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USA Today Says San Francisco Is The Safest City In The USA?


Hey, have any of you USA Today newsies ever actually spent a day and/or night walking the streets there recently? The City by the Bay may not be quite as dangerous as Chicago, Oakland, Baltimore or New York.

However, with one of the nation’s highest homeless populations, it isn’t as safe for visitors as Lancaster PA, Bismarck ND nor Tucson AZ. Wandering these days along Lombard, Market, Castro and other iconic San Francisco streets is not only dangerous, but also very repulsive.

Many of the growing thousands of homeless live in makeshift tents, doorways, parks or out on the sidewalks. Some are mentally ill and/or drug addicts. Their ravings, trash, begging, unwashed bodies and human waste make walking in the areas extremely unpleasant.   

Recently, San Francisco police had eased the problems with the use of digital security efforts to get to crime scenes more quickly. However, it was stopped by city politicians as abuse of human rights. Of course, they didn’t consider the ever-increasing violence and abuse against tourists by growing thousands of homeless street people.

Q: First Time Overseas: How Do I Get A Passport? PDF Print E-mail


Just retired from a job that kept me cooped up in an office for 40 years, I want to travel and enjoy my freedom. My folks came from Sicily a century ago, and I plan to visit family in Palermo, their home town, for Easter. How’s the simplest way to get my passport? PDiG, Jersey City NJ

A: Dealing with government regs can be scary. We suggest the easiest way is to confer with a trustworthy travel agent in your hometown, who’ll take you through the steps.

If you elect to do it yourself, make an appointment at an official government passport agency. If you’ve never before had a passport, you’ll be required to be there in person. Before that day, pick up the required DS-11 passport application forms at your local post office or public library. Have a correctly-sized passport photo taken and bring it with you.

Fill out the forms as directed, and along with letter-sized copies of your Social Security card, driver’s license and other current ID documents, show up at the passport agency at the scheduled day and time. Be sure to bring your checkbook and/or credit card to pay the fees, usually up to $135.

If you take those simple steps, getting your passport can be a trouble-free process. For more information, go to
travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports.html

 

 
 
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