Where is the Compassion, Mayor Newsom? (edit this)
Exactly a week ago, a five year old and a 13 month old toddler witnessed their parents executed in a quiet residential neighborhood of San Francisco.
Jose Antonio Delacruz and Flor Guzman-Vasquez were executed while sitting in the front seat of their truck with their toddler, Sahian Michelle. Their five year old, Oscar Limon had to crawl past their bodies and leave his crying baby sister to get help. He was covered in their blood as he knocked on doors in the Mission Terrace neighborhood.
Since Oscar had a haircut and was in his best Sunday clothes and Sahian’s hair was in ribbons, it appears that the family was headed to church.
Yet, Mayor Newsom hasn’t said one word about this double murder that has destroyed this small family. His staff nor the San Francisco Police Department have started a fund to help Oscar and Sahian to get the mental help that they need now and when they get older to deal with their loss and the memory. His rich friends on the society page are not starting a trust fund to ensure that Oscar and Sahian will at least get a post-secondary education when they grow up.
And more importantly, nothing has been said about a reward or any effort to find the murderer of Oscar’s and Sahian’s parents.
We see the Mayor at the MLK breakfast talking about going to schools each Friday. We see the Mayor talking about getting approval for his Google/Earthlink wireless deal which experts are pointing out, is not much of a deal. He’s there to cut the ribbon of a new transit line that went overbudget and helped to bankrupt businesses along Third Street in the Bayview.
But we haven’t seen Gavin Newsom state anything about finding the person who murdered Oscar’s and Sahian’s parents in front of them.
Nor have we heard anything from Gavin Newsom about finding the murderers of Tony Hunt and Yusef Campbell who were killed two blocks from John Muir Elementary School last Saturday night. Nor is Gavin Newsom on record about trying to find the identity of the woman whose charred body was found Friday evening on a boat ramp near Candlestick Point.
Gavin Newsom was eager to talk about the reduction of murders in 2005 from 85 to 96. But he did not note that 96 murders in one year was a decade high. And for obvious reasons, he did not touch upon the fact that the murder rate has actually gone up by 23% during his administration.
Meanwhile, Oscar and Sahian’s lives have been shattered. Their last memory of their parents is now sheared into their hearts. Luckily, their mother’s sister had the resources to come to San Francisco from Philadelphia on Sunday to bring them into her home. Undoubtedly, the first thing their aunt did was to hold and comfort her sister’s babies as they begun their new lives together.
Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom hasn’t bothered to set up a fund for the children, to speak out against their parents’ murders, nor offer a reward for tips to find their murderer. He hasn’t even express his grief on the loss that these small children have to bear.
We (and Oscar and Sahian) deserve more in a mayor.

January 19th, 2007 at 11:48 am e
Is setting up a public trust fund something that is always done in cases like this, so that his behavior stands out for not doing so?
I hear about horrible things happening in Bayview Hunter’s Point all the time and that’s what makes me think of Gavin as absolutely heartless. The Redevelopment aggression is still hanging over the whole neighborhood; I’m pretty sure the gang injunction is still in force; and I hear about police violence and toxic violence every day. He has to be totally cold not to understand that the kids out there know they’re not wanted here, not by Gavin or the new House Peaker Plant. The Board of Supervisors voted to send them Lennar and the BVHP RP, then threw out their signature petition for a referendum, hit ‘em with a gang injunction the same week.
I’m sure they know that they aren’t wanted and that they know the police out there might murder them anytime and there might not even be an investigation. There was a case recently where a kid was shot under the chin, through the skull, point blank. That’s what the body said, but not the autopsy. His mother couldn’t afford an independent autopsy.
So what does Gavin send into this kind of pain and pressure? The Lennar Corporation, a sleazy megadeveloper with a reputation for tract house homogenization, shoddy construction, indifference to people and real community, which it shatters to make money replacing with faux community, usually the ticky tackiest, unless of course one graduates to the real luxury condos made by LNR Partners. I’m not sure it’s just Gavin, though. He’s a cold, insignificant character ultimately, from the class and depth of corruption that could be Mayor in this town.
And you know what? Lennar and LNR Partners are not just in BVHP. They’re all over, in Richmond more than anywhere, if a map of their building sites is any indicator. And they are so deeply disheartening, more so than I could recount here. –Ann
January 19th, 2007 at 11:48 am e
Is setting up a public trust fund something that is always done in cases like this, so that his behavior stands out for not doing so?
