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More people DIE in San Francisco from PEDESTRIAN accidents in the last fifteen years.
More people die in San Francisco from pedestrian accidents then any other City in California. Over fifty percent of our City population can be considered in the group of Senior Citizens and having some sort of serious disability; that impairs walking and thus crossing the road - at any given time. A hearing was held at San Francisco - April 7, 2011 before the Safety Committee - where few issues and facts mentioned by those giving serious Public Comment - were addressed. Instead, as usual we had Dr. Rajiv Bhatia from the SF Health Department - who has some say on this matter - runs his mouth, circumvent the issues at hand, and send the public and those watching SFGOVTV at home - with more diatribe and hot air. Does this City think - that the time has really come to pay serious attention to the many deaths - linked to pedestrian crossing - other types of injury that have cost this City in excess of $50 million.
The people are the ones who must demand from this City and County of San Francisco; the rights - they must enjoy when it comes to crossing our streets safely and for that matter children and Elders crossing our streets safely - at all times.
Now, for the last fifteen years we have known that San Francisco has been on the top of the list when it comes to DEATHS linked to pedestrians crossing.
In the last five years for sure we have better statistics and the SF Department of Health and more the Department that Dr. Rajiv Bhatia is in charge of - has done nothing much; to lessen the death and the injuries of innocent - pedestrians.
This is all the more relevant and pertinent when it comes to young children and the of course Senior Citizens.
When, in the past we have brought these issues before the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA), the Citizens Advisory Committee to the SFCTA - other relevant authorities - the facts have been acknowledged but nothing much has been done.
At today's hearing in Room 250 - at the Public Safety Meeting - the Public at Large were very articulate and many of them surprised the SF Board of Supervisors with the solutions they had to offer.
I witness seeing some SF Police Officers and I am sure there were other Transit Officials. Now, it remains to be seen - if some drastic measure can be applied - quickly to save lives. As we know - we cannot put a price on any life - but when it come to Pedestrian Crossing this City thinks that lives are expandable?
Why is it that this City permits - many of our Senior Citizens Housing to be built and operated near areas were the traffic is very heavy - case in point Van Ness, Geary Blvd., many areas in the South of Market Area, in the Tenderloin on O'Farrel Street and more.
The MTA and the SFCTA have wasted millions of dollars on "traffic calming" - more catering to consultants who enjoy taking a year to complete the report - and present some stale report - two years later. There is no one to question these buffoons - and most everyone thinks - this type of behavior should be tolerated.
More money going to fake outreach and to the consultants who after making vast amount of money in salaries - jump ship and go to another project to make even more money. Such actions are prevalent with the Transit Authority bodies and when they are taken to task - the get very defensive.
In Europe for example and in places within Denmark and Sweden - the Senior and the youth enjoy many safety amenities. May be this is linked to their innate culture.
There are many areas there are no traffic lights - over there there is no pandemonium but here in San Francisco panic, confusion, terror would reign on the streets - with blood spilling - everywhere.
Here in the United States and more in San Francisco the road warriors are using their vehicles to get to some place in record time - breaking the traffic laws and course the victims always turn up to be those that cannot moving quickly from the fast moving, dangerous - projectile.
We can get the empirical data from the Incident Reports and we can further get more precise records from the hospitals - about injuries and trauma - to make our case. But, really the question that should be posed - is whether we want to address the situation in a compassionate manner .
Some plan must be put in place - first to slow down the traffic. Secondly, to stop traffic entering some zones where there are Schools and Senior Citizens - cautioning, the drivers with bold signs - information and warning them of the presence of Senior Citizens and Young Children.
In Europe the children and protected and so are the Elders - but here in San Francisco the drivers seems to enjoy running over those that are most vulnerable.
Past Mayors and more the present Interim Mayor knows this - but, nothing much has been done to bring solace to the thousands of Seniors Citizens and the youth who go to school and every single day - have to encounter - "rogue drivers " who think they have license to drive as they please. They fail to understand that this right is a privilege - and not a license to do as one pleases.
Health and Safety issue are paramount in any City worth its salt.
We must as a City that is compassionate value our children and our Seniors. When it comes to traffic calming we hear a lot of talk - but, very little concrete action.
We can waste $50 million plus on liability and cases where the City is at fault - linked to MUNI and other accidents.
For some reason when it comes to catering to our young children and the Seniors - the City always mentions that we lack money.
Well, for starters we can cap the salaries to $100,000 for those, many inept, holding Managerial Positions. If you want to work and produce - stay here in San Francisco - if not take a hike.
