Posts Tagged ‘union’

OMG, New “Leap Transit” Bus is a Replacement for the MUNI 30X – It’s $6 to Ride the Marina Express One-Way to Financh

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

[UPDATE: Kevin Montgomery of Uptown Almanac reacts.]

[UPDATE II: The Twitter-stream of one @kylekirchhoff just went private. C'mon, Bro! You gotta engage with the peeps. Today is your big day. It's not that incrimernating, is it? Bro discusses how much he doesn't like Twitter, McAfee Antivirus Inc, and how many people got shot on a MUNI #14 last year. You know, all the usual stuff. But I'll tell you, withdrawing from Web 2.0 is what criminales do, right? You're just a bro with a bus. Nothing wrong with that.]

[UPDATE III: Aaron Sankin of Huffington Post San Francisco weighs in.]

[UPDATE IV: And now Ellen Huet of the San Francisco Chronicle:

John Avalos, a supervisor who has fought against private companies use of Muni stops, called Kirchhoff’s comments “very disingenuous.”

“What a crock of s—,” Avalos said. “How does blocking a Muni stop make the city more efficient? You’re trying to make money, and you’re creating a two-tiered transportation system in San Francisco.”]

I’ll tell you, I’ve been waiting years for a MUNI alternative to pop up and look, it’s here.

Now I’m not talking about the corporate buses (like Google, Apple, FaceBook and so on) that have been around for a decade or so, and I’m not talking about Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and the like and I’m not even talking about the private version of the taxpayer-subsidized Twitter Express, the 83X.

No no. I’m talking about Leap Transit duplicating the unpopular MUNI Marina Express 30x with a private shuttle bus that costs $6 one-way.

It looks like this, as seen just yesterday:

Via Gregg Meyer

Here’s what the site looks like:

See that? The bus comes with WiFi and leather seats, but they cost three times as much as MUNI. And I’m supposing you and your wheelchair would be better off on MUNI, just a guess. And, oh yes,  you pretty much need an Apple iPhone (or as close an iOS device as possible) to climb aboard.

Now you’d think the MSM would be all over this new company, but no. So far, Leap has escaped notice, except from this bloke called  from Down Under. (Uh, he’s _not_ a fan. I haven’t seen a booting like this since Bart vs. Australia)

“This little blue bus symbolises everything that is wrong with the current bubble and boom of internet startup culture. It’s in San Francisco. It belongs to Leap Transit. And, on May 13, this “better bus” — OMFG, it has leather seats and wi-fi! — began operating as part of what’s billed as a “shuttle service for San Francisco commuters.”

Bonus bon mot:

“This socialized [x] is slow and unprofitable. Let’s start a [x] for rich people that pays its employees less.”

Leave there be no doubt, Leap Transit is a wannabe MUNI disrupter. See?

So far, reaction around town has been mixed.

To wit:

connie hwong ‏@crh17h This has come to my attention: a $6 shuttle from the Marina to SOMA, with leather seats & wifi. Seriously, SF?”

Check it:

I don’t know, if the 30X just passed you by ’cause it’s raining and you see a Leap bus coming at you and you have an iPhone and you’re already signed up, well then Leap just might be worth the six bucks.

A 28-year-old white man wants you to ride his technicolor submarine.

Will you?

All the deets:

Spring Cleaning Reminder: 15th Annual International Conference on Hoarding & Cluttering Kicks Off Today in Union Square

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

The More You Know…

“15th Annual International Conference on Hoarding & Cluttering Kicks-Off Mental Health Month in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2013  – The Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF) hosts 15(th) Annual International Conference on Hoarding & Cluttering (ICHC) on May 2(nd) and 3(rd) at the Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco-Union Square hotel.  Originally pioneered as a local, one-day conference in 1998, fifteen years later, it has evolved into a 3-day innovative, international, multidisciplinary and culturally responsive event bringing together advocates, researchers, clinicians, landlords and people who are personally struggling with hoarding challenges to foster learning and successful strategies that save lives, counter stigma and improve public welfare.

ICHC is the only ongoing annual conference in the world focusing solely on the complex issues, impact, and stigma associated with the disorder, drawing together stakeholders and experts across fields with a addressing effective solutions to the personal and public burdens that can arise from compulsive hoarding, cluttering and acquiring behaviors. ICHC features practical solutions, cutting edge innovations and emphasizes communities working together to better understand issues and promote the development of effective task forces, and engagement of diverse stakeholders.

