Via Andrew Alderson of The New Zealand Herald comes this quote from an America’s Cup 2013 competitor:
“I hope like hell that whoever survives this thing and wins it changes the boat class to anything safer than these God-forsaken death traps.”
That’s not a vote of confidence, Larry Ellison.
Larry Ellison giving the finger to the world with one hand whilst steering his yacht with the other:
Dont click to expand
This is the scene at the end of Dreamforce 2012, one of San Francisco’s largest events in recent memory.
89,999 registrants had moved on at this point last night – here’s the last one:
Click to expand
Yes, the fifth biggest classical dome in the world and first biggest in the New World.
Yes, bigger than the U.S. Capitol. On purpose.
Here’s the big news from Kenneth Baker yesterday.
More deets:
“Called “In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection,” the exhibit will include works by noted artists of the Momoyama (1573—1615) and Edo (1615—1868) periods along a 13th—14th century wooden sculpture of Shotoku Taishi; six-panel folding screens dating to the 17th century by Kano Sansetsu; and 18th century paintings by acclaimed masters Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu.”
This should be an excellent show.
All photos courtesy of the Asian Art Museum:
Shotoku Taishi as an Infant, Unknown, Kamakura period (1249-1335). Wood with polychromy. Larry Ellison Collection
Tigers (detail), 1779. By Maruyama Okyo (Japanese, 1733-1795). One of a pair of hanging scrolls; ink and light colors on paper. Larry Ellison Collection.
Auspicious Pine, Bamboo, Plum, Crane and Turtles, Edo period (1615-1868),ca. 1630-1650. By Kano Sansetsu (Japanese, 1590-1651,By Sansetsu, Kano 1590-1651. One of a pair of six panel folding screens. Ink and colors on gold. Larry Ellison Collection
Oh, and don’t forget about Korean Culture Day this Sunday, September 23, 2012. It’s free!
“IN THE MOMENT: JAPANESE ART FROM THE LARRY ELLISON COLLECTION
Asian Art Museum debuts Ellison’s Japanese art collection, coinciding with 2013 America’s Cup
SAN FRANCISCO, September 20, 2012—Next summer, as the America’s Cup Challenger Series takes to San Francisco Bay, the Asian Art Museum will feature an exhibition of Japanese art from the rarely seen collection of Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO and owner of ORACLE TEAM USA, defender of the 2013 America’s Cup.
In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection will introduce approximately 80 exceptional artworks spanning 1,300 years. The exhibition explores the dynamic nature of art selection and display in traditional Japanese settings, where artworks are often temporarily presented in response to a special occasion or to reflect the change of seasons. In the Moment also considers Mr. Ellison’s active involvement in displaying art in his Japanese-style home, shedding light on his appreciation for Japan’s art and culture.
Included in the exhibition are significant works by noted artists of the Momoyama (1573–1615) and Edo (1615–1868) periods along with other important examples of religious art, lacquer, woodwork, and metalwork. Highlights include a 13th–14th century wooden sculpture of Shotoku Taishi; six-panel folding screens dating to the 17th century by Kano Sansetsu; and 18th century paintings by acclaimed masters Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu.
“This exhibition offers a rare glimpse of an extraordinary collection,” said Jay Xu, director of the Asian Art Museum. “We aim to present it in a fresh and original way that explores traditional Japanese principles governing the relationship of art to our surroundings and social relationships.”
The exhibition is organized by the Asian Art Museum and curated by Dr. Laura Allen, the museum’s curator of Japanese art, and Melissa Rinne, associate curator of Japanese art, in consultation with Mr. Ellison’s curator, Dr. Emily Sano.
The exhibition is on view June 28, 2013 through September 22, 2013. The Asian Art Museum will serve as the only venue for the exhibition.
For more information visit: www.asianart.org
This is what the 2012 Dreamforce Gala will look like. Deets here and below:
Click to expand
“Salesforce.com Welcomes 90,000 Registered Attendees to Dreamforce 2012, the World’s Largest Vendor Technology Conference
10th annual Dreamforce grows a record-breaking 96 percent year-over-year — 90,000 registered to attend, including more than 3,000 C-level executives
Additional 100,000 people expected to view Salesforce Live on Facebook
Global leaders Sir Richard Branson, General Colin Powell, Jeff Immelt and Tony Robbins to join Marc Benioff in keynote sessions
Sponsorships rise by 40 percent as Dreamforce partner ecosystem grows to more than 350 companies with a combined market cap of more than $1.3 trillion
Red Hot Chili Peppers to rock Dreamforce Gala
Dreamforce integrates philanthropy with 3rd annual benefit concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, featuring Lady Antebellum, Dana Carvey and an after-party featuring DJ MC Hammer
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 2012 – DREAMFORCE 2012 — Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), the enterprise cloud computing company, will welcome more than 90,000 registered attendees to Dreamforce2012, now the world’s largest vendor technology conference, taking place from Sept. 18-21, 2012.
Dreamforce Gala is Red, Hot and Social
For the first time in Dreamforce history, the Dreamforce Gala will be held in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza with seven-time Grammy award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing on the steps of City Hall.
The Concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
Continuing the tradition of integrated philanthropy at Dreamforce, the Salesforce.com Foundation is thrilled to announce the third annual Concert for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Thursday, September 20(th) at 6:30 p.m. PDT. The benefit concert will feature Lady Antebellum, Dana Carvey, and an after-party featuring DJ MC Hammer. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit http://www.
About salesforce.com: Founded in 1999, salesforce.com is the enterprise cloud computing leader. Using salesforce.com‘s social and mobile cloud technologies, companies can connect with customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways. Based on salesforce.com‘s real-time, multitenant architecture, the company’s platform and apps give customers the tools to create a social front office and revolutionize the way they sell, service, market, collaborate, work and innovate.”
And thank Gaia that this event has nothing to do with Larry Ellison, cause, you know, the 415 is sick of that dude.
LEAVE US BEGIN, LET’S HEAR FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE!
“SAN FRANCISCO—As this city gears up for the 34th America’s Cup next year, a race of a different kind has already begun: one to snag the best views of the sailing regatta.”
UH, REALLY? NO, I DON’T THINK SO. ISN’T THE “RACE OF A DIFFERENT KIND” INVOLVING THE AMERICA’S CUP ACTUALLY THE RACE FOR TEAMS, YOU KNOW, FROM SPAIN AND ITALY AND FRANCE, TO GET OUT OF COMMITMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AMERICA’S CUP? YES. TEAMS BE REFUSING TO ENTER EVEN AT THE HIGHLY REDUCED 80-SOMETHING PERCENT OFF ENTRY FEE. HAVEN’T YOU HEARD YET, SARAH? THE NEWFANGLED BOATS ARE TOO BIG. AND DO YOU KNOW WHO SAYS THAT? LARRY FUCKING ELLISON HISSELF, RECENTLY, IN THE ONLINE PAGES OF, WAIT FOR IT, THE WSJ ITSELF.* DON’T YOU READ YOUR OWN PUBLICATION? DON’T YOU KNOW THAT AC34 IS SHAPING UP TO BE A KIND OF SLOW-MOTION DISASTER?
Peter Jacobsen, a semiretired dentist from Yountville, Calif., isn’t taking any chances when it comes to ensuring a view of the America’s Cup racecourse on San Francisco Bay. Dr. Jacobsen and his wife, Gwendolyn, last year paid $158,000 for a fractional interest in a one-bedroom unit at a ritzy condo development right by San Francisco’s waterfront.
IRL, NOBODY CARES ABOUT RETIRED NORTH BAY DENTISTS ET UXESES EXCEPT NORTH BAY DENTISTS. AND WHAT’S A FRACTIONAL INTEREST IRL? ISN’T THAT JUST A TIME-SHARE?
The deal guarantees just 35 nights a year at the property—but importantly, a Bay-view unit for two weeks during the America’s Cup finals scheduled for September 2013.
FASCINATING! OH, BUT NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP, RIGHT? THEY JUST HAD A WARM-UP RACE DOWN IN FUN DIEGO – IT WAS A BIG DISASTER BECAUSE NOBODY CARED. AC PEOPLE GOT FIRED OVER THAT ONE. AND LAID-OFF TOO. MOST OF THEM, ACTUALLY. HAVEN’T YOU HEARD? OH, AND SARAH, “A BAY-VIEW UNIT” MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE 415, YOU KNOW, COMPARED WITH WHAT IT MEANS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
The Jacobsens shelled out the six-figure sum even though they already own another fractional interest at the property that they bought for $182,000 in 2009. But that unit doesn’t have a guaranteed view, and with the regatta approaching, “we needed more time and it was an opportunity to lock in the perfect view,” says Dr. Jacobsen, 67 years old.
YEAH, “YOU GOT TO LOCK THAT DOWN!” SO, OLD WHITE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SIT IN THEIR APARTMENTS AND WATCH THE BOAT RACE FROM MILES AWAY? REALLY? IS THAT WORTH SPENDING YOUR KIDS’ INHERITANCES?
More than a year before the event, sailing fans are scouting out prime vistas for the America’s Cup. The chase for best perch has inspired a real-estate scramble, with some agents setting up shop specifically to locate rooms with a view for elite clients.
WELL, CERTAIN REAL ESTATE AGENTS WOULD LIKE US TO BELIEVE THAT THERE’S A “CHASE” AND A “SCRAMBLE.” THESE HOUSING PARASITES LIE TO REPORTERS LIKE YOU TO TRY TO MAKE MORE MONEY ON DEALS. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT? AND YOU SAY REAL ESTATE AGENTS HAVE OPENED UP OFFICES JUST FOR THE AC? I DON’T BELIEVE THAT BUT WHATEVER. AND OH, RETIRED NORTH BAY DENTISTS ET UXES AREN’T “ELITE” ANYTHING.
Rental prices for the America’s Cup are already soaring.
OMG OMG OMG! ALREADY? ALMOST AS IF THE AC ISN’T A BIG DISASTER. ALREADY.
Landlords are dangling options such as a $60,000-a-month rent for a home in the posh Pacific Heights neighborhood during the race. Although results remain to be seen, agents say prices could go as high as $100,000 a week during the finals.
