San Francisco Bay Guardian 48.32

2014·22.3 MB·English

guardian illustration
by patrick sean gibson
Take back your life.
Come to a FREE Knee Pain Seminar
Now there are advanced robotic-assisted technology options for treating painful
knee conditions – options that can get you back in action faster than ever before.
To reserve your spot call 855.300.KNEE
Wednesday, May 14
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
Lower Level A, B, C Rooms
900 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA
SaintFrancisMemorial.org
2 SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN OpINION NewS STReeTS FOOD + DRINk The SeleCTOR mUSIC ARTS + CUlTURe FIlm ClASSIFIeDS
SFMH Robotic Knee Surgery Seminar ad-SFExaminer_10.13x11_002.indd 1 4/29/14 11:01 AM
OpINION NewS STReeTS FOOD + DRINk The SeleCTOR mUSIC ARTS + CUlTURe FIlm ClASSIFIeDS mAY 7 - 13, 2014 / SFBG.COm 3
inteLLigenCe
Last ChanCe
get Your groVe on
to Vote!
Don’t have $400 lying around to shell out for after all) and get there early if you actually want
The San Francisco Bay Guardian
Outside Lands tickets on Craigslist? You’re in to see the stage — all performances start at
is pleased to salute small busi-
good company. Luckily, there’s Stern Grove, 2pm. More deets: www.stern-
nesses and recognize local the summer-long, admission-free festival that grove.org. | ap photo by John
merchants who are creating provides killer live performances without killing davisson
jobs, keeping neighborhoods
your hopes of ever sending your unborn kids to
lively, and contributing to the
college. This year’s lineup of Sunday afternoon
community. This year, our third
shows, announced May 1, includes such heavy
Small Business Reader’s Choice
hitters as Smokey Robinson, Rufus Wainwright,
Award will be given. What is your
Andrew Bird (pictured), Darlene Love, Allen
favorite small business in the
Stone, and plenty of other local stars, like
San Francisco Bay Area? Our
LoCura, Vetiver, and, of course, the SF
2014 Small Business Awards
Symphony. Pack a picnic, bring
Issue hits stands May 14.
a jacket (this is summer
Voting will end at midnight on
in San Francisco,
Thursday, May 8. To qualify as
a small business your nominee
must employ no more than 100
people. One entry per person,
Don’t B3 3ViL
please. Visit sfbg.com for more.
snaPshot: streets
One local artist is disrupt-
ing tech shuttle riders on
Photo by @jumPstreet1983
their own turf: the Internet.
Artist David Harris’ project Tag your Instagram photos #sfbgsnapshot for a chance to be featured
DONTB33VIL mimics login here in next week’s paper. Each week we’ll pick a new theme, and a new
credentials of the WiFi favorite. Next week’s photo challenge theme: “back to business,” in honor
Drone zone routers provided by the of our upcoming Small Business Awards Issue.
tech buses. When Google
So the annual Maker Faire won’t and Facebook employees home seLLers FLee DoCs LaCk FunDs
be coming to the San Mateo login to WiFi, all they’ll see
Fairgrounds until May 17-18, is an approximation of the SF homeowners who sell tend to Resident physicians and interns
but here’s a heads up that sidewalk their cell phone leave the city, according to new at Oakland’s UCSF Benioff
drones will play a starring role or laptop is near. Harris numbers from Paragon Real Children’s Hospital are seeking
in this year’s maker-movement said wants to confront Estate group. Their findings are federal mediation in ongoing labor
fest. There will be an outdoor tech shuttle riders with an like a mini-horror story centered contract negotiations. The starting
drone flying area, two indoor “indeterminate symbol of around SF’s gentrification: salary for resident physicians is
drone areas, and an official failure, suggesting that · 60 percent of sellers are relo- $52,000 — not much for some-
drone-flying competition, host- something in their high- cating outside San Francisco one tasked with, you know, saving
ed by a maker known as Game ly-customized interface · 47 percent of buyers are lives, while shouldering the burden
of Drones. One can even play has gone wrong, while employed in tech of hefty med school loans when
drone beer pong. Visit maker- not saying exactly what or · 26 percent of homes are getting Oakland rents are skyrocketing.
faire.com for more. why.” snagged with “all cash” offers
Chase targets
Fighting For $15
sexY PoLitiCking sex workers
The fight for a higher mini-
State Assembly candidate and Chase Bank unleashed the wrath
mum wage is gaining steam
San Francisco Supervisor David of the porn industry by taking steps
throughout the Bay Area. Public
Campos’ newest fundraiser will be to cancel the accounts of hundreds
employee union SEIU 1021 is
hosted by the local pornographers of sex workers, effective May 11.
gathering signatures to place a
at Kink.com, at the Armory Club The bank reportedly explained its
measure on the November ballot
on May 7. The porn-purveyors, decision to bewildered customers
that would raise San Francisco’s
known for ball-and-gag videos, by saying their work was deemed to
minimum wage to $15. And
submission wrestling and sex be “high risk.” As a private bank,
while Oakland mayoral candi- raising reeL heLL
robots, will feature a gyrating Chase has no legal obligation to
date Dan Siegel released a pol-
(non-nude) exotic dancer, pho- do business with anyone, but the
icy paper pushing for a $15 an
tos with porn luminaries, and a Here’s your latest chance to see excellent, locally made romantic implications are disturbing.
