Struggling nonprofits

I was saddened to read of the demise of New Leaf and the struggles that other nonprofits face ["New Leaf closing its doors," "LGBT nonprofits hurt by recession," August 26]. I have no idea whether the suggestions from some staff that prior mismanagement contributed to problems at New Leaf are correct, but having interacted with a number of nonprofits over the last 25 years – as a board member, as a staffer, and as a reporter for the queer press looking into staff discontent – I have seen more dysfunction than should be acceptable.

Nonprofits do wonderful, often life-saving, work, but difficult times such as these require them to redouble their efforts to operate in an effective and responsible manner.

In theory, an organization's board picks its top executive or executives. But too often, the reality is a "good old boy" (or girl) network in which the executive director effectively controls the board. I reluctantly left a nonprofit job that I loved after the board refused to fire an executive who had been involved in outrageous misconduct – even after an exodus of more than 20 percent of the staff and the inevitable blow-up in the press that led to both large and small donors cutting off a significant portion of the organization's funding. The majority of the board had been hand-picked by this executive, who remains in his job today.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution wisely created a set of checks and balances to keep any one branch of government from having total authority. Nonprofits also need effective balances and controls. Based on what I've seen, I would urge all nonprofits to adopt the following:

1. A majority of the board must be completely independent of the executive staff, with a meaningful portion elected by members and/or clients. One representative should be elected by the rank-and-file staff.

2. A clearly stated whistleblower process should allow employees to inform the board of managerial problems or misconduct, with complete protection from retaliation – including anonymity if needed.

Most nonprofit leaders are heroic and dedicated people, but they're human. They screw up sometimes. All charities need to ensure that their executives have effective, impartial supervision – for the good of both the organizations themselves and the clients and communities they serve.

Bruce Mirken
San Francisco

Time for action re: civil sidewalks

I find it hilarious that the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club thinks anybody who doesn't oppose the sit/lie (civil sidewalks) ballot measure is homophobic. I worked hard for LGBT rights including marriage equality years ago. (Speaking of which, I think they should make civil unions equivalent to marriage as marriage equality seems to be eventually heading the U.S. Supreme Court, and could take years.)

Many of us in the city are tired of putting up with needles, urine and excrement, and people sitting on milk crates all day and night. Most of these "sidewalk violators" have no plans to improve themselves. Instead they make the rest of us suffer, whether it's being called names, getting robbed, or being attacked. Indeed, the Coalition on Homelessness and Glide would not have enough clientele to survive were it not for all the traveling alcoholics and drug addicts. While I agree there should be a safety net, it should be for San Francisco residents only, not inebriates from everywhere else.

Many states and towns have LGBT services and "safe places" for LGBT youth to go. Many youths leave their parents fleeing from abuse and they're not all gay or lesbian. It's important to realize that San Francisco no longer has the resources or the tolerance to take care of everyone but themselves. This is a day and age where conservative Republicans like Laura Bush, Cindy McCain, Meghan McCain, and Ted Olson all support marriage equality. There are even openly gay Tea Party members. Instead of bashing Arthur Evans for wanting to have sidewalks free from harassment and human waste, think of ways of making this city safer for all and taking care of its residents. Not all homeless engage in sidewalk abuse. In fact, I've talked to some homeless who support civil sidewalks. It's time to hold individuals accountable for their actions instead of giving them excuses. Co-dependency has never worked.

Denise Jameson
San Francisco

In defense of Evans and homeless youth

Reading about the furor over homeless youth in the Haight is most peculiar [Mailstrom, August 19, 26]. It seems that people who should know better see a complex, diverse population in very simplistic terms. Every so often Arthur Evans points out the robberies, beatings, vandalism, and filth being perpetrated by some, and a chorus of replies insists that the kids in the Haight are innocents fleeing abusive homes and deserve our support and pity.

Obviously there are both, and I hear from friends in the Haight that self-described "scumpunks," the nomadic addicts of Evans's letters, beat, rob, and rape smaller, gentler kids on the streets; that yes, there are gay kids who fled abusive homes and are stuck on the streets being victimized by drug dealing thugs who pack up and move from town to town when the heat is on.

The sit/lie law is a distraction from the real issues. It's obviously designed to be arbitrarily enforced against "undesirables" and makes a mockery of the notion that the law should be equal for all people. One wonders what the hell happened to laws against theft, vandalism, assault, and defecating on doorsteps. Aren't there already laws in place to allow cops to deal with troublemakers?

Rather than generalize about the kids altogether being either angels or monsters, what outreach is being done to provide help for the abused and to punish abusers? What confidence is being cultivated in victimized kids so they will identify their assailants and rapists so criminals can be properly dealt with? What facilities are being provided so that homeless youth have access to toilets rather than using sidewalks and doorsteps?

Helping kids who are in desperate need doesn't mean we have to tolerate destructive and violent behavior. To the contrary! It is embarrassing, even painful, to see longtime community activists who should know better treating Evans's descriptions of specific acts as a general attack on all homeless youth; to see them excusing or ignoring those crimes – especially when the most abused victims are the kids they claim to be defending.

Jack Fertig
San Francisco

A coalition candidate in D8

In the Bay Area Reporter's August 26 letters to the editor, Mark Barnes ostensibly bifurcated the voters' choice in this November's District 8 supervisorial race, neglecting to mention the true coalition candidate: Rebecca Prozan.

From interning for the late Tom Lantos as a young woman to her modern incarnation as an assistant district attorney, Rebecca has the rich history of community service and leadership that our district – and city – needs. Dedicated to everyone in our community, Rebecca served on the board of Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, a local queer youth organization, and helped secure the seed funding for Openhouse, with services tailored to the needs of LGBT seniors. Furthermore, as liaison to District 8, she helped create the Pink Triangle Park and 17th Street Plaza; fundraised for and was a founder of the LGBT Community Center; handled planning and redevelopment issues as a legislative aide to Supervisor Bevan Dufty; and as a Recreation and Park commissioner, ensured that the Eureka Valley Recreation Center accommodated the needs of our community.

It is for these reasons – and more – that I join endorsers including, but certainly not limited to, the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, the San Francisco Democratic Party, Community College Board Member Lawrence Wong, and Dufty in my enthusiastic support of Rebecca Prozan as the next supervisor for District 8.

In these challenging times, with the closing of New Leaf, the potential loss of the Castro Country Club, and the protracted struggles of many more of our community's critical support services and local businesses, we need Rebecca's leadership to fight for each and every one of us. I hope you will join me in supporting Rebecca Prozan for District 8 supervisor this November.

Justin Patrick Jones
San Francisco

Former bar manager clarifies role

I'm the "Bill Ruquy" that leather columnist Scott Brogan listed as "part owner" of the Tool Box ["Looking back at leather," August 26]. I was not an owner, merely the manager during a somewhat difficult time we were having with the actual owners, a group of non-leather types in Los Angeles who had some bad business dealings with their previous manager who had invested a few thousand dollars in the place. After my departure one of them came north when it was apparent that the place could be quite successful.

One of the main differences was that our customer base was primarily gay bikers. There were a number of gay motorcycle clubs here and in southern California and a lot of interaction including weekend rallies by invitation only in the Sierra and elsewhere. These days when I pass a so-called leather bar and see no bikes outside I wonder what the world has come to.

Bill Reque
San Francisco