RESULTS REMAIN TO BE SEEN? REALLY? MORE THAN A YEAR OUT? WOW, THANKS FOR THAT TIDBIT, SARAH TILTON! WHAT DO YOU WITH YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU’RE NOT SHILLING FOR REAL ESTATE INTERESTS?
“It will be a real land-grab for the good stuff,” says Rick Teed of Sotheby’s International Realty.
RICK TEED? YOU MEAN THIS UBER-CHEESY ASSHOLE RECENTLY SEEN ON THE BACKS OF MUNI BUSES?
Click to expand
I THINK YOU DO!
The anticipated demand for a race view stems partly from the relative rarity of the America’s Cup taking place in America. The race hasn’t been held in the U.S. since 1995, and in recent years has taken place off the coast of New Zealand and Spain. (The race was named by the New York Yacht Club after the schooner America, which beat the British in a race in 1851.)
WOW THANKS FOR THE HISTORY LESSON, SARAH. BUT MOST OF THAT HERITAGE RECENTLY GOT FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET BY ONE LARRY ELLISON. HEY SARAH, WHY DON’T YOU READ THE COMMENTS PEOPLE HAVE POSTED ‘NEATH YOUR ROSY ARTICLE? WHY DO THEY HAVE A MORE REALISTIC PERSPECTIVE THAN YOU?
The Cup has never been held in San Francisco Bay, which race officials describe as a “natural amphitheater”—as opposed to the open ocean where the regatta usually takes place. That means some prime views of the event can be had from land this time rather than from the decks of spectator boats.
BUT, NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP ANYMORE. SEE? THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
The race is coming to San Francisco through the efforts of Oracle Corp. ORCL +0.24% founder and chief executive Larry Ellison, whose yacht and sailing team won the 2010 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain. The winner of the race, which is typically held every three to four years, decides where the next competition will take place. The billionaire also owns a home in San Francisco with first-class views of the Bay.
BUT, NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP ANYMORE. SEE? THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
But Mr. Ellison may have an even better seat than that for the regatta. An America’s Cup spokeswoman says Mr. Ellison will be on board Oracle Racing’s boat during the races. Through a representative, Mr. Ellison, 67, declined to comment.
BUT, NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP ANYMORE. SEE? THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
The Cup itself, a sterling silver trophy that gets its own seat on airplanes, comes in a custom Louis Vuitton case and always travels with a companion, the Cup spokeswoman says. It is kept in a secret location when not on tour, she says, but will be displayed during the race in San Francisco.
BUT, NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP ANYMORE. SEE? THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
The heady rental numbers are spurring some homeowners to try renting their home for the first time. Marjorie and Larry Schlenoff listed their 3,162-square-foot four-bedroom San Francisco home, which they have lived in since 1999, for $35,000 a month for a long-term lease encompassing the Cup period. For shorter stays around the time of the Cup, the price is higher: $15,000 a week, says Mrs. Schlenoff.
MORE DETAILS! WE DEMAND MORE DETAILS. IS SHE GOING TO SAY, “ASK ME ABOUT MY GRANDCHILDREN” NEXT?
“We’ve never rented our house,” says Mrs. Schlenoff, a psychoanalyst and nonprofit founder. But with the home’s vistas and location near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club, she says she and her husband see the regatta as a unique opportunity and the house as a “business asset.”
HOLD ON, I’M GETTING SO EXCITED FROM THIS NEWS NUGGET THAT I’M HAVING A MILD HEART ATTACK. HOLD ON WHILE I GO TO THE ER.
She listed her home through rental agency ReLISTO, which has multiple homes available for the Cup, including a $3,500-a-month studio with no views to $60,000 a month for a 5,000-square-foot Pacific Heights house with panoramic Bay views.
WHEW, THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE. I’M MEDICATED NOW AND MY DOCTOR SAYS THAT I SHOULD STOP READING THE FUCKING ONLINE WSJ BECAUSE I GET TOO EXCITED. BUT I GOTS TO HAVE MORE DETAILS!
Charlie Martin, a real-estate agent in Sausalito, Calif., launched a group called RezLux in February specializing in Cup rentals. In addition to real-estate needs, he says he will also provide personal chefs and concierge services for the race. So far, he has handled calls from potential clients in England, Japan and New Zealand. “We’re starting to book,” he says.
OMG, MORE WHITE PEOPLE! THE AMERICAS CUP IS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH WHITE PEOPLE! HURRAY! HURRAY FOR WHITE PEOPLE!
Some homeowners say there is no way they will rent their home during the Cup because they want the panoramas for themselves. Venture capitalist and America’s Cup Organizing Committee member Tom Perkins, who owns a 60th-floor penthouse in San Francisco, will be watching the Cup from there.
HE’S WHITE TOO, RIGHT? WHITE PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE! BUT AT LEAST HE’S NOT OLD, RIGHT?
“It’ll be just about the best place to watch,” says Mr. Perkins, 80, adding that he plans to have “lots and lots of people over.” Mr. Perkins, who once owned one of the world’s most expensive yachts, dubbed the Maltese Falcon, says he has several pairs of binoculars and a World War II telescope ready for the festivities.
OH, HE IS OLD AFTER ALL. ACTUALLY OLDER THAN HIS “World War II telescope,” WHATEVER THE HELL THAT IS.
