The Coalition on Homelessness sent the challenge and Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting has accepted. 

Coalition Executive Director Jennifer Friedenbach called on the mayoral candidate last week to have a debate on a November ballot initiative that would affect the way Care Not Cash benefits are dispersed to homeless who use shelter beds.

Ting has accepted, and why not? Homelessness is still the most pressing issue on San Franciscans’ minds and Ting is in a crowded race for mayor in which few candidates have really made an effort to make any real noise.

And while Friedenbach is well versed in the debate over Care Not Cash, Ting has his consultant Eric Jaye, who helped Gavin Newsom pass the controversial measure in 2002, to help with the debate strategy.

We’ll let you know when a date is chosen.

bbegin@sfexaminer.com