Monthly Archives: November 2012

BREAKING: Activist Michael Petrelis Arrested Over Privacy Violation Involving San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener

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The offending image. Sup. Weiner caught washing his hands-stop the presses. Photo: Michael Petrelis

We awake this Friday to find yet another odd twist in the world of Castro neighborhood politics.  Clinton Fein from The New Civil Rights Movement reports in what appears to be an act of heavy-handed political retribution, longtime activist, muckraker and citizen journalist Michael Petrelis yesterday surrendered to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department in response to the District Attorney issuing a warrant for his arrest, after being charged with allegedly violating the privacy of Supervisor Scott Wiener.

The DA alleged Petrelis broke Section 647(j) sub-section (1) of the penal code.

A simmering feud between the Supervisor and Petrelis over a range of issues from a public nudity bill to control over the rainbow flag in Harvey Milk Plaza has raged for over two years. The charge stems from a photograph Petrelis snapped, and subsequently published on his blog, of the supervisor at a wash basin in a public restroom at City Hall on Friday, October 26. Petrelis voluntarily turned himself in for booking on Thursday afternoon after posting bond, was cited and released.

“I am dealing with this legal matter head on,” said Petrelis following his ordeal. “I voluntarily surrendered to the San Francisco sheriff. I have a court date set for December 5th at 9 am, and I look forward to it.”

The incident occurred at City Hall, where Petrelis was staging a photo-op for visiting gay Honduran dignitary Erick Martinez, an activist whose life has been threatened by the rightwing junta ruling his country. Through Petrelis’ political organizing, Martinez was introduced to gay Supervisor David Campos and bisexual Supervisor Christina Olague, in front of the Harvey Milk Bust in the Grand Rotunda on the second floor.

Petrelis had been taking photographs of the activities in the Grand Rotunda before he walked into the public men’s room noticed Wiener and proceeded to photograph him. An image of Wiener standing in front of the sink, holding a toothbrush later appeared on Petrelis’ blog.

Two weeks after the photo appeared on his blog, in what looks like an act of political retribution, Wiener appears to have abused his power as a San Francisco Supervisor by involving the sheriff’s department, who in turn assigned two senior detectives to investigate Petrelis.

“I am surprised the DA charged this case,” said Petrelis’ attorney, Derek St. Pierre.

We will stay tuned to see how all of this political, ‘Dynasty’ era, Crystal vs. Alexis, bitch slapping plays out. One thing is certain, San Francisco politics are never dull.

How Dangerous is the Castro?

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There’s been growing discussion amongst many in the community regarding a perceived rise in crime in the neighborhood. Merchants, the MUMC and other concerned citizen’s had cited criminal activity as one of the main reasons they lobbied for the removal of the public benches from Harvey Milk plaza. The Biscuit thought it would be a good idea to start a series focusing on this issue and to do some basic exploration of real, factual crime statistics for the area.

The Castro district police jurisdiction falls under the purview of SFPD’s Mission Station housed at 630 Valencia between 18th and 17th Streets. The building was built in 1994 to replace the smaller, inadequate facility that’d stood on the same property. The first Mission cop shop opened 110 years ago when the original station site was built in 1902 at 17th Street and Treat.

In the past week, Nov. 23rd-29th of 2012, according to SFPD’s own, interactive map of criminal activity, there have been 89 crimes within a one mile radius of the heart of Castro village. Crimes mapped and represented by specific icons range from Arson to Noise Disturbance and every other sort of misdemeanor and felony.

On the danger scale the Castro appears to tip toward Noise Disturbances at it’s most benign to the alarmingly frequent and growing number of Robberies and Assaults. What isn’t represented on the map by a symbol is instances of specific Hate Crimes. Conversely neither are all the smaller, unreported petty crimes that many residences shrug off due to the feeling that nothing can be done or reporting would lead to higher insurance premiums once it had become an ‘official’ police matter. Police spokes people have encouraged everyone to report all crime as accuracy of events helps determine factual statistics and determine where current police patrols are then assigned.

While neighborhood watches, organizations like Castro Community on Patrol (CCOP) and the density of the community tend to help keep the criminal activity down there is, according to SFPD’s own data, reason to be more aware as you travel about. Holiday seasons tend to see a spike in crime.

Almost every anti-crime, community outreach lecture starts out with the admonishment, ‘Be aware of your surroundings’. Safety of self and property is always tantamount to the level of personal responsibility one can take for keeping an eye out on yourself and your fellows. This is the basic rule of thumb. SFPD once had a noticeable, foot patrol, police presence in the neighborhood which many felt helped curtail a great deal of crime of opportunity or petty crime. Circumstances have changed and while we occasionally do see a lone officer on patrol by foot or bike we don’t see that personal, neighborhood attention that once dominated our streets.

