SFPD Traffic Safety Survey Omits Bad Biker Question

As someone whose main mode of transportation is a bicycle and who spends much time walking on sidewalks, I know just how dangerous our streets and sidewalks can be because of rogue bicyclists.

I've had dozens of near-collisions with bicyclists running red lights, passing me on Valencia Street on the right when I'm hugging parked cars as a slow biker or barreling at me on a crowded sidewalk.

The San Francisco Police Department is conducting a traffic safety survey and their question four, pictured, omits bad biker behavior. The survey asks: "In your opinion, what are the biggest issues impacting pedestrian safety in San Francisco?"

The choices are "Speed/Aggressive Driving", "Drivers Disobeying Traffic Signs/Signals", "Distracted Drivers", "Distracted Pedestrians" or "Road Conditions".

Nothing about aggressive bicyclists or bikers disobeying traffic laws.

That this SFPD survey was designed without addressing the behavior of bicyclists behaving badly means the results won't accurately reflect all the factors that make our urban streets and sidewalk a hazard to many people.

SFPD Update on Investigation of Feather Lynn's Death

Just over three months ago, a member of the Radical Faerie tribe named Feather Lynn, nee Bryan Higgins, pictured, was involved in an altercation early on August 10 on Church Street near Duboce. He passed away from injuries on August 13 and the San Francisco Police Department opened an investigation into the matter.

This is the statement the SFPD released to me today:

"The individual whose image has been released in both a short video and still photographs has not been identified. The distortion present in both forms of  [video and screengrab] media has made this task challenging. No arrests have been made in the death of Mr. Higgins. This is still an open and ongoing investigation. The San Francisco Police Department has received multiple leads and is actively investigating them. The SFPD strongly encourages anyone who may have any information into the death of Mr. Higgins to come forward."

The department has still not explained why they took more than a week to release an image of the suspect, while the case and leads grew cold. What they released today is generic and really provides no specifics, but at least the cops know there is continuing interest in this case.

Seth Hemmelgarn of the Bay Area Reporter has provided extensive coverage about Feather Lynn's demise and spoke with a witness a few after the altercation took place.

Supervisor Scott Wiener, in whose district the incident occurred and in which Feather lived, was quick to seize upon the episode to show his law-and-order agenda:

"[W]e need to stay the course in growing our depleted and under-staffed police department back to full staffing. [...] In 2011, in my first year in office, we worked to fund the first academy class in years, and we are now funding 3 classes every year. [...] But, until we re-grow the department, we need to make do with what we have, and that means smart use of resources to nip in the bud criminal behavior before it escalates like this."

As Hemmelgarn reported, friends of Feather including his neighbor Brian Busta said Feather had serious mental health problems that weren't being addressed leading many in the gay and Castro community to say this was not an episode showing a need for expanding the police department, but more resources were required for mental health programs.

Brian Busta and I spoke on the phone today and he asked that I mention he and other friends of Feather are still grieving over his death. They are hoping the police soon provide answers about altercation, apprehend and question a suspect, and solve this crime.

ACT UP Vets Mark Castro Sweep Via Protest Songs
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis

Members of the original ACT UP/San Francisco chapter who were present at the October 6, 1989, Castro Sweep twenty-five year ago marked the anniversary with a one-hour vigil and singing of protest songs on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Francis Collins, who's at many a progressive protest with his guitar adding music to demonstrations, and Dennis McMillan, alias Sister Dana Van Iquity of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, spoke at Castro and 18th Streets about the SFPD roughing up LGBT and HIV activists to the point of leaving them bloody and harmed.

The vigil commemorated the Castro Sweep and also delivered visual solidarity with the Yes on G ballot prop, the anti-speculation tax that will protect renters if passed, and the #VotePetrelis candidacy.

Dean Oullette was a member of ACT UP/New York and he used a Sharpie and large piece of cardboard to spell out why we gathered in the gayborhood last night.

A gay couple and their pooch came to the vigil to get #VotePetrelis signs and let us know they're voting for Petrelis. They allowed Petrelis to pose with their adorable little dog.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the vigil and to Bill Wilson for snapping the great photos.

Alex Nieto's 'Brother' Ely Flores Backs Castro Sweep Vigil 
by Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis

Tonight we met a 20-year-old Latino man named Ely Flores, pictured, who described himself as a very close personal friend and chosen brother of Alex Nieto, the young guy killed by a member of the SFPD back in March.

Ely introduced himself by asking if we were at the police commission meeting in March in the Tenderloin, where the commissioners irrationally kept the angry public upset with Nieto's officer-involved-death waiting for hours while the cops put on a dog-and-pony show.

Yes, we were there (http://tinyurl.com/Petrelis-SFPD-Mtg-Pix), and it's quite gratifying to know someone from Nieto's circle of survivors recalls our effort to hold the SFPD accountable.

