Single mothers who try their best to nurture their children with no help from SF City.

Once San Francisco boasted a population that was truly diverse. Not too long ago African Americans comprised twenty five percent of our City's population. Not any more - African Americans are down to five percent if not four and this City does not care.

The Asian population has grown by leaps and bounds and will grow. Thank God the Latino population is growing too - and this diversity has brought another dimension to the make up of this great City, the City of Compassion - named after Saint Francis of Assisi.

Once this City boasted local fairs, more Street Fairs, Softball and Baseball games that brought families together.

Recreation and Park really worked hard twenty - twenty five years ago - in track, baseball, basketball, football - the old coaches will tell you this. Transportation was provide and our youth well taken care of. The Public School delivered - not anymore - and hence so many issues linked to youth, their families and Quality of Life issues.

Then there is that Island Charm - at least in the Southeast Sector we have the Polynesian - and this segment of the population has a total different take when it comes to joy and dance and spirituality. And when it comes to incarceration - they took are part of the tally in greater measure - why?

Single Mothers from all of the above communities have a special burden trust on them - when they have to stand up for their children with little help from this City and County of San Francisco. Little help from the Churches and Pastors - and little help from the greedy politicians that care less about our youth.

For those readers who have no clue about what I am talking about - some explanation is in order.

If a single mother has teenagers and this City makes things difficult to bus them to different neighborhood with turfs and gangs and what you - imagine the worry of the Single Mother mostly - and this happens every single school day or for that matter when the youth - girl or boy leaves home to go to some remote destination - for some event, attend school, or for the many duties the teens have to attend - as part of their growing up.

Some of the youth get rides - or have the luxury of having a car - but many poor youth have to make do with what is available in very dangerous circumstances.

Now, if the youth take Public Transportation - be it the Light Rail or MUNI ou failingr bus system - you never know - who you might meet - the various gremlins and thugs that prey on folks on Public Transportation.

If you are pretty girl - you must hear the comments that some young thug men pass - gone are the days of respect - the men behave much like what we witness on the Television. This is all the more prevalent on the hubs, the MUNI bus stops where the unruly hang around - from morning to evening.

If by chance a young man or a young woman is taken to JUVENILE - the place where those youth have to report who have broken the law or failed on some issue. It is here - where extreme measures are taken and the authorities deem necessary to book the youth in JUVENILE.

In such circumstances - the entire home is turned turpsy turvey - pandemonium reigns - and the poor Single Mother, mostly -has to make sense of the situation.

Society is slow to realize that it is not easy to support Single Mothers - but, we know many Single Mothers - that have done so much and raised so many daughters and sons - who have stood tall and done their Single Mother proud.

I just watched one football player - who was raised by a Single Mother - and is on Dancing with the Stars - and was struck how much he loved his single mother - and how caring he was to praise her and all she did for him in public.

Daily in life - I meet Single Mothers - who will explain to me how difficult the San Francisco Unified School District, the Administrators and Principals - how these folks make things difficult for them. In the course of the last twenty years - I have accompanied Single Mother to schools to explain a situation before some authority, be is a Principal, some Administration, some Safety Officer - and learned too much from all those experiences.

The many gangs prevalent in the City and County of San Francisco - do not give a hoot when it comes to Single Mothers. Of course - you just cannot make a blanket system - some of the leaders in the gangs will tell you that the gang supports the member, and have used the gang member - more because they know she or he come from a home where the Single Mother - has problems.

The young gang member is on drugs or financially strapped. Such a situation can be horrendous if the youth gets into trouble - and brings the gang mess at home. Now the Single Mother and in some cases the Single Father - has to deal with issues that are very complicated and stressful.

The legal system is very contorted with the attorneys prosecuting the youth; taking the upper hand with little or no consideration for the Single Mother and less for the youth. Society is into incarceration locking up the youth -young men and women - and to hell if the home is broken up and the Single Mother gets a nervous break-down.

Here is San Francisco truancy is chronic and the San Francisco Unified School District and the mostly inept SF Board of Education - talk the talk and less, walk the walk. I have never ever heard the SF Board of Education hold a conference just to address the chronic truancy in San Francisco - with over ten thousand youth impacted and part of the problem.

Stress can drive people crazy and many time friends and supporters - understand the plight of the mostly Single Mothers who have to deal with such issues.

Of course you have the nay sayers who will say that if a Mother is Single and has children - that is on her.

Such foolishness and logic does no good - as I said many Single Mothers have stood their ground and raised their children - right.

Many fathers have shunned their responsibilities - it is also the duty of the authorities to be considerate and help.

Many comprehend this but more and more because of the current economic situation - Single Mothers with grown up children, more in Public Housing - are encountering situations where they need help.

Our SF Board of Supervisor know some about this situation - but, there in no viable plan to help the Single Mothers and Fathers.

It is time a conference is held where the SF District Attorney, the SF Public Defender, the authorities linked to the Juvenile Hall, others that love to prosecute and persecute - all gather and bring about some SOLACE to Single Mothers and Fathers.

This would also be the right time to highlight truancy - and help the over 10,000 youth that need help.

This would be the prefect time to address Community Policing - the issue is not complex - but, the SF Police Commission keeps pussyfooting with this issue.

In the Bayview Hunter Point area we have over sixty churches. Time for the pastors - specially those that have taken thousands from Lennar, a Rogue Developers and other dubious entities - to help the youth.

I see too many Poverty Pimp Pastors - pretend they want to do something - but, end up always filling their own pockets and not sharing and caring the message of God.

There are other Churches and Pastor that want to do something - but, do not have the guts to address the concerns of the youth - in a forthright manner. There is no love with much sacrifice.

Each one of us must take a stand - and if you cannot take a stand then you must support those that do - help, support, contribute and make this world a better place.

We do have a good Public Defender in San Francisco, we do have some decent SF Police Captains who care - we do have some few politicians that make a difference, We must look them in the eye and explain the plight or the youth, our Single Mothers and Fathers - those that stand tall and do something good - l and support those that need help in the community.

Every single day I am called to help - and this has become so much of a routine - that I thought to express some of my thoughts - they are my subjective opinions - some of you may agree with them - and some of you may not.

That is what this Nation is all about. There is freedom and there is license. Abuse of Freedom is License.

Good leaders that know the way, show the way, and go the way - are true men and women that will make a difference.

Then as I say, you have the "nay sayers " - they will throw stones at glass houses, - care more about themselves and that is fine - if hell is their final - destination, that is on them.

I admire the many pastors, the many parents, the many volunteers, the many teachers, the coaches, the mentors that help our youth. God Bless you All.

We can nip the situation in the bud - or create criminals; and stem trouble down the line - with millions spent incarceration and so called rehabilitation that is non-existent in the many centers linked to young people - where young men and women are sent to jail.


Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy