UPDATE: This is noted in the last comment, but since comments are sometimes bypassed, I will post it here as it is the root of this issue. ...
After viewing the People Behaving Badly video on KRON, I emailed them and asked about the 50 lbs of Dry Ice that was shown that was not in the Lake. They replied to my email today with this quote, "The dry ice was left in the event and the cleanup crew dumped the ice in the Lake". SO now we have a culprit to the offense. What will be done about it? Time will tell.
I have to start by saying, and I know this will probably not be the popular sentiment, but I am over all the events in the Park. There are just too many. I don't like the road closures for days on end. I don't like the crowds it brings to the west-end. It just creates too much of a hubbub in a part of the City where it should be peaceful.After the three-day road closure for the Outside Lands concert less than two months ago, this past weekend saw yet another three-day concert event, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
My aggravation started last week. I was already bothered about the road closures that were posted as starting 9/30. I went to feed the friends on Thursday, before the three-day closure and the roads were already closed! Not sure about the Park and Rec's, but my calendar states Thursday was the 29th.The event ended yesterday and this morning the roads were still closed! That counts a five-day closure. Thankfully when I checked back early afternoon there was access to JFK where Lloyd Lake is.I drove up and the Lake was bubbling! It was downright volcanic! I was livid! There was Dry Ice in the Lake! Where Wildlife live! It was horrifying!I documented with the video and photos you see here. I could see the Dry Ice (cakes) under each of the approximate dozen eruption points. My thought immediately went to the Event. I do not believe in coincidences. I do not believe this would have happened if this event had not happened. In my opinion, someone associated with the Event break-down, used the Lake to dump unused/leftover Dry Ice.I immediately called the Park Patrol. As usual (and why is this?) they never have anyone to send. Not for this, not for wildlife abuse, not for people taking a crap, nothing. I called the non-emergency Police dispatch. They said they would send someone out. I then noticed one of the Park Ranger vehicles, and when I turned around he was there, having just finished taking photos of his own. I asked what he thought and he said what I thought, most likely Event Vendors. I asked him if he was going to question the Staff breaking the event down. The answer was no, but he was going to make a report. This was not enough, someone should be held responsible.I went and fed the friends and the Police had still not arrived. I went over to the Event site across the street and questioned the only guy I saw. He said he saw a van drive up and dump it. Interesting as he could not describe the van or the people, but he saw that it was Dry Ice they were dumping. I called the Police back and they hadn't even been dispatched yet. I asked the operator what I should do with the information and photos I had, she offered that I could go to the Neighborhood Station. I went to the Richmond Station as I really felt that someone needed to further question the Staff who was breaking the Event down. Really, should it be some random gal (ME!) in a Hello Kitty sweatshirt conducting the only investigation?The Officers I talked to (outside the Station) did go out to the Lake, but with the bubbling fizzled out and them not being an eye-witness, they couldn't do anything about it.So, not only did I hear a constant stream of Emergency vehicle sirens all weekend, in addition to helicopters, now someone uses the Lake to dump dangerous foreign matter into a water source that is home to Park Wildlife.Regardless of whether (in my opinion most probable) it was an Event Vendor or some transient passer-thru, I believe that the amount of people these Events draw, should not be in the Park. There is just too much damage to be done and obviously not the man-power to control it.The Park Ranger told me this Event is all wrapped up in politics, so its unlikely they will have a change of venue. I can only hope that in light of this, next year they prohibit their Vendors from using Dry Ice.