The Biscuit plans on continuing to explore and investigate crime within our community. If you have tips or ideas on where you thing we should be focusing we welcome your input. Drop us an email and keep us in the loop.

 

PHOTOS: The City & Castro Commemorates the 34th Anniversary of Harvey Milk & George Moscone Assassinations

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Photo: Daniel Michael Filipkowski

As dusk approached hundreds of San Francisco city elected officials, family, friends, co-workers and citizen’s from every walk of life gathered at the steps of City Hall to pay tribute to the lives of beloved Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone killed 34 years ago on ”that day, that brutal, brutal day.”

The event, co-organized by the Harvey Milk Foundation, SF Gay Men’s Chorus and the progressive Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, amassed SF’s political powerhouses to pay homage to the fallen political icons. Anne Kronenberg, President of the Milk foundation, head of SF Dept. of Emergency Management and Harvey’s campaign manager, kicked things off thanking everyone for coming and then emceed for the remainder of the evening.

SF Mayor, Ed Lee,  remarking, “the doors opened by the hard work of both these inspired men made it possible for him to become the City’s first Asian American mayor.”

Former Mayor Willie Brown, SF’s first African American mayor and longest serving California Speaker of the House, served up a heartfelt recount of his time with Mayor Moscone whom he termed, “as close to being his brother as his real brother.”

Tom Ammiano, friend and activist partner of Harvey’s, former SF Supervisor and current Assemblyman, managed to infuse the night with a bit of humor remembering how Harvey loved a good laugh and joked how hot he found Sup. Scott Weiner who holds Harvey’s former district Supervisor seat

Jonathan Moscone, the mayor’s youngest son, gave the sweetest and most touching speech and asked those gathered to, “celebrate his father as he lived not to dwell on how he died.”

Sup. David Campos followed, making no bones that, “As a man who happens to be an immigrant, Latino, Queer he knew how the progressive, political work done by Harvey and George bridging multiple communities was tantamount to serving a diverse electorate in San Francisco then and now.”

Stuart Milk, Harvey’s nephew, creator of the foundation that bears his uncle’s name, closed out the evening recounting how Harvey has inspired him to help other oppressed Queers around the world.

A potpourri of San Franciscan politicos were among those amassed to remember Milk and Moscone: Dennis Herrera, SF District Attorney, current and former Supes John Alvalos, Christina Olague, Eric Mar and Bevan Duffty, GLBT Historical Society President Paul Boneberg, the ubiquitous Donna Sachet, unofficial Castro ambassador & tireless fundraiser, Glenn Anna Conda Hyde, Pres. of Harvey Milk LGBT Dem. Club plus rank and file members of the National Lawyers Guild, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Faerie Community, ACT UP, Labor and Social Justice Activists from every community.

Post speeches the procession moved down Market Street holding candles led by a police escort. At Castro and Market the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club assembled a beautiful shrine in Harvey’s honor and the crowd swelled significantly.

The Liberation Brass Band played New Orleans styled celebratory songs entertaining the crowd. Marchers took their pilgrimage at last down Castro Street ending the evening Harvey’s former home/camera shop. It is now SF’s first LGBT designated historic landmark and the Human Rights Campaign swag store.

Glendon Anna Conda Hyde closed out the night reminding people that the struggle for liberation and equality isn’t over and we in SF continue to lead the fight for full equality.

(All photos unless otherwise denoted by Waiyde Palmer)

The memorial bust of Harvey Milk inside San Francisco City Hall
Stuart Milk, Harvey’s Nephew, speaking with members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Sup. Scott Weiner, Sup. Eric Mar, Mayor Ed Lee, former Mayor Willie Brown
Anne Kronenberg
Former Sup. & mayoral candidate, Bevan Dufty, and colleagues.
Sup. Scott Weiner addressing the crowd.
Glendon ‘Anna Conda’ Hyde, President of Harvey Milk LGBT Dem. Club
(L-R) Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Sup. David Campos, Sup. Christina Olague
Participants wind their way down Market Street from City Hall to the Castro. Photo: Jenoa Harlow
Marchers reach the heart of the Castro
The Liberation Marching Band strikes up a welcome!
The beautiful shrine to Harvey Milk assembled by members of the SF political club named in his honor-Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
People add their candles from the march to the Shrine.
Center one of the few remaining member of the 1st chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Van Equity.
Cleve Jones & friend
Marchers head to Harvey’s former residence and store past the Castro’s Holiday Tree. Photo: Pixel Stud

34th Anniversary of the Harvey Milk & George Moscone Assassinations

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Today marks the 34th anniversary of the assassinations of out Supervisor Harvey Milk who represented the Castro and Mayor George Moscone of San Francisco.