Others are plotting a cheaper course to view the regatta. Sean Randolph, president of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, says he plans to watch the Cup from a kayak in a buffer zone that will be created on San Francisco Bay for nonmotorized boats. While Mr. Randolph’s home in Marin County, north of San Francisco, has a view of the Bay, it doesn’t overlook the Cup’s racecourse, and he doesn’t want to shell out thousands of dollars to rent a property.
OH, DUDE’S FROM THE BAY AREA COUNCIL ECONOMIC INSTITUTE? THAT’S THE SO-CALLED “INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY” WHAT SAID HOW GREAT THE AMERICA’S CUP WAS GOING TO BE. BUT THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A LIE, RIGHT? BUT THAT’S NO REASON TO QUESTION THE ENTIRE PROCESS, IS IT, SARAH?
“In a kayak, you’re sort of participating because you’re on the water and you’re a little closer” to the action than on land, he says.
YES, BEING IN A KAYAK IS SORT OF LIKE PARTICIPATING IN THE AMERICA’S CUP. OF COURSE. SORT OF.
For John Kostecki, a sailor on the Oracle sailing team, the best views of the race are free. In particular, he recommends a stretch of waterfront near the Marina Green, where spectators can get close enough to hear sailors’ conversations. “It’s quite deep and the boats can come quite close,” he says.
OH, ARE WE DONE? IS THAT IT? WE SORT OF TRAILED OFF THERE. WELL, ANYWAY, LET’S PUT THIS ON PAGE A1.
I DON’T KNOW, MAN. IF THE AMERICA’S CUP IS MAKING SO MUCH MONEY FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, WHY ARE THE CITIZENS OF SAN FRANCISCO BEING FORCED TO SUBSIDIZE IT? WHY ARE THE POWERS THAT BE TAKING MONEY FROM NON-MILLIONAIRE NON-WHITE PEOPLE AND USING IT TO PAY FOR THE “FUN” AND “EXCITEMENT” OF MILLIONAIRE WHITE PEOPLE? THE CROWD AND REVENUE ESTIMATES ARE STILL WAY, WAY, WAY OPTIMISTIC AND THEY’RE BASED ON HAVING A BUNCH OF TEAMS SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY IN TOWN ONE TO TWO YEARS OUT. IN ACTUALITY, THE BOATS ARE WAY TOO BIG FOR THE BAY AND WAY TOO BIG FOR POTENTIAL TEAMS.
THIS THING IS GOING TO END UP BEING LIKE A FLEET WEEK, EXCEPT THE US NAVY DOESN’T THINK IT’S REASONABLE TO DEMAND NINE-FIGURES TO PROMOTE ITSELF.
BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR DEADBEAT LARRY ELLISON TO STEP UP AND SIMPLY PAY US FOR THE RIGHT TO RUN HIS BOAT RACE HERE.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE, LARRY! AND THEN YOU CAN TURN YOUR BUMMER OF A RACE INTO AN ACTUAL REBUILDING YEAR AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO 2016 AND, THEREBY, HAVE SOME MORE FUN BEFORE YOU DIE (OF THAT DISEASE WHAT YOU HAVE WHAT’S A SECRET). OTHERWISE, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO’LL BENEFIT FROM YOUR FALSE GENEROSITY WILL BE REAL ESTATE TYPES AND LAZY, SIMPLE-MINDED, CHEERLEADING, WSJ-ONLINE REPORTER TYPES…
LEAVE US BEGIN:
Friday afternoon the word went out about the lawsuit filed to stop the America’s Cup. And let’s be perfectly clear, chasing the Cup out of town was the exact purpose of that effort, because the requests to satisfy that lawsuit would have blown the Cup deadlines to pieces.
GREAT. NONE OF THE PROPOSALS WERE VERY GOOD. WERE THEY?
By Monday afternoon however, the lawsuit had almost become moot, because the America’s Cup organizers dropped the news on our unsuspecting mayor that they were pulling out of almost all the development anticipated around the races.
I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF “SUSPECTING” ON SUNDAY – ANYWAY, THE MAYOR _WASN’T_ SURPRISED. HE’S MORE CLEVER THAN HE LETS ON…
The first wave of tweets announcing the lawsuit did not come from San Francisco; instead the first barrage of tweets came from San Diego. This is not terribly surprising because if we do manage to screw this up, San Diego is going to roar in and take our event away from us, given that they already have shore facilities they have been expanding since they hosted the Cup in 1988.
WHO CARES WHAT SAN DIEGO DOES? AND HOW IS THIS “OUR” EVENT? WHO CARES IF SAN DIEGO WANTS TO HOST THE RACE?
It would not be the first time. After all, we lost out to New York City for the right to bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
ACTUALLY, WE WON THAT ONE.
And then we followed that up by enthusiastically coming up short by a country mile for the right to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
WELL, BRAZIL WANTED IT TOO, RIGHT? THEY’VE NEVER HAD ONE BEFORE. DON’T THEY DESERVE A CHANCE?
This performance mirrored our still unexplained belly flop on the bid to host the World Cup, where people still don’t know whether we actually submitted our bid or not.
OOH, THE WORLD CUP? BUT DIDN’T THE BAY AREA ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THESE?
