The San Francisco homeless problem can't be simply solved with more money. Erica Sandberg writes.
If Benioff wants to be a hero, it is within his substantial means to achieve something that few others can afford—and which San Franciscans at large would embrace. He could assemble like-minded billionaires, tech giants, and other successful businesses, encourage their buy-in, and create a private organization dedicated to direct homeless services. They might open accessible and enticing substance-abuse and psychological-counseling centers that offer skills training, jobs, and even residences, such as those created in Colorado. The group could work with police, residents, and merchants instead of against them.
Rather than forcing companies to “donate” to the cause via taxation, which may prompt them to depart for less costly digs (San Francisco-based CEOs Jack Dorsey of Twitter and Patrick Collison of Stripe were vocal opponents of the measure), participants would be invested in its success. Technology companies are renowned for being disruptive and thinking outside the box, yet nothing could be more antiquated and entrenched than San Francisco’s ineffectual city departments. A well-run, privately funded organization could make San Franciscans—those with homes and those without—realize how poorly they’ve been served thus far.
[Erica Sandberg, "San Francisco’s False Solution," City Journal, October 10]
