. why are they bothering someone who is simply resting? They didn’t answer and so I asked… “Are you making this person who is doing nothing wrong leave? Why do they need to leave?” They said the businesses complained and I told them that was bullshit and I pointed to the sign that showed they were closed down due to the pandemic. There was no business to be disturbed and even if they were open there was nothing this woman was doing that would obstruct that. She was simply exhausted and sat down to rest.
I’m used to seeing the “red coats”… they are the BID “safety ambassadors” or whatever they are calling them these days. The BIDs pitch it (and get lots of $ for) the idea that these folks are tasked with doing outreach to unhoused folks. They are doing “outreach” but they have no resources to actually offer and their orders are basically to nicely ask folks to “move along”. I have to say, most red coats I’ve encountered have been very friendly (and in survey’s we’ve done unhoused folks say they treat them nicely), but when it comes down to it their job is to get poor folks to go away. If poor folks don’t go away then their job is to contact the cops who have a deal worked out with the BID. It was unusual for me to see Legion security guards approaching someone on the sidewalk and telling them to go away. I’ve typically seen Legion workers drive into the alley next to my apartment building and honking their car horn and yelling at unhoused folks sleeping in the alley and making them leave. I’m not a fan of their work… there are lots of interesting stories out there about them!
So anyway, I saw a red coat and asked why these security people were doing this and not a red coat talking to her. He said that the ambassadors ask people to go away, but if they don’t leave they call the SFPD officer tasked to get rid of poor folks and if they aren’t available they contact Legion. I was telling him it really sucked that they are being ordered to do that, especially now during COVID shelter in place because there are so few options for folks, and he responded… “I know. It’s really hard. I’m kind of homeless myself.” This stuff is so complex.
And apparently the COVID guidelines the City has put out for folks forced to live on the street doesn’t apply to BIDs?
They are using Legion security, who have a history of abusing folks. All the businesses on the block are shut down due to COVID and yet they targeted a person who was sitting down and resting. I confronted them and they took off… there was absolutely no reason to mess with the person he was simply sitting down. I saw a ‘red coat’ and asked why these security people were doing this and not a red coat outreach person. He said that the ambassadors ask people to go away, but if they don’t leave they call the SFPD officer tasked to getting rid of poor folks and if they aren’t available they contact Legion. They go around and intimidate folks.
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