LETTERS

THIRD-CLASS CITIZENS

That was a great (and sad) spread you did on transgender employment issues ["Transjobless," 3/15/06].

I work for a Santa Clara–based tech company, but I personally transferred from an office in the Midwest to their European headquarters about two years ago. I did so because I thought transitioning here might be easier than in the cornfields of Indiana.

Well, let me tell you, big companies don't care where you live if they want to discriminate against you ... I transitioned last year and went from earning about $140K a year to being basically unemployed due to the harassment and discrimination.

Because I'm a pretty senior IT consultant, I started Googling for jobs in the valley. That's when I came across your article. Shame, I guess even in the heart of liberal USA, I'm still going to get treated like a third-class citizen.

Next, are they going to set up different drinking fountains for us?

Diane

Location withheld upon request

GOOD TRANS DOCTORS

Thank you for the wonderful articles on trans issues in the workplace and in prisons. That information is so important in recognizing and validating the struggles we trans people face on a day-to-day basis.

On a positive note, I want to mention my health care provider, Kaiser, which is working very hard to make trans issues nonissues when it comes to taking care of our bodies. Time and time again, my trans friends struggle with health care issues, to the point where they'd rather not see a doctor at all instead of face the humiliation often doled out in health care settings.

Kaiser (SF) is tremendously supportive, and every time I make a difficult phone call, I end up feeling relieved and cared for, just like every other patient. If there is any way to note this positive aspect of what is very difficult for trans people, I think it'd be wonderful.

Josh Klipp

San Francisco

SKYLINE LOVES GENTRIFICATION

Thank you for your informative series on the tactics of Skyline Realty, one of San Francisco's largest landlords, which has made it its mission to target low-income tenants, force them out by any means necessary, and make the city completely unaffordable to all but the wealthy ["The Scumlords," 3/8/06 and 3/15/06]. When I worked as a community organizer at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, from 2000 to 2003, I frequently encountered tactics that Andrew Hawkins and Skyline Realty used in their crusade to force out rent-controlled tenants.

While your first two articles highlighted Skyline's most egregious bullying tactics, as well as their neglect of code violations, readers should know that Skyline has publicly admitted why it uses such tactics — to gentrify San Francisco. In July 2002, Skyline tried to sue the Tenderloin Housing Clinic for, among other things, "interference with prospective economic advantage." Fortunately, a judge threw the case out (and made Skyline pay $14,000 in attorney's fees), but the lawsuit is now public record.

In the lawsuit Skyline admitted that when the company buys large apartment buildings and "substantially remodels" them, it frequently offers rent-controlled tenants money to move out. They consider this a "win-win situation" because the tenants get money and they get new tenants who pay higher rent. Never mind that the old tenants have now lost their rent-controlled housing and it hurts the overall affordability of living in San Francisco.

Skyline was "shocked" because the THC — which counsels these tenants — was violating the company's "probable future economic benefit" of getting new tenants who pay higher rents. They also accused us of unfairly targeting them because we disagree with their "philosophy of gentrification." In other words, Skyline Realty openly admitted that they want to gentrify San Francisco.

Paul Hogarth

San Francisco

The Guardian welcomes letters commenting on our coverage or other topics of local interest. Letters should be brief (we reserve the right to edit them for length) and signed. Please include a daytime telephone number for verification.

Corrections and clarifications: The Guardian tries to report news fairly and accurately. You are invited to complain to us when you think we have fallen short of that objective. Complaints should be directed to Pamela Pritchard, the assistant to the publisher. We'd prefer them in writing, but Pritchard can also be reached by phone at (415) 255-3100. If we have published a misstatement, we will endeavor to correct it quickly and in an appropriate place in the newspaper. If you remain dissatisfied, we invite you to contact the Minnesota News Council, an impartial organization that hears and considers complaints against news media. It can be reached at 12 South Sixth St., Suite 1122, Minneapolis, MN 55402; (612) 341-9357; fax (612) 341-9358.