hour minimum wage, a potential tour of the historic Armory. “He is drama Love and Demons on the big screen: it’ll make its way up to
initiative for the November
one of the rare politicians who has the Smith Rafael Film Center Sun/11 (www.cafilm.org) for a screen- FoLLow us For
ballot seeks to raise Oakland’s
minimum wage from $8 to ever reached out to me,” Kink. ing with director-writer-star JP Allen and other cast and crew mem- more inteLLigenCe
com CEO Peter Acworth (pic- bers in person. An intriguing look at modern love, the film follows
$12.25 per hour. Meanwhile,
Oakland City Council considered tured) said, “and is unafraid of a dissatisfied couple on the verge of breaking up — until a pair of @sfbg
the association.” | guardian meddlesome demons enter the picture, nudging these hapless San
an ordinance that would enact photo by pat mazzera Francisco mortals into some really ill-advised life choices. Made SBaany GFruaanrcdiisacno
a citywide minimum wage of creatively on a shoestring, Demons is full of recognizable SF loca-
$10.20, but the proposal was @sfbayguardian
tions — and preserves for posterity some that are no more, including
held in committee. the thematically apropo Red Devil Lounge. www.sfbg.com
4 sAN FrANCIsCo bAy GuArDIAN oPINIoN News streets FooD + DrINk the seleCtor musIC Arts + Culture FIlm ClAssIFIeDs
www.sfbg.com/mission-guide
In association with the Mission Merchants:
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“IT IS A NEWSPAPER’S DUTY TO PRINT
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Wilbur Storey, statement of the aims
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Critical Mass ride for David Campos
PUEBDLIITSOHRE Rs tmeavrekne t b. jieosncehske Cyclists are lining up behind the Campos campaign which promotes sells more bikes than any
progress on bike safety and infrastructure. Tour the Mission and ride in
EDITORIAL
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cheryl eddy up amazing bike-powered Vietnamese food) followed by a post-
NEwS EDITOR rebecca bowe ride happy hour at Virgil’s Sea Room. Meet at the Northeast corner
MUSIc EDITOR emma silvers
STAff wRITER joe fitzgerald rodriguez of 16th and Mission Streets, make new friends, meet your supervisor, there must be a reason!
cOLUMNISTS marcia gagliardi, and celebrate!
jason henderson, jessica lanyadoo
cOPy EDITOR stewart applin Sunday, May 11 from 2-4pm | Meet at 16th Street BART/
EDITOR AT LARGE bruce b. brugmann SELECTION, PRICE, SERVICE!
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opinion newS StreetS Food + drink the Selector muSic artS + culture Film claSSiFiedS may 7 - 13, 2014 / SFBG.com 5
opinion
This Was aBouT poliTical paTronage, pure anD simple
Chiu for Assembly
By DeBra Walker one of our city’s largest existing
stocks of affordable housing.
OPINION San Francisco is at a David will continue to work to
crossroads. While some residents stem San Francisco’s affordable
benefit from prosperity, an afford- housing crisis in the Assembly,
able housing crisis coupled with including pushing hard to reform
income inequality make this a the Ellis Act.
time of struggle for other San David has been a leader on a
Franciscans. host of other important issues.
Our inclusive, diverse cul- An avid biker who doesn’t own
ture that has historically made a car, David has spearheaded
San Francisco a haven for artists, groundbreaking environmental
immigrants, and innovators is at legislation, banning the sale
stake. Given this, effective pro- of plastic water bottles on city
gressive leadership is critical to property, expanding urban
ensuring that our city remains a agriculture, and prohibiting the
place where all San Franciscans delivery of unwanted Yellow
can afford to live and prosper. Pages. He’s increased funding for
That’s why I urge you to vote for community arts, an issue close
my friend, President of the Board to my heart as an artist. He has
of Supervisors David Chiu, to championed language access
represent San Francisco in the for our city’s immigrants, and
California state Assembly. fought for the reunification of
As president, David has LGBT immigrant families.
demonstrated an inclusive, unify- Under his leadership, San
ing leadership style that has had Francisco is the first city in the
a transformative impact at City country to establish the right
Hall. He really listens to every- to civil counsel for low-income
one, and brings people together residents being denied basic
to address our city’s most critical human rights such as housing,
challenges. He combines rock as well as to give workers the
solid progressive values with a right to request flexible and pre-
fervent drive to do more than dictable working arrangements
talk — to actually get the big to take care of their families. He
Politics trumps police oversight
stuff done. passed progressive business tax
The proof is in the pudding: reform that will bring $300 mil-
He’s passed more pieces of legisla- lion of new revenues over the
tion than any other current super- next decade. EDITORIAL A proven advocate for ed pointed questions at police, for than ousting Chan. Instead, the
visor in every major policy arena, When it comes down to it, we the public interest was removed example drilling down on the finer board majority was unwilling to
and his colleagues have elected have two Assembly candidates, from the San Francisco Police details of officer-involved shootings. challenge the consolidated power
him president three times. David Chiu and David Campos, Commission last week. Not only was Hwang, also a civil rights attor- of Lee and his well-connected
David has delivered consis- who share the strongly held pro- this a missed opportunity for stron- ney, is qualified and respected, but allies, who conducted an antidem-
tently on our city’s most critical gressive values of the Guardian’s ger civilian oversight at a time when he didn’t need to replace Chan. ocratic closed-door lobbying effort.
issue: affordable housing. A tenant readers. I am a longtime supporter the San Francisco Police Department There’s another vacant seat on the Board President David Chiu,
in San Francisco himself for the of the Guardian and have valued is under federal scrutiny, it raises commission — up to Mayor Ed Lee who is running for Assembly, stat-
past 18 years, David has fought its endorsement in my previous disturbing implications about how to appoint — so this vote was never ed at the meeting that he’d asked
to protect and expand affordable races. The difference lies in style things get done in City Hall. about Hwang’s qualifications versus Lee about appointing Hwang to the
housing across the city, leading and effectiveness. The Board of Supervisors voted Chan’s. There was room for both. vacant seat, only to be told: “It is
efforts to build more housing for I know how urgently San to oust Police Commissioner Angela This was about political not something that will happen.”
