SF Bulldog Baths Reopens As a . . .

The San Francisco DPH and the FDA each maintain a pernicious ban against gay men enacted at the height of AIDS alarmism in the early 1980s, ban in need of eradication.

Gay bathhouses are banned in San Francisco because DPH rules require all sexual activities in commercial venues must be visible to safety monitors, so cubicles with doors are prohibited.

For the FDA, recent tweaking of the regulations barring gays from ever donating blood allows gays to give blood as long as they've not had sex with another male for 12-months.

Essentially the SF DPH and FDA promulgate public policies based on severe distrust of gay men.

But I write today about the December soft opening of the Bulldog Baths at 132 Turk Street in the Tenderloin - a dog resort. (Are those canines practicing safe sex? Hehe.)

Visit the Bulldog Baths site to learn about their full range of doggie-daycare and other services for your pooch, and an overview of the building's history as a former gay bathhouse and the area's queer history including the Compton Cafeteria Riots.

Word on the very gritty street is that the first floor is for dog services and the upper two floors are in the process of being converted into residential housing units. Best of luck to the Bulldog Baths' owners.

I wish the City would not only allow gay bathhouses to reopen not only for sexual liaisons just during evening hours, but then also operate in the daytime as a public bathhouse for the homeless to shower and rest.

We're more likely to see the FDA lift its ban on gay blood donations before a gay and/or homeless bathhouse opens for business in San Francisco.

 Entrance to the Bulldog Baths with a rainbow flag flying over the doorway, plenty of signage and surveillance cameras.

 Anyone know how a large silver Airstream trailer was placed on top of the building? It's only visible if you are on the other side of the street, a few stores up from Aunt Charlie's bar.

The plaque marking the building are listed in the National Register of Historical Places still adorns the facade of 130-132 Turk Street.

Colorful signage reading "Playful" and "Enriching", terms I associate with gay bathhouses is well-hung off the fire escapes with a couple of rainbow flags blowing in the wind.

SFPD Withholds Suicide-by-Cop Surveillance Video

The body of Matthew Hoffman was barely cold before the San Francisco Police Department released what it said was a cell phone letter absolving officers of guilt in killing him on January 4 near the Mission Station.

Hours before he appeared in the station's parking lot at Valencia and 17th Streets, he was exhibiting clear signs on the street of mental health challenges, the SF Chronicle reported.

The paper quoted only SFPD sources and a narrative has been laid out by the cops that needs to be questioned, which is why I requested the surveillance tapes of the cameras on the station's property.

Here's the response from the SFPD's spokeswoman Briseida Banuelos: "[We have] determined that this case is still an open investigation and disclosure of the requested video at this time may endanger successful completion of that investigation. Please be advised that the case file records are exempt from public disclosure pursuant to Government Code section 6254(f) as investigatory file information."

Surveillance video cannot be released to the public, but the dead man's alleged Dear Police Department letter giving them a pass for fatally shooting him is shared with the press.

One police accountability advocate, Mesha Irazarry, isn't taking anything the cops are saying at face value. She's pointed out Hoffman's phone must have been password-protected, making it impossible to gain access to his data, and that the language rings hollow and inauthentic from a mentally unstable person.

We need an independent watchdog, perhaps the Office of Civilian Complaints, to examine the cell.

The SFPD must face questions why it didn't handle the situation as one needing a psychological response instead of reacting so quickly with deadly force, and on a bustling street, and why officers didn't shoot-to-wound.

Every instance of an officer-involved killing needs serious scrutiny, particularly when the cops are the primarily source of info and the death concerns a potential suicide-by-cop tragedy.

 Mesha Irizarry speaks at the SFPD's January 6, 2015, town hall meeting about the killing. Credit: Michael Barba.

Chief Greg Suhr, left, address the town meeting and the death of Hoffman. Credit: Jonah Owen Lamb.

SD vs SF: Whose Gayborhood Streetscape is More Fab? 

On our last full day in San Diego last week, Mike and I strolled about the Hillcrest gayborhood and I snapped fotos of the colorful streetscape and fixtures taking up part of the public space.

We were struck by the gaily painted squat trash containers and bright photos glued to the utility boxes, and the rainbow hued bike racks in the street with each shaped like a bicycle.

Contrast those street fixtures in the photos with what's on the newly-expanded sidewalks of the Castro, at a cost of $8.3 million public dollars and no one thought to decorate San Francisco's trash containers or utility boxes. What's up with that?

I'd like to see our awful and boring silver metal staple bike racks reshaped and slapped with a coat of paint, giving the queer eye a thing of urban beauty to behold.

Which do you prefer? What do you think about the Castro following the eye-pleasing lead of Hillcrest and redecorating our street fixtures?

Weigh in on these urban streetscape questions and gimme a piece of your mind!

The photo montages show San Diego's boxes and a bike rack in glorious bursts of diverse colors on the left, and the institutional green and grey palate of San Francisco on the right.

Sup. Campos' Kumbaya Homelessness Agenda

For a Latino gay progressive lawyer who's been a City Hall fixture for more than 15 years, David Campos has not left a trail of signature accomplishments in wake as he's moved from being a deputy city attorney, member of the police commission, elected to the Board of Supervisors and the Democratic County Central Committee.

