San Francisco Restaurateur Adam Mesnick Criticizes City's Homelessness Approach, Laments Deaths on Streets

San Francisco, CA – Adam Mesnick, a prominent local restaurateur and vocal critic of San Francisco's handling of its homelessness crisis, has publicly decried the city's approach, stating that "SF progressives care more about cats than people." His comments, made via social media, highlight a deep frustration with the perceived inaction and misprioritization amidst a rising number of homeless deaths. The tweet also mourned the passing of an individual identified only as "Steven."

Mesnick, owner of Deli Board and operator of the @bettersoma account on X (formerly Twitter), has consistently used his platform to document the visible struggles of unhoused individuals in the city's South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood. He has been a leading voice advocating for a more aggressive and compassionate approach to street homelessness, often clashing with homeless advocates who criticize his methods as dehumanizing. His outspokenness has led to him being "pilloried," as noted in the tweet, reflecting the contentious nature of the debate.

The restaurateur has shared personal accounts of finding deceased individuals on city streets, stating in a recent debate that he has found "two dead bodies, one in 2023, one in 2019, both walking my dog outside of my home." This stark reality underscores the urgency of his criticism and the human cost of the ongoing crisis. San Francisco reported 183 homeless deaths in 2022, with preliminary data indicating a similar trend for 2023, often attributed to drug overdoses, exposure, and other health complications.

Mesnick's sentiment regarding "cats than people" echoes broader criticisms from some residents and business owners about the city's progressive policies, which they argue sometimes prioritize animal welfare or other initiatives over immediate, tangible solutions for human suffering on the streets. He advocates for a more direct intervention, including medical screening and temporary decompression spaces for those struggling with addiction and mental illness, rather than solely relying on "harm reduction" strategies. This stance places him in direct opposition to groups like the Coalition on Homelessness, whose executive director, Jennifer Friedenbach, has emphasized preventing homelessness and providing appropriate services.