Author Archives: Waiyde Palmer

About Waiyde Palmer

Waiyde Palmer loves San Francisco, social activism and punk rock(ers). His work has appeared in Handbook Magazine. SF Bay Times, The Advocate, Diseased Pariah News and American Music Press . He also has an extensive and repeatedly redacted FBI file.

Monday Morning News Round Up

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As is the case the Castro Biscuit often touches on stories or events over the course of a month (or more) and then conclusions, follow ups, or report backs aren’t always so easy to find. Heres this Monday’s offerings.

sfpd_logoIn a April post we reported SFPD was trying to skip around privacy laws by requiring new or established businesses applying for liquor licenses to install security cameras and record patrons entering or leaving establishments. To add insult to injury they also were saying that those videos be made available to them on demand and be kept for up to 30 days. Our Castro Supervisor, Scott Wiener, objected to these demands based on privacy concerns. He has now been joined in the debate of civil liberties vs. security by SF’s other out Supervisor, Dist. 9′s, David Campos.

SFPD’s idea of compromise: New language drafted still requires that new liquor licenses in high-crime areas install cameras. The difference would be that recordings would only need to be turned over when “requested as evidence in a criminal investigation” instead of “upon demand.” The rub there is SFPD has declared about over a third of the City ‘high-crime areas’. Supervisor Wiener has committed to keep at them looking for bigger concessions.

Supporters and Michael Petrelis (Center) and his lawyer, Dereck St, Pierre (Right) Photo: KTVU

Supporters and Michael Petrelis (Center) and his lawyer, Dereck St, Pierre (Right) Photo: KTVU

Last December we first posted about activist/blogger Micheal Petrelis being arrested for taking pictures of Sup. Wiener in a bathroom brushing his teeth at City Hall and then posting the image on his blog, The Petrelis Files. In the subsequent six months the case has been continued repeatedly in a large part at the request of Mr. Petrelis’ lawyer, Derek St. Pierre, due to his client’s ongoing health issues.

At the most recent court hearing in front of Superior Court Judge Samuel K. Feng over at the Hall of Justice Mr. St. Pierre pushed for a disposition of the charges. That means both sides are trying to work things out without going to trial. If that doesn’t happen it’ll be up to a jury to decide if Mr. Petrelis violated Mr. Wiener’s privacy or not. Mr. Petrelis has been much more demure of late on all things Wiener but he’s continued to blog and work on other issues while all this has gone on including helping organize the first, reinstate Bradley Manning as Hon. Grand Marshal protest at SF Pride’s office. Both sides will be back in court on June 7th. Until then the court order keeping Petrelis 150 feet away from Wiener at all times continues to be in effect.

BeBe Sweetbriar Photo: MySpace

BeBe Sweetbriar Photo: MySpace

Latest Development: SF Pride’s maelstrom of controversy around who is or isn’t an Hon. Grand Marshal has continued as we’ve posted repeatedly in the last several weeks. Since they kicked Manning to the curb they needed to replace him. On Friday the SF Pride Committee announced their replacement pick: San Francisco drag superstar BeBe Sweetbriar. She is being honored for her charity work on LGBT issues and HIV/AIDS organizations.

“Ms. Sweetbriar is a shining exemplar of how the power of local community talent can so positively impact the lives of so many near and far,” SF Pride CEO Earl Plante said in a statement.

We congratulate Ms. Sweetbriar. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of all the LGBT community and is well deserving of this honor. She will bring her usual level of class, grace and enthusiasm to her role as Hon. Grand Marshal as she does for any event she is a part of.

If SF Pride Committee thinks will stem the controversy or deflate the outcry around Manning’s invite, disinvite, meeting/no meeting/canceled meeting on the issue, we’ll talk about it all later after Pride, they’re in for a rude awakening come Parade day.

There have been a large number of events going on in the Castro in the past couple of weeks-in a post later today we’ll have more to report and show you so check back this afternoon.