This week's Bay Times contains a vague and platitudinous Campos column about homeless that could have been printed last year or five years ago when an LGBT shelter was first broached. Let's unpack key paragraphs.

Campos: "Many of the problems faced by homeless friends and neighbors are particularly acute for LGBTQ homeless people. 40% of our homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. In a survey of shelters conducted by the Coalition on Homelessness, over 70% of transgender residents have experienced violence at our city’s shelters because of their gender identity. This situation is heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable."

MP: No specifics from Campos as to how he will contend with these statistics and the pain of the people behind them.

(Site of the long aborning LGBT shelter in the Mission District. Credit: Rick Gerharter.)

Campos: "My office is working with community leaders on multiple fronts to address these ongoing issues in 2015. We are continuing to fight for more resources for organizations that serve the homeless population through the City’s budget process. We are working with Dolores Street Community Services to open a groundbreaking LGBTQ-focused shelter. This unique project will fill a vital need, and stand as the nation’s first and only LGBTQ adult shelter."

MP: Not a damn specific, measurable action item from the Campos office. When exactly will he present the community with weekly updates about specific steps he's taken with each city agency and community leader? Considering he hasn't been able to keep his promise to open the Tamale Lady's cafe on 16th Street, we can't count on Campos to deliver on opening that shelter in his district this year or before he's termed out of office.

Campos: "Concurrently, we are also working with City departments to identify spaces in our dense urban fabric that can accommodate short-term and long-term affordable housing and shelter spaces. Together, we are moving forward to implement these housing solutions within District 9 and in the City as a whole."

MP: More kumbaya verbiage illustrating just how hollow the Campos homelessness agenda really is.

Campos: "This work is essential as we determine San Francisco’s direction as a city. 2015 is a critical point where we all must ask ourselves: Will we allow San Francisco to become a luxury for those who can pay, or will it continue to be a home for all of the people who make this great city what it is?"

MP: Practically all of my friend and neighbors who were displaced in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, asked that question before moving to the East Bay or elsewhere. This was Campos' campaign theme and just like he did as a candidate in the past year, he continues to lack comprehensive answers.

As 2015 starts, I find no reason to expect Campos to change from being a mediocre career politician and evolve into a fierce fighter who delivers measurable results.

CHP's 1,400 Emails About Berkeley's Black Lives Protests?

Earlier this week, the California Highway Patrol updated my Dec. 12 public records request for emails sent or received by key officials, including the Golden Gate Division's chief, during the street protests in Berkeley related to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The CHP's legal counsel Jonathan S. Rothman on Jan. 6 said they've located 1,388 "separate documents that appear relevant" to my request and the review process has now begun.

Using unnecessary legalese, Rothman explains "the completion of the review should result in the creation of three categories of materials". My request was for all emails to certain addresses regardless of content.

He also says their search "generated other categories of items" omitting any details as to what these items are or which category they belong in. I've asked to have those vague items reviewed and released to me.

Rothman notes that they can charge thirty cents a page for copies, but I've replied that the sunshine law requires state agencies to provide records in their native format, in this case emails, or to provide the requester with documents digitized.

My response also asked for dates of when the review process would conclude and when I might receive responsive records.

Nearly a month after filing the request, I am disappointed the CHP lacks urgency to release the emails. This agency has millions of taxpayer dollars to communicate with the public and comply with transparency statutes, and should be more diligent to expedite sunshine efforts.

Finally, I'm posting the image snapped by photographer Michael Short of an undercover CHP officer aiming a loaded gun at protesters and citizen and mainstream journalists. It is part of what motivated me to request CHP emails.

Cost to Upgrade Fire Chief's Residence?

At the Jan. 8 San Francisco fire commission meeting, chief financial officer Mark Corso spoke about the capital budget for the FY 15 and FY 16.

Corso said among the department's properties needing various upgrades was the fire chief's residence but the cost wasn't broken out from the total budget of upgrades. News to me that this ceremonial residence at 870 Bush Street is used by the department for vague purposes.

Commissioner Francee Covington asked for the amount of the upgrades and what would be rehabbed or replaced. Corso said the price tag was $630,000 while chief Joanne Hayes-White stated the exhaust system in the bathrooms need an overhaul.

Covington moved on to inquire about the entire lot including the apparently quite sizable patch of land behind the residence, which until a year ago was maintained by the Recreation and Parks Department.

The PowerPoint presentation by Corso was strictly for informational purposes and no vote was taken by the commission. Unfortunately, his slides are not available on the department's site so I can't direct folks to his info.

Airing the meetings on SFGov TV came up when Covington wondered if the cost of televising them from either City Hall or fire department headquarters was included in the capital budget. Both Covington and Hayes-White confirmed that it is.

I'd like to have a peek inside the fire chief's residence and it's green open space, along with learning the annual budget for maintaining this ceremonial city property.

Is $630,000 an appropriate amount for the upgrades requested?