I hear about horrible things happening in Bayview Hunter’s Point all the time and that’s what makes me think of Gavin as absolutely heartless. The Redevelopment aggression is still hanging over the whole neighborhood; I’m pretty sure the gang injunction is still in force; and I hear about police violence and toxic violence every day. He has to be totally cold not to understand that the kids out there know they’re not wanted here, not by Gavin or the new House Peaker Plant. The Board of Supervisors voted to send them Lennar and the BVHP RP, then threw out their signature petition for a referendum, hit ‘em with a gang injunction the same week.
I’m sure they know that they aren’t wanted and that they know the police out there might murder them anytime and there might not even be an investigation. There was a case recently where a kid was shot under the chin, through the skull, point blank. That’s what the body said, but not the autopsy. His mother couldn’t afford an independent autopsy.
So what does Gavin send into this kind of pain and pressure? The Lennar Corporation, a sleazy megadeveloper with a reputation for tract house homogenization, shoddy construction, indifference to people and real community, which it shatters to make money replacing with faux community, usually the ticky tackiest, unless of course one graduates to the real luxury condos made by LNR Partners. I’m not sure it’s just Gavin, though. He’s a cold, insignificant character ultimately, from the class and depth of corruption that could be Mayor in this town.
And you know what? Lennar and LNR Partners are not just in BVHP. They’re all over, in Richmond more than anywhere, if a map of their building sites is any indicator. And they are so deeply disheartening, more so than I could recount here. –Ann
January 19th, 2007 at 9:42 pm e
I’m down to help kick start a trust fund for these children. I grew up in the Excelsior district at Athens and Peru Streets, and my Mexican immigrant grandparents were from the Pacific coast state of Jalisco (as were Flor and Jose Antonio) and lived on Russia Avenue — not far from Vienna Street where the victims of this senseless killing resided. We should initiate the trust fund ASAP.
Thank you for all the solidarity and not forgetting these folks.
January 20th, 2007 at 7:26 am e
Thanks, Richard.
January 20th, 2007 at 8:21 pm e
I was wondering if others were thinking about this horrible crime. Nothing, and I mean nothing has ever affected me more than the news of little Oscar climbing out of the truck over the bodies of his dead parents and searching the neighborhood for help. I saddens me every night to think about it. This is compounded by the fact that I live a mile away and my regular run takes me past the scene of the crime a couple of times a week AND because I have a five year old boy of my own. I have been hungry for additional news and attention from the media and for more attention concern from local officials which seems not to be forthcoming. I ran by the scene of the crime today (like I do every weekend) and nothing seems to be changed. Just the drone of the freeway above, no crime tape, no clues as to what happen…like it didn’t happen. I want more. I want more attention to this…I want more compasion and outcry from police and government. All I have been thinking about all week is how this family (mother and father) cared for each other over the past 5 years; the parents looked after them when they were sick; bought new clothes and shoes when they grew out of the old ones; fed them and made sure they ate all their food; changed their diapers; hugged them when they were sad; scolded them when they were bad. And now what? Its all come to an end because some ignorant selfish bastard with a gun decided he had to kill two parents with their kids in the car. That’s cowardice in its purest form.
Hoping others feel the same as I do. I to want to do something. I am not going to mince words… I want to contribute cash to make those children’s lives a little more lives comfortable. I just don’t know how to do it. I would like to see some sort of fund started.
Sunnyside, Glen Park, Mission Terrace….we live in a good neighborhood with good people who care. This is not something that happens in our neighborhoods and we care and we cry when it does. Chin up.
I’m done. Thats all.
January 20th, 2007 at 10:29 pm e
These two double homicides really rocked me as well. Newsom has NO compassion and no courage as we saw with him evading meeting with the BoS once a month. When I first heard about Prop. I, I immediately supported it. Although some unions did not like it, I agreed with it. I never saw it as playing politics. I see it as good government. Then to hear that the “town hall” was restricted to only the topic of homelessness, Newsom’s incompetence and cowardice was evident. I wrote that fool in July of 2006 regarding the murders in SF and implored him to declare a state of emergency. I never heard back. I guess when predominantly poor Black and Latinos are the victims, he just couldn’t care less. I bet if they started murdering underage, Republican socialites, then Newsom would declare a crisis without delay. Every day it becomes more evident that we need mature grown ups on the BoS since we have a GQ image conscious egotist for Mayor.
Maybe I am just a witch, but considering each one of my 3 children knew someone murdered in 2005, I am outraged!
Yes, a trust fund for these two children is a wonderful idea.
January 21st, 2007 at 5:21 pm e
It is difficult not to make comparisons between those two children and the private school gangfight that has filled our newspaper headlines for the past week.
