David Fritz
2017-09-24 04:16:53 UTC
Rob McClure, the star of the exiting theater production "Something
Rotten!" has written an open letter in a Facebook post to San Francisco in
which he addresses the blighted Tenderloin neighborhood.
In the letter, first reported by SFist, McClure talks about the sights
he'd see on his way to and from work in the Tenderloin. Writing that he
wanted to pen a farewell more in the vein of heralding the city's many
beautiful sights the cable cars, Muir Woods, Angel Island, "bridges and
bays," and "Mrs. Doubtfire" he says that he couldn't ignore the drug and
crime-riddled Tenderloin.
"This downtown neighborhood is so horrific, so ravaged by homelessness,
drug addiction, violence and mental illness that it's impossible to
overlook while trying to gaze lovingly at all things Golden Gate," he
says. "While working there, I saw countless needles in arms, public
nudity, urination, defecation and masturbation."
He mentions several events he and his co-workers (including his co-star
and wife, Maggie Lakis) experienced, including a time where he saw a man
"beaten senseless" by young people who made off with the victim's jacket,
and another instance when he saw an EMT shrouding a deceased man's face
with a sheet.
"These people are so far gone, ravaged by addiction and mental illness,
that I genuinely don't know what to do with them," he continues. "How do
you help those whose hearts and minds are set on self-destruction. I don't
want them to simply get pushed to some other dark corner of America, but
they shouldn't be in such a hub of tourists, families, and children
either. They prey on those unfamiliar with the surroundings."
The post ends with a call to arms of sorts, asking for San Franciscans to
"shine some light" on the condition of the neighborhood.
Although San Francisco as well as the Tenderloin neighborhood has been
slightly safer in 2017 than in years past, it's still considered one of
the most violent areas of the city.
http://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Theater-star-leaving-SF-writes-open-
letter-12219346.php?utm_content=sfg_ap_zonec_hold_v1&ipid=sfgapholdreccos
Rotten!" has written an open letter in a Facebook post to San Francisco in
which he addresses the blighted Tenderloin neighborhood.
In the letter, first reported by SFist, McClure talks about the sights
he'd see on his way to and from work in the Tenderloin. Writing that he
wanted to pen a farewell more in the vein of heralding the city's many
beautiful sights the cable cars, Muir Woods, Angel Island, "bridges and
bays," and "Mrs. Doubtfire" he says that he couldn't ignore the drug and
crime-riddled Tenderloin.
"This downtown neighborhood is so horrific, so ravaged by homelessness,
drug addiction, violence and mental illness that it's impossible to
overlook while trying to gaze lovingly at all things Golden Gate," he
says. "While working there, I saw countless needles in arms, public
nudity, urination, defecation and masturbation."
He mentions several events he and his co-workers (including his co-star
and wife, Maggie Lakis) experienced, including a time where he saw a man
"beaten senseless" by young people who made off with the victim's jacket,
and another instance when he saw an EMT shrouding a deceased man's face
with a sheet.
"These people are so far gone, ravaged by addiction and mental illness,
that I genuinely don't know what to do with them," he continues. "How do
you help those whose hearts and minds are set on self-destruction. I don't
want them to simply get pushed to some other dark corner of America, but
they shouldn't be in such a hub of tourists, families, and children
either. They prey on those unfamiliar with the surroundings."
The post ends with a call to arms of sorts, asking for San Franciscans to
"shine some light" on the condition of the neighborhood.
Although San Francisco as well as the Tenderloin neighborhood has been
slightly safer in 2017 than in years past, it's still considered one of
the most violent areas of the city.
http://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Theater-star-leaving-SF-writes-open-
letter-12219346.php?utm_content=sfg_ap_zonec_hold_v1&ipid=sfgapholdreccos