(The fire chief's residence at 870 Bush Street. Credit: Mike Koozman, SF Examiner.)

Huge Rainbow Flagpole Activates Public Plaza 

While Mike and I were in San Diego last weekend, we made a visit to the Hillcrest Pride Flag display and public plaza, and saw that it's a marvelous instrument for engagement on many levels. Erected with much grassroots community support, small business backing and political power in 2012, the flagpole activates the plaza where it resides.

Centered on a median strip just off a major traffic intersection, the flagpole is surrounded by a flourishing and clean small park and hard to miss. An air of invitation and welcome beckoned as we strolled up the sidewalk to get a closer look. The entire plaza is clearly well-maintained.

Three plaques featuring text and photos about the history of San Diego's LGBT community and fight against AIDS encircle the metal pole. Several concrete balls suitable for sitting and resting a spell, line the outermost pavement of the monument with thick, flowering plants giving the urban public space a woodsy feel. The height of the plants create a sanctuary effect especially when you walk about the plaza a few times.

The one off-putting thing was labeling people with AIDS who died in the 1980s as "victims" in the text accompanying the plaque titled "From Adversity to Diversity", seen here. We were educated about the Blood Sisters effort to combat fear three decades ago about gay men donating blood by organizing blood drives.

The triangular plaque display is situated on a thigh-high round platform lined with three circles listing individual and business donors who made this LGBT rainbow flag and pride oasis a reality. To the right is Mike resting on one of the white concrete balls. 

The Hillcrest Business Association oversees the flagpole and park, maintains a Facebook page for the flagpole which gives info about how it's used on 9/11 to fly an American flag at half staff and that the plaza is a central focus of the local AIDS Walk and LGBT Pride March. 

When you're in the San Diego area, be sure to check out this stunning public display of pride and celebration located at University and Normal Avenues.

Rainbow Burqa at ‪#‎JeSuisCharlie‬ Vigil in SF

The French consulate on Kearny Street in San Francisco's financial district tonight was the site for a vigil in solidarity with the people of France and free expression advocates, in the aftermath of gunmen slaughtering 12 people today in Paris.

A tweet this afternoon asked people to show up at 7 pm to show sympathy with the friends and families of the editors and cartoonists at ‪#‎CharlieHebdo‬, and police officers on the scene.

I printed a Je Suis Charlie sign, got out the rainbow burqa and rode my bike to the consulate. When first arriving, I saw the cops had corralled the crowd into a too-tight space in one lane of traffic. The San Francisco police officers soon closed the block to vehicular traffic and a dense mass of people occupied the streets.

Folks either held signs or pens and Sharpies. I was there for about an hour and explained to anyone who asked that I wore the rainbow burqa as a protest against the oppression of women in Islamic society and in solidarity with LGBT people in the Middle East.

The photos of me holding an edition of a recent edition of Charlie Hebdo were snapped at the main public library, in their special collections section.

I am proud, as a San Francisco taxpayer, that public funds were spent on a snail-mail subscription of Charlie Hebda's paper edition. It was educational in so many ways to sit and read the past five months' issues. Sure wish I knew French, mon ami, so I could grasp more of the texts but the imagery was often enough quite easy to get.

Were you at any of the vigils around the world in the past 15 or so hours?

Mike + Mike Ride Amtrak's Coast Starlight Train

For both of us, a longtime dream came true this week. We took Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Oakland on January 5, 2015, and saw amazing sights.

On New Year's Day, January 1, 2015, Mike and I flew to San Diego to meet up with a few branches of his family tree who either live there or flew in from South Dakota.

(We spent time in the parlor car watching the agriculture fields from the upper level.)

 (Yours truly basking in the sunshine.)

(Mike enjoying the view of the Pacific ocean in the late morning.)

(Mike's cousin Nancy, in red, and her partner Cynthia about to enjoy a rich dessert.)

We had a most fabulous time with them and enjoyed many treasured moments together. For our return home, we boarded a 6:00 am train from San Diego to Los Angeles' Union Station, then left from there at 10:00 am for the trip up the coast. We arrived in Oakland at 10:00 pm.



I shot this short video in the parlor car as we rode past California's vast agriculture fields.

You hear me addressing Mike's brothers, who are farmers in South Dakota, as we pass the fields saying they may want to farm this land, then Mike says I'm all goofy again like I was a few days before at the Dr. Seuss art show we saw in San Diego. All the while you see how fab the parlor car was in the afternoon.

If ever you get the chance to take this route along the coast and ride in a sleeper car, make sure you ride on the ocean side of the train. The views are so much more incredible from that side and if you want the full effect of seeing both sides, just head into the communal cars with skylights.

Thank you, Mike, for this wonderful Christmas present! Lord, what a trip it was seeing the incredible California landscape from the train! Our best vacation together ever.

Mike + Mike Wish You a Happy New Year

Greetings of the new year to you and yours. Mike + Mike are heading to San Diego for a few days to visit with friends and family. We'll be back to our normal routines on Tuesday. May we all have a prosperous and healthy 2015.

The photo is of us from a trip we made to Washington, DC, in 1997 when we were still spring chickens.