Two events are being held in honor of their memory and legacies. The first at City Hall sponsored by The Harvey Milk Foundation. The second by The San Francisco Harvey Milk Democratic Club in the Castro at the Harvey Milk Memorial Plaza on the corner of Castro and Market Street. Follow the links for all the details. We’ll be posting a follow up of both celebration memorials later today, but for now, just wanted to take a moment to honor both of these men whose commitment to justice and freedom for all was without reproach. Hope to see you all tonight as we honor our fallen and remember their deeds.

PHOTOS: Hundreds of Castro neighbors turn out for annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

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Castro Holiday Tree all lit up

Over a hundred people, both family and friends, gathered around the unlit holiday tree at 18th and Castro Street for the Castro’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. There were so many people that we spilled into the street as SFPD routed the 24 line around the crowd. Castro ambassador and drag queen Donna Sachet “Mistress Claus” MC’d the event which featured a band playing carols and a children’s choir leading the crowd in song. Many local politicians including District Attorney George Gascon, Treasurer José Cisneros, and Disctrict 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener were there to say a few words and encourage the crowd to keep it local and hit the stores after the ceremony. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence gave the benediction: AMen, AWomen, AEverythingElse.

Throughout the ceremony, local activist Michael Petrelis, minced no words with his bull horn calling out Supervisor Wiener’s aggressive political moves over the past few months including the ban on nudity and his support for the removal of the benches at Harvey Milk Plaza. Other activists from Occuprides’s Community Not Commodity contingent held up large, but festive signs that read, “Santa is a nudist” and “Scott Wiener the grinch who stole benches”. Most of the crowd was not pleased with Petrelis’s actions booing him in unison as many times as he took to his bullhorn. Many people in the crowd murmured that it was neither the time nor the place to make a political statement. Donna Sachet handled the interruptions with poise and grace saying that everyone will have their turn to speak and celebrate which helped keep the tone positive and upbeat for everyone.

After introducing Santa Claus and his merry (possibly toasty) band of elves and asking the children what they’d like from Santa Claus this year, Donna Sachet led the crowd in a booming countdown that ended with the lighting of the Castro’s Holiday Tree and hugs all around.

Supervisor Scott Wiener
Rainbow wreath at Castro and Market
Protest sign: Scott Wiener the grinch that stole benches
Protest sign: Santa is a nudist
Holiday Tree Sponsors
Donna Sachet, Castro Ambassador
Castro Holiday Tree all lit up

UPDATE: Hi Tops, Castro’s Newest Gay Bar, Opens Saturday

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Hi Tops, the Castro’s newest gay bar, will be opening its doors this Thursday Saturday at 6PM! Hi Tops is San Francisco’s first sports-themed gay bar and is located at the old Lime location (2247 Market Street). Owner Jesse Woodward said, “The bar’s style walks a fine line between modern sports bar and retro-nostalgic gay bar with reclaimed lockers and bleachers, and sixteen TV screens including a giant video wall.”

The new bar is not limited to just good drinks and great seats, but also tasty eats. Top Chef contestant Jamie Lauren, who cut her teeth as head chef at Absinthe, has put together a menu that adds a gourmet flair to traditional ballpark food. Homemade corndogs and a pork chop on a stick fit perfectly with an ahi tuna burger and spicy buffalo wings. All of which are complemented by an amazing beer selection and fantastic drink specials inspired by Bay Area athletes from their glory years.

We’ll see you at Hi Tops this Thursday Saturday!

SFMTA testing new bike lanes in the Castro-helps cyclists avoid eating it crossing MUNI tracks

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South side of 17th eastbound, facing Church.

North side of 17th looking westbound from Church.

The SFMTA is testing out new bike lanes in the Castro to help bicyclists avoid eating it in intersections where MUNI rails resemble noodle soup. Starting with the intersection at 17th and Church, they’ve removed parking spaces before entering the intersection and after leaving the intersection in addition to painting dotted lines on the street to indicate a perpendicular path across the MUNI rails.

I’m not ashamed to admit that when I first started biking I landed hands first in the street, but quickly learned to be more cautious around the MUNI rails (and also invest in a good pair of gloves). These visibility and guidance modifications should help new cyclists feel safer as they venture into the brave world of San Francisco bicycling.

SFMTA indicated that they are interested in also adding these safety modifications to the intersection and Church and Duboce where the J and N lines enter and exit the underground, but have not set a timeline on implementation.

via SF Streets Blog