homeless veterans, transitional Francisco needs a leader in the Chan, voting 7-4 to strike Chan’s patronage, pure and simple. It So Chiu was unwilling to ques-
age youth, and seniors. Assembly who can bring people name from the appointment and was about getting rid of an inde- tion the mayor’s bizarre refusal to
He supported rebuilding together to get significant things replace it with contender Victor pendent voice and replacing her appoint a candidate that Lee’s own
dilapidated public housing done. The challenges and oppor- Hwang instead. City Hall insiders with the former chair of the “Run allies were furiously advocating
projects that have been in total tunities our city faces demand it. privately explained that Chinatown Ed Run” committee, which urged for. Instead of pushing for stronger
disrepair. He has supported the I know David Chiu can do this power broker Rose Pak, a friend Lee to break his pledge and run civilian oversight of police, Chiu
strengthening of habitability because he has done it, over and of Mayor Ed Lee who wields great for mayor — a tradeoff that hurts and six other supervisors voted to
standards in housing across over again, in five and a half political influence, pressured super- police accountability. oust a commissioner with a proven
the board. He led the charge to remarkably effective years of pro- visors to vote for Hwang specifical- Having two civil rights attor- track record.
create a 10-year moratorium on gressive leadership on the Board ly because she and her allies wanted neys on the Police Commission If elected officials are casting
condo conversions and to priori- of Supervisors. Chan to be ousted. Supervisors who would have sent a strong signal that votes for personal advancement, or
tize victims of Ellis Act evictions Please join me in supporting could not be relied upon to vote for the city is serious about addressing out of fear that they’ll be rendered
for our city’s affordable housing David Chiu for state Assembly. 2 Hwang were even reportedly cau- police misconduct at a time when ineffective as punishment for piss-
opportunities. tioned that they shouldn’t be too SFPD officers are facing federal ing off the wrong people, then San
After multiple failed attempts Debra Walker is an artist who vocal about their positions. charges for alleged civil rights viola- Franciscans have a big problem:
by supervisors over two decades, serves on the Building Inspection A civil rights attorney who tions (see “Crooked cops,” March 4). Their local government is behold-
he passed legislation to finally Commission, recently reappointed proved effective and independent as Supervisors should have called en to the whims of entrenched
legalize in-law units, preserving to that seat by David Chiu. a commissioner, Chan often direct- upon Lee to appoint Hwang rather power. 2
6 SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN OPINION NEwS STREETS FOOD + DRINk ThE SELECTOR mUSIC ARTS + CULTURE FILm CLASSIFIEDS
news
By ReBecca Bowe Watching the police use of force were sustained in 2013,
[email protected] while 167 were not sustained, out of
a total of 208 complaints alleging
NEWS Nearly two years ago, on July unnecessary use of force.
18, 2012, on-duty San Francisco police At the end of 2013, according to
Officer Mary Godfrey fired her weapon the OCC report, the civilian over-
twice, killing 32-year-old Oakland resi- Civilian oversight system underfunded and prone to political pressures sight board “continued to investigate
dent Pralith Pralourng in an encounter three officer-involved shootings.
at Washington and Davis streets. blistering letter dated September OCC investigation also remains open. Of those sustained cases, 91 per- Two of these shootings resulted in
Following the incident, police said 11, 2013, President Martin Halloran The OCC’s annual report, cent resulted in corrective or dis- the death of the suspect. In 2013,
Pralourng was mentally ill and had informed police commissioners of released March 12, was slated ciplinary action by the SFPD, the the OCC closed two 2011 officer
lunged at Godfrey with a box cutter, the POA’s “extreme disappointment” for presentation at the Police report noted, ranging from a verbal involved shooting cases with no sus-
prompting her to fire in defense of in the dissenting vote, also sending Commission on May 7. The 179- admonishment to a suspension. tained findings.”
her own life. Just before it happened, a copy of the letter to Mayor Ed Lee. page report shines a light on the Of the 43 cases that were sus- Hicks noted that she faces
Pralourng had slashed his coworker at “Officer Godfrey was extreme- allegations filed against police tained, 56 percent were for “neglect budgetary constraints that have
Tcho chocolate factory and fled. ly upset when I met with her and officers, the process by which these of duty,” the majority of which was prevented her from hiring more
Last September, the San immediately voiced her regret at complaints are investigated and issued for failure to collect traffic stop investigators, an ongoing problem
Francisco Police Department hon- having to take the life of another addressed, and the rate at which data. That was followed by “unwar- at the OCC. “We still don’t have the
ored Godfrey with a silver medal of human being,” Halloran wrote. “It is complaints are sustained and fol- ranted action” at 24 percent, “conduct best practices number of cases,” she
valor for her conduct in that inci- every officer’s worst nightmare. The lowed up with disciplinary action. reflecting discredit represented” at 10 said, noting that the City Controller
dent. The second-highest possible emotional and psychological trauma percent, “unnecessary force” at 7 per- had issued a 2007 audit stating that
honor, silver medals are awarded in following an officer involved shooting cent, and “discourtesy” at 3 percent. investigators should be handling no
cases where an officer exhibits “out- can be severe, and it is absolutely A synopsis of the “unnecessary more than 16 cases at once, while
standing bravery in the performance essential that officers involved force” findings provides exam- “my investigators’ caseloads have
of duty,” according to a definition on in these types of incidents ples, such as an incident never fallen below 21.”
the SFPD website, and “risks his or receive positive reinforce- in which “a sergeant and Aside from its investigations into
her life with full and unquestionable ment, as well as counseling, officers used unnecessary citizen complaints, the OCC also
knowledge of the danger involved.” to reassure them that they force when without cause, makes policy recommendations.
