SAN FRANCISCO — For two years now, Ian Brennan has dedicated himself to documenting the invisible: tracking down the exact spots where homeless people died on the streets.
The 41-year-old music producer and former psychiatric worker says he's seen firsthand how much of society ignores the destitute. He's watched police belittle street people with emotional problems. He's witnessed pedestrians stepping over transients who collapsed in front of them.
A few years ago, the East Bay native -- who lives part of the time in Los Angeles -- saw a way to memorialize homeless people he'd known here, like Santos, DeeDee and the Captain: He wants the city to approve his plan to place human-shaped bronze markers at their death spots, like the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"It's a way to get people to stop and think," he said, "to pay attention to the harsh lives these people endure."
If the idea catches on in San Francisco, Brennan hopes it will spread to cities across the country.
Last year, he approached Supervisor Chris Daly, whose district is where many of San Francisco's homeless live. Daly was interested.
"It's a worthy idea where art meets popular education," the supervisor said.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution last month urging the city's Department of Public Works to approve Brennan's privately financed memorials.
Since then, opposition to the plan has grown. Daly's office has received scores of calls and e-mails, mostly objecting. Some say it's just the latest in this liberal city's farfetched foolishness. Others say it alienates residents and tourists alike. A San Francisco Chronicle cartoon mocked the idea last week.
The Chamber of Commerce wants Mayor Gavin Newsom to veto the resolution, saying it was passed without public input. Chamber spokeswoman Carol Piasente said she doubted whether supervisors even read it.
"We don't like it," Piasente said. "How does he know that homeless people who die on the street -- or their families -- want their name or stories used in such a public way?"
Brennan, who has scouted locations for the first five markers, said he would make every effort to contact family members before putting up the plaques.
"But sometimes with these people," he acknowledged, "the trail with loved ones goes cold."
Newsom says he also has problems with the plan, saying the money should go for homeless services, not tombstones.