 

Campos Compromises-Terminal Not SFO to be Renamed in Milk’s Memory

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Harvey Milk stencil by SF artist Jeremy Novy

Harvey Milk stencil by SF artist Jeremy Novy

As the Biscuit has reported several times since January, Supervisor David Campos (District 9), introduced the idea of renaming SFO in honor of slain civil rights leader and Castro icon, Harvey Milk. Now it seems the powers that be have come up with a compromise solution-a terminal within the airport to bear his name instead of the entire facility.

There have been heated debates, rallies and an outpouring of community support for the idea alongside some very organized opposition to Campos’ plan.

While the late Supervisor Milk and his legacy are revered in some circles others felt he didn’t deserve such a magnanimous gesture of having the airport re-tagged in his honor. Campos’ had five votes sewn up from fellow Supervisors to move forward with his rebranding bid but the all important sixth deciding vote eluded him. That vote would have to be supplied by one of the freshmen Supervisors and none seemed convinced it was in their constituents (or perhaps theirs political) best interest.

Note Terminal 1 the unofficial selection to be renamed for Harvey Milk. Photo: FlySFO.

Note Terminal 1 the unofficial selection to be renamed for Harvey Milk. Photo: FlySFO.

Becoming convinced the job would be a raucous, uphill battle where the final decision for the name change would be placed before City voters in an off-year November ballot initiative Campos worked with Mayor Ed Lee to find a compromise-renaming one of SFO’s terminals in Harvey’s memory.

The plan now stands a committee composed of members hand-picked by the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor’s camps representing both of their interests would put together a proposal for how to make this all happen and come back with solid plans and goals within the next three months.

Supervisor Campos’ dream of having visitors to our City pass through Harvey Milk Airport has been whittled down, but, he believes his main goal-of teaching and honoring Harvey’s dream of equality and hope for all-can still be realized via the terminals prominence and position.

Which terminal is to be selected still remains to be seen. Currently Terminal One is amidst a remodeled and may be the easiest to transition in signage and other alterations to carry the late Supervisors moniker.

-Reminder the State of California’s official Harvey Milk holiday is May 22nd. Local celebrations are planned. Click the link to see what’s happening locally in the Castro.

The beautiful shrine to Harvey Milk assembled by members of the SF political club named in his honor-Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

The beautiful shrine to Harvey Milk assembled by members of the SF Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club at the 2012 Milk/Moscone Anniversary March at Castro and Market. Photo: Waiyde Palmer

UPDATE: HBO Gay Series Based in SF Gets Go Ahead-Eight Episodes Ordered

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HBO LogoAs we posted at the end of March HBO shot a pilot for a new Queer boy dramedy recently around the Castro and City. Word comes now that the award winning cable giant has optioned the still as yet unnamed series for eight more episodes.

The pilot written by Michael Lannan, Interior Leather Bar, was directed by Andrew Haigh who made the highly acclaimed film, Weekend, and stars Glee regular Jonathan Groff, New York stage actor, Frankie J. Alvarez, and former Guiding Light soap hunk, Australian, Murray Bartlett, playing the three principles.

Jonathan Groff
Frankie J. Alvarez
Murray Bartlett

Other particulars about the series, according to the Hollywood Reporter:

The pilot is based on Michael Lannan’s feature script Lorimer. Haigh will executive produce alongside Bored to Death’s Sarah Condon and Brothers and Sisters’ David Marshall Grant, with Lannan receiving a co-EP credit.

The untitled entry revolves around the three friends in San Francisco who explore the fun and sometimes overwhelming options available to a new generation of Gay men.  Production will begin in the fall in San Francisco for a 2014 premiere.

This is a good news for a number of reasons. The new series will help raise the number of LGBT themed shows-or shows with principle Gay characters-on television from its current level. It was recently announced that both The New Normal and Happy Endings would be cancelled at the end of the 2013 television season..

