Parking Antics #4-Update

January 31, 2012-The political pundits been crying that America is heading for "class warfare," which pits the 1% (wealthy) versus the 99% (non-wealthy). The truth in today's society is not solely on wealth but the combination of the following:
1. Who you know (Politicians, Judges, Administrators, Power Brokers, CEO, Police Officers...)
2. How much you can afford to pay (Best lawyers, Brides...)
and 3. The correct professional. (Athletics, Movie Stars, Well-known Entrepreneur...)
A person with all three of these traits, when encounter a bad situation can always summon the "Get Out Of Jail" free pass, while the average citizens must deal with the---tough luck, you are on your own!

My favorite theme in the City been "Selective Enforcement" when it comes to law enforcement officials on parking & driving regulations. Last Wednesday I watched a foot patrol police officer along Vallejo & Stockton Street issuing a citation to the driver of a SUV double-parked while a passenger loading groceries from the sidewalk. Then I look down Stockton or Columbus Street, with delivery trucks double-parked unloading not a warning or citation issued. I understand they are afforded a courtesy of doing business but there are opened yellow parking zones spaces available (just not right in front of the unloading business usually) and the posted "No Double Parking Any Time Commercial Vehicles Included" sign must means something else!

Today at 8:19 a.m. on the corner of Union & Stockton Street, my two-time offender "DBI Beverage San Francisco" delivery truck, making delivery to "Original Joe's":

Either this driver took a different DMV test than the rest of the State's drivers or he think marked crosswalk are nothing but a mirage. Today I got a double whammy...that is a uniformed police officer in the middle of the picture, his red unmarked sedan parked on the right side. The officer was removing all the "SFPD white diamond signs" attached to the nearby parking meters for 'no parking' during the "Original Joe's" grand opening event. The officer  did not consider the truck parked in the crosswalk  as a hazard or violation.

Thus if you are one of the 99%...go ahead and park in the crosswalk---
You might get:
1. Cited
2. Towed
3. Lectured
4. Billy-clubbed
5. Arrested
6. Tear gassed
7. Pepper sprayed
or worst...all of the above.

San Francisco Water Conservation Program For Ratepayers Only?

January 31, 2012-This year winter weather patterns have produced very little rainfall, which means less snow packs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains equal lower reservoirs water capacity and eventually led to stricter water usage. I can still recall May 1988, when the City implemented mandatory water rationing allotment for all its customers; but the year 2012 is a new era...

This morning at 6:45 a.m. on my morning stroll toward the wharf, I noticed streams of water heading toward the corner sewer outlets along the 2000 block of Powell Street. It was still dark, therefore just my luck I did not have my camera with me, but I did noticed a white City emblem pickup truck with the emergency overhead lights double-parked near the ruptured water line in the middle of the block. The truck had those heavy-duty front bumper, therefore the Wizard surmised that it was a MUNI supervisor on the scene reporting the incident to his dispatcher.

On the way back home at 7:25 a.m. a lone City official wearing a yellow safety vest was surveying the flow of water by the bottom of the block. I walked to the rupture area and noticed a green San Francisco Water Department pick-up truck parked nearby.

At 8:11 a.m. on my normal stroll through Chinatown with my camera:

Water is still flowing.

No signs of Water Department vehicles.

No emergency cones or barriers to prevent vehicles from putting additional pressures to the asphalt. The Wizard surmised that the asphalt on this section was paved by a reputable contractor instead of that company that used sub-standard materials.

A passerby noticed me taking pictures asked if the City were notified. I told him a Water department official was here at 7:25 a.m. and the water is still running. He replied...don't they owe the pipes? I told him...yes, but it seems that they don't care!

Latest update at 9:35 a.m. I gone out to take this last picture:

Water still spewing out at the ruptured ground opening and no City service vehicles nearby. A police squad car drove by just as I snapped the picture, and he did not even stop to investigate the water flows. It just a case of wrong neighborhood...if this occurred in downtown, financial district, Marina or Pacific Heights a service crews would be here by 8:00 a.m. follow with several news channel mobile units.

