SF Homeless Upset About McDonald's Dollar Menu Increase

[cowhorns00]

What would seemingly be an issue of capitalism and supply and demand in any other city, or any other neighborhood in San Francisco, has instead morphed into another battle between merchants and the homeless in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood:
The McDonald's at the corner of Haight and Stanyan streets eliminated its Dollar Menu about a month ago, making the items on it too expensive for the people who spend the better part of their day on the sidewalk in front.
Street people who for years have depended on the McDonald's to eat say it's become a de facto sit/lie ordinance. But the franchise owner says she's just trying to make a little extra money.
It's a fight over 50 cents, plus tax.
You used to be able to get a 390-calorie McDouble for 99 cents, said Nicholas Newhart, a 29-year-old with a Confederate flag tattooed on the back of his head. Without the Dollar Menu it now costs $1.49.
While that price increase may seem trivial, for Newhart and his colleagues it can mean the difference between eating and going hungry. Many homeless think taking away the Dollar Menu is the restaurant management's ploy to get them to go somewhere else. Management locks the bathroom door and frequently calls the cops. On top of that, Mayor Gavin Newsom and several Haight Street merchants are pushing a November ballot measure that would ban sitting or lying on public sidewalks.
The menu change seems like the logical next step, the homeless say.
But that couldn't be further from the truth, says Natalie Gonzales, the franchise owner.
"The speculation as to why I no longer offer menu items for $1 in this location is absolutely false," she said in a statement vetted by the McDonald's corporate office. "This was a business decision based on a number of contributing factors. And while these items are no longer available at $1, they are still available at what I believe to be a good, everyday value."
Franchise owners frequently change the prices of certain menu items in response to customer demand, the Consumer Price Index and other factors, Julie Wenger, marketing director for McDonald's Pacific-Sierra Region, said in a statement.
Still, people like Newhart, who moved from Tennessee to the streets of San Francisco five years ago, say they are often hungrier than usual.
"Yeah man, it ... sucks," he said Thursday while sitting foodless on the McDonald's patio with a half dozen hungry friends. "I eat less. I have to get more money. If I don't have a dollar and I want food, I just end up going to a trash can."
When the cops roll through, as San Francisco police Officer John Andrews did Thursday, and tell Newhart and company that they can't sit on McDonald's patio unless they buy something, they have no choice but to move on. They could buy a 99-cent hamburger, but they say they would rather save the money for another more filling - but more expensive - item.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...#ixzz0yx8z8wDm

[BrothaHorn]

They could buy a 99-cent hamburger, but they say they would rather save the money for another more filling - but more expensive - item.

Homeless beggars, can't be choosy.

[MissingInAction]

Reads like an Onion article.

[GraciePie]

"Yeah man, it ... sucks," he said Thursday while sitting foodless on the McDonald's patio with a half dozen hungry friends.

Sounds like a lovely dining atmosphere.

[numbereleven]

Ba da da da da...

[6th Street]

I think I know that location, right by the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. Dirty.

Why not instead of buying a burger, buy a loaf of bread and a can of beans for $2 from the grocery store.

[SushiHorn]

That's the McDonalds right across from Golden Gate Park (west) and Amoeba Records (north). A lot of homeless people sleep in the park and hang out on Haight Street during the day. Some days you can see a couple dozen of them hanging out right next to the McDonalds with a few of the panhandling pretty aggressively. I'd give them food sometimes but never money.

[jonblaze]

I was just in SF at that spot. I saw more people buying $1 burgers for the lil pups (pits) than for themselves. There was a big hangout factor in front of that McDs so I can see the concern but watching them feed the lil pit bulls cheeseburgers was hilarious.

[Jive Turkey]

i love going to Alembic for drinks a few blocks away (Haight & Cole), but that stretch of Upper Haight is sketchy. really sketch. pricing out the homeless ain't a bad thing.

[LongIslandIceSIP]

I think I know that location, right by the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. Dirty.

Why not instead of buying a burger, buy a loaf of bread and a can of beans for $2 from the grocery store.

cause the Mexicans are in the Mission, not the Haight. Haight homeless are white people.

[naked_bongo]

That used to be my McDonald's when I lived in NoPa. Really sketch place. Not only does that place hate the homeless vagrants, they will also tow your car if it's parked there for more than an hour.

[Rigo84]

Wendy's nuggets are now 1.29, i'm pissed about that too!

[Tasmaniac]

I think I know that location, right by the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. Dirty.

Why not instead of buying a burger, buy a loaf of bread and a can of beans for $2 from the grocery store.

That is an excellent question.

