Deadly BART shooting … I mean discharge of weapon 01.02.09
By now you’ve probably heard/read about the police shooting at the Fruitvale BART station. From the San Francisco Chronicle:
A young man allegedly involved in a fight aboard a BART train was shot to death by a BART police officer on the platform of the Fruitvale Station early New Year’s Day, in the midst of a brawl between two groups of young train passengers.
But there’s been no word on whether the young men were armed. What is most disturbing to me is that, according to the Chronicle story, witness accounts indicate that the young man was handcuffed when he was shot, though BART spokesman said the victim was not restrained when the gun discharged.
In my previous job I had written some stories about police shootings – these cases are always complicated, with no clear indications of who is at fault. But this news story makes me feel less safe on public transit – imagine being on the same train when this fight broke out. I wonder if passengers were evacuated when the gun went off. And if they weren’t…pretty frightening thought.
Blame the victim 01.02.09
I spotted this ad campaign on the side of an underground Muni trolley the other day. I’m having trouble totaling up the number of things wrong with it. I mean, sure, it’s a smart idea for pedestrians in SF not to use their headphones when there are buses stampeding through the streets, but I don’t think the fact that someone didn’t hear the bus is an excuse for the driver to plow over them as though they weren’t there. Second, why is the bus in this ad speeding away after knocking the dude to the curb?
What else is wrong with this ad campaign? What do you think of it?
Watch for flying projectiles 01.01.09
Submitted by Muni rider Amanda
I work for a firm nice enough to let their staff leave early on New Year’s Eve. After picking up some coffee on Harrison, I thought to catch a 47-Van Ness on 5th Street to bring me back home to Hayes Valley instead of hiking back up to Market Street.
Around 9th, a toddler started to cry profusely. The mother informed (nay, screamed) at the toddler’s father that her child’s screams meant she had soiled herself. Right then and there, the father of the toddler ripped down her pants, tore off the diaper and slapped a new one on.
My fellow passengers and I stared at this family in disbelief. The only thought racing through my head that moment was “what happens to the dirty diaper?” Not 30 seconds later, we found out what happens to dirty diapers on a Muni bus — they go out the window.
I hope no one around 11th and Harrison was hit by a steaming projectile.
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