To the Editor:

Your article states that tenants living in San Francisco SRO's are getting older. Your article despairs that property owners won't install grab bars in SRO bathrooms, and you wonder why they won't do this. Your article seems to blame building owners and managers for the plight of elderly tenants in our city.

In San Francisco, the Department of Adult Protective Services is responsible for caring for elderly tenants, and for tenants who need help budgeting their money. San Francisco building owners and managers are not supposed to be protecting elderly tenants from themselves. I manage a 250 unit SRO on Third Street in San Francisco. I have cleaned human waste off an apartment floor when a tenant was elderly and couldn't care for himself. I have to help tenants who can't budget their money.

I am angry that the City of San Francisco has no money to care for these people. I have contacted the Dept of Adult Protective Services many times, and I have been told that my tenant does not need supervision. I have come to the conclusion that that City is dumping its responsibilty to care for frail and elderly tenants on SRO property owners and managers. San Francisco voters need to hold the Dept. of Adult Protective Services accountable, and they need to make sure the department is providing adequate supervision of elderly tenants in this city.

Mitch Brown
San Francisco



To the Editor:

Well done piece. My own AFSCME local (1488 University of WA) is caught up in this. The local is going committed to Lee, while much of the council (28) leadership is Donohue or undecided. Our local has been under administrator for over two years now. The board and officers were stuck in a faction split‑no money milked but accounting errors by a well meaning plumber gave the illusion. Anyway the folks working with the Admin see Lee as a ticket out. International staff has been working the local on this one. I've never been happier to NOT be elected as a delegate.

Joe Davenport
Shoreline, WA



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