Author: Gary Chen

“I’ve changed my mind, so I’m trying to change my life around.”

“That’s the challenge! It’s to not let one activity preclude the others. Let them all exist in their way.”

“They should call this place ‘Harmony’ because you’re never off cue. Everybody can play together.”

“People are people as far as I’m concerned…It really is about love more than hate. We have a short period of life in this life to live. So we need to make the best of it and help one another as people, as human beings.”

“I think anything is possible [in Civic Center] if you conceive it. But you have to have the energy to go and talk to different people. This person might say ‘No.’ Damn them! You trying to do something? Go to another person. If your idea is worthwhile, then I think they will listen to you. Now how you go about all this – you got to organize.”

“I’ve seen homelessness firsthand. I lived out on these streets when I was thirteen for a whole year. I ran away from home. I lived out here. And it’s rough.”

“I lived in Mission Bay during 1976 and it was all deserted buildings and empty lots. Now it’s one of the top places. Incidentally I live in Mission Bay now and I have a one bedroom apartment that is for seniors and it is subsidized. When I first moved in it, was a brand new building, I paid $228 a month, now I pay $205 a month. It was like winning the lotto!”

“San Francisco is not like the rest of the United States. You just cross the bridge or go two miles out, and it’s a whole different world.”