May is Mental Health Month, and represents a milestone for the field as the American Psychiatric Association releases the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) recognizing compulsive hoarding and cluttering as a significant and legitimate mental health condition. There is a three-part definition to compulsive hoarding behavior: 1.) The accumulation of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value. 2.) Living spaces become so cluttered that they can’t be used for the activities they were intended for. 3.) The hoarding behavior causes distress and impaired functioning

The 2013 ICHC conference is a source of learning, but it is especially a significant and unique opportunity for the many people who are isolated by their condition. People with hoarding and cluttering challenges often feel alone, ashamed and helpless. As a recent participant reflected many people aren’t aware on “any kind of help at all.”

WHO:   The Mental Health Association of San Francisco

WHAT:  15th Annual International Conference on Hoarding & Cluttering (ICHC)

WHEN:  Thursday and Friday May 2- 3, 2013

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

WHERE: Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco- Union Square

55 Cyril Magnin Street

San Francisco, California

WEB:   http://www.mentalhealthsf.org

Media Contact: Jenifer Reeve (415) 290-5403 cell / jenifer@mentalhealthsf.org

SOURCE  Mental Health Association of San Francisco

Mental Health Association of San Francisco

Web Site: http://www.mentalhealthsf.org

Speaking of Offensive MUNI Bus Ads, Check Out This Campaign from San Francisco’s DAVID CLAY JEWELERS

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Add this one to the list of crimes from DAVID KAY JEWELERS:

“You won’t get jealous when your friend gets the newer smaller version”

Click to expand

(Oh, and BTW, the offensive ad here isn’t “anti-gay” not at all.

To say so is ignorant.

But it is anti other things, I’ll grant you that.)

In closing, diamonds are horrible. Get anything else but a diamond. People will figure this out soon enough and the worthless piece of rock on your finger will be even more worthless a couple decades from now.

And more importantly, it will be seen by others as worthless.

Oh well.

Isn’t It Ironic, PG&E’s Captive Union has the Gall to Use Fire Imagery to Fight Public Power? You Know, After San Bruno?

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Here’s the latest from the the union for our incompetent local power utility, straight outta Vacaville, wherever the Hell that is:

Click to expand

Is this an image from the charred remains of all those houses that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers / PG&E burned down in San Mateo County not too long ago? It sure could be, why not?

Take a look.

Oh what’s that, PG&E, it took you a while to own up to being responsible for killing those eight people?

“The cause of the Sept. 9, 2010, accident has not been determined yet.”

What kind of denial is this, months and months after your killings?

You know, these people? ‘

James Franco, 53 and “Janessa, 13, and Jacqueline Greig, 44; Elizabeth Torres, 81; Jessica Morales, 20, as well three member of the Bullis family — Greg, 50, Will, 17, and Lavonne, 87 “

Here’s the thing, PG&E. Everybody has the right to opt out of PublicPowerSF. So that’s why it’s not going to “nearly double electric generation costs.”

Not everybody in Chinatown is an easily cowed, easily herded stencil voter, right? Consumers will make their own choice – you don’t think that they’re all stupid, do you?

And actually, San Francisco is kind of a hippy town, filled with yuppie-types who will not opt out of public power.

But, of course, if people don’t want to pay extra for juice, they won’t.

It’s as simple as that.

BTW, you all should prolly ID the white Republican lawyer you’re quoting in the ‘Xam here. Otherwise it makes things look like the entire Examiner is agin public power.

The flip side of the latest flyer:

In closing, fuck you PG&E.

Go to Hell.

Or flaming San Bruno, little difference.

A Few Questions for Corrupt PG&E and Its Corrupt Union Regarding the Coming Clean Power Alternative, CleanPowerSF

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

I’m getting the feeling that our local utility monopoly doesn’t want any competition at all.

Take a look here at this bit from Chris Roberts of SFWeeklySFBayGuardianSFExaminer and then take a look at this:

Click to expand

Now let’s check the “Check the Facts” part of this recent flier.

The retort:

1. CleanPowerSF will not cost “almost double” relative to the current PG&E monopoly. So that’s a lie

2. And are you PG&E motherfuckers really talking about some disaster in some part of the world? What about the eight souls you killed right here in the Bay Area in San Bruno not too long ago? How many “brothers” or sisters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers were responsible for those deaths?

3. And actually, consumers, you DO get to choose whether you participate in CleanPowerSF, so the “PG&E family” is lying about that as well.

So, fuck you, PG&E

Good day, “brothers.”

Throwing Rocks at Girls: San Francisco’s Worst MUNI Bus Ad Campaign of 2012 Comes From David Clay Jewelers

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

I think I also saw another one about how you, the rich, hetero male, should be embarrassed if your daughter’s diamond ring is bigger than your current wife’s.

Not sure.

Anyway, the San Francisco Egotist has beaten me to the punch,* so head over there to get the low down.

