July 23, 2003
Before Enola Maxwell
My heartfelt respects to the family and friends of Enola Maxwell ["Enola Maxwell Dies at 83," 7/2/03]. Although she certainly deserves the accolades showered on her, I feel that I must clarify a few misstatements made about her and the Neighborhood House expressed in the Bay Guardian and other newspapers over the years.
Designed by Julia Morgan, the Neighborhood House has been at its present location since about 1926. Thirty years later it was incorporated, and a board of directors was chosen. Shortly thereafter, my father was hired as the executive director, a post he maintained until 1968. The next executive director resigned in 1971. Ms. Maxwell took over the helm in 1972 and remade it into the wonderful community center it is today.
While I am unqualified to make any judgments about the financial solvency during my father's tenure, I can assure you that the Nabe was a vibrant community center, used by all members of the neighborhood: black, white, Russian, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and others. On any given night the auditorium would be packed with kids and parents for movies, plays, and recitals, while the downstairs level offered basketball, trampoline, Ping-Pong, and other diversions.
Ms. Maxwell did a great job with the Neighborhood House, but the Nabe was there before she became executive director. Ms. Maxwell should be remembered for her accomplishments, but my father should not be forgotten for his.
John M. Heiden Jr.
San Francisco
The S.F./SPCA's record
I wish to bring to your attention a few of the misconceptions contained in the article "Profits or Pets?" (7/02/03).
Most importantly, the article implies that the S.F./SPCA is not fulfilling its central mission, to bring lifesaving medical care to homeless dogs and cats:
In 2002-03 the save-rate for the S.F./SPCA-ACC Adoption Partnership was almost 80 percent, a percentage reached during the tenure of President Ed Sayres (1998-2003), not Richard Avanzino (1976-98). In fiscal year (FY) 2002-03 the S.F./SPCA provided $162,182 in specialized veterinary care for homeless dogs and cats; this amount is in addition to regular day-to-day care. The S.F./SPCA Feral Fix program cost $86,331 for (FY) 2002-03. The cost of subsidies for spay/neuter services to ACC was $11,170 for the same fiscal year.
In 2002-03 the number of dogs and cats adopted from the S.F./SPCA was 3,274 – 2,563 cats and 711 dogs – figures that are likely to be surpassed by the projections for 2003-04. (FYI, the last published statistics for Pets Unlimited, fiscal year 2001-02, was 328 cats adopted and 59 dogs adopted.)
The S.F./SPCA offers, and will continue to offer, charitable services to low-income and indigent individuals. In (FY) 2002-03 the S.F./SPCA provided $290,228 in hospital care, crisis care, and spay/neuter services for senior, low-income, disabled, and homeless individuals. Subsidized spay/neuter services to the general public in FY 2002-03 amounted to $69,778.
In a collaborative Outreach program with Pets Are Wonderful Support and Pets Unlimited, the S.F./SPCA provides free spay/neuter surgery for the pets of homeless individuals.
In regard to the projected Roberts Medical Center, I wish to point out the following:
The Capital Campaign, which is raising funds for the new Roberts Medical Center, and the S.F./SPCA Operating Fund, which raises money for our endowment, are two completely separate entities. A study conducted by Marts and Lundy Inc. has shown that donors to the Roberts Medical Center are not typically those who give to our endowment.
The Roberts Medical Center, when it is completed, will positively impact the shelter animals by offering 24-7 emergency and critical care, and specialty services that will benefit both unowned and owned dogs and cats.
The S.F./SPCA has never claimed that there are no specialty services in the Bay Area, but that, unlike the planned Roberts Medical Center, these specialty services do not offer integrated care. Most of the specialists who have proposed to offer services within the Roberts Medical Center represent established specialty practices already in the Bay Area.
Contrary to your article, there is no ambiguity about the Roberts Medical Center's not-for-profit and for-profit business model. Details of the Roberts Medical Center operations, including the S.F./SPCA, were submitted to the IRS and the state of California, and the organization has received letters of determination upholding the nonprofit status of the S.F./SPCA within the new Roberts Medical Center.
The S.F./SPCA is confident that when the Roberts Medical Center is built, the number of sick and injured animals we will be able to treat will increase dramatically, with a concomitant rise in the number of homeless dogs and cats being adopted.
The S.F./SPCA remains the leader in the nation for its lifesaving work, and will continue to strive for even higher save-rates in the future.
Daniel T. Crain
President, San Francisco SPCA
Corbett Miller responds: In his letter Daniel Crain doesn't dispute any of the issues brought up in our story. Of course, the S.F./SPCA does a lot of good; that's what made this such a difficult story to write. But what we and critics of the S.F./SPCA are concerned about is the need for the for-profit venture and the resources it will divert from saving the lives of treatable, not just adoptable, homeless cats and dogs in San Francisco. We never suggested the project was illegal, and the Wise Giving Alliance is quoted as giving the hospital a very normal thumbs up. We're just not sure it's a good idea for the S.F./SPCA to begin a capital campaign for a profit-making venture while other programs are falling by the wayside.