Right in the middle of all this we also managed to chase the San Francisco Grand Prix bicycle race out of town. So it’s not like we don’t have a track record at screwing this sort of thing up.
WHY DO WE NEED ANY OF THESE EVENTS? OH, AND YOU’RE FORGETTING ABOUT THE WORLD EXPO. YOU KNOW, THE EVENT THAT CHINA LOST A BUNDLE ON, AND BEFORE THAT, THE JAPANESE, AND BEFORE THAT, THE GERMANS.
And at this point it has gone past just your garden variety NIMBY-ism to become a genuine threat to the growth of our city.
WHY DO WE NEED TO GROW?
Which brings us back to the Cup. Three things have to be made clear here. First off, enough of the “we hate Larry Ellison” blather.
WHY’S THAT? HE _IS_ A DEFECTIVE HUMAN BEING, RIGHT?
We can’t negotiate with the America’s Cup because they are backed by a billionaire?
NO, IT’S BECAUSE HE’S A BILLIONAIRE IS WHY HE EXPECTS US TO PAY NINE FIGURES FOR A BOAT PARTY IN HIS HONOR.
Newsflash for the irretrievably clueless: with the exception of the Green Bay Packers, every sports team in the country is owned by a bazillionaire.
THAT’S FINE, BUT WHAT HE WAS OFFERING WAS WAY OFF. IT WASN’T EVEN CLOSE.
It’s odd, isn’t it? When we hear about the city negotiating with the 49ers, the Giants, or even the Warriors, the net worth of their owners never enters the conversation.
THE WARRIORS AREN’T ASKING US TO PAY FOR THEM. THE GIANTS AND THE NINERS AREN’T EITHER. WHY IS IT THAT THE 1% SPORTS NEED THE MONEY OF THE 99% BUT THE 99% SPORTS ARE ON THEIR OWN?
But when it’s Ellison, people head to the barricades. This is just another sports team, one where none of the sailors racing in the cup make as much as your average football player makes on one Sunday.
IT’S A DECIDEDLY UNPOPULAR TEAM, ONE THAT NOBODY KNOWS OR CARES ABOUT. WHO ARE THE “PLAYERS?” NOBODY KNOWS OR CARES. WHY SHOULD SAN FRANCISCO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT A SINGLE RACE THAT A SOLITARY BILLIONAIRE CONTROLS?
Yes it’s Larry, yes everyone seems to hate him, but it should have no bearing on this.
WELL, IF HE WERE KICKING MONEY IN, THEN PEOPLE WOULD LIKE HIM MORE. WHY DIDN’T HE OFFER A HALF BILLION OR SOMETHING?
Second, let’s talk about the development deal that just went off the table. People seem to be all bent out of shape about what we were giving up, but here is the thing: We actually didn’t give up anything, as those piers are unusable today. One Supervisor gave me the actual price tag to fix up all the piers on the waterfront, and it’s enough to make your hair stand on end (hint, it’s over $2 billion). The city does not have the money to fix them, and it probably never will. Someone is going to wind up developing those piers for profit instead of the city, and that’s just the sad truth.
WELL THAT’S OK. ANYTHING’S BETTER THAN THE AMERICA’S CUP DEAL.
Third, in current San Francisco fashion, we are only looking at the short-term. Having Ellison’s group lay in some serious investment, including development deals, means greater incentive for them to stay in San Francisco if they successfully defend the Cup.
THE AMERICA’S CUP IS A JOKE, RIGHT? IS IT A LEGITIMATE SPORT IN THE FIRST PLACE?
All this development is for this Cup. If we get another Cup, or even two down the road, then the city makes out like a bandit. But by pulling all their development off the table, the Cup organizers have shaken the hook out of their mouth.
FLY AWAY FISHY. YOU DON’T WANT TO BE HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE, SO WHY DON’T YOU LEAVE?
Once again, San Diego is grinning and rubbing their hands in anticipation.
‘CAUSE THEY MADE SOOOOOO MUCH MONEY ON THAT RECENT WORLD SERIES EVENT WHAT NOBODY WENT TO SEE?
We have arrived at the point where today the only development deal that has a chance of being approved is one that is utterly perfect in every way.
OK.
Zero emission. Local hiring. Affordable housing. Bicycle racks and LEED-certified and non-radiating cell phones and whatever else our elected officials can think of tossing in. It’s ridiculous.
THE PROPOSED AMERICA’S CUP DEAL, _THAT’S_ WHAT’S RIDICULOUS. AND THE CENTRAL SUBWAY TO NOWHERE, THAT’S RIDICULOUS TOO.
And it’s also not coincidental that the same day we get the news about the Cup, Salesforce.com announces they are halting their new development in Mission Bay.
ACTUALLY, DUDE. IT _IS_ COINCIDENTAL.
At some point it has to stop. To never change anything, to never create new development with a new tax base and new jobs and new residents is to risk us becoming the Detroit of the West, with the Hibernia Bank Building as our Parthenon of Passivity.
THAT BUILDING HAS OTHER ISSUES, BUT ANYWAY.
What, you don’t know that building?
I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN TOWN KNOW THAT BUILDING. IT’S THE ONE THAT PATTY HEARST DIDN’T ROB
You should, as it stands as another icon of our inability to get rational development completed in this town.