My aggravation started last week. I was already bothered about the road closures that were posted as starting 9/30. I went to feed the friends on Thursday, before the three-day closure and the roads were already closed! Not sure about the Park and Rec's, but my calendar states Thursday was the 29th.The event ended yesterday and this morning the roads were still closed! That counts a five-day closure. Thankfully when I checked back early afternoon there was access to JFK where Lloyd Lake is.I drove up and the Lake was bubbling! It was downright volcanic! I was livid! There was Dry Ice in the Lake! Where Wildlife live! It was horrifying!I documented with the video and photos you see here. I could see the Dry Ice (cakes) under each of the approximate dozen eruption points. My thought immediately went to the Event. I do not believe in coincidences. I do not believe this would have happened if this event had not happened. In my opinion, someone associated with the Event break-down, used the Lake to dump unused/leftover Dry Ice.I immediately called the Park Patrol. As usual (and why is this?) they never have anyone to send. Not for this, not for wildlife abuse, not for people taking a crap, nothing. I called the non-emergency Police dispatch. They said they would send someone out. I then noticed one of the Park Ranger vehicles, and when I turned around he was there, having just finished taking photos of his own. I asked what he thought and he said what I thought, most likely Event Vendors. I asked him if he was going to question the Staff breaking the event down. The answer was no, but he was going to make a report. This was not enough, someone should be held responsible.I went and fed the friends and the Police had still not arrived. I went over to the Event site across the street and questioned the only guy I saw. He said he saw a van drive up and dump it. Interesting as he could not describe the van or the people, but he saw that it was Dry Ice they were dumping. I called the Police back and they hadn't even been dispatched yet. I asked the operator what I should do with the information and photos I had, she offered that I could go to the Neighborhood Station. I went to the Richmond Station as I really felt that someone needed to further question the Staff who was breaking the Event down. Really, should it be some random gal (ME!) in a Hello Kitty sweatshirt conducting the only investigation?The Officers I talked to (outside the Station) did go out to the Lake, but with the bubbling fizzled out and them not being an eye-witness, they couldn't do anything about it.So, not only did I hear a constant stream of Emergency vehicle sirens all weekend, in addition to helicopters, now someone uses the Lake to dump dangerous foreign matter into a water source that is home to Park Wildlife.Regardless of whether (in my opinion most probable) it was an Event Vendor or some transient passer-thru, I believe that the amount of people these Events draw, should not be in the Park. There is just too much damage to be done and obviously not the man-power to control it.The Park Ranger told me this Event is all wrapped up in politics, so its unlikely they will have a change of venue. I can only hope that in light of this, next year they prohibit their Vendors from using Dry Ice.
This incident is still very disturbing to me, as I worry about the Wildlife that live in and around the Lake. They were obviously affected by this action as the area where is was dumped is usually happy with activity. When I witnessed this all the birds were crowed in the mid to back part of the Lake. You can see in one photo that even the Seagulls were cowering against the side towards the middle. ... If this crime was committed by a vendor from the Event, how do we know it didn't happen each day after the Event closed?
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking action, and please don't stop! After talking to Captain Sanford and listening to Eric Mar's lips move without doing anything, it's easy to give up. But don't! This is the residential side of the park and therefore completely inappropriate for an event of this size, let alone two in as many months. Please keep pushing for change.
ReplyDeleteEmail, write or call Mayor Lee, Supervisor Eric Mar, City Attorney Herrera, and Rec & Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg.
We can't be the only ones with concert fatigue.
OK so, this story is getting hits, but I'm commenting with myself lol! Well, really adding thoughts and information. ... This was posted to the Richmond Blog post > http://www.kron.com/Reporters/BehavingBadly.aspx The video shows the remains left by Event goers. It also shows the Dry Ice in AND out of the Lake! Very curious I think as it seems like they are saying in was in a Vendors left "stash" but don't make that clear. BUT since it was found on the grounds of the Event that clearly goes against what the Staffer told me yesterday and confirms that it was indeed part of the Event, whether from a Vendor or brought in. It is obvious to me that it was from a Vendor, what Concert goer lugs in 50+ lbs of Dry Ice?
ReplyDelete@JMBelvins- Thank you for your comment. Good grief not only is the behavior horrible and bothersome, but so are the people that don't see the wrong in this. I will never stop trying to call attention to things that are just not right. Its not in my nature. IT is in so many others though and that's part of why people behave badly, they know there is no repercussion. ... I got a reply via twitter from Eric Mar, who said he is working with the Police and the City. ... I also got a phone call from an officer who works in the Park and he gave me all the info regarding the Law the was broken. I'll post that for that guy on Richmond Blog who doesn't think its against the Law. I have a problem with all the hubbub associated with theses huge Events, but my main issue is when something is in direct danger to the Wildlife that lives there.