[Ankf00]

the haight's nothing but kids who just moved here thinking it's 'sf', gutter punks, poser hippies, and those GG Park hobos.

when I visited my sis here 11 years ago, we walked into the park from that enterance, there's a little hill opposite of that entrance, I was taking random photos and then suddenly 2 of the hobos from the big hobo mob hanging out on the hill ran after me "you cant take anyone's picture man, people dont appreciate it man, give me your camera, come here, give me your camera!" smelly hobo hippies.

[LongIslandIceSIP]

the haight's nothing but kids who just moved here thinking it's 'sf', gutter punks, poser hippies, and those GG Park hobos.

when I visited my sis here 11 years ago, we walked into the park from that enterance, there's a little hill opposite of that entrance, I was taking random photos and then suddenly 2 of the hobos from the big hobo mob hanging out on the hill ran after me "you cant take anyone's picture man, people dont appreciate it man, give me your camera, come here, give me your camera!" smelly hobo hippies.

now it's just 'GIVE ME YO iPHONE!!! GIVE ME YO WALLET!"

haaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhahahahaha sorry for the low blow.

[Ankf00]

fucker.

[Red Five]

I think I know that location, right by the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. Dirty.

Why not instead of buying a burger, buy a loaf of bread and a can of beans for $2 from the grocery store.

Or about eight bananas.

[LongIslandIceSIP]

Or about eight bananas.

or 1 avocado. or 2 limes. produce is expensive here.

[Ag with kids]

Those homeless dudes should just start claiming they're illegal aliens...then SF will go out of its way to take care of them...;^D

[6th Street]

cause the Mexicans are in the Mission, not the Haight. Haight homeless are white people.

Haha. No chance - Mexicans are the hardest working folk in the state. They don't beg on street corners.

[Ankf00]

or 1 avocado. or 2 limes. produce is expensive here.

bullshit, just have to go to the right markets, and not safeway. safeway = anal rape.

[6th Street]

bullshit, just have to go to the right markets, and not safeway. safeway = anal rape.

I don't think he's going to leave his cozy confines of SOMA to save a few cents on produce.

[Ankf00]

I don't think he's going to leave his cozy confines of the mission to save 50%+ on produce.

fixered

[LongIslandIceSIP]

I don't think he's going to leave his cozy confines of SOMA to save a few cents on produce.

bitch, I live in the mission now. but Gayfway (the gay safeway on market st) is a few blocks away. I go to the little Mexican markets, cause I want to avoid the anal rape (from prices and customers) that Ank talks about.

[6th Street]

bitch, I live in the mission now. but Gayfway (the gay safeway on market st) is a few blocks away. I go to the little Mexican markets, cause I want to avoid the anal rape (from prices and customers) that Ank talks about.

Bwahahaha so tru. Misson huh? Glad you've decided to come full circle back to your roots. With all the savings on produce, maybe you can add a decal of your last name on your back windshield in Gothic New font.

[Austinvines]

The piss soaked bum in SF was an eye-opener for my kids this weekend. He was passed out on the sidewalk on Powell up against the wall near the BART station. While there were a lot of them, I was surprised none were overly aggressive at all. Shake the cup, ask for a quarter, visually move on to the next person. The silver and gold painted dudes on the piers were big hits. I was sad that we missed Bush Man. Balclutha!

[Hellraiser97]

Groercy store fight!!!!!

[Grammer Police]

F you guys. My two options for produce in east San Jose are Safeway and some small shop "Mi Rancho Supermarket".

Mi Rancho Supermarket is cheaper. It's operated (and probably owned) by a Vietnamese family.

[Lonestarman]

Reads like an Onion article.

I was thinking the same thing.

While that price increase may seem trivial, for Newhart and his colleagues it can mean the difference between eating and going hungry.

You serious, Clark?

[next2naus]

"...rather save the money for another more filling - but more expensive - item." like meth, heroin, or malt liquor

[Xminus6]

Those homeless dudes should just start claiming they're illegal aliens...then SF will go out of its way to take care of them...;^D

San Francisco already goes out of their way to take care of homeless people. It's the only place I know where you actually get paid to be homeless.

[LongIslandIceSIP]

San Francisco already goes out of their way to take care of homeless people. It's the only place I know where you actually get paid to be homeless.

It's also the only place where homeless people wear NorthFace, Columbia, and other nice jackets & clothing. I volunteered for a place that assists the homeless and learned that most of the younger homeless folk wont wear un-branded clothing!

[MissingInAction]

Speaking as a former destitute I call bullshit on those lazy fucking hippies.
Pound of rice = 68 Cents
Pound of flour = 1$ maybe
pound beans = 1$ maybe
Scrounge up a coffee can , fill it with water from anywhere and start a small little fire in a discreet area.
BOOYAAHHH!!! Food for 10.

[Duck of Death]

ank, go there, buy a mcdouble, and toss it in the middle of the bums and report the proceedings. will they share, or will they fight? sounds like a prop bet to me.