WELL THAT’S ONE OPINION. BUT DO YOU WANT THE CITY TO PAY TO FIX UP THIS BUILDING? THAT WOULD BE LOTS CHEAPER THAN THE AMERICA’S CUP OR THE CENTRAL SUBWAY.
Even worse, at some point our reputation for being impossible to work with will make all of this a self-fulfilling prophecy. You don’t think that’s likely? When we were shot down for the 2016 Olympics, one of the reasons cited by the bid committee was a “damaged reputation” due to failed negotiations surrounding the 49ers’ stadium.
WELL MAYBE WILLIE BROWN SHOULDN’T HAVE FIXED THAT ELECTION. WHY NOT LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
In other words, if you can’t even get a stadium figured out with own team, how are you going to figure out an Olympics?
WHY DO WE NEED THE OLYMPICS? WOULDN’T MOST OF THE BENEFITS ACCRUE TO THE POLITICAL AND BUSINESS AND MEDIA CLASS? HOW WOULD SAN FRANCISCANS AS A WHOLE BENEFIT?
Then again, we never did figure out the stadium either, did we?
CRIME DOESN’T ALWAYS PAY FOR CORRUPT WILLIE BROWN, I GUESS THAT’S ONE LESSON.
A boat race is a strange place to draw the line. But the Cup really does represent all the political insanity that we seem to trade in these days. Don’t do business with the 1%.
NOT ON THESE TERMS, THAT’S RIGHT, DON’T DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.
Fight anything that smacks of gentrification. Make decisions that are more policy statements than legislation. Get a bunch of piers fixed that we can’t afford to repair? That sounds like a horrible idea.
UNDER THE TERMS NEGOTIATED, YES IT WAS.
All those construction jobs you just wiped out?
THEY WEREN’T WIPED OUT BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Not a big deal either, because we showed Larry.
ACTUALLY, WE _DID_ SHOW LARRY, THAT FUCKING DOUCHE.
At night we can return to our homes, and smugly watch as our piers collapse into the bay one after another. On the other hand, it will give us something to do before the Cup comes on television.
NOBODY WILL WATCH THE AMERICA’S CUP ON TELEVISION. (BY THE WAY, THE AMERICA’S CUP PEOPLE ARE _PAYING_ NBC TO BROADCAST THIS EVENT. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?)
Live from San Diego.
GOOD FOR THEM.
OH HEY, MR. CAEN, WHAT ABOUT THE GOLD DUST LOUNGE? ON THAT ISSUE, YOU’RE FIRMLY ON THE NIMBY / PRESERVATIONIST / ANTI-BIDNESS SIDE, RIGHT?
ISN’T IT IRONIC, DON’TCHA THINK?
Appears as if the independent works of Democratic Party Leader Aaron Peskin and SFWeekly Writer Joe Eskenazi (and others too, I’m sure, but I don’t know exactly) have just saved San Francisco something on the order of nine figures.
Hurray.
What is the America’s Cup?
Click to expand
Shouldn’t SFGov be trying to talk down the America’s Cup this week, you know, right before the final deal gets made? I think so.
You know, Larry Ellison’s lickspittle threatens to cancel the whole deal like every day. Has Mayor Ed Lee ever threatened that? I don’t think so. That’s part of the reason why this deal is skewed so much against future San Franciscans – our grandkids will end up paying for this coming debacle, it looks like.
Of course the Republican “Alliance for Jobs” and the unions are all for AC13, but it’s quite obvious already that this will be a bad deal for San Francisco.
There’ll be a “roundtable” cheerleading session at Pier 32 this AM, and then there’ll be this on Tuesday:
Click to expand
Now, speaking of cheerleading…
The America’s Cup sailing races coming to San Francisco – starting this summer with the World Series races
UH, NOBODY GIVES A FUCK ABOUT THE WORLD SERIES RACES, SORRY. THIS IS A SPORT BY THE 1% AND FOR THE 1%, RIGHT?
– is a very good thing for our city.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? WE’LL BE PAYING FOR IT OVER THE NEXT 100 YEARS – ISN’T IT KIND OF LIKE MORTGAGING OUR FUTURE, LIKE SPENDING OUR GRANDCHILDREN’S MONEY?
I say that as a San Francisco resident as well as part of the tourism community.
WELL, AS A SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT AND A TOURIST INDUSTRY COMMUNITY NON-MEMBER, I’M CALLING BULLSHIT ON THIS WHOLE DEAL.
A major opportunity has been handed to us.
OH, THE WAY GREECE WAS “HANDED” THE FAILED 2004 OLYMPICS?
Now is the time to get behind it and make the most of it, for now and the future of San Francisco. Why?
ALL RIGHT, I’LL BITE WHY?
First of all, it’s going to be exciting.
ABSOLUTELY WRONG. IT WILL BE LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY, LIKE WATCHING GRASS GROW. OTOH, DON’T YOU THINK THAT WATCHING THE GIANTS OR THE 49ERS OR THE WARRIORS WIN, DON’T YOU THINK THAT THESE NON-1% SPORTS ARE MORE EXCITING THAN THE STUPID AMERICA’S CUP? I MEAN, IF REGULAR PEOPLE WANTED TO WATCH BOAT RACES, THEN SAN DIEGO WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT FOR THE RECENT EVENTS DOWN THERE. SAN DIEGO DID NOT TURN OUT. WHAT’S THE REASON WHY THE PROMOTERS SO OVERESTIMATED DEMAND IN AN ELITE SPORT THAT NOBODY HAS CARED ABOUT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE?