However, an internal affairs did nothing wrong.” they entered a residence, Following a number of officer-in-
investigation into the officer-involved Counseling seems grabbed, detained, arrested volved shootings in 2012 involving
shooting remained open at the time appropriate, but Halloran’s and removed an occupant mentally ill individuals, the OCC
that the medal was awarded. In fact, blanket statement that offi- from the residence, and issued a set of recommendations on
in a May 5 voicemail, police spokes- cers involved in deadly use took him to the ground." handling responses to individuals
person Albie Esparza confirmed to the of force incidents should But according to the experiencing mental crisis — the
Bay Guardian: “That case is still open, be reassured that “they did report, “By far the most exact sort of situation that led to
so there is no more information that nothing wrong” seems to frequent finding in all alle- Pralourng’s death in 2012.
we are going to release at this time.” discount the city’s process for gations was ‘not sustained,’” Samara Marion, an attorney
More than eight months have determining whether or not an reflecting the outcome of 61 with the OCC, noted that one
passed since Godfrey was honored officer’s action was justified. percent of allegations in OCC recommendation pertains to how
— and yet the shooting is still under The SFPOA president went complaints. the Firearm Discharge Review
investigation. on to note that his organization The determination “not sus- Board, which evaluates whether a
The San Francisco Police has long complained that “officers tained” isn’t the same as finding that shooting was justified, performs
Commission voted to approve are left hanging for months, and in an officer acted appropriately, nor its analysis. Rather than merely
Godfrey’s silver medal, along with some cases years, before being rec- does it mean a complainant made relying on the internal affairs and
a list of other medal of valor recip- ognized for their heroic acts, some- false allegations. Instead, the finding homicide reports, Marion said, the
ients, at its June 26, 2013 meeting. times making them feel more inse- is issued when “there is not a prepon- OCC recommendation is to “have
But it was Commissioner Angela cure and raising more self-doubts derance of evidence to prove or dis- the training division do an analysis
Chan, who was recently denied reap- about their actions.” Being a police officer isn’t prove,” the allegation, OCC Executive that’s point by point,” so that the
pointment to her post in a 7-4 vote The SFPOA’s overt condemna- easy, and can be very dangerous — Director Joyce Hicks told us. determination is made taking into
by the Board of Supervisors, who tion of Chan for her dissent suggests even costing officers their lives in Put more simply: An officer account “all of the decision-making
cast the lone dissenting vote (See that the police commissioner faced extreme circumstances. The OCC responds to a complainant with a and tactical steps leading up to the
“SFBG Wrap” in this issue). strong opposition from a politically report notes that 75 percent of San contradictory account, and since officer-involved shooting.”
Chan was later quoted in press powerful entity when she came up Francisco police officers did not there isn’t enough evidence to prove That work is expected to
reports as saying she believed that for reappointment. have any complaints filed against otherwise, the case is closed. continue, but as far as the Police
awarding Godfrey with a medal of More importantly, it suggests that them in 2013. But of the remaining “Officers were found to have Commission is concerned, it will
valor before the formal investigative the SFPOA won’t hesitate to exert 25 percent, the report noted that engaged in proper conduct in 25 have to go forward without input
process had concluded seemed to pressure on police commissioners who 131 officers had been named in two percent of the allegations,” the break- from Chan, who had planned to
undermine that process. Internal question the department’s actions — or more complaints, while another down continued. “Complainants’ take a close look at officer-involved
affairs investigations are part of the and raises questions about why top 405 officers had each been flagged allegations were ‘unfounded,’ or not shootings in her next term.
city’s formal process to ensure police brass would ignore an open investiga- in a single complaint. true, in 2 percent of the allegations.” “It was shameful and outrageous
accountability. San Francisco also has tion that had yet to establish whether If the OCC determines that a A chart of “findings closed” in what happened, because I was tar-
an independent city department, the Godfrey “did nothing wrong.” complaint about officer miscon- 2013 (a separate measure from com- geted for doing what I believe in,”
Office of Citizen Complaints, which Internal Affairs investigators duct is valid, then it is counted as plaints) showed that out of 2,183 Chan said later. But she said political
provides civilian oversight by making weren’t the only ones looking into “sustained.” findings, just 72 — or 3 percent — pressures thwarted that goal.
determinations about citizen com- this fatal shooting of Pralourng. The In 2013, according to the report, were sustained. The vast majority, “What happened was not really
plaints alleging officer misconduct. OCC, the civilian police oversight the OCC received 727 complaints, 1,337 were “not sustained.” about me,” she continued. “It was
Chan’s dissenting vote prompted board, was also investigating the and closed 722 complaints. Of A breakdown showing the about whether something as import-
a backlash from the San Francisco incident when Godfrey was honored. the 722 that were closed, 43 — or nature of complaints filed reveals ant as a civilian police oversight
Police Officers Association. In a Almost two years after the fact, the about 6 percent — were sustained. that five allegations of unnecessary body should be politicized.” 2
opiNioN NEWS StrEEtS Food + driNk thE SElEctor muSic artS + culturE Film claSSiFiEdS may 7 - 13, 2014 / SFBG.com 7
news brieFs for the extended versions of these articles,
visit sFbg.com/politics
Genentech, Apple, and a handful Enrique Pearce and his Left Coast would extend the Public Education
of private transportation providers. Communications firm, which has a Enrichment Fund (PEEF), another
It alleges the tech shuttle pilot proj- history of dirty tricks campaigning source of funding for youth programs.
ect is in violation of the California on behalf of Mayor Ed Lee and other Avalos has strong support on
Vehicle Code, which prohibits any establishment politicians. Hansen the Board of Supervisors, but the
vehicle — except common carriers notes that the flyers appeared right Mayor’s Office has reportedly been
(public buses) — to pull into red after the registration of a new cam- pressuring supervisors not to sup-
zones that are designated as bus paign committee, San Franciscans port Avalos’ measure.
