Wednesday, November 14, 2012

DPW: $500 Fee
to Delete More Castro News Racks 

(The mostly empty news rack on 17th Street abutting Jane Warner Plaza in front of Twin Peaks Bar.)

More rallies and social events are being held at Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro, attracting hundreds of people in addition to the high number of pedestrians walking through the public space which also serves as a street car area for the F line. If the plaza had to evacuated and the crowd made to exit toward Castro Street, the useless pedmount above would impede a quick and safe evacuation.

Something to bear in mind as I continue my campaign to rid the Castro of this street furniture clutter, and have the Department of Public Works, Clear Channel and publishers consolidate a few remaining pedmounts in fewer location. 

I've contacted DPW's Grace Moore, who's in charge of news racks, about deleting more pedmounts just like the one that was taken out at Harvey Milk Plaza on Monday.

If you want to reclaim the Castro's public sidewalks for the public, please contact Grace via email or phone and let her know you want more pedmounts removed as quickly as possible. Her email is Grace.Moore@sfdpw.org, and you can leave vmail for her at this number, 415-554-5892.

Maybe Castro merchants, who would benefit from more foot traffic unimpeded by the pedmounts, can raise the $500 fee to remove more of them. This is Grace's latest info:

You may request the removal of “qualified” pedmount units to be removed at a cost of $500 ea. Through the consolidation process, the 5 units (listed below) have been identified by DPW and approved by publishers as pedmount units in the Castro area that qualify.

Unit # 117 
MARKET ST: SANCHEZ ST 

Unit # 118 
SANCHEZ ST: MARKET ST 

Unit # 124 
MARKET ST: 16TH \ NOE to 17TH \ CASTRO 

Unit # 139 
CASTRO ST: 18TH ST 

Unit # 160 
4121 - 18TH: CASTRO to COLLINGWOOD 

If you’re interested in pursuing the removal of any of the units listed above, I will notify the affected publishers and ask Clear Channel Outdoors to schedule a date and time for it to happen before year end. 

Parties interested in the removal of pedmount units at other locations should notify me. 

I've told Grace I'm very interested in more removals and hope to hear from her soon, about the response she receives from the publishers.

1 comment:

Christina A. DiEdoardo, Esq. said...

Great post-but quick question-does Clear Channel have an easement that can be terminated for non-use with regard to the racks?