We are supposed to feel great media manipulated anger at the sorry plight of Pacific Heights and Yale millionaires….how how misfortunate is the lot of our San Francisco elite!!!!
January 21st, 2007 at 5:29 pm e
Yep. If those two hypermonied families could put aside their differences and contribute a matching percentage of the truckloads of money they are spending on lawyers and PR firms, I’d be a lot less inclined to waves of nausea when I think of that lot up in Pacific Heights and Conneticutt.
I somehow doubt it will ever happen though because our wealthy elite are just not that intelligent despite their gold plated educations.
January 21st, 2007 at 6:48 pm e
Thank you, Mark, Kevin and Tami. I am going to work with El Rio to create a musical event as a fundraiser for Oscar and Sahian. Just to show them (and their aunt and uncle) that there are people in San Francisco who care what happens to them.
January 21st, 2007 at 9:52 pm e
Thanks Kim.
You may want to consider contacting Carlos Santana’s wife and writer/artist Deborah Santana and his manager, brother Jorge Santana in Marin County about supporting this fundraiser concept. Both Carlos and Jorge were born in Jalisco, Mexico like Flor and Jose Antonio, and Carlos & Deborah Santana’s production company and philantrophic work often contributes to assisting children in Mexico with economic aid. Its’ a thought that could have some impact if we want to explore additional and larger, potential venues beyond El Rio. I do believe, however, that in particular Deborah Santana should be contacted as well. Often she is the organizer and proposal implementor for Santana Productions. Perhaps with support from Coleman Advocates for Children, who is based in the Excelsior District, we can genuinely bring together a collaborative of support for this family and productive fundraiser.
Thanks for taking the lead. Any support I can provide feel free to email me.
Solidarity,
Richard
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:40 am e
Great idea, Richard! I’ll give her call today. I’ll also call Sandy Fewer and N’Tanya Lee at Coleman. Thanks again!
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:22 pm e
Hey Kim. I just e-mailed a copy of the Chronicle’s 1/16 report on the the Delacruz family to 6 of the major Mexican TV groups: CANITEC; CETE; CEPROPIE; EDUSAT; PCTV; and TV UNAM. Don’t know what will happen but hopefully it will get some more attention to this.
January 22nd, 2007 at 3:06 pm e
Hi Kim. I just got a reply from Gerardo Sandoval’s office (Distric 11 sup for the area where this happened). Here it is. They are asking me if I am in contact with the family and I will of course have to say I am not. But take a look at the reply.
Mr. O’Reilly,
I just wanted to acknowledge your letter and assure you that I will
convey
your message to Sup. Sandoval.
Indeed, something must be done about crime.
Regarding the De La Cruz family, are you in contact with them? There
is a
state law that gives support, from therapy to emergency money to other
resources to victims of crime. I will be happy to work on this with
you.
Or if you have any other ideas, please do not hesitate to communicate
with
me.
Lupita Figueiredo
Media Liaison
Office (415) 554-6977
Cell (415) 533-2092
Office of Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval
San Francisco, CA
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:11 am e
Thank you, Kevin!!! I left a message at the Milagro Foundation (Santanas’ foundation-as Richard suggested). I also spoke to Sandy Fewer about finding a kid-friendly location. I ‘ll talk with Lupita about the event.
Since Oscar and Sahian are now in Philly, they won’t be eligible for help from the state of California. But perhaps, PA has something similiar.
Keep those great ideas coming!! Thank you, everyone.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:44 am e
I spoke to Ms. Figueiredo via phone and email. We have tentatively scheduled the benefit to be at El Rio from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 17. But we are on the lookout for a venue that will also allow children to be part of the benefit.
Sandoval will introduce a resolution on Tuesday showing his support for Oscar and Sahian.
January 26th, 2007 at 10:43 am e
Hi Kim. That is great news. I will be at the Rio (if that is the final venue) but a place where kids can go would be good also. Oscar attended a day care (not sure where) and may have had some friends there. If it is not too late, maybe Sandoval can mention the courageous Mrs Cooney of Badger Street(the women who 1st encountered Oscar) and took care of Oscar and Sahian while the police did their work. Just a thought.
February 12th, 2007 at 1:29 pm e
Yusef Campbell was my boyfriend of five years and father of my 9 month old daughter Keyara. I am pissed off that this keeps happening to families all over hunters point and other areas of the city. The police say they are doing all they can but i still feel like his murder will be another unsolved homicide.
February 13th, 2007 at 5:58 am e
Valerie, my deepest sympathy to you and your daughter on your loss. My prayers are with you and your family in this difficult time.