The State - News from Sept. 5, 1988

Drug dealing has become so pervasive and dangerous in San Francisco’s public housing that residents would feel safer living on the streets, officials said. “It’s sad but true,” said Housing Commissioner Lew Lillian. More than 20,000 people live in city-run apartments. A report in the San Francisco Examiner said armed drug dealers have taken over the housing, “made hostages of residents and intimidated police and city officials.” Police complain that the authority will evict a resident for nonpayment of rent, but not drug-dealing, while housing officials say they do not have the money or the manpower to fight drug trafficking.