The Castro neighborhood likely won't be moving into the boundaries of the San Francisco Police Department's Park Station and will remain within Mission Station's precinct, the district's supervisor confirmed to the Bay Area Reporter at the Castro Merchants Association meeting December 5. Some of the Castro is already covered by Park Station and that will also likely remain the case.
In other news, the merchants heard about holiday events, a planned mural, and funds raised for nonprofits at this year's Castro Street Fair that was held in October.
Police station boundaries
The B.A.R. previously reported on a proposal from SFPD to shift boundaries of several precincts, notably, Mission Station, one of the department's most active. While there was some support among Castro leaders, some Castro residents and other community leaders were concerned the shift would decrease foot patrols, which they desperately want to maintain in the LGBTQ neighborhood.
The proposal would have put the entire LGBTQ neighborhood under the jurisdiction of one police precinct; it is now split between the Mission and Park stations. The idea was one of 15 proposed changes to police station boundaries throughout the city.
"I think everything I'm hearing is that it's off the table," said gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. "I would be very surprised at this point if that proposal went forward."
Two public meetings were held on the subject in October. Asked if it was that feedback that changed the minds of police officials, Mandelman said, "I think the feedback we have heard and the feedback we have provided is that residents and merchants in the Castro have an existing relationship with Mission Station and, frankly, get a lot of resources from Mission Station, and the concern that I have had that I have heard from others is whether Park Station would have the ability to provide the same level of service we have been getting."
A spokesperson for SFPD Chief William Scott didn't return multiple requests for comment for this report.
In a December 3 email Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association President Jennifer "JDub" Waggoner had laid out some of the concerns the Castro residential group had heard regarding the proposed change to which police districts it would be in.
"We have received more concerns than enthusiasm about this plan. Park Station may not be able to deploy foot and car patrols to our area with the same frequency as Mission Station," wrote Waggoner. "Park officers would not know our area, our people, and our issues as well as Mission officers because over the past decade, officers from Mission Station have built up relationships and expertise specific to our neighborhood."
In another safety matter at the merchants meeting, SFPD Lieutenant James Tacchini advised — after a series of window-smashings in the neighborhood in October — that merchants invest in the best video surveillance equipment they can.
"Typically how things work when these things happen is we rely on you for video surveillance," he said. "When you send it to our officers, they send an email blast to everyone in the department. Someone who commits burglaries here may be committing many burglaries on Taraval [Street]. Everyone reads the email and someone says, 'I arrested this guy two years ago,' and they arrest him. That's how it works in a perfect world."
Billy Lemon, a gay man who's executive director of the Castro Country Club, a nonprofit sober space, advised merchants they could take advantage of a Horizons Foundation request for proposals that'll give queer organizations $5,000 for camera installations. According to Horizons, the program is for eligible nonprofits and applications are being accepted through January 31, as long as funds are available.
Holiday events
Terry Asten Bennett, a straight ally and co-owner of Cliff's Variety who's the organization's president, said she had a marvelous time at the annual holiday tree lighting December 2.
"The tree lighting was a huge success," she said. "It was great seeing the community come out like that. I think it's my favorite event every year because it brings the community together."
Unfortunately, the tree has been vandalized in the past.
"We did have to spend a lot of extra money this year to replace the red balls," she said.
Asten Bennett had a stern warning for those who might go underneath the tree.
"There are spikes under the tree," she said. "You are forewarned. Do not climb under the tree. You will get spiked."
For those who didn't go to the tree lighting, there are still opportunities to celebrate the season in the Castro, including the Winterfest block party on Noe Street at Market Street Saturday, December 7, from noon to 5 p.m.; the San Francisco AIDS Foundation's Santa Skivvies run Sunday, December 8, at 11 a.m. in the same location; a Hanukkah menorah lighting Monday, December 16, at 6 p.m. in Jane Warner Plaza; and the second Castro night market on Friday, December 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. along 18th Street between Collingwood and Castro streets and then again between Castro and Hartford streets.
Castro fair bucks
The Castro Street Fair raised $20,000 for community organizations and partners for this, its 50th year, the vice president of the fair's board shared.
Fred Lopez, a gay man, also said that volunteers put in 860 hours for the event, which has raised $1.6 million for local nonprofits since the 1990s.
The benefitting organizations were Buen Dia Family School, Castro Community on Patrol, Everett Middle School, Haight Ashbury Community Nursery School, The Imperial Council of San Francisco, Instituto Familiar de la Raza, Maitri, Most Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church's AIDS Support Group, SF CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), the San Francisco Sharks softball team, the 15 Association BDSM fraternity, and the UCSF Alliance Health Project.
Representatives of the aforementioned groups posed with a giant check presented by the fair's board president, vice president, and treasurer.
"On behalf of the entire board, thank you for your support for the Castro Street Fair," Lopez said. "We can always use new ideas and blood on the board, if you are interested in helping out."
Mural idea presented
Jen Reck, a queer person who is the advisory board executive co-chair of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, presented an idea to place a mural at 4122 18th Street "to create greater visibility for lesbians in this community."
As the B.A.R.'s News Briefs column reported, the mural will feature artwork by Tanya Wischerath called "Living Lesbian Legends." About $2,000 needs to be raised for the project, according to the cultural district.
In order to do that, Reck said the district needs the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to approve closing the parking lot between Walgreens and Toad Hall from April 1-15 so that the mural can be painted during that time. Reck requested the merchants vote to endorse closing the lot for those days, but Asten Bennett said that because a vote wasn't scheduled in advance of the meeting, it will have to happen at the merchants' next meeting in February.
"We'll pretty much see that process move quickly if the merchants give their support," Reck said, referring to the SFMTA approving the lot closure.
CBD ambassadors recognized
Finally, Mandelman presented awards to Henry Lopez Hernandez and Rodrick Smith, two Castro Community Benefit District ambassadors.
"There is a ton of work that happens every single morning," Mandelman said, adding he sees the Castro before and after his crack-of-dawn workouts. "Our ambassadors see the worst of everything, every day, and do the work for us, and we are grateful."
Andrea Aiello, a lesbian who is executive director of the CBD, stated that Smith "was the one who observed a robbery and, thinking quickly, he called 911, and they [police] arrived quickly."
She provided further details about the early September incident. (She could not provide an exact date.)
"He was cleaning behind Safeway [on Market Street] and he witnessed an individual just in plain view rob a person who was walking down the bikeway," Aiello stated, adding the alleged robber may have had a knife. "Rodrick called 911 immediately, and the police arrived very quickly, apprehended the suspect and returned the items to the individual."
1st of 2 public meetings
The merchants' meeting was open to the public. Asten Bennett explained in her newsletter that "because of the dollar amount of our event grants from the city, we are required to have two public meetings per fiscal year." This was one of those meetings, and public comment was to be taken on agenda items after member discussions but before any votes.
Alas, there was no comment given by members of the public, though they had the opportunity to do so.
The second public meeting will be sometime next year.
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