The America’s Cup takes racing to an entirely new level.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? LARRY ELLISON, IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO WIN AGAIN, HAS CHUCKED TRADITION, IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT? IS LARRY DISAPPOINTED THAT NOBODY IN TOWN KNOWS OR CARES ABOUT HOW HE BOUGHT HIS CUP VICTORY IN SPAIN OR WHEREVER? I THINK SO.
Watching these high-tech boats practically fly across the water is thrilling.
UH, FOR WHOM? THESE WILL NOT BE “THE FASTEST BOATS IN THE WORLD” OR EVEN THE FASTEST SAILBOATS, RIGHT? I MEAN, SOME FERRY BOATS GO FASTER, RIGHT? WHY DON’T WE RACE CAR-CARRYING FERRIES ABOUT THE BAY INSTEAD, IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR SPEED?
The gathering of sailing teams and those who love the sport from around the world will amp up the energy and diversity in the city, always a good thing.
NOBODY GIVES A FUCK ABOUT THE 1% EUROTRASH EXCEPT OTHER 1% EUROTRASH. AND HOW ON EARTH WILL ALL THESE 1-PERCENTER WHITE PEOPLE “AMP UP” DIVERSITY?
Second, it will showcase San Francisco and the Bay Area to the entire world. Media coverage will introduce the beauty of our city and our region to a global audience, generating thoughts of “I want to go there” that will result in visitors arriving for years to come.
“INTRODUCE?” ISN’T SAN FRANCISCO VERY HIGH ON PEOPLE’S WISHLISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD ALREADY? WON’T WE ALREADY HAVE VISITORS ARRIVING FOR YEARS TO COME?
Third, it will give a much needed spark to our economy.
LIKE A STIMULUS PACKAGE? SO WHY DON’T WE GIVE THE NINE-FIGURES TO THE PEOPLE NOW, INSTEAD OF TO LARRY ELLISON?
The 34th America’s Cup will create more than 8,000 jobs and pump an estimated $1.4 billion dollars into our economy.
BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT. NUMBER ONE, YOU’RE JUST GUESSING. NUMBER TWO, ITS A WILDLY-INFLATED GUESS, AS EVERYBODY WHO HAS LOOKED INTO THIS ALREADY KNOWS. AREN”T THE CURRENT WILDLY-INFLATED ESTIMATES MUCH LOWER THAN THIS ALREADY?
Among major sporting events, the America’s Cup delivers the third largest economic impact to host destinations, exceeded only by the Olympic Games and World Cup.
THIS STAT WILL NEED TO BE RE-WRITTEN AFTER THE AMERICA’S CUP TURNS INTO A FIASCO OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. WOULDN’T SAN FRANCISCO PREFER TO GET THE WARRIORS OR TO NOT LOSE THE NINERS? AND HAS MONTREAL FINALLY FINISHED PAYING OFF ITS OLYMPICS FROM LIKE FOUR DECADES AGO? WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WAS THAT? AND HOW ABOUT GREECE? WHAT DID THE OLYMPICS DO TO GREECE?
Of course, with any major event come some temporary inconveniences and sacrifices like traffic, parking and crowded restaurants.
WHO GIVES A FUCK ABOUT THAT? WE”RE PAYING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THE CUP AND TOO MUCH OF THE RISK IS ON US. AND ALL THE NUMBERS FROM THE PROMOTERS ARE PROVING TO BE WRONG ALREADY. WHY DO YOU TALK ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS YOU GUESS MIGHT HAPPEN WITHOUT MENTIONING THE BAD?
WHY DON’T YOU TELL US WHAT IT WILL COST US? YOU DON’T SEEM TO CARE. MAYBE IF IT COST US A BILLION, YOU’D STILL APPROVE? WHO KNOWS? MAYBE.
LARRY ELLISON WANTS TO PLAY AROUND WITH BOATS, BUT LARRY ELLISON WANTS US TO PAY FOR IT AND HAVE US TAKE THE BULK OF THE RISK.
IT’S A SORRY SITUATION.
Here’s a spoiler alert from 1941 – it’s Rosebud, a small sled that was a symbol of a billionaire’s lost childhood, or something.
Now, here’s the updated version. It involves King Larry Ellison. Here’s his Rosebud, found in the Marina District:
Click to expand
So Larry, of course, now likes boats.
And that’s going to end up costing us a bunch of money over the next century.
Oh well.
Who’s going to stop him from taking our children’s money?
I know not.
To review:
Larry Ellison of Oracle wants us to pay him and give him land so that San Francisco can be forced to watch his little boat race:
Oh, wait, that’s not Larry Ellison, here he is, flipping off the competition as he sails by on his big boat.
“I win! I win! I’m King Larry.”
Hurray Larry! We all love you, Larry! All your ex-wives let you down, but it wasn’t your fault, Larry, it was all their fault, you’re the greatest, Larry!
