San Francisco, CA

Attacks on Elderly Prompt Town Hall Meeting in San Francisco

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2022

Attacks on Elderly Prompt Town Hall Meeting in San Francisco

A current sequence of assaults on aged Asian Individuals in San Francisco prompted leaders, members, and supporters of the AAPI neighborhood to demand a city corridor assembly with town’s police chief to deal with the difficulty. The assembly was held on Aug. 16 in Chinatown.

“There’s been an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes because the pandemic began, and it has not died down in any respect. And within the final week and a half in San Francisco there’s been three further assaults on aged Asian folks,” Hudson Liao, Founding father of Asians Are Robust and a co-organizer of the city corridor instructed The Epoch Instances’ sister media NTD.

A type of assaults concerned 70-year-old Mrs. Ren who was violently robbed and injured a number of instances by a teen and three juveniles at her senior residing middle on July 31.

“Three of the 4 people have been underneath the age of 18, as younger as 11 years previous. And that’s unhappy,” mentioned San Francisco Police Chief Invoice Scott on the packed city corridor assembly.

San Francisco Police Chief Invoice Scott addresses an viewers at a City Corridor at Victory Corridor in San Francisco’s Chinatown on Aug. 16, 2022. (David Lam)

The San Francisco District Legal professional’s workplace introduced that three of the 4 suspects have been arrested and an 18-year-old has been charged with a felony. They’re nonetheless engaged on finding a 14-year-old suspect. The 11-year-old won’t be charged.

“It’s loopy. Media is elevating our youngsters these days. I see it, simply mother and father giving their cellphone to their youngsters in a grocery retailer to have them watch YouTube. You recognize what I imply, issues like that,” mentioned city corridor attendee and activist Serena Morales.

Morales says she’s been working since Nov 2021 to search out the killers of Jasper Wu, a child sufferer struck by a stray bullet whereas using in his mother’s automotive on the freeway.

“[Jasper] was killed on November 6. His killing has been categorized as a automotive accident in keeping with the California Freeway Patrol. And I feel that’s simply devastating. I feel the violence completely wants to finish,” Morales mentioned.

Greg Chew, 70, former San Francisco commissioner, was among the many current senior victims. He was punched and crushed throughout the road from his dwelling by a bicycle-riding attacker on Aug. 6.

“What we’ve seen previously two years—a few of this began in 2020 originally of the pandemic—is basically, significantly in 2020 and 2021, a rise in assaults towards the Asian neighborhood,” Police Chief Scott mentioned to the city corridor attendees.

The San Francisco District Legal professional, members of the San Francisco Police Division and Asian-American neighborhood leaders have been among the many attendees.

In line with the US. Census in 2021, Asian Individuals make up about 37 % of San Francisco’s inhabitants.

Justin Zhu, one of many co-organizers of the occasion and co-founder of Stand with Asian Individuals requested the chief to rent extra police leaders from the Chinese language neighborhood, which might assist with following up on incidents with non-English audio system.

“We’ve had sufficient of this, we actually want leaders who care about Asian Individuals, Chinese language Individuals who stay right here, and somebody who’s from that neighborhood and who cares about defending our folks as police officer, as a police chief. I feel there are a variety of certified folks on the market if we actually look,” mentioned Zhu.

San Francisco District Legal professional Brooke Jenkins answered questions from the general public and mentioned her staff is working exhausting to unravel the instances.

“I feel that it’s a tragic state once we get to the purpose that our youngsters are victimizing and assaulting who ought to be probably the most revered members of our society,” Jenkins mentioned to the group.

However not everybody thought the newly appointed district lawyer is doing sufficient. In attendance was former San Francisco Police Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese who’s working towards Jenkins for district lawyer within the upcoming November election.

“Ship the message to those thugs. ‘You come into San Francisco, we’re gonna throw the ebook at you, you’re gonna go to jail, and also you’re gonna pay restitution.’ And so long as they get the ebook thrown at them, the message is gonna be despatched to the remainder of their associates, that we’re not gonna come to San Francisco to do these crimes as a result of all of those perpetrators are coming outdoors of San Francisco,” Veronese mentioned.

