In Passage I, critics accuse John Hutar of

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
The homeless have long been a political issue in San Francisco, but now there are competing campaign-style signs on how to handle panhandlers. First, the Hotel Council put up placards that say the starving artist you see on the street is really a con artist, or when you give to a panhandler, you're really donating for crack. The Hotel Council's president, John M. Hutar, says the signs are necessary to get attention. They're to the point. They are meant to provoke thought, said Hutar. Some have said we're mean spirited, and that's not what we set out to achieve. Now you know your critics say these ads are cruel and that you are bashing the homeless and the poor, what do you say to that? asks Hank Plante. One hundred-fifty people died on the streets of San Francisco last year; that is very cruel, replies Hutar. The council recommends that people donate directly to agencies that help the poor, rather than giving to panhandlers. But it's all too much for long time San Francisco legislator State Senator John Burton, D-San Francisco, who has put up his own signs. It reminds people that Jesus gave money to poor people in the streets of Galilee, Burton said of the signs. St. Francis was a street beggar in Assisi. I've given money to women in the streets, and I know they feed their kids with it. I've given money to Vietnam vets, and I know they buy blankets or things to keep them warm. I just want people to know that there's another side to the issue, and they ought to think about this. I guess if some people had their way and Saint Francis showed up here, we would probably arrest him.” Burton paid for the signs personally out of his campaign account, which is appropriate since this is a campaign, as the homeless becomes a hot political issue in this election year.
From freeways to Haight Ashbury to Fishermen’s Wharf, panhandlers are everywhere in San Francisco. Since the days of the Barbary Coast, San Francisco has been soft on beggars and panhandlers. This acceptance of the homeless has encouraged other poor and needy to move to the city. Now the homeless plight is having an economic effect on tourism. In 2001, hotel vacancies for conferences in San Francisco were at the lowest level in eight years. Hotel owners feel this drop is due to increased numbers of panhandlers on the streets. The hotels have spent $65,000 on their ad campaign asking people to give to agencies that aid the needy instead of to individuals. San Francisco has been known as a popular city for tourists, but most visitors don’t want to be confronted by the homeless on a daily basis.

Passage – II
Outreach workers believe this city has the same number of homeless people living on its streets as San Francisco does -- even though its population is 10 times larger. It's a startling contrast that has prompted serious self-examination in the City by the Bay. Mayor Willie Brown's homeless chief has flown in repeatedly to learn how New York City tracks the help given to homeless people, and to study a shelter system that offers long-term treatment for mental illness and substance abuse, as well as education, counseling and employment services. Supervisor Gavin Newsom, considered a likely candidate for mayor in 2003, recently sent an aide to visit a New York shelter, and this month he proposed reforms featuring an independent Department of Homeless Services, modeled on New York's. It's time to look at outcomes and performance. It's not for lack of expenditures that San Francisco's homeless efforts have been so ineffective at getting people off the pavement, Newsom said. The main thing Newsom wants imported from New York is a centralized intake process for homeless people seeking aid. New York maintains a profile of every person given shelter -- including a photo fingerprint scan and history of services provided. George Smith, director of the Mayor's Office on homelessness, agrees. New York City's programs have built-in accountability, Smith said. That's missing in our city. We give out our money to the nonprofits and turn it over to the wind. Even this won't be accomplished without a fight in San Francisco. As far back as 1996, a key city planning document placed top priority on creation of a central intake system for the homeless in San Francisco, but the idea has been opposed by the Coalition on Homelessness, a vocal nonprofit advocacy group. Such a system would invade the privacy of homeless people, coalition spokesman Paul Boden says. I don't believe that every homeless program political hack . . . should be privy to the confidential information of people just because they happen to be homeless, said Boden. Political opposition is just one of the obstacles San Francisco faces as it attempts to emulate New York's success in reducing the number of people living on its streets. Fundamental differences exist between the two cities. Foremost, New York City operates under a 1981 court order requiring it to provide shelter to all in need. That decree resulted from litigation brought by homeless advocates who cited state constitutional language that aid, care and support of the needy are public concerns and shall be provided by the state and by such of its subdivisions. California's constitution has no such provision, Boden said. New York City also controls the five boroughs covering most of its metropolitan region, while San Francisco is ringed by other jurisdictions that have no coordinated approach to homelessness. New York state also contributes more money to homeless services than California, pouring at least $150 million into New York City's shelter system alone. California spends about $2 million on homeless programs in San Francisco, just $91 million statewide.

