A Very EssEff Christmas

For reasons I can't explain, I am compelled to expose myself to the madness that is Union Square once a year.

At least I did not wait until the last minute... you know... tomorrow on Xmas eve.

What would a SF holiday be without protests?

Occupy Oakland is marching around the square.

Not sure what happened to Occupy SF. I suspect they must have joined the other 99% thar are here shopping today.

UPDATE: Added pics and clip
Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

In solidarity with Occupy EssEff ...

... I had the Beggar's Banquet for lunch at the Market Bar right across the Embarcadero at the Ferry Building. Soup of the day was clam chowder.

Recommended. I raise my glass of draft Drake's Amber Ale in solidarity to my fellow 99 percenters across the street.

Meanwhile, the bourgeois merchants here have not been happy about the encampment:

After The San Francisco Examiner detailed complaints from Ferry Building merchants about the Justin Herman Plaza camp, the Building Owners and Managers Association of San Francisco shot off a letter Friday to Lee demanding action. “I am aware that you have received a number of communications from members of BOMA citing the vandalism, theft, public urination and defecation, physical altercations, business interruption, etc. that the public has had to endure with increasing frequency... The right to public assembly and ‘free speech’ is NOT a license for such irresponsible, uncivil, unhealthy behavior — and it must not be tolerated.”

Whiners.

Still, with the election in the rear view mirror, I don't expect Mayor Ed Lee to keep this particular tourist attraction around much longer.

More pics and thoughts later.

Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

Brent Plater kicks off the "Destroy Sharp Park" Rally

The usual misrepresentations and half-truths from Brent. I might have a video clip to post here later.

UPDATE 1-May-2011:Done:


The clips I shot at the rally are not very good quality but hopefully you can hear what Brent is saying. For anyone following this story over the last 3 years, no surprises. The same tired WEBLEEDU claims about Sharp Park that have been factually refuted by scientists, local leaders, financial analysts, and Rec & Park management. On the plus side, since there is nothing new, I reused some of the same clips I've accumulated over that time to debunk the same nonsense.

There was one new element at the rally. Plater introduced Supervisor John Avalos, who is among the multitude running for Mayor of San Francisco.

In his short speech the city supervisor wondered aloud whether advocating the destruction of Sharp Park is good or bad for his candidacy. Gee... That's a tough one.

Let's think this through... We have 400 acres of beautiful, valuable coastal parkland that was a gift to the people of San Francisco, belongs to the people of San Francisco, is a 100 year old legacy of the people of San Francisco, is enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors every year and contributes 50,000 green fees per year to city coffers. And Supervisor Avalos thinks the right thing to do is just give it away to the Federal Government. Yeah... I'm pretty sure that is exactly the kind of vision my fellow City residents want to see in their next mayor.

Looks like I'll need to update my Mirkarimi for Mayor poster in the sidebar. Apparently he is one of the few pols in our fair city who is not running for mayor, electing to run for Sheriff instead. Fortunately John Avalos has stepped up and can be my new Sharp Park poster child. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: I'll be comparing our mayoral candidates positions on Sharp in a future post. In the meantime, John - try this on for size:

"Destroy Sharp Park" Rally is underway

Not a bad crowd. A fraction of the size of the "Save Sharp Park Rally" last night, but...

...almost as big as the crowd attracted to the lunch wagons just on the other side of Civic Center Plaza.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

A nice day for a protest rally, no matter how misguided and delusional.

Live Blogging the "Destroy Sharp Park And Give It Away" Rally about to begin.

I covered the Save Sharp Park rally last night. In the interest of fair play and equal time, I thought I should cover the opposition rally. The WEBLEEDU coalition (Wild Equity Biodiversity Litigation for Ecological Extortion and Deep Untruths) called for a rally on the steps of City Hall at noon today. Looks like a slow start as it's almost noon as I write this.

I think there are more cameras than protesters.

The studiously spontaneous-ish hand written signs were delivered and stacked together in the hope that there would be enough participants to carry them. There were.

Barely.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Why I walk in San Francisco...

...on the last Friday of the month. Critical Mass takes some random route through The City - much to the annoyance of commuters trying to get home. I walked down the hill to Nick's Soft Tacos and picked up an easy dinner to accompany watching the NCAA game. This was the scene at the corner of Broadway and Polk.

Last Post

Boodles martini with three olives and Ahi Crudi at the Market Bar in the Ferry Building.

I guess I missed the bus.

Back at Justiin Herman Plaza. I like this sign though.

Is there a copy editor in the house?

I found a member of my tribe.

No crowds but many cops.

I think I'll follow these guys.

I hate crowds

3rd and Townsend. Some motorcycle cops just peeled off at high speed. I expect they are going wherever the torch is, which is not here.

Still ahead of the torch

I finally found the Torch!

thank god. Now I can get a drink.

Let's play two today

At the Park. I suspect the torch went by sea. Too many protestors, not enough cops for Embarcadero to be the route.

I Can't Afford an Actual Sign

- SFL post

No way they are going to bring it this way.

They'll do an end around.

I'd rather be this guy right now.

Photo Op

Fist-fight between pro-Tibet and pro-China

This was a lot of fun. A fistfight and screaming in Chinese - the only word I understood was "Tibet". The cops couldn't get to the fight because the reporters were in the way. Luckily I'm tall - Gabrielle Reese tall - so I had no problem taking this picture over peoples' heads. - SFL post