On the assembly, Supervisor Matt Dorsey talked about offering extra funding to the police drive. He additionally mentioned that crime prevention begins with giving media publicity to arrests as a lot because the assault itself.

“As a result of that’s finally what is going to ship the message to would-be attackers that it shouldn’t even be one thing you’ll take into consideration in San Francisco. In the event you commit a hate crime or a hate incident in San Francisco, you’re going to be caught, you’re going to be prosecuted and held accountable. That’s why we’ve got to ship that message and be actually vigilant in speaking that we’re not going to be tolerating this type of violence right here,” Dorsey mentioned.

The co-organizers mentioned they have been completely happy in regards to the massive turnout and neighborhood involvement. Nevertheless, they wished extra concrete proposals from town’s management and consider there’s nonetheless progress to be made. They mentioned they might speak to the mayor to proceed the momentum.

NTD reporter David Lam contributed to this report.

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Jason is a reporter based mostly in San Francisco protecting California information.

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Rave Doc ‘Between The Beats’ Acquired by Gravitas Ventures for U.S. and Canada (EXCLUSIVE)

Published

5 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

San Francisco Rave Doc ‘Between The Beats’ Acquired by Gravitas Ventures for U.S. and Canada (EXCLUSIVE)

Indie film distributor Gravitas Ventures has secured U.S. and Canadian rights to “Between The Beats,” a feature documentary chronicling San Francisco’s early 1990s rave scene and its lasting impact on the Bay Area.

Directed by Martin O’Brien and produced by O’Brien and Mike Koeppel, the film features prominent figures from the era, including Brian Behlendorf, DJ Harvey, DJ Dan and DJ Doc Martin. It examines the DIY ethos and psychedelic community spirit that defined the scene.

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The documentary explores how the all-night electronic music dance parties attracted diverse crowds and became catalysts for many attendees who later became significant players in Silicon Valley, global dance music and activism.

O’Brien, who was involved in creating the San Francisco rave scene, said: “The film was made to take viewers on a journey back to an early ’90s music scene that has since grown into the hugely popular EDM/electronica phenomenon across the globe. I wanted to capture the magic of those early years and celebrate transformational music and the powerfully positive energy among its participants.”

Mackenzie Maguire, acquisitions manager at Gravitas Ventures, added: “This intimate look into the San Francisco rave scene is sure to fascinate audiences nationwide.”

Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment company, plans to release “Between The Beats” on digital platforms on October 15.

The company has been on an acquisition spree of late with recent pickups including sci-fi thriller “The Fix,” starring Grace Van Dien, who appeared in “Stranger Things”; drama “My Home Unknown” starring, written and produced by first time feature director Yaz Canli; Lou Simon‘s “9 Windows,” a modern re-telling of Director Alfred Hitchcock‘s 1954 classic, “Rear Window”; and horror thriller “I’ll Play Mother.”

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San Francisco, CA

Navy’s Hunters Point Shipyard Cleanup in San Francisco Moves Underwater | KQED

Published

15 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

Navy’s Hunters Point Shipyard Cleanup in San Francisco Moves Underwater | KQED

The cleanup will focus on select contaminants — polychlorinated biphenyls, copper, lead and mercury — left by the Navy when the base was active. The goal is to remove contaminants that endanger animals that live in bay mud, as well as birds and humans that eat the contaminated shellfish and fish harvested from the water around the site.

Community advocates have called the agreement a “back door deal” that doesn’t fully address the radioactive contamination the Navy left in the soil at the site.

In a changing climate, the circled light blue areas depict where groundwater could emerge above ground at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard by 2035 and 2065. (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)

Work won’t start until 2027 after the Navy completes remedial design and planning. It will take about two years to complete the more than $30 million project; the Navy has yet to select a contractor to carry out the work or landfill to dispose of the waste.

The polluted sediment could be removed or remediated with dredging, treatment in place, capping or natural processes that eradicate the contaminants over time. The U.S. EPA and the California EPA oversee and enforce the Navy’s cleanup actions.