Question

Multiple choice

In Passage I, critics accuse John Hutar of

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
The homeless have long been a political issue in San Francisco, but now there are competing campaign-style signs on how to handle panhandlers. First, the Hotel Council put up placards that say the starving artist you see on the street is really a con artist, or when you give to a panhandler, you're really donating for crack. The Hotel Council's president, John M. Hutar, says the signs are necessary to get attention. They're to the point. They are meant to provoke thought, said Hutar. Some have said we're mean spirited, and that's not what we set out to achieve. Now you know your critics say these ads are cruel and that you are bashing the homeless and the poor, what do you say to that? asks Hank Plante. One hundred-fifty people died on the streets of San Francisco last year; that is very cruel, replies Hutar. The council recommends that people donate directly to agencies that help the poor, rather than giving to panhandlers. But it's all too much for long time San Francisco legislator State Senator John Burton, D-San Francisco, who has put up his own signs. It reminds people that Jesus gave money to poor people in the streets of Galilee, Burton said of the signs. St. Francis was a street beggar in Assisi. I've given money to women in the streets, and I know they feed their kids with it. I've given money to Vietnam vets, and I know they buy blankets or things to keep them warm. I just want people to know that there's another side to the issue, and they ought to think about this. I guess if some people had their way and Saint Francis showed up here, we would probably arrest him.” Burton paid for the signs personally out of his campaign account, which is appropriate since this is a campaign, as the homeless becomes a hot political issue in this election year.
From freeways to Haight Ashbury to Fishermen’s Wharf, panhandlers are everywhere in San Francisco. Since the days of the Barbary Coast, San Francisco has been soft on beggars and panhandlers. This acceptance of the homeless has encouraged other poor and needy to move to the city. Now the homeless plight is having an economic effect on tourism. In 2001, hotel vacancies for conferences in San Francisco were at the lowest level in eight years. Hotel owners feel this drop is due to increased numbers of panhandlers on the streets. The hotels have spent $65,000 on their ad campaign asking people to give to agencies that aid the needy instead of to individuals. San Francisco has been known as a popular city for tourists, but most visitors don’t want to be confronted by the homeless on a daily basis.

Passage – II
Outreach workers believe this city has the same number of homeless people living on its streets as San Francisco does -- even though its population is 10 times larger. It's a startling contrast that has prompted serious self-examination in the City by the Bay. Mayor Willie Brown's homeless chief has flown in repeatedly to learn how New York City tracks the help given to homeless people, and to study a shelter system that offers long-term treatment for mental illness and substance abuse, as well as education, counseling and employment services. Supervisor Gavin Newsom, considered a likely candidate for mayor in 2003, recently sent an aide to visit a New York shelter, and this month he proposed reforms featuring an independent Department of Homeless Services, modeled on New York's. It's time to look at outcomes and performance. It's not for lack of expenditures that San Francisco's homeless efforts have been so ineffective at getting people off the pavement, Newsom said. The main thing Newsom wants imported from New York is a centralized intake process for homeless people seeking aid. New York maintains a profile of every person given shelter -- including a photo fingerprint scan and history of services provided. George Smith, director of the Mayor's Office on homelessness, agrees. New York City's programs have built-in accountability, Smith said. That's missing in our city. We give out our money to the nonprofits and turn it over to the wind. Even this won't be accomplished without a fight in San Francisco. As far back as 1996, a key city planning document placed top priority on creation of a central intake system for the homeless in San Francisco, but the idea has been opposed by the Coalition on Homelessness, a vocal nonprofit advocacy group. Such a system would invade the privacy of homeless people, coalition spokesman Paul Boden says. I don't believe that every homeless program political hack . . . should be privy to the confidential information of people just because they happen to be homeless, said Boden. Political opposition is just one of the obstacles San Francisco faces as it attempts to emulate New York's success in reducing the number of people living on its streets. Fundamental differences exist between the two cities. Foremost, New York City operates under a 1981 court order requiring it to provide shelter to all in need. That decree resulted from litigation brought by homeless advocates who cited state constitutional language that aid, care and support of the needy are public concerns and shall be provided by the state and by such of its subdivisions. California's constitution has no such provision, Boden said. New York City also controls the five boroughs covering most of its metropolitan region, while San Francisco is ringed by other jurisdictions that have no coordinated approach to homelessness. New York state also contributes more money to homeless services than California, pouring at least $150 million into New York City's shelter system alone. California spends about $2 million on homeless programs in San Francisco, just $91 million statewide.

stealing from the homeless
yelling at the panhandlers
arresting the homeless
going against the law

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself

Accepted Answer

bashing the poor and homeless

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