He's very supportive of our Castro Sweep vigil planned for tomorrow, Monday, October 6th from 6 to 7 pm at the corner of Castro and 18th Streets, but unfortunately Ely will be working at that time.

If he had the time, Ely would attend the vigil and speak about Alex Nieto but since he can't be there he agreed to show his solidarity with the event, those participating in it and our alternative campaign for District 8 Supervisor.

We've extended an invitation to other friends of Nieto to join our vigil and we hope they'll be present to speak out about the lack of justice for Alex.

Ely posed with a #VotePetrelis sign and mentioned he's read our posts about emails we've pried loose from Mayor Ed Lee's office, and thanked us for demanding justice for Nieto.

While Ely can't be present at the Castro Sweep vigil tomorrow, we hope you can participate in the event and we'll be in touch in the coming weeks with Ely to work together to demand justice for Alex Nieto.

Oct 6 Vigil to Mark 'Castro Sweep's' 25th Anniversary
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis
(Cross-posted from the ‪#‎VotePetrelis‬ campaign site.)

In the annals of bloody misconduct by members of the San Francisco Police Department, the events of October 6, 1989, and the Castro Sweep ranks high on anyone's list.

It was a national day of protest organized by people with HIV/AIDS and our allies for access to drugs and more government funding, and before the night was over the SFPD had harmed and bloodied many LGBT and poz people with dozens arrested.

For a short and comprehensive look back at what transpired during the Castro Sweep exactly 25 years ago, check out this page with eyewitness accounts, photographs and a video: tinyurl.com/Castro-Sweep-25-years-ago.

Here's how the #VotePetrelis team will commemorate the important 25th anniversary of the Castro Sweep:

WHAT: Vigil & Speakout
WHEN: Monday, October 6th
TIME: 6 pm to 7 pm
WHERE: Castro & 18th Streets

We'll be out that night to remind everyone of contemporary concerns such as the fatal shooting of Alex Nieto by the SFPD, the gentrification of District 8 and eviction epidemic, lack of affordable housing for low income people and artists, the dwindling diversity of the Castro, harassment of homeless and poor people, and the negative impacts of Google buses clogging our streets

The Castro Sweep was big news among gay and AIDS activists, and to assist the survivors of the police assaults with their legal and medical bills, tee shirts were marketed reading:

"My domestic partner went to the Castro, and all I got was this bloody t-shirt. Night of Resistance, October 6, 1989."

This photo and activist apparel courtesy of the GLBT Historical Society.

Mayor Lee: 14-Pages of Emails on Alex Nieto Killing by a Cop
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis

(Since we cross-posted this to our campaign site on Sept. 3rd, the medical examiner has released the autopsy and it shows that Alex Nieto was struck by police bullet more than a dozen times.)

In response to our public records request, Mayor Ed Lee's office today released 14-pages of emails related to the fatal shooting of Alex Nieto in March by a member of the San Francisco Police Department and we learned that three investigations were conducted and have ended. News to us.

Mayor Lee's director of communications Christine Falvey on August 14 responded to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Caille Millner, who asked if he had issued any public statement of sorrow about the officer-involved death, and Falvey said:

"There were three separate investigations and the police were extremely transparent with the family and the community throughout. The mayor has had confidence in these investigations and the focus is to make sure the City does everything it can to prevent a similar incident."

If they were so transparent why is it we and so many others not only weren't aware of the multiple investigations but also that they've concluded?

We are greatly displeased Mayor Lee can't properly express sorrow in public about the killing of Alex and that nothing in the Falvey statement on behalf of the mayor relates to justice being served over the fatality.

Instead, Mayor Lee's focus is to prevent another officer-involved fatal shooting, which is a goal we certainly support, but social justice is denied when the mayor can't say those words and instead under-values Alex's death when calling it a mere "incident".

Among the email exchanges between mayoral staffers is one involved Falvey asking Paul Henderson, deputy chief of staff in charge of public safety, "Did we send a condolence letter or anything?"

The communications director, whom we would expect to know if any condolence note were sent to Alex's surviving family and friends, apparently doesn't recall one being sent revealing, we believe, just how little impact this tragedy has had on the Mayor's Office.

Henderson replied, "I have a draft of one to send, but we didn't send one in that case."

As part of our longstanding commitment to delivering accountability over the police and City Hall, we've posted the 14-pages of emails released to us here: tinyurl.com/SF-Mayor-Alex-Nieto-emails.

The tragic loss of Alex's life at the hands of a San Francisco police officer is painfully compounded by the fact that the names of the cops involved have not been released, the District Attorney's Office hasn't charged anyone over the killing, the Office of the Medical Examiner has possessed the corpse since March and hasn't released their autopsy report, and Mayor Lee and his staff haven't had the simple common human courtesy of sending the survivors a condolence letter.

When will San Francisco's City Hall and law enforcement agencies deliver justice for Alex Nieto?