Duh: Security Cameras Don't Work

This is a rant about two things: security cameras, and the complete lack of journalistic integrity at the San Francisco Chronicle.

First off, some background: Four years ago, our yuppie archetype mayor Gavin Newsom installed "security" cameras at public spaces in hopes of reducing violent crimes at those locations. There are some parts of San Francisco (such as the 16th/Mission BART station) where there have been repeated problems with assaults, robberies, and other violent crimes. Newsom's plan was met with skepticism by civil libertarians and law enforcement alike. But Newsom's allies in the "business community" and at Hearst Corporation's San Francisco Chronicle applauded the effort, most likely because the city would be spending money with certain businesses to implement the system.

Now a study on those cameras has concluded that they're not effective at deterring violent crime. They seem to have a marginal effect on property crimes in the area of the cameras, but I suspect they just shift property crime to other areas. But the cameras were touted as primarily a deterrent to violent crime. That's where the Chronicle comes in. They were the cameras' chief cheerleader. And today their headline on the story read "Mixed Results for Security Cameras." (NOTE: I won't link to the Chronicle's site or story here. The last thing I want to do is promote a propaganda rag masquerading as journalism) Mixed results? Read the fucking study, people. I suspect Hearst Corporation had that headline queued up months ago. They've never let inconvenient reality change their editorial-driven "coverage."

Walgreens, Your Hypocritical Drugstore

A few weeks ago the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of tobacco in drug stores within city limits. It was a common-sense move: you don't go to a drugstore to buy something that harms your health and the health of others around you. So why is Walgreens suing the city to prevent the ordinance from being enforced?

From Walgreens' own site:

Blow the Whistle on Asthma
More than 25 million Americans are living with chronic lung disease. Every year, close to 361,000 (or one in seven) Americans die of lung disease, making it the nation's number three killer. Walgreens proudly supports the American Lung Association in its mission to prevent lung disease and promote lung health through research, advocacy and education. In the fall of 2003, Walgreens Health Initiatives sponsored several ALA Blow the Whistle on Asthma walks in Illinois to help raise funds for important asthma research and programs. Consumers with questions about lung health can call the ALA's free hotline at 1-800-548-8252. The lines are supported by registered nurses and respiratory therapists.

The page goes on to list its philanthropic efforts, including the American Cancer Association. So who's going to blow the whistle on Walgreens?

Eating My Way Through San Francisco, Part Deux

More days, more great eats. Big & Rachel treated us to Millenium on Friday night, their way of thanking us for loaning them my truck to go to Burning Man. We had the fixed price sampler with wine pairings, and it was nothing short of amazing. Several courses, inclusing dessert, paired with whites & reds of various types. Their faux Wellington was incredible, as was the chai masala tapioca. Interestingly, they produce their own sparkling water, which is a great idea. It's a hefty price tag for a meal, but the food was incredible.

Eating My Way Through San Francisco

Joe P and Traci spent the weekend visiting our humble City by the Bay, and we managed to eat at some phenomenal places. As do many tourists, we basically ate our way around, interspersing visits to local eateries with trips to interesting destinations. It made me appreciate the culinary excellence we have hear that much more. Joe and Traci's company was very much appreciated, and we spent a lot of time laughing about the somewhat sad state of our nation.

Among the eateries, there were some great highlights:

Ti Couz Creperie
French-style crepes and other dishes in The Mission. We're a bit spoiled here, with this place and Frjtz less than a block from each other. But I'm starting to prefer the smaller portions and more intense flavors available at Ti Couz. I had the Totale (mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes) with a basil pesto sauce...excellent, as usual. And the desert crepes were phenomenal. Add in a good wine list and excellent apertifs (I opted for the Armagnac) and you have the whole package.

Los Rosales
One of my favorites. This small, family-run Mexican place has great breakfasts: nopales, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles...you can't go wrong. And they recently built a juice bar, so it's perfect for a lazy Sunday morning brunch. Plus it's a hundred feet from my front door.

It's Tops
This late-night staple is also very good for breakfast, with 50's diner staples and a few surprises. It's not just for post-binge Zeitgeist trips anymore!

Firenze by Night
I've been here twice, and have been impressed each time. The sund-dried tomato penne was surprisingly good, and spicy. Joe P was happy with the wine selection, and the peach sorbet dessert, served in a hollowed-out frozen peach, was astoundingly good.

Sometimes you have to wonder how people who live hear avoid going broke when there are so many great restaurants to try.

Chronicle Bans the Word "Progressive"

Bruce Brugmann, editor and founder of the SF Bay Guardian, has the scoop: Hearst Corporation has banned the use of the term "progressive" to describe local political figures, favoring instead derrogatory terms like "far left" and "ultra-liberal." This is typical of the Chron's heavily-biased coverage in the local market. The company that brought us "Remember the Maine!" has been waging an editorial and yellow journalism campaign against San Francisco's progressive Board of Supervisors for almost 8 years...ever since the return of district elections, and the subsequent victory of neighborhood interests over the corrupt political machine of Willie Brown.

See, The Chronicle doesn't write stories for the people of San Francisco. They write stories to please their advertisers, and secondarily to soothe the egos of the wealthy suburbanites they're targeting with those ads. They also write editorials and local "coverage" designed to please their patrons in San Francisco, namely the real estate speculators, high-end retailers, PG&E, and other local forces for evil. They do this by carrying water for the likes of Gavin Newsom. Their sustained, multi-year campaign to smear progressives has largely fallen on deaf ears in San Francisco, as voters keep putting progressive politicians in office, and passing progressive initiatives.

The Chron's plummeting circulation numbers show the results of their approach. As much as I'd love to see the paper implode, I think it's important to have a true daily paper here. But we need a fair daily paper...not one that's out to denigrate anyone it disagrees with.