Sisyphean Situation

(Chronicle photo)

Residents of Clinton Park Alley in San Francisco have become so frustrated by the homeless encampments and drug dealing on their street that they brought in boulders to make it difficult to conduct those activities on the narrow sidewalk.

For several days there was a back-and-forth battle between activists who pushed the boulders on to the street and City workers who rolled them back on the sidewalk. Finally, the City removed the rocks.

Besides losing the skirmish (and the $2,000 they spent on the boulders) the poor residents may be worse off than when they began: [bold added]

One resident who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation by activists said neighbors were being harassed in person and online by people opposed to the boulders, and the pressure was more than troublesome. Neighbors were getting death threats, being viciously trolled specifically by activists who found their names and addresses, and being shouted at on the street, the resident said.

Conditions are worsening, and there are no signs that the City Government is capable of turning the situation around.