Click to expand

NB: IRL, diamonds are worthless – prices are propped up by the industry. Oh well.

*Condescending!  Douchebaggy! Regrettable!

Surprise! The PG&E Union Doesn’t Want Us to Have a Choice About Getting Public Power or Not – A Facebook Campaign

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Last week I saw banner ads from IBEW 1245, you know, the People Who Brought Us The San Bruno Pipeline Explosion, but at first I wasn’t able to click on them and then when I was able to, all I could find were recently-deceased FaceBook webpages, as if some people had posted something* and then changed their minds.

But now everything’s clear owing to this bit from Tim Redmond in the SFBG. Check it out.

And here’s the latest propaganda from PGE IBEW, for the record:

IBEW 1245 launches “Shell Shock” campaign. Disastrous city proposal could cause rates to spike

shell shocked logo

IBEW Local 1245 launched a “Shell Shock” campaign on Sept. 10 to highlight the spike in energy costs and potentially disastrous consequences that a contract between San Francisco and Shell would bring.

San Francisco city government is considering a proposal to partner with Shell Energy of North America to inaugurate the city’s so-called “clean power” program. If the Board of Supervisors approves the proposal, San Francisco would pay millions to Shell, one of the most notorious environmental violators in business today.

According to the City’s Controller, if the San Francisco Shell Shock contract goes through:

“Raising generation rates by 77% would Shell Shock San Franciscans,” said Hunter Stern, a San Francisco resident and a business representative for IBEW Local 1245 in San Francisco.

“In these tough economic times, the last thing the City should be considering is a plan that would lead to service reductions and job losses. And Shell’s values, especially their abysmal environmental record, aren’t in sync with what most San Franciscans want to support,” Stern said.

CARE customers, who are typically low-income customers, are being asked to pay a larger portion of the increase than other customers. CARE customers will pay an additional $22 a month, compared to the $9 monthly increase Tier One customers are expected to see, Stern said.

IBEW Local 1245 urges San Franciscans to get the facts and sign the petition to stop the San Francisco Shell Shock contract. Go to www.Facebook.com/SFShellShock.”

*Perhaps due to the San Bruno Disaster anniversary? I mean, why else would PG&E have its union launch a big FaceBook campaign and then have all the links from the banner ads go to defunct FB pages?

Know Your Inchoate Labor Protests: Tomorrow’s Planned Commercial Office Waste Protest at City Hall Canceled

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

For some reason.

I’ll tell you, those canceled protests are oftentimes more interesting than the ones that go forward…

Check it:

“Commercial Office Buildings Missing the Mark in San Francisco’s Efforts to Achieve Zero Waste

Labor, Environmental Leaders to Release Report Outlining How Commercial Office Buildings Can Achieve True Zero Waste by 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – POSTPONED members the BlueGreen Alliance and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 87 will join with local labor, environmental and civic leaders to release and show support for the report

Making Zero Mean Zero: Waste Diversion in San Francisco’s Commercial Office Buildings.

Findings in the report reveal actions at some of the city’s commercial buildings are hampering the city’s efforts to achieve zero waste and the report outlines recommendations to achieving true zero waste by 2020 — a goal of the city.

The report was prepared by the BlueGreen Alliance — a national partnership of unions and environmental organizations representing 14 million members and supporters.

WHAT: Labor, environmental, and civic leaders call for commercial office buildings owners in San Francisco to reduce waste and increase recycling. The event will feature Spanish speakers.
WHO: BlueGreen Alliance California Director Lisa Hoyos, SEIU Local 87 President Olga Miranda, SEIU Local 87 Members, Supervisor John Avalos (District 11), Interim Supervisor Christina Olague (District 5)
WHEN: POSTPONED
WHERE: In front of San Francisco City Hall”

So, do I think we’re going to have a million electric cars on the road by 2015, as was pledged? Nope!

And do I think that 10% of all trips in San Francisco will be made by bicycle by 2010? Oh, wait, we missed that one already – that got pushed back to 2020, when 20% of all trips made in San Francisco will be made by bicycle, for sure, like totally man, like guaranteed. (And then when that doesn’t happen, the new goal will be 30% of all trips made in San Francisco being made by bicycle by the year 2030.) Anyway, nope!

And now, do I think that all the commercial office buildings of San Francisco will produce “true zero waste” by 2020? Nope!

Anyway, don’t go to City Hall at 11:30 AM tomorrow cause nothing’ll be going on…

Huge Billboard: “THE BAY BRIDGE – 100% FOREIGN STEEL” – But Is It, Really?

Friday, June 29th, 2012

Nope!

Not at all.

Click to expand

Oh well.