stops. It also alleges the city abused for Effective Government to Support “We’re experiencing growth and
its discretion and violated the CEQA David Chiu. Although the group speculation that is lifting many boats,
by exempting the shuttle project hasn’t reported any fundraising yet, but not lifting all boats,” Avalos noted
from environmental review. (Joe its contact phone number goes to April 30. “And some of the people
Fitzgerald Rodriguez) Left Coast Communications and who are not doing so well are chil-
Pearce, who hasn’t yet returned our dren and families.” (Rebecca Bowe)
calls on the issue.
ethics complaint
The anti-Campos mailers
include some nasty and misleading rise up
targets anti-
charges, labeling Campos “City
Hall’s Hypocrite” by falsely claiming
campos Flyers THURSDAY 8
Campos ignored rising evictions
12TH AnnUAl HUmAn RigHTS AwARDS
until he decided to run for the
Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon, SF. www.human-
Several San Francisco neighborhoods Assembly and that he was concerned rightsaward.org. 6-8:30pm, $115. Each year, the
power play Supervisor John Avalos suggest- over the last week have been targeted about Google buses but wanted to Human Rights Awards honors the inspiring individuals
and organizations who create radical change and real
ed the Board of Supervisors make a with illegal campaign flyers against charge them less than $1 per stop.
democracy. This year, they are honoring the 50 year
unseats sF police motion to request the mayor appoint Assembly candidate David Campos “This is a secretly funded shadow anniversary of the Freedom Schools, anti-GMO activist
Hwang himself, allowing for both — breaking both state election laws organization aligned with David Chiu, María Estela Barco Huerta, and the Cuban Five, Cuban
commissioner intelligence agents arrested in the United States while
Chan and Hwang to be appointed. requiring the group and its funding committing a desperate move that is infiltrating anti-Castro organizations openly plotting
But Board of Supervisors source to be identified and local laws as illegal as it is false in its claims,” attacks against the Cuban people. The evening will fea-
ture dining, dancing, and a presentation of the awards.
Police Commissioner Angela Chan President David Chiu said he’d asked against placing political flyers on Campos told us, saying he hopes the
wiSe lATinAS: wRiTeRS
fought the federal government as it Mayor Lee that very question to no utility poles and other surfaces. FPPC is able to stop and punish those
on HigHeR eDUcATion
unjustly tried to deport undocument- avail. “It is not the practice of the Former Ethics Commission involved. (Steven T. Jones) Modern Times Bookstore, 2919 24th St., SF. www.
ed San Franciscans who were guilty mayor to solve difficult decisions of Eileen Hansen this week filed a com- moderntimesbookstore.com. 7-9pm, free. For some
Latinas, college, where they are vastly underrepre-
of no crimes, and won. She fought to the board,” he said. “It’s up to us.” plaint about the guerilla campaign-
call For increased sented, is the first time they are immersed in American
arm the SFPD with de-escalation tac- Sups. Mark Farrell, Scott Wiener, ing with the California Fair Political culture outside their homes — and where the values
tics instead of Tasers, and won again. Malia Cohen, London Breed, Jane Practices Commission, which has of two cultures often clash. Wise Latinas: Writers on
youth Funding Higher Education is an anthology exploring this experi-
But at the April 30 Board of Kim, Tang and Chiu voted to strike jurisdiction over state races. ence. This event will feature four Bay Area based con-
Supervisors meeting, Chan lost. The Chan’s name from the appoint- “I am asking for the intervention tributors to anthology — Blanca Torres, Ingrid Rojas
Contreras, Erika Martinez and Yalitza Ferreras. Attend
board denied her reappointment to ment, and to vote to appoint Hwang of your office into what appears to José-Luis Mejia says he’s seen a little
to hear more about the anthology and a discussion.
the Police Commission, and seven instead. (Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez) be a blatant and arrogant violation bit of everything in his work with FRiDAY 9
supervisors voted to appoint her of campaign finance reporting and transitional-age youth.
DiRTY eneRgY, cleAn SolUTionS:
opponent, Victor Hwang, instead. disclosure laws in California’s 17th A few have died suddenly; oth- climATe conFeRence 2014
lawsuit to halt
The decision came after heated Assembly District Primary Election,” ers wound up incarcerated. Then Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, SF.
www.350bayarea.org. 7-9:30pm, $30 or $23 for stu-
backdoor politicking by Chinatown Hansen wrote in the April 30 letter. there are those who beat the odds by
tech shuttle pilot dents. Friday night will be the kick-off event for a three-
political leader Rose Pak, insiders “As you well know, the political attending top-level universities, open- day interactive conference that will feature activists
told us. Politicians involved would climate in San Francisco is quite sen- ing up their own businesses, or dedi- and leading scientists addressing technical and politi-
cal climate topics in the Bay Area and beyond. Topics to
only speak on background, for fear of The road to regulating Google buses sitive, and nerves are raw. If this vio- cating themselves to public service. be addressed include fracking, fossil fuels, and clean
reprisal from Pak, yet indicated that has a new pothole: a lawsuit. lation is allowed to continue, it will As associate director of energy solutions, plus workshops and training sessions
on how to live green. Expert scientists and activists will
Pak felt Chan did not consult often A lawsuit filed in San Francisco have a chilling effect on the entire Transitional Age Youth San
present cutting-edge information that will significantly
enough with Chinatown interests Superior Court May 1 demands election and further alienate voters, Francisco, Mejia was part of a grass- raise our effectiveness as climate activists.
