San Francisco Calls Truce Over Food Giveaways

A truce has been called in the monthlong battle between City Hall and a group that has been trying to establish soup kitchens for the homeless in Golden Gate Park.

Mayor Art Agnos said Friday night it was “time for a cooling-off period” and announced that members of Food Not Bombs would be allowed to distribute food to the homeless for the next four weeks without fear of arrest. During that period, Agnos said, his office, the Police Department and representatives of the group would work to find a permanent solution to the problem.

The city, Agnos said, “must develop a policy for this kind of program where people can be fed with dignity and in privacy.” As part of the agreement, Food Not Bombs has agreed to apply for a permit to distribute free food.

Developed Into Clashes

The group had been staging the food giveaways each Monday for the last month in a corner of the park near the Haight-Ashbury district. Twice, the events developed into clashes between the group and police, and more than 50 members of the group have been arrested. On Labor Day, police officers trying to break up the illegal giveaway were spattered with beans and rice during the all-out food fight that ensued.

Agnos said he wanted to avoid future, possibly more violent, clashes. “In enforcing the law, we don’t want to create a remedy that’s worse than the problem,” he said. “I’m worried about the violence that could occur.”