ReplyDeleteAs noted above, my sighting was picked up and reported on a neighborhood blog. It amazes me the amount of comments from people who not only don't think this behavior is a crime, BUT think its ok as long as its not harmful!!! :O ... For anyone who may stop here and have similar feelings, please note:
ReplyDeleteYou can view the San Francisco Parks Code in full here > http://www.archive.org/stream/gov.ca.sf.park/ca_sf_park_djvu.txt ... The Section regarding this topic is under article 4 Disorderly Conduct ...
SEC. 4.03. POLLUTING WATERS
PROHIBITED.
No person shall throw or place, or cause to be
thrown or placed, any garbage, trash, refuse,
paper, container, or nauseous or offensive matter
into any pool, pond, tank, or fountain in any
park.
In addition, attention is called the fact that
state law prohibits the littering or dumping of
waste into lakes and other bodies of water.
(Added by Ord. 603-81, App. 12/18/81)
SEC. 4.04. LITTERING AND DUMPING
OF WASTE MATTER PROHIBITED.
Attention is called to the fact that state law
prohibits the littering or dumping of waste mat-
ter in any public park. (Added by Ord. 603-81,
App. 12/18/81)
Dry ice is just carbon dioxide cooled to a very low temperature. It can't harm anything unless exposed in a closed area or from touching the substance. While it probably was not smart to put it in the lake it was unlikely to harm anything or anyone and people should concern themselves with larger issues.
ReplyDeleteDry ice would also not fall within the county ordinance any more than out water from a water bottle or ice from a cooler.
@tahoe joe- Thank you for your comment. If you care about Wildlife that is a large issue. We all have our priorities. Any one of the Wildlife living in/on the Lake could have touched it at the most dangerous point. As for the ordinance, eg what is illegal behavior, I went to the Richmond Station and spoke to two Officers who went with me back to the Lake to check it out. They said had they witnessed it, the offenders would have been arrested. Secondly, the Officer who's territory the Park is, called me today and sighted this Ordinance in regard to this specific issue. This considering, I am to believe dumping this is a violation.
ReplyDelete@leo811. A police officer can arrest or cite anyone for anything they believe may be a violation of a law or ordinance. That does not make the act illegal. There needs to be a conviction in order for there to be a determination that the act was criminal.
ReplyDeleteI am much more concerned with people tossing cigarette butts and chewing gum on the streets and sidewalks asnthosenactivities have actually been shown to harm more wildlife than carbon dioxide.
@tahoe joe- Thank you again for the comment. Honestly, just having someone arrested would be fine. I'm not trying to be a complainer, I'm just so tired of seeing bullshit behavior. I want people to be made responsible for their actions of wrong doing. ... I'm all over the other offenses too. I came out of the Post Office at Geary and 21st the other day and an employee from Subway walked by me and took a long drag of his cig and then dropped it. I said, "That's not nice." Mild for me, but this was the first offense of the day I witnessed. He said "Sorry." I said, "Sorry? You litter and its still lit." He just looked at me, so I said, "Pick it up."
ReplyDeleteGood morning. I think I'm done with this subject. What comes of it in regards to how Events are handled is up to the Park people. If HUGE events like this continue, it is up to them to make sure there is enough security to monitor the crowds. There needs to be more rules on behavior in the Park. More rules about disposal. ... There was alot of curious banter on the Richmond Blog. More people than I thought who see no problem in this action. ... I said it there and I'll say it here in closing. What happened as a result of this Event is disgraceful, disrespectful and criminal. Spin it how you want but that is the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing the People Behaving Badly video on KRON, I emailed them and asked about the 50 lbs of Dry Ice that was shown that was not in the Lake. They replied to my email today with this quote, "The dry ice was left in the event and the cleanup crew dumped the ice in the Lake". SO now we have a culprit to the offense. What will be done about it? Time will tell.
ReplyDelete