The loss of both shows has been claimed as victories by the neo-conservative and notoriously anti-Gay group, One Million Moms, a branch of the American Family Assoc., who’ve made it their mission to eradicate anything Queer off of the telly to ‘save the children’. Keeping Queer themed work available on television helps dismantle religious led bigotry and societal prejudice against the LGBT community by providing glimpses into our lives. It can provide isolated Queer youth with valuable visual confirmation that they are not alone in this world.

Series creator, Michael Lannan. Photo: IMBD

Series creator, Michael Lannan. Photo: IMBD

Additionally revenue brought in by the HBO shoot will help feed the always hungry local economy, lift the City’s star power another notch attracting even more lucrative television and film company’s to bring upcoming projects to town and provides work for SF actors, artisans, production and film workers.

Concerns have been leveled in countless blog comment sections-including this one-that the show will just be another all white male production unrepresentative of the City’s true LGBT population. Producers has been sensitive to that reality and cast an array of actors from multiple communities and set a Latino among it’s leading men.

Other commenters have expressed disdain at the idea that this will be a Queer version of Friends or Sex in the City. Time will tell if their criticism holds true, but for now, keep your eyes peeled for the production and it’s crew working around the Castro and City.

via Towleroad

CVS Reveals Remodel for Market Noe Center & They’re Rated ‘D’ for Dull

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2280 Market St. CVS (yawn) rendering.

2280 Market St. CVS (yawn) rendering.

Tuesday, May 14th the Planning Commission and pharmacy giant CVS revealed their formula retail remodel plans for the former Tower Records/Market & Noe (2280 Market Street) space and frankly they’re really dull.

As proposed, four of the Market and Noe Center’s protruding concrete bays will be removed and CVS’s section of 2280 Market Street’s concrete façade will be overlayed with cement-board siding, a metal lattice, and metal trim.

What is even more confusing is how CVS made it through the approval gauntlet while fellow formula retailer, Starbucks, did not. Earlier in the week the SF Planning Commission nixed the proposed Mega-Bux at the corner of Sanchez and Market St. citing three specific problems.

  1.  Over 20% saturation of formula retail stores within 300 feet of the proposed local.
  2. Style and design of the new Starbucks would be too dominant at such a visible spot.
  3. The  particular area was already well served by businesses offering the same services.

Comparing the reasoning that shoots down Starbucks while giving CVS the thumb’s up is a bit confounding.

Under new rules set for by the Commission and supported by Dist. 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, the number of formulaic retail stores can not exceed 20% of the businesses within a 300 feet span in any given area. The Market St. Walgreens falls just outside that radius at approximately 400 feet away from the proposed new CVS. Also out of consideration is the reality of the total seven pharmacies within a half mile of CVS each providing the same exact service for meds and three providing same goods.

Undaunted by these truths the Planning Commission states CVS would, “provide an additional choice of pharmacy and basic everyday needs goods for neighborhood residents, resulting in prices that are more competitive and a greater availability of goods and services.”

Pardon me wha..?

As we noted earlier when denying Starbucks approval the same Commission stated, “The Upper Market NCT is already well served by existing similar eating and drinking establishments that are considered coffee houses like Peets, Church St. Cafe, Cafe Flore, and Sweet Inspiration.” Are we not equally well served in our seven other pharmacies choices that carry basic everyday needs as well?

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Then there’s the CVS store design. Starbucks proposal for their new space-though unwanted by the community-was sleek, inviting and modern. It was rejected as the design was dominate and at odds with other nearby buildings destroying the neighborhood character of other local retailers.

CVS’s rebuild plans removes the clock, the already utilitarian building’s lone interesting architectural quality from the tower, and transforms it into a metal and cement box evocative of an East Berlin, cold war era, prison complex. What about that design is in keeping with the aesthetic of the area like Cafe Flore’s funky feel two doors away?

Is anyone else confused?