and focused too broadly on issues of the San Francisco Municipal and potential voters.” roots coalition that has been work- SATURDAY 10
concern to other communities. Transportation Agency’s commuter The race between Campos and ing for about two years on crafting a PUBlic UPDATe AnD oPen HoUSe
Chan gained national recog- shuttle pilot program be put on hold David Chiu has indeed gotten more measure that aims to increase fund- on oceAn BeAcH PRoJecTS
County Fair Building, 1199 Ninth Ave., SF. www.
nition for her work against Secure while a full environmental review heated in recent weeks, but Chiu cam- ing for youth programs.
spur.org. 9am-12pm, free. The Ocean Beach Master
Communities, challenging a provi- is conducted under the California paign manager Nicole Derse denies It culminated with the April Plan, a vision for San Francisco’s western coast, rec-
sion that allows U.S. Immigration and Environmental Quality Act. that the campaign has any knowledge 30 introduction at the Board of ommends ways to improve coastal access, restore
ecological function, and protect critical infrastruc-
Customs Enforcement to call for ille- “We know that these buses are or involvement with the illegal cam- Supervisors of a suite of new proposals ture in the face of chronic erosion and sea level rise.
gal holds of undocumented persons having devastating impacts on our paigning: “We think everyone in this to support youth programs, including Three projects — addressing coastal management,
transportation, and open space — are currently
they’d later like to deport. Pak came neighborhoods, driving up rents and race should be transparent.” a pair of charter amendments that
underway to carry those recommendations forward.
out swinging against Chan in the evictions of long-time San Francisco In her letter, Hansen casts doubt will appear on the November ballot. The project teams will be on hand to discuss their
wake of those battles, we were told. residents,” said Sara Shortt, execu- on the Chiu campaign’s claims of An amendment sponsored by work and get your ideas and feedback.
TUeSDAY 13
“It’s a sad day for the immigrant tive director of the Housing Rights innocence: “The wide distribution, Sup. John Avalos would renew the
rights movement when a strong Committee of San Francisco and one professional design, and overnight existing Children’s Fund, renaming exAmining RAciAl eqUiTY in SF eDUcATion
California Historical Society, 678 Mission, SF.
leader cannot be reappointed,” Sup. of the lawsuit petitioners. “We’ve appearance in distant locations it the Children and Youth Fund, and
brownvboardat60.eventbrite.com. 5-8pm, free. Join
Eric Mar said just before the vote. protested in the streets and taken strongly suggest that these flyers have increasing the property-tax set-aside the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, the
After Sup. Katy Tang introduced our plea to City Hall to no avail. We been produced and distributed by a that supports it from three cents per Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the University
of San Francisco School of Education and Coleman
the motion to strike Chan’s name hope to finally receive justice in a funded political organization aligned $100 of assessed valuation to five Advocates for Children and Youth for a conversation
from the appointment, and replace it court of law.” with Assembly candidate David Chiu, cents. Funding would be designated honoring the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board
of Education court decision. The event will focus on
with Hwang’s, other supervisors noted The suit was filed against the whose aim is to attack and discredit for programs set up to aid “discon-
the continuing legacy of Brown v. Board of Education
the obvious elephant in the room — City and County of San Francisco, Chiu’s opponent David Campos.” nected transitional-aged youth,” and the successes and continued challenges of
there was not only one vacant seat on Mayor Ed Lee, the Board of And she even identifies a leading including homeless or disabled achieving racial equity in the San Francisco schools.
The evening will include historical context, student
the police commission, but two. Supervisors, the SFMTA, Google, suspect in this illegal campaigning: youth. A second charter amendment reflections, and an interactive panel discussion. 2
8 SAn FRAnciSco BAY gUARDiAn oPinion newS STReeTS FooD + DRink THe SelecToR mUSic ARTS + cUlTURe Film clASSiFieDS
StreetS
Bike to work day iS may 8.
guardian photo by tim daw;
illustrations by patrick sean gibson
By Steven t. JoneS ballot measure,” Rachel Gordon, a
[email protected] spokesperson for the Department of
Public Works, told us. “We don’t have
STREETS When the first Bike to Work enough money in our general fund
Day was held in San Francisco 20 to do these projects and we hear loud
years ago, cyclists had little support and clear the streets need to be safer
in City Hall. But on May 8, almost for bicyclists and pedestrians.”
every one of the city’s top political
leaders will take part in Bike to LiTTLE pRojEcT, big gain
Work Day, pledging their support to The new bikes lanes on Polk are only
an increasingly popular and import- a few blocks, but it is those kinds of
ant transportation option. small but critical connections that
In fact, Bike to Work Day has determine whether cycling in the
become such an anticipated event city is safe or scary.
in San Francisco that city officials “I want to know that I can bike
and cycling advocates in recent safety going north and south on
years have used it as the deadline Polk Street, which is why I strongly,
to unveil the latest high-profile bike strongly support our protected bike
project to demonstrate the city’s lanes on Polk Street, so this is super
cycling to city hall
commitment to cycling. exciting. As a beginning cyclist,
This year, it’s the new contra- these are the kinds of routes I need
flow bike lanes on lower Polk Street, to see to get out of my car and onto
an important connection from a bike, so I’m really excited this is
Market Street to City Hall that helps the direction our city is moving in,”
cyclists avoid dangerous, car-centric Sup. Jane Kim said at the event.