"Sign Trap" Or Too Much Enforcement-Update

January 22, 2012-Sunday-My morning stroll along Stockton Street southbound toward Market Street.

8:27 AM...2 vehicles not matching the description of bus or taxi, drove passed the flashing sign at Post Street:

 8:29 AM...2 vehicles disguising as bus & taxi stopped at the light at Geary Street:

8:30 AM...3 vehicles hiding between 2 cabs traveling down the forbidden zone:

Another case of "Selective Enforcement" or maybe...

Point #1-The weather forecast rain, which did arrived at 8:45 AM on my stroll back home along Kearny Street. Working in the rain on traffic enforcement detail is no fun, but...

Point #2-Majority of today motorcycle officers are deployed at Candlestick Park for the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers versus the New York Giants. I lot better assignments and overtime pay.

The Wizard surmised today as "Opportunistic Enforcement." 

"Sign Trap" Or Too Much Enforcement...

January 15, 2012-Sunday-8:30 AM; I was walking along Stockton Street heading toward Downtown Market Street, when I noticed a new police procedure called "Sign Trap" an variation of the standard "Speed Trap."

The construction of the "Central Subway," a potential 'White Elephant' for the city's MUNI system with a low baseline budget for the project listed at $1.578 billion. The premise of this new transit system is to connect the Visitacion Valley and Bayview communities to Chinatown. During the construction of the "Central Subway" Stockton Street corridor, no vehicles traffic are allowed between Post Street and Market Street. The only vehicles allowed to travel along Stockton Street are buses and taxi-cabs.

A San Francisco motorcycle officer, with his bike parked on the side at Maiden Lane (a fashionable City's alley between Post and Geary Street) stood at the street corner; motioning vehicle into the alley for traveling through the forbidden zone.

This is the picture of Maiden Lane:

The officer motorcycle was parked by the far right white gate area. I was hesitant to take any pictures of the procedures, since law enforcement agencies have a bad habit of confiscating personal camera devices lately. If I was a tad younger I would had taken the pictures and if noticed blend into the crowd or flee into one of the nearby department stores. Just my luck it was too early in the morning and no stores were opened and less than a handful of people nearby.

I watched as the officer asked the motorist to lower the window and the officer said..."Did you see the sign?" The motorist must have answered and then the officer asked for the driver license. I continue my stroll down Stockton Street.

The sign the officer was referring are located at the left side corner of Stockton and Post Street. The sign flashed three different sequence quotations:

The above pictures were taken in a normal weekdays with construction working along Stockton Street and usually a DPT officer stationed by the flashing sign. Today was Sunday morning, no construction vehicles or workers present, except one motorcycle police officer citing motorists for disobeying a flashing signs. As I stood by the corner of Geary Street, I noticed other vehicles traveling through the forbidden zone with no problem, because the officer was busy citing that one vehicle. I continue down Stockton and periodically turned around to see if the officer apprehended another victim yet. Further down I walked and indeed the officer came out of the alley and motioned another vehicle into Maiden Lane.

Remember my favorite terminology of "Selective Enforcement"---I wonder how many motorists have traveled through this forbidden zone during the hours of Midnight to 4 AM and never got cited. Or maybe the City needed additional revenues in case the proposal "Central Subway" budget ballooned a few billions more in 2018 completion date.

Parking Antics #4

January 18, 2012-Wednesday

Time: 8:49 AM
Location: Stockton Street & Union Street
Problem:

The area is:
#1-senior citizens from Washington Square Park
#2-students to the nearby schools
#3-patients to the North East Medical Services
#4-locals heading to work or shopping.

The delivery truck is:
#1-parked completely over the pedestrian crosswalk and beyond
#2-parked in the opposite direction of traffic
#3-the truck seem very familiar...

The delivery truck was the subject on my "Parking Antics #4" dated December 13, 2011, which the driver parked and blocked the pedestrian crosswalk along Columbus Avenue. In conclusion, this driver is exempt from California & San Francisco driving codes and regulations. A better synopsis or my favorite terminology...Selective Enforcement!