The 866-acre Hunters Point Naval Shipyard site was home to a shipyard from 1945 to 1974 and the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory from 1948 to 1960. By decontaminating ships after atomic bomb tests and other activities, the Navy contaminated shipyard soil and groundwater — as well as surface water and sediment in the San Francisco Bay — with radioactive chemicals, heavy metals and petroleum fuels. The base was declared one of the nation’s most contaminated sites in 1989.

The agencies overseeing the cleanup alongside the Navy spent at least six years figuring out the best way to clean up the underwater portion of the site because it poses a risk to people and wildlife.

Cleanup of the site began in 1996.

“You don’t have to be an engineer to do the math, but that’s 28 years,” said Eileen White, executive officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. “I want to thank the community who’s had to wait, but the end product is going to be great.”

The project is important as storms intensify because of human-caused climate change, said Michael Montgomery, director of the EPA’s Superfund and Emergency Management Division.

“Very large storms can cause disruption,” he said. “So, in terms of super storms, the remedy would help prevent contamination from shifting.”

Bayview residents including Arieann Harrison have advocated for the complete cleanup of the site for decades. Harrison, founder and CEO of the Marie Harrison Community Foundation, said community members felt blindsided by the plan.

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Terrifying moment brazen gang of dirt bike riders attempt to kill 49ers fan buying beer from San Francisco gas station – as cops watch on

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2024

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Terrifying moment brazen gang of dirt bike riders attempt to kill 49ers fan buying beer from San Francisco gas station – as cops watch on

By Melissa Koenig For Dailymail.Com

Published: 06:37 BST, 26 September 2024 | Updated: 08:35 BST, 26 September 2024

Terrifying video shows the moment a San Francisco 49ers fan was brutally run over by a gang of dirt bike riders as he was attempting to buy beer from a local gas station.

Ariel Cruz decided to walk to the Gulf station on February 11 at around 11pm after running out of booze while watching the football team’s overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs when he noticed a gang of dirt bike riders in the area, the San Francisco Standard reports.

One then allegedly punched him in the mouth splitting his lip on both sides, and video caught by a bystander showed the brazen gang started to taunt him – with dirt bikes and an ATV racing around him.

Cruz, who was still wearing a red 49ers jersey, could be seen waving his arms frantically as two cops with their batons drawn try to talk to him, before ultimately deciding to call for backup.

But the ATV then runs over Cruz at a high rate of speed, knocking him to the ground.

Video shows a brazen gang of dirt bike riders taunting Ariel Cruz after he walked over to a local gas station to buy some beer on February 11

An ATV eventually hit into Cruz at a high rate of speed, sending him plummeting to the ground

The quad bike then hits a post in front of one of the gas pumps with such force that the rider is thrown from his seat.

He then appears to get up and run from the two police officers at the scene – who watched them get away – as Cruz struggles to get back to his feet, stumbling as he stands.

Cruz said he suffered a knee injury and a concussion in the aftermath and could not walk for more than a month – leaving him unable to do his job as a painter.

‘I just remember my head was split open. I had staples in my head,’ the victim told KTVU. ‘My knee was really inflamed, I couldn’t walk on it.

‘My lip was busted on the inside and outside. I had a slash on my lip.’

Officers on the scene were seen talking to Cruz as the chaos ensued

The cops watched the gang get away while Cruz was struggling to stand up

Julian Ulloa Gomez, 31, was finally arrested for the incident on August 29, according to KRON.

He is now facing charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon – namely the Yamaha FX quad bike he was on – against an officer, as well as filing a false police report.

Police said Ulloa Gomez almost ran over one of the officers on the scene as well, noting that the San Francisco Police Department was already at the gas station at the time of the attack conducting a different investigation.

Cruz said he had to get staples in his head in the aftermath of the random attack

Ulloa Gomez was booked into jail on August 30 at 12.48pm and has already appeared in court to face the charges.

Following the hearing, Cruz said, police had to give him a ride home due to the large number of supporters the suspect had in the room.

‘Mr. Ulloa Gomez is a longtime Bay Area resident who, until his arrest, worked for years for a local towing company,’ Deputy Public Defender Eden Schwartz told The Standard.

‘He has the support of his family, and our office is committed to defending him against these charges.’