S.F. Man Was Living in His Car When It Was Towed. Now He’s Suing the City

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James Smith waits inside the AutoReturn tow yard to find out if he can have his car back. Photo by Eli Wirtschafter/KALW/Crosscurrents

By Eli Wirtschafter, KALW/Crosscurrents

Last December, James Smith’s car was towed as a consequence of unpaid parking violations. Smith was homeless, and the car was his only shelter. Now, Smith filing suit against San Francisco, arguing that towing for debt-collection is unconstitutional.

James Smith, a 64-year-old San Franciscan, used to volunteer for the Coalition on Homelessness. He would help families find places to stay for a night. Sometimes he’d even open up his own little apartment.

Smith never expected that one day, he’d be the one living on the streets.

“Never, ever,” says Smith. “I asked myself, ‘What did I do wrong?’”

Read the complete story at KALW/Crosscurrents.

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