Letters to the Editor

Editor:
Why are the City Attorney's Office and the Municipal Railway so insensitive to the citizens of San Francisco?

At about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2006, I boarded the 2 Clement bus at 33rd Avenue and Clement Street. As I was returning my Fast Pass to my pocket, the driver released the brakes, accelerated and turned sharply. As I was neither seated nor warned to hold on, I was thrown against a pole and a side window. The resulting injuries were a broken arm, shoulder sprain, head injury and a facial laceration.

Due to the head injury, I was not aware of the severity of my injuries and did not seek medical attention until the following morning. I believe the bus driver, who was looking directly at me, could see that I was injured.

A nearby passenger, moreover, audibly noted that I was bleeding. The driver did nothing. Nor have city agencies been responsive.

More than four moths after filing a claim against the City and County of San Francisco, I learned that the City Attorney's Office does not inform citizens of the progress of such a claim. The filing of a report with a Muni inspector has yielded no communication.

Recent arm and shoulder surgery has left me wearing a sling for the second consecutive year. Having been self-employed for more than 30 years, I am hampered professionally by this; I cannot contract work with new clients.

Because of the head injury, I did not get the bus driver's name and identification number - information crucial to my claim. Requests for assistance from city agencies have gone unheeded. Thus, I would be grateful to any witnesses of the May 13, 2006 accident who can call me at 387-1494 (on evenings or weekends).

I would especially appreciate a call from the witness who said, "That man is bleeding!"
Jim Rosenthal

Editor:
I am writing to inform the community that San Francisco Neighborhood Antenna Free Union (SNAFU) has filed an appeal with the SF Board of Supervisor's, which will be heard on July 10.

The appeal attempts to ensure that the proposed installation of 2,200 microwave transmitters, which are slated to be installed on SF light and utility poles throughout San Francisco, first undergo a thorough environmental review and analysis before the supervisors decide to approve the Earthlink citywide WiFi network.

Our organization, Outer Sunset United for Antenna Free Community, support the appeal in the above matter, filed on May 30 by SNAFU. It is a simple precautionary matter to require environmental review of such a large project that will affect all of our neighborhoods.
Erica Zweig
Outer Sunset United for Antenna Free Community

Editor:
I live in San Francisco in the Outer Richmond District and I would like you to consider publishing this letter.

I called Supervisor Jake McGoldrick's office in February of this year to find out if he could assist me with a permit appeal to stop the destruction of large, mature cypress trees on the Green Belt public recreation corridor at Ocean Beach. I spoke with McGoldrick's legislative assistant, who asked me to provide her with a package of documents regarding the issue and to send them to her, which I did.

Despite numerous phone calls, messages, and in-person visits to McGoldrick's office, I never got any response from him or the aide. On one such trip to the supervisor's office, I was told that the aide was not there, although I saw her in the office closing a door in what appeared to be an attempt to avoid me.

Although I believe my appeal to save the cypress trees was well-founded, I can understand McGoldrick may not have been comfortable in supporting me. What I do not understand or accept, however, is the poor and unprofessional treatment that I received from Supervisor McGoldrick and his legislative assistant.

I support the recall of Jake McGoldrick.
Steven Goodman