Van Ness Avenue or Larkin Street — Bike to Work Day’s 20th anniversary shows how far we’ve come, Reiskin noted how awkward
without having to illegally cut up and unsafe it has been to get from
but funding shortfalls show how far we have to go to create safe streets
the one-way section of Polk. Market Street to City Hall or up
When that $2.5 million bike and Polk Street: “Physically, it’s a pretty
pedestrian project — with its attrac- TimES havE changEd cials so far unwilling to pay for the which the Board of Supervisors will small project, but it’s so critically
tive landscaping, pedestrian bulb- Twenty years ago, California Bicycle projects that would allow the city to consider later this month. important for those of us who do get
outs, pretty green lanes, and trio of Coalition Director Dave Snyder was meet its official goal of 20 percent of “Do you guys like what you see around by bike.”
special bike-only signal lights — was the head of SFBC, and he was able all vehicle trips being by bike by the here?” SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin Cyclist Shannon Dodge also
officially opened on May 2, bike to persuade only one member of the year 2020, Snyder said, “We haven’t told the crowd, eliciting a rousing spoke at the event, describing her
activists kept circling the new lanes Board of Supervisors to participate accomplished that second goal yet.” response. “Would you like to see previously awkward commute to work
as if they were doing victory laps. in that first Bike to Work Day. “We hear them all talk about more of this kind of work all over from the Mission District to Russian
“I cannot think of a better way “I should give a shout-out to investing money in bike infrastruc- San Francisco?” Hill: “It might look like a tiny stretch
to kick off Bike Month in the Bay Tom Ammiano because he was the ture,” Shahum told us, “but now the Then Reiskin connected that of bike lanes to most people, but to
Area and the 20th anniversary of first supervisor to care enough to decision makers need to do it.” goal to the fall ballot measures, the me and lots of other people it will
Bike to Work Day, coming up May ride on Bike to Work Day, back when A report released in December by lion’s share of which will go to Muni make a huge difference. It means
8, than to celebrate what I think the Board of Supervisors didn’t really the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s improvements. we can turn now directly onto Polk
is the most beautiful, functional, care about cycling,” Snyder told us. Office shows that San Francisco “With the funds we have, there’s Street and we can do it safely.”
well-designed, and what is proba- “These days, it’s not uncommon for spends less per capita on bike infra- only so much of this we can do and She also compared cycling in
bly going to be the best used piece supervisors to ride for transporta- structure, at just over $9 annually, we know the need is so great to make San Francisco today to the days just
of bike infrastructure in our city,” tion, but back then none did.” than other bike-friendly US cities biking and walking a safer and more before Bike to Work Day began.
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Shahum remembers it as well, such as Portland, Minneapolis, and attractive means of getting around “Twenty-one years ago this
Director Leah Shahum said at the back before the SFBC was one of the Seattle. And it found the city would the city. If we want to do more of month, I moved to San Francisco
ribbon-cutting ceremony. city’s largest member-based political need to spend about $580 million to this, we’re going to need more sup- from the East Coast. I came in a van
She and the others who spoke at advocacy organizations. reach its official goal of 20 percent port in November,” Reiskin said. with three friends, so I didn’t bring
the event praised the city officials “Twenty years ago, Bike to Work bike mode-share by 2020. The city has make significant a lot of possessions. But I did bring
who moved quickly to complete Day was a fun but sort of lonely Even meeting the SFMTA’s more progress on new bike infrastructure in my bike and I’ve been biking in San
this project, calling it a testament to event,” Shahum told us, noting moderate Strategic Plan Scenario — recent years, after a legal challenge of Francisco ever since,” Dodge said.
the growing political will to make how the number of cyclists on the which aims to reach 8-10 percent the city’s Bicycle Plan stalled projects Back then, in her younger days,
streets safer and more welcoming road has exploded in recent years. mode-share by 2018 by creating 12 for four years. Ben Jose, a spokesper- she didn’t mind battling for space
for cyclists. “Riding on a regular Thursday miles of new bike lanes and upgrading son for the SFMTA, told us the Polk on the streets of San Francisco.
“I will be honest, we put a lot of during rush hour feels like Bike to 50 existing miles and 50 intersections project is the 52nd of 60 bike improve- “When I first moved here, just out
pressure on to get this done by Bike Work Day used to feel 20 years ago.” — would require $191 million. That’s ment projects from the Bike Plan. of college, safety was not that import-
to Work Day,” Shahum said. “We But Snyder and Shahum said the $142 million more than the SFMTA “And those that are left are signa- ant to me. I kind of enjoyed the adren-
really wanted to make sure you all universal statements of support for has budgeted for the work. ture projects like this one,” Jose said aline rush of being out on a bike in
and the folks throughout this city cycling that emanate from City Hall at the event, referring to high-pro- traffic,” she said. “But now I’m a mom.
could, this year, for the first time these days are only half the battle. Funding piTch file bike lanes along Bayshore and I have a 3-year-old son, and my hus-
in San Francisco’s history, make a “It’s a good idea to promote At the May 2 event on Polk Street, Masonic boulevards, on upper Polk band and I bike our son to and from
safe and comfortable and direct link bicycling as a mainstream activity, city officials used the new project Street, and along Second Street that his preschool everyday. And on the
from Market Street...to City Hall.” and we won that battle,” Snyder said. to call on voters to approve a pair are among the bike projects now in weekends we explore the city, which
Building high-profile, separated “Now, we have to get them to put of transportation funding measures the pipeline. But the city hasn’t yet usually means he’s on one of our two
cycletracks to the steps of City Hall their money where their mouth is.” proposed by Mayor Ed Lee for the devoted the resources to completing bikes. Pretty soon, he’ll be riding his
seems to symbolically mark the With cycling projects receiving November ballot — an increase in the city’s bike network. own bike out of San Francisco streets.
arrival of cyclists into the political less than 1 percent of the city’s the vehicle license fee and a $500 “We want to do more projects So safety is incredibly important to
mainstream. transportation funding, and city offi- million general obligation bond — like this with money from the fall me, as it is to all families.” 2
opinion nEwS STREETS Food + dRink ThE SELEcToR muSic aRTS + cuLTuRE FiLm cLaSSiFiEdS may 7 - 13, 2014 / SFbg.com 9
streets street figHt professor Jason Henderson’s Bicycle geograpHies class explores
How to make san francisco more Bike-friendly.