The MUNI director for example makes over $350,000 - others such as the Director of the SFCTA makes over $275,000 with benefits and is useless. Then he has a Deputy Director who does not live in San Francisco and makes another $200,000 with benefits. These high paying employees including Dr. Rajiv Bhatia - makes over $250,000 with benefits. Their salary must be capped to $100,00 with certain mandated performance standards that have to be evaluated every single year.
We must make a concerted effort to bring the tally down - and stop this waste of human life - due to accidents linked to pedestrian crossings and of course jay walking in San Francisco.
Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy
Now, for the last fifteen years we have known that San Francisco has been on the top of the list when it comes to DEATHS linked to pedestrians crossing.
In the last five years for sure we have better statistics and the SF Department of Health and more the Department that Dr. Rajiv Bhatia is in charge of - has done nothing much; to lessen the death and the injuries of innocent - pedestrians.
This is all the more relevant and pertinent when it comes to young children and the of course Senior Citizens.
When, in the past we have brought these issues before the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA), the Citizens Advisory Committee to the SFCTA - other relevant authorities - the facts have been acknowledged but nothing much has been done.
At today's hearing in Room 250 - at the Public Safety Meeting - the Public at Large were very articulate and many of them surprised the SF Board of Supervisors with the solutions they had to offer.
I witness seeing some SF Police Officers and I am sure there were other Transit Officials. Now, it remains to be seen - if some drastic measure can be applied - quickly to save lives. As we know - we cannot put a price on any life - but when it come to Pedestrian Crossing this City thinks that lives are expandable?
Why is it that this City permits - many of our Senior Citizens Housing to be built and operated near areas were the traffic is very heavy - case in point Van Ness, Geary Blvd., many areas in the South of Market Area, in the Tenderloin on O'Farrel Street and more.
The MTA and the SFCTA have wasted millions of dollars on "traffic calming" - more catering to consultants who enjoy taking a year to complete the report - and present some stale report - two years later. There is no one to question these buffoons - and most everyone thinks - this type of behavior should be tolerated.
More money going to fake outreach and to the consultants who after making vast amount of money in salaries - jump ship and go to another project to make even more money. Such actions are prevalent with the Transit Authority bodies and when they are taken to task - the get very defensive.
In Europe for example and in places within Denmark and Sweden - the Senior and the youth enjoy many safety amenities. May be this is linked to their innate culture.
There are many areas there are no traffic lights - over there there is no pandemonium but here in San Francisco panic, confusion, terror would reign on the streets - with blood spilling - everywhere.
Here in the United States and more in San Francisco the road warriors are using their vehicles to get to some place in record time - breaking the traffic laws and course the victims always turn up to be those that cannot moving quickly from the fast moving, dangerous - projectile.
We can get the empirical data from the Incident Reports and we can further get more precise records from the hospitals - about injuries and trauma - to make our case. But, really the question that should be posed - is whether we want to address the situation in a compassionate manner .
Some plan must be put in place - first to slow down the traffic. Secondly, to stop traffic entering some zones where there are Schools and Senior Citizens - cautioning, the drivers with bold signs - information and warning them of the presence of Senior Citizens and Young Children.
In Europe the children and protected and so are the Elders - but here in San Francisco the drivers seems to enjoy running over those that are most vulnerable.
Past Mayors and more the present Interim Mayor knows this - but, nothing much has been done to bring solace to the thousands of Seniors Citizens and the youth who go to school and every single day - have to encounter - "rogue drivers " who think they have license to drive as they please. They fail to understand that this right is a privilege - and not a license to do as one pleases.
Health and Safety issue are paramount in any City worth its salt.
We must as a City that is compassionate value our children and our Seniors. When it comes to traffic calming we hear a lot of talk - but, very little concrete action.
We can waste $50 million plus on liability and cases where the City is at fault - linked to MUNI and other accidents.
For some reason when it comes to catering to our young children and the Seniors - the City always mentions that we lack money.
Well, for starters we can cap the salaries to $100,000 for those, many inept, holding Managerial Positions. If you want to work and produce - stay here in San Francisco - if not take a hike.
The MUNI director for example makes over $350,000 - others such as the Director of the SFCTA makes over $275,000 with benefits and is useless. Then he has a Deputy Director who does not live in San Francisco and makes another $200,000 with benefits. These high paying employees including Dr. Rajiv Bhatia - makes over $250,000 with benefits. Their salary must be capped to $100,00 with certain mandated performance standards that have to be evaluated every single year.
We must make a concerted effort to bring the tally down - and stop this waste of human life - due to accidents linked to pedestrian crossings and of course jay walking in San Francisco.
Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy
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