great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Rebecca:

Tenderloin: What’s in a name?

In Downtown San Francisco there is a Red Light District called the Tenderloin. The Tenderloin got it’s name from a similar neighborhood that existed in New York called the Tenderloin. There are different opinions on how that neighborhood got it’s name. There is one opinion that says it’s because this neighborhood is the “soft underbelly” of the city, filled with corruption. Another opinion says that there was an officer named Alexander S. Williams who said that working in any other neighborhood, he could only afford to eat chuck steak, but working in this neighborhood, because of all the bribes he got, he could afford to eat Tenderloin. Another opinion is that the officers who worked in that neighborhood could afford to eat tenderloin because they made extra for working in a violent neighborhood. In March 2011, the Vice President of PETA sent a letter to the Mayor of San Francisco asking to rename this neighborhood to a name that represents something other than the flesh of an abused animal. The mayor, Mayor Lee, responded “I think most people are wanting to change not so much the name. They actually want to change lives,” indicating there are more important issues in this neighborhood to deal with.  

Songyun:

History about Tenderloin in San Francisco

Like Rebecca said so , there are many different theories about where the Tenderloin got its name. But the most important is “most people actually want to change their lives more than the names.”The Tenderloin was a fairly residential neighborhood with the wood buildings and homes. It was only after the city’s infamous 1906 earthquake that the area started attracting single workers who could live in newly built Single Room Occupancy Hotels. With the new accommodations came bathhouses, more restaurants and the beginnings of women’s liberation, sparked by young females who were living by themselves for the first time. By the time the Roaring ‘20s rolled around, the area was notorious for its nightlife-gambling, speakeasies, restaurants, theaters and all manner of after-dark vices. And in the Vietnam War ‘70s, the Tenderloin became a refuge for immigrants from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The area’s low cost housing made it affordable for refugees, and today you can still find much of the best Southeast Asian food in here. It seems like the Tenderloin is an important part of San Francisco’s story.

Michelle:

Crime in San Francisco’s Red Light District

The Tenderloin is a red light district located in downtown San Francisco, California. According to Rebecca, one opinion as to why the downtown neighborhood was named ‘Tenderloin’ was because it is the “soft underbelly” of San Francisco where high corruption occurs. It is known as a high-crime neighborhood where most crimes, such as robbery and aggravated assault, occur on the streets. During the1960’s and 1970’s, the red light district is said be the origin of the Filipino gang Bahala Na Gang, also known as the BNG. The BNG were brought high crime to the neighborhood due to their drug distribution, murders, and extortion. The drug dealing and usage currently goes on in the neighborhood and has been increasing since 2007. With police stations around, drugs such crack, heroin, PCP, and even bath salts can be found even through the same drug dealer. Along with drug crimes, property crimes are also common.