Gentrification and your upset stomach

Posted on Mon 13-Jun-2011 by zhuzhitzu

Gentrification is a lot like art it seems; hard to explain but you know it when you see it. For those of you who would rather have the Dictionary.com definition of Gentrification: Gentrification: the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses. Now, for those of you who would like to hear what Gentrification is like on the ground, where it is happening, in this case from someone who is experiencing it, please…pull up a chair. On Natoma Street, Gentrification is when the amount of Human feces on the sidewalk on a Friday or Saturday Night is less then or equal to the amount of vomit… Now, mind you, I am a friend of small business… and am all for a lively nightlife in this little corner of the SOMA. It is proven that a lively well established nightlife makes a community safer at night, but wouldnt it be nice if EVERYONE, from every income level could evacuate their collective bowels and stomachs somewhere else? Just an idea…

Posted in natoma street | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Panic in Needle Park

Posted on Fri 10-Jun-2011 by zhuzhitzu

Having woken up this morning I was more then a little surprised to notice, not one, not two, not even three but four. Four syringes of various type within 20 feet of each other on Natoma Street. This wouldnt be that disconcerting had it not been a result of one or two nights partying. How do I know? Well, had those needles been there prior to Early AM 6/09/11 the street sweeper would or should have picked it up. At any rate finding this many needles in such close proximity to one another does not bode well for the 6th Street Beautification Project

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Not so dirty …

Posted on Thu 05-May-2011 by dewey

this sweet piece was recently completed. it’s on the mary-street-side of the good vibrations building at howard and mary streets. check it out! way better than poo 🙂

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Posted in old dirty alley, san francisco, the streets | 1 Comment

Fire at the Sunnyside SRO

Posted on Wed 20-Apr-2011 by dewey
Sunnyside SRO

best in full screen and at the higher resolutions

4/20: fire this morning at the sunnyside sro at 135 6th street.  the fire alarm started ringing about 6:30. lots of smoke, lots of plasticy-smell, no visible flames outside (from this vantage point anyway), a truckload of firemen (really), a little water, and some glass.  the smoke stopped billowing fairly quickly.  sffd was there for about 40 minutes. no injuries, and most folks were soon back in the building, although i imagine there are a few who are looking for alternate accommodation. what a way to start (or end) your day!

and someone tell the people on the fire escape on the top floor that you run *away* from the smoke and danger. unless you’re trying to clean up something first?

a side note, the sunnyside sro is owned and operated by the patel family of slumlords. on most weekend late-evenings and early-mornings you will likely catch a glimpse of some of the residents (or their guests) inside the building gate area having a relaxing hit off their crack-pipe. i have witnessed that behavior more than once. the patel’s are also apparently in such dire financial straits that they cannot afford to pay to have their refuse hauled away so they have their employees haul it to dumpsters belonging to and paid for by other folks. i have witnessed that behavior more than once, too.

Posted in old dirty alley, san francisco, sro, sunnyside hotel 135 6th street | Leave a comment

And then there’s this … daylight mugging on Stevenson

Posted on Wed 09-Feb-2011 by dewey

daylight mugging on stevenson street … video courtesy of bluoz.com

Posted in old dirty alley, san francisco, stevenson street, the streets | Tagged , | 1 Comment