San Francisco mayor: Homeless must go before Super Bowl

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco is trying to figure out how it is going to tackle homelessness before Super Bowl 50 invades the city.

While the city is converted to Super Bowl City in six months, the mayor says the homeless in the area must clear out, reports CBS San Francisco.

"They are going to have to leave," Lee said, summing up his plan for how to handle the homeless when Super Bowl festivities come to town.

"We'll give you an alternative. We are always going to be supportive. But you are going to have to leave the streets," Mayor Ed Lee told CBS San Francisco.

Lee hopes to tackle the problem by installing more homeless programs and some 500 new apartments to have built before the Super Bowl.

"Some of them are mentally ill. Some of them have severe drug addiction and yeah, they get cleaned up 24 hours and they are back on the environment that caused this in the first place," the mayor said.

In the past, San Francisco has been known for being very tolerant of the homeless.

The Super Bowl host committee said the plan is to have so much going on there won't be room for the homeless.

"All around here we are going to have entertainment, family-friendly activities that will keep it vibrant and crowded," said Nate Ballard of the host committee to CBS San Francisco. "We're going to have 24-7 security."

The mayor's comments come as complaints grow about the homeless.

"It's getting worse," said Kevin Carroll of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. "There are just more things happening."

CBS San Francisco reports that Lee said to help, several city departments, including police, public works, the health department and social services will be involved in the process.

"They can't be on the streets," said Lee. "Not just because it is illegal, but because it is dangerous for them."