Mmmm.
When Eric Cartman saved South Park he wanted just one reward – he wanted to play with his toy truck, but, also, he wanted another child to be forced to watch. See?
In this image, the toy truck is the America’s Cup, Cartman is Ellison, and Kyle back there, he’s the people of San Francisco, sold down the river, once again.
So, if you’re getting pressured to “donate” to Larry’s little boat race to “help the town” or whatever, that’s fine, do it if you want. You’ll be sure to get access to the “V.I.P.” tent or whatever and you’ll get some swag like a souvenir windbreaker or something, that’s fine.
Good for you.
But why are we paying to be forced to watch Larry fix a boat race so that he can win it again?
I know not.
You can read the latest press release from the America’s Cup people below. I don’t know when it was put out, possibly at 3:00 AM on Thanksgiving Day, you know, cause that’s how you’re supposed to handle bad news, I guess.
Now, let’s hear from Eric Young:
“Sources close to the America’s Cup said Thompson’s exit was the result of lackluster financial performance of the America’s Cup World Series, a collection of races around the world leading up to the 2013 finale. World Series races have been held in Portugal, England and one week ago in San Diego. Coming events are scheduled for Italy and Newport, R.I.”
So, what makes the America’s Cup 2013 good for San Francisco? Are we getting paid to host it? I don’t think so. And, in fact, I think we’re on the hook for lots of costs that we don’t fully understand at this point. And the person who was supposed to look out for us is now the former Mayor , but, no matter, they’re making him Honorary Commodore or Poohbah or whatever of the whole thing?
Check out a recap show right here, if you want. (Unlike the case with popular sports, you don’t have pay to watch the America’s Cup World Series.) The first minute shows what I’m talking about.
Oh, yeah, the boats are faster, I get that. And oh yeah, these rigs crash with regularity. Like this:
Via mikesm – click to expand
I get that, but what makes this event good? It’s not going to be popular, it’s not going to make money for us. Some businesses will benefit, some won’t, some will be hurt, just like with any other government program. Some people will get temporary gigs and hotels will be able to raise their rates, but this event, overall, isn’t for San Francisco’s benefit.
It’s for the 1% but it’s paid for by the 99%.
Speaking of which, if Larry Ellison wrote a check to the City and County right now for $100,000,000 (put “For Larry’s boat race” in the memo part, LE) AND put up a $500,000,000 account or bond or whatever that people wronged by the America’s Cup could recover from, let’s say, until 2016 or so, well that would turn my frown not necessarily upside-down but back to neutral anyway.
I mean who gives a fuck if Larry Ellison wins another boat race except for Larry Ellison himself? So why isn’t he paying for it?
Speaking of which, again, a good chunk of the 1% doesn’t like all the new changes.
To wit, Sailor44:
“I have watched a couple ofthe match races and, due to the speed of the boats now, and their abiity to quickly accelerate in a small puff, the tactics of the match race are left behind and all we have left is to watch for capsizes, and a lot of spray coming over the bow(s). All this is reflected in the new course, which is nothing but a reach (a drag race, really) to the first mark. Good grief, this eliminates most of the interesting pre race maneuvering, which is most of match racing!”
The ACEA seems to be quite proud (check out Teams Korea’s captain at 1:35 – I think he’s speaking English but I don’t understand half his words) about the times when these cats capsize (the title says “very funny,” but it’s actually it’s extremely funny (even though the daggerboard is the floating kind and it’s properly tied down anyway)) and/or pitchpole. Does the NFL put out Greatest Injuries clips? Does NASCAR put out Greatest Crashes clips? NTIKO. These AC45 rigs have waaaaay too much sail for the conditions that you see in the official ACEA video clips. Why is that?
So you make all these changes, but maybe spectators would just rather look at something else? I mean, if you wanted to lose money putting on a event, why not pay money to bring Rajon Rondo here to play Lebron James one-on-one or something. Why not bring things here that people like? Why are we on the hook for the popularity of a sport that nobody’s really into? We do we have these department heads, who don’t know Jack, out there mindlessly cheerleading for this stupid event that was poorly negotiated. It’s pathetic.
Oh well.
Here’s the release, the one letting us know that Craig Thompson “decided to leave the Event Authority,” you know because he got canned:
“The America’s Cup Event Authority has extended the role of Richard Worth to include Chief Executive Officer along with Chairman. In this expanded role, Richard will be responsible for the commercial interests of the 34th America’s Cup, adding marketing and partnerships to his purview. A 30-year sports marketing executive with extensive global broadcasting and leadership experience, we believe Richard’s hands-on engagement will allow us to significantly enhance the growth of our commercial efforts in support of fulfilling the vision for the 34th America’s Cup.
Overall management of the events will move to America’s Cup Race Management, who will now lead both the on- and off-the-water components of the events, as well as serve as liaison to the teams. Building upon their proven success with event management, led by ACRM CEO and Regatta Director Iain Murray, we believe that centralizing management of the events under ACRM ensures an even smoother road to success.
With this realignment of responsibilities, Craig Thompson has decided to leave the Event Authority. Craig has played an important role over the past year in helping to build the foundation of our future, and we appreciate his significant contributions.”
And oh, for completeness, the latest release from the the Powers That Be