[Ankf00]

San Francisco already goes out of their way to take care of homeless people. It's the only place I know where you actually get paid to be homeless.

think Newsome cancelled that program, but the point regarding the inanity of the lengths this city goes is well taken

[RamjetFDO]

ank, go there, buy a mcdouble, and toss it in the middle of the bums and report the proceedings. will they share, or will they fight? sounds like a prop bet to me.

[Gosset the Table]

^^^That was some of the most despicable crap I have ever seen in my entire life.

I felt worse as a human being after watching some of those videos.

[Xminus6]

think Newsome cancelled that program, but the point regarding the inanity of the lengths this city goes is well taken

Did he? Good for him. It was in full effect when I lived there. Just baffling that a city would pay people cash money to be homeless. I'm not a radical right-winger, but that whole program was just such a blindly naive endeavor. I can only imagine the folks who thought of it figured if they gave them money all those homeless people would buy some nice clothes, get a mailing address, get a minimum wage job, eventually make shift manager and continue to vote Democrat for the rest of their natural lives. Then the city had the gaul to wonder why they had such a bad homeless problem. When I lived there the estimate was somewhere around 40,000.

[MissingInAction]

When I lived there the estimate was somewhere around 40,000

HA! Bunch of pussies. I actually have a bit of respect for the Austin homeless due to the heat waves they suffer through. If that isn't inspiration to get going then you must be mentally fucked. Those guys at the intersections look like they are just cooking sometimes on that pavement.

[naked_bongo]

think Newsome cancelled that program, but the point regarding the inanity of the lengths this city goes is well taken

Yes, Newsom ended it in 2004 with his Care not Cash program.

[EddieMoney]

ank, go there, buy a mcdouble, and toss it in the middle of the bums and report the proceedings. will they share, or will they fight? sounds like a prop bet to me.

1:1 first guy grabs it and runs
2:1 first guy grabs it, take a bite but then its snatched by someone else who then runs with it
3:1 first guy grabs it and splits it with a girl/guy in hopes of sex later
3:1 a fight ensues forcing restaurant management to get involved
10:1 a fight escalates to the point police are called in
15:1 its evenly distributed amongst the bums present

[SushiHorn]

Did he? Good for him. It was in full effect when I lived there. Just baffling that a city would pay people cash money to be homeless. I'm not a radical right-winger, but that whole program was just such a blindly naive endeavor. I can only imagine the folks who thought of it figured if they gave them money all those homeless people would buy some nice clothes, get a mailing address, get a minimum wage job, eventually make shift manager and continue to vote Democrat for the rest of their natural lives. Then the city had the gaul to wonder why they had such a bad homeless problem. When I lived there the estimate was somewhere around 40,000.

There was some kind of cash welfare handout and a paramedic and cop told me that they knew when the money had gone out. They would see a massive spike in ER admissions for alcohol poisoning and drug OD at the same time every month. Sad and one reason why I will give food but never money to the homeless.

[CaptainEd]

i love going to Alembic for drinks a few blocks away (Haight & Cole), but that stretch of Upper Haight is sketchy. really sketch. pricing out the homeless ain't a bad thing.

i flew into sf last year and some customers of mine wanted to go there for some drinks/apps. great place. also awesome when we walked out to a cop arresting someone with 2 of arrestee's friends yelling "pigs!" and making oink oink noises. pretty much exactly what i would think a cartoon of upper haight would be. cab please (obviously to toronado).

[Ankf00]

(obviously to toronado).

holla

[cowhorns00]

Our (Seattle's) fantastic green, liberal mayor vetoed a bill that would make it illegal for the homeless here to use force for panhandling.

Why is this country so accepting/kind to the homeless?

[orangemocha]

A lot of these homeless that hang around McDonald's and other stores are just street kids/punk not actually homeless; they just want to bum food and hang around than do anything.
Somehow, I do not think she missed that many burgers

[Duck of Death]

they should make her change her sign to "want food"

[sessamoid]

they should make her change her sign to "WANT MOAR CHEEZBURGR PLZ!"

fify

[Bill Lumbergh]

There was some kind of cash welfare handout and a paramedic and cop told me that they knew when the money had gone out. They would see a massive spike in ER admissions for alcohol poisoning and drug OD at the same time every month. Sad and one reason why I will give food but never money to the homeless.

Never heard this before...really sad.

Re the bolded part, when I first moved to downtown Seattle a few years ago I had the same idea. I stopped once I realized that I was still feeding the same behavior, just in a different way. If I give a guy a burger, guess where the next $5 he gets goes? Not to food.

I'll donate to shelters and soup kitchens. I'd rather give to places that offer help in a structured way. I have told panhandlers where they can get fed when asked. Usually they don't seem interested.

[jakeSimpS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuVIsoI-UBo