have been thinking about this a lot, and I need to say this... and the crazy thing is, I would identify as a left libertarian, a libertarian socialist, maybe even an anarcho-syndicalist (in the trade union European tradition), a left Marxist ... but in the US context, in the Bay Area, I am at loss to find any group. The left here is really immature.... Nicholas Roberts
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While the long video you posted was interesting and well done, and the gang v. anti-gang short was also interesting, neither applies here. Essentially your perception is way off the mark.
It's true we have few `organized' groups, which is why you couldn't find any. The way it works here is that there are a lot of people with common political ideas and opinions. The Occupations bring them out to march, or stand around and listen to speeches, attend meetings, etc.
The lack of an organize left is a consequence of US two party political system and the absence of a parliamentary system which seem to breed political parties. There is a strong resistance to top down `leadership' and `organization.'
The main use of police infiltrators in local history has been to gather information and let HQ know what's going on and what to expect. They occasionally propose inappropriate actions at meetings, and usually get boo-ed down. If they persist, then they are watched and eventually thrown out, or surrounded by a small crowd who starts to interrogate them. They are often easy to spot. They look wrong: wrong body shape, wrong answers to questions, everything about them smells wrong.
In the past, anarchists served a useful function which was illustrated very well by starting the occupation of the abandon Traveler's Aid Society offices. Most people don't have the nerve to break into a closed building. This group did. So they function as something of a vangard. From the photo, it looked like the more peaceable or less nervy, took over and went to work setting things up.
Breaking into abandoned residences is a different issue. It is a common problem and a feature of the homeless, drug addicts, and people with mental/emotional disorders. They are a neighborhood pest. Eventually the neighbors try their best to get the cops to remove them. This usually does no good, because they come back. The end of this sorry story is the house burns down and then is removed leaving a vacant lot---which is then sometimes taken over with a few people sleeping out and or a tent or two...
The problem of public sanitation is a direct consequence of the absences of public toilets. There used to be such a system and it was torn out or closed over time because the city government didn't want to maintain them. Now the only places to go are gas stations. You usually have to buy something to get access.
CG
Graffiti note. Most newer and remodeled commerical buildings use anti-g exterior materials to make it easy for clean-up. There is a cottage industry of graffiti removers. Although the cops can claim `gang activity' they usually never catch the taggers and don't bother to do more than fill out a report.
I worked at a place that had cronic problems with graffiti. So I put on my laytex gloves, got out the laquer thinner and wiped it off. I knew exactly why we got hit. It was a nasty owner who had a bad rep in the area.