By Jason Henderson Carmageddon cometh cle planning in the city.
[email protected] Taking multiple bicycle field
trips over the past few months,
STREET FIGHT San Francisco — we surveyed the opportunities for
already overwhelmed with private making safe routes to campus and
automobiles — faces a grim future envisioned what it would take to
San Francisco needs to radically rethink its transportation system to avoid gridlock
of gridlock unless there is a radi- increase cycling to 20 percent of
cal change in how we think about trips to and from SF State. Starting
city streets, parking, and regional drivers and everyone around. No Out at San Francisco State It will be decades and cost with the Balboa Park station,
transportation. one will be happy University, where I teach a new hundreds of millions to improve which is next to a deplorable tan-
The facts are clear. Every day This does not have to be. The Bicycle Geographies course that the M-line, only now in the plan- gle of freeway ramps, we ask what
there are 1.7 million private car city’s transportation agency hopes aims to increase cycling to the cam- ning phase. We can lay down it would look like if fully-sepa-
trips to, from, or within the city, to reduce car trips from 1.7 to 1.6 pus, there is tremendous opportuni- cycletracks much more quickly. rated cycletracks were built on
according to the city’s transpor- million by 2018, a modest goal but ty to shift these kinds of short trips Bicycling is also among the most Geneva or Ocean avenues. These
tation plan. Coupled with almost barely holding the line. Reducing to bicycling. For students, faculty, equitable forms of urban trans- could connect City College and
10,000 vehicles registered per existing car trips by 100,000 while and staff, bicycling is compatible portation because it is affordable the Excelsior, and by way of a
square mile, San Francisco today also adding thousands upon thou- with rapid transit, particularly for and accessible to almost everyone. westward and southward jog, to
has one of the densest concentra- sands of housing units and jobs, the “last mile” segments, such as This is obviously relevant to work- a bicycle boulevard on Holloway
tions of cars on the planet, more most coming with more parking, between BART and SF State. ing-class students at SF State. Avenue, enabling a safe and con-
than any peer city in the United will quickly undo this humble SF State has a memorandum venient, 1.7-mile, 15-minute bike
States. In the business-as-usual ambition. The city can do more of understanding with the city ride to SF State. Expanding the
scenario, the streets are forecast and the data show us that there By 2040 that obliges the university to nascent Bay Area Bike Share to
to absorb another half-million are many opportunities. reduce drive-alone automobile connect SF State and Balboa Park
tHere will Be
car trips. By 2040 there will be Consider that 68 percent of car trips to campus, and the campus BART would create even more
2.2 million car trips on the exact trips within San Francisco are less will not build any more car park- opportunity for cycling.
2.2 million
same street grid we have today. than three miles. That’s 650,000 ing. With 4 percent of commute To the south of SF State, Daly
This is madness and it is dys- car trips per day that are generally car trips on trips to SF State by bicycle (and City BART is a 1.4-mile, 10-minute
functional for everyone. If you pretty short — with a bicycle it’s only 2 percent among faculty) bike ride that is daunting and poorly
think Muni is unreliable now, it less than a half-hour ride on even tHe exact same there is potential to increase the signed. It could be made safe and
will be useless in 2040 as it stalls terrain. If the city were able to get mode-share of bicycling as a path inviting with bicycle boulevards
in the morass of 2.2 million car half of those car trips to switch to street grid to reducing greenhouse gas emis- on streets parallel to traffic-clogged
trips jammed onto city streets. bicycle trips, it would be well on its sions and auto trips. 19th Avenue and Junipero Serra.
we Have today.
Pedestrian injuries and deaths will way to averting carmageddon. The spatial proximity to Daly Borrowing from signature bicycle
rise with another 160 cars hitting A more ambitious goal, increas- City and Balboa Park BART sta- and pedestrian bridges in Pleasant
pedestrians annually, simply due ing cycling to 20 percent of all trips, tions, as well as the Excelsior and Hill and Berkeley, perhaps there is
to oversaturation of automobiles. is the official city policy adopted Bicycling is also a way to Sunset, all under three miles from an opportunity to build a bridge
Cyclists might be able to weave by the Board of Supervisors. That’s relieve local bus and light rail tran- campus, means that the bicycle across Brotherhood Way toward the
around the stalled traffic, but it 500,000-600,000 trips by bicycle sit crowding — the 28 bus line on is well-suited to be a substitute BART station, leveling an otherwise
will be an ugly scene that fouls every day, most of which can take 19th Avenue, for example, is often for many short-range automobile steep climb that discourages cycling.
the air. Motorists will be stuck place within that three-mile range, jam packed and the city has only trips and help the campus meet its To the north of campus,
in their own gridlock, evermore especially if cleverly arranged “wig- modest goals to improve that key goals. Yet what my students have describing the designated 20th
impatient, distracted, honking, gles” (level routes circumventing line. Unlike transit or highways, found this semester is that it is all Avenue bicycle route as “a bit of a
lurching through blocked inter- steeper hills) are laid out on the bicycles do not require costly, long- but impossible to bike safely to challenge” is an understatement.
sections, sneaking through yellow most logical corridors. But to carry term capital investment or operat- and from SF State, and the south- Cyclists must thread a cluttered
lights, blocking crosswalks, double that many cyclists, real space has to ing funds and so can be deployed western quadrant of San Francisco shopping mall parking lot and
parking, and irritated with fellow be allocated for them. much more quickly. is largely left out of current bicy- overbuilt wide streets, and then
10 SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN OpINION NEwS STREETS FOOD + DRINk THE SElECTOR mUSIC ARTS + CUlTURE FIlm ClASSIFIEDS