I’m not the kind of person to say that we need to help and welcome people in great difficulty on one hand, and “but not in my garden” in the other. In my eye, the little studio apartment I’m renting 520 Natoma St is fine with all these poor people down the building. What I don’t understand and tolerate is when the street turns into THE public toilet for all 6th and the 5 blocks around - leading to a 24/7 strong smell of urine that prevents you from opening your windows.
If the city, like me, welcomes people in despair, what about providing public toilets? The way it’s done in civilized cities, states or countries? This situation makes no sense, especially if you pay local taxes.

In addition to all of the “quality of life” and “can’t rent out my unit” issues my neighbors have raised, there are very basic sanitation and health concerns. Rats run rampant as charity-donated food is often thrown around onto the sidewalks/street by the recipients. Feces on the sidewalk or street, sometimes ejected onto the sides of residential buildings (“is it dog or human?”) is almost always seen on this block. Swarms of flies and mosquitoes breed in the unchecked filth. It’s as though all lessons of basic sanitation over the past couple centuries have been forgotten, giving this neighborhood aspects of a 19th-century slum. Enough is enough.

everyday i walk from work to home at 11ish. every night i fear for my safety, i always pass by 6th st and natoma and see these people doing drugs, smoking( i have asthma!) and taking the sidewalks (especially on natoma st) sleeping and camping which leaves you no choice but to walk on the road. the street is also dirty and smells pee and poo.

I live in this area and would like to see a change since I work hard to pay my rent and when I come outside it smells like pee garbage etc. I would really like a difference change not just for me but people with families.

For residents safety especially children.