We have covered the debate and been opposed to Starbucks fourth insertion into the Castro since we started the Biscuit. We’re equally unimpressed with CVS’s arrival and the lack of fight from the neighborhood to keep it out. The Trader Joe’s that was proposed in 2011 would’ve been a better fit for the community in that space but they withdrew after a onslought of local biz cried foul-including the DTNA. Trader Joe’s also realized they’d never have enough parking to meet their customers needs and let the struggle for the space go.

It’s an odd juxtaposition to not see organized groups like Merchants of Upper Market Castro or the Castro Community Benefit District let CVS slide into the Castro without the same vigor of objection that was leveled at both Starbucks and Trader Joe’s. Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association who fought tooth and nail to keep Starbucks at bay have reached a compromise with CVS and withdrew all objections.

Where are the petitions, the Facebook pages imploring voices to be raised and Change.org, ‘sign me to stop CVS’ invites? Do we as a community really need an eighth pharmacy to buy toilet paper, condoms and get our prescriptions filled?

As these and other questions go unanswered CVS hopes to acquire the permits quickly, start the remodel and be up and running by February of 2014.

-via SocketSite

UPDATE: Church Street Designated Red Lanes a Success MUNI Says

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22 Fillmore and J Church on Church St. Photo:SFMTA

22 Fillmore and J Church on Church St. Photo: SFMTA

MUNI has reported the newly adorned ‘red lanes’, designated MUNI or taxi only, on the highly congested part of  Church Street between Duboce and 16th Streets at the far edge of the Castro District has been successful in keeping service running better.

We posted in March that the lanes were being set aside for public transport use only as part of an 18 month, Church Street Rapid pilot program to determine if this small gambit would help improve MUNI reliability on the notoriously slow and nearly always late 22-Fillmore bus and J-Church train lines.

According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) who initiated the change the answer is, “yes”. They report the 22-Fillmore has had a 5% reduction in travel time and a 20% uptick in reliability along that narrow obstacle course of Church Street.

Those who still drive the route should be aware you’re no longer allowed to turn left at 15th or 16th Streets. Driving in those designated red lanes can result in heavy fines as does taking illegal left turns. Both rules applies to bicyclists as well who are subject to the same traffic laws as their motorized counterparts. The ‘no left turn’ will remain if the pilot program becomes permanent.

So far only 16 tickets have been issued for illegal left turns. You can expect that number to soar now that the SFMTA is leaning towards retaining the alteration. Illegal left turn tickets run between $200-$310.00 which could be a boon for the City treasury if drivers and bicyclists don’t start paying attention to the new rules and somewhat visible ‘no left turn’ street signage.

-via Examiner

 

Pride Pulls Plug on May Meeting-Manning Disinvite Decision Stands

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SF Pride LogoSF Pride Committee has made it official. They are through debating.  Bradley Manning, the Queer, imprisoned US Soldier behind the Wikileaks whistle blowing case will not be one of the myriad of Honorable Grand Marshalls at the San Francisco 2013 LGBT Pride Parade.

This roller coaster ride regarding Manning’s invite/disinvite and how its affected San Francisco’s LGBT community standing in the eyes of the world at large has been raucous. Scathing editorials from the UK’s Guardian to The Village Voice have our Parade and it’s Committee portrayed in less than flattering light as the story has taken on a life of its own as the Parade’s decision making process on who is-or isn’t-qualified to be a Honorary Grand Marshall has bounced back and forth making headlines along the way.

On Mother’s Day SF Pride Committee released this decision via their Facebook page stating;

San Francisco Pride May Membership Meeting Update:

We are seeking a larger venue for the next SF Pride membership meeting, and so are postponing the May 14th meeting until a suitable location is secured. We want to allow people to have a chance to voice their opinions about the recent controversy, but also have a large event coming up, and do not want to let one issue, as important as it is to some, overshadow the concerns and interests of the hundreds of thousands who attend SF Pride.

