Francisco, CA there is a low-income neighborhood referred to as the Tenderloin District (‘district’). This area is in the heart of the city but has not experienced the revitalization and gentrification as other areas have in the past fifty years as the economy took off with the development of so many tech companies in the area. Originally, the district was a tourist destination and contained a large number of hotels and motels. As other parts of the city developed, tourists stopped coming to this area and the hotels and motels converted to low-income housing establishments. As such they currently offer homeless people and those living around the poverty line a way to obtain housing at a cost they can afford within the city. Given this history, there are not a lot of single-family dwellings found in the district. Distinct from the housing issues, the district is known for its high crime rate. It has a reputation as the neighborhood in the city where it is easy to obtain drugs (on the streets) and alcohol (from local businesses). It is believed that people involved with these vices contribute to the area’s high crime rate of thefts and robberies. In 1989, the world’s largest winery announced that it would stop selling its cheapest fortified wines in the district for a period of six months. At the time, local businesses complained because they were dependent on selling the low-cost wines to alcoholics in order to stay open. The winery took the step after consulting with a non-profit group who argued that doing so would reduce the amount of crime and help alcoholics by eliminating their cheapest option for obtaining more alcohol. At the end of the six-month period it was learned that rates of alcoholism among the residents of the district did not decrease and crime rates actually increased as incidents of panhandling and petty theft crimes rose. A study was conducted and it was learned that the higher crime rate was a result of the alcoholics trying to obtain money to afford the higher priced alternatives. However, the local stores actually earned more money as the local residents shifted to buying higher priced alternatives. In 2019, neighborhood activist, John Doe, approached a local city council woman, Jane Smith, and asked for time to discuss the state of the district. During the meeting John asked for the city to consider new zoning regulations regarding the sale of alcohol in the district. Specifically, he wants the city to only allow for low alcohol content beverages to be sold in the area. His organization asserts that this will lead to healthier residents and lower the crime rate. John is well versed in the history of the district and is aware of the prior study. However, it is not clear if anyone on the council is aware of it or not. This measure is opposed by Sara Wilson, another community activist who wants to keep the housing costs affordable in the district. She believes that lowering the crime rate will invite gentrification and ultimately lead to increased homelessness in the area. Jane takes the matter up with the rest of the council and public hearings are called for in order to debate the idea. She asks John Doe and Sara Wilson to prepare presentations discussing the merits of the idea. 1 – What ethical dilemma(s) does John Doe face in this situation? Can you identify any other ethical dilemmas that other stakeholders are faced with from these facts? If so, what are they? 2 – Adopt an ethical model to guide John through the identified dilemma(s) and then use it to evaluate the possibilities and determine what the proper course of action is for John. When making your evaluation, please discuss the relevant facts and assumptions that you find important and ensure that you consider more than one alternative course of action.
In San Francisco, CA there is a low-income neighborhood referred to as the Tenderloin District (‘district’). This area is in the heart of the city but has not experienced the revitalization and gentrification as other areas have in the past fifty years as the economy took off with the development of so many tech companies in the area.
Originally, the district was a tourist destination and contained a large number of hotels and motels. As other parts of the city developed, tourists stopped coming to this area and the hotels and motels converted to low-income housing establishments. As such they currently offer homeless people and those living around the poverty line a way to obtain housing at a cost they can afford within the city. Given this history, there are not a lot of single-family dwellings found in the district.
Distinct from the housing issues, the district is known for its high crime rate. It has a reputation as the neighborhood in the city where it is easy to obtain drugs (on the streets) and alcohol (from local businesses). It is believed that people involved with these vices contribute to the area’s high crime rate of thefts and robberies.
In 1989, the world’s largest winery announced that it would stop selling its cheapest fortified wines in the district for a period of six months. At the time, local businesses complained because they were dependent on selling the low-cost wines to alcoholics in order to stay open. The winery took the step after consulting with a non-profit group who argued that doing so would reduce the amount of crime and help alcoholics by eliminating their cheapest option for obtaining more alcohol.
At the end of the six-month period it was learned that rates of alcoholism among the residents of the district did not decrease and crime rates actually increased as incidents of panhandling and petty theft crimes rose. A study was conducted and it was learned that the higher crime rate was a result of the alcoholics trying to obtain money to afford the higher priced alternatives. However, the local stores actually earned more money as the local residents shifted to buying higher priced alternatives.
In 2019, neighborhood activist, John Doe, approached a local city council woman, Jane Smith, and asked for time to discuss the state of the district. During the meeting John asked for the city to consider new zoning regulations regarding the sale of alcohol in the district. Specifically, he wants the city to only allow for low alcohol content beverages to be sold in the area. His organization asserts that this will lead to healthier residents and lower the crime rate. John is well versed in the history of the district and is aware of the prior study. However, it is not clear if anyone on the council is aware of it or not. This measure is opposed by Sara Wilson, another community activist who wants to keep the housing costs affordable in the district. She believes that lowering the crime rate will invite gentrification and ultimately lead to increased homelessness in the area.
Jane takes the matter up with the rest of the council and public hearings are called for in order to debate the idea. She asks John Doe and Sara Wilson to prepare presentations discussing the merits of the idea.
1 – What ethical dilemma(s) does John Doe face in this situation? Can you identify any other ethical dilemmas that other stakeholders are faced with from these facts? If so, what are they?
2 – Adopt an ethical model to guide John through the identified dilemma(s) and then use it to evaluate the possibilities and determine what the proper course of action is for John.
When making your evaluation, please discuss the relevant facts and assumptions that you find important and ensure that you consider more than one alternative course of action.
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