it’s not about you

Lots of things have been happening in the news in San Francisco lately. Between Ed Jew’s problems, Gavin Newsom’s and Chris Daly’s verbal fisticuffs, and the resurgence of gang activity in the Mission (Dad, you should stop reading right now), it’s been a busy month. Oh, and it’s Pride, too.

Ed Jew:
Dude, seriously? Please, step down. Step down, step down, step down. If you’re not completely corrupt, then you’re just stupid. Either way, you shouldn’t be a leader of our city and so you’ve got to go.

And, Ed, may I offer you a tip? If you’re trying to prove you live in the Sunset, don’t turn yourself in in Burlingame, where your other house is. Doofus.

Chris Daly:
Dude! Your credibility? Totally SHOT. You want people to take you seriously and have respect for you? Then show it for others. This is not junior high (although it IS city politics, you could very well make that argument…). You want to accuse Newsom of using cocaine? Then do it in the proper venue. All you’re doing is making yourself look like a total ass. And bring some proof to the table. By the way, using people who claim to have done coke with the mayor isn’t exactly credible - they’re cokeheads for cryin’ out loud.

And that Gavin? Aren’t you a damn fine-looking mayor? Except for that episode last year when you decided to “try something new.” Please. Keep the hair gel. (My friend Robin said that when news of Gavin’s affair came out, a collective sigh of disappointment could be heard throughout the Castro. Too funny.)

My ‘hood:
We know. We’ve got problems. I do, in fact, take the kids to the park where the shooting occurred. I don’t let Killian fly colors or play soccer with the big boys, so we’re usually okay. And I impose a strict 2 a.m. curfew on Judah - if she’s not in the door by then, I take away her Polly Pockets. But this, this is not the solution. The Mission has its problems, but there are so many good things about it as well, and I’m not just talking about learning the art of poop-dodging while taking a stroll, though that IS a handy skill.

We have a huge mix of diversity here, and cultural backgrounds are only the jumping-off point. There are very poor people who live here alongside very rich people. Families live next to single hipsters, nannies next to financial district suits. There’s a retirement facility, a community music center, a group of self-professed Satanists (true!), a community activist center, and park, all on my block. There’s tons of shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, parks, a vibrant arts community, and a plethora of public transportation. We’re centrally-located, and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “It’s always sunny in the Mission.” And, AND, we have Ritual and Tartine. I mean, come on. I love my neighborhood. And I’m going to be sad to leave it. Sniff, sniff.

I get asked if I’m scared to live in my neighborhood. I’ve read places online where people are actually encouraged not to explore the Mission while visiting San Francisco because it’s “not safe.” MOST of the shootings occur at night, but there are some during the day. MOST of the violence is targeted and specific - it’s extremely rare to be a random target of violent crime. And truthfully, your odds are pretty good - I mean it’s mostly in suburban-rural areas where someone goes totally ape-shit and does something crazy. I try to avoid wearing gang colors and I leave my grill at home (I only bring it out for those special occasions).

The Bright Spot:
At least there’s some justice after all in this world.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 25th, 2007 at 11:50 am and is filed under Rants, Activist, Blogworthy, Community, News and Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.