SF Pride’s decision concerning the election process of Bradley Manning as Grand Marshal being consistent with SF Pride’s long-standing Grand Marshal election policy is firm. Thus, the discussion of that matter is closed for this year.

A meeting in a larger venue after the 2013 Celebration and Parade will allow people from all sides of that issue and others to fully air and hear one another’s viewpoints, without jeopardizing the production of this year’s event and the safety and security of the attendees. We ask everyone in the community to come together in Pride this June, recognizing that we can embrace difference without violence and hate.

If you’re late to all the drama heres a brief synopsis of this years Pride’s public relation nightmare:

Bradley Manning is announced as one of many Hon. Grand Marshall’s of SF’s 2013 LGBT Pride Parade, Pride Committee freaks over supposed rule violations and disinvited him, Committee then issues horrible explanation statement for disinvite, that fumble threw gas on what was already a bonfire, an outraged community protests, followed by an even worse bungled community meeting which was canceled after only 15 people got to participate, worldwide community protests, Pride Committee’s promise of another ‘larger/more open’ meeting to address the situation, to now this current decision: cancel public May 14th scheduled meeting, dig in their heels and just deal with the whole debacle after the parade is over.

“WHEW” That’s the kind of drama one usually finds in a soap opera not amidst one of the most respected and oldest celebrations of LGBT freedom, political struggle and pride.
Manning Pride Contingent 2012

Rumblings throughout the activist community are already hitting a fevered pitch and the parade is still six weeks away. Several groups have expressed outrage over Pride’s final edict and are gearing up for a large vocal and perhaps disruptive contingent in this years Pride Parade.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue there is one thing everyone I’ve spoken with seems with on the subject seems to agree on-this is really a horrendous mess.

I’d have to second that assessment.

See you at the Parade.

SF Planning Commish Nixes New Mega-Bux Slated for Market & Sanchez St.

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No More StarbucksThursday the hotly contested proposal for a new, approximately 2100 sq. foot, mega-Starbucks retail space at the corner of Sanchez and Market (2201 Market St.) was shot down by the SF Planning Commission 5-1.

We’ve been following the developments since Aug. of 2012  when the Merchants of Upper Market/Castro (MUMC) made the public aware they’d awarded the project their seal of approval. Our comment sections on subsequent posts have been rife with impassioned arguments for and against Starbucks opening a fourth, retail outlet within a 1 mile radius of three others in the Castro/Duboce Triangle neighborhoods.

At the Thursday, May 9th final, final-no we swear-final Planning Commission meeting on the subject the Board followed their own staff’s recommendations and denied the coffee giant a permit based on the newly minted, formula store, Upper Market neighborhood’s density rules. Requirements state formula retail density can’t exceed more than 20% allowed within 300 feet of any given area.

They also noted they’d received petitions and letters from both sides on the subject. Lining up on ‘Yea’ side:  59 letters of support (including one from MUMC and the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association) plus a petition with 453 signatures in favor of their plan. On the ‘Nay’ side: 4 letters (including one from the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District-aka CBD-who rarely agrees with MUMC wishes) and a petition containing 4,200 signatures opposed. Commissioners also listened to an hour and half of public comments with 25 citizens pleading the ‘Yea’ case and 16 ponying up for the ‘Nay’ contingent.

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks that was rejected by the Planning Commission on May 9th.

The Commission’s majority also pointed out there’s four other long-established, local coffee-house options and one formula coffee shop for citizens to access to meet their caffeine and bear claw needs. They also found that letting Starbucks occupy such a notable space would allow that particular retail design to be the dominant theme for that area and would detract from the community’s unique and distinct character.

Starbucks can still appeal the decision directly to the Board of Supervisors if it so wishes.

If this plan had been approved this would’ve been Starbucks 73rd store in San Francisco. Even without this new Market St. store that translates into one of the Seattle-based chain stores every six-tenth of a mile throughout the City.

Via-SocketSite, Bay Area Reporter