First, a man rams a skateboard into the passenger window of a white vehicle. He exits the frame, then returns and slams his drink container into the windshield. Bystanders can be seen cheering the people vandalizing the car, as others record on their phones. Soon the car is engulfed in flames.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco crowd sets self-driving car on fire
Scenes of chaos from San Francisco’s Chinatown spread across social media Sunday after a mob vandalized and set fire to a Waymo self-driving car using a firework on Saturday evening. Waymo, owned by Google parent company Alphabet, has been offering Californians a 24/7 taxi service in driverless cars since last summer.
“Waymo Vehicle surrounded and then graffiti’d,” the San Francisco Fire Department said on social media hours later. “Windows were broken, and firework lit on fire inside the vehicle which ultimately caught the entire vehicle on fire.”
Photos uploaded by the fire department, which later reminded people that using fireworks is banned in San Francisco, showed the vehicle in flames and later its charred remains.
Waymo Vehicle surrounded and then graffiti’d, windows were broken, and firework lit on fire inside the vehicle which ultimately caught the entire vehicle on fire. #SFFD
Photos by Séraphine Hossenlopp pic.twitter.com/aOTqL3Rk8V— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) February 11, 2024
Police are investigating, and no arrests had been made as of Monday afternoon, San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Paulina Henderson told The Washington Post.
Officers responded to the fire at about 8:50 p.m. local time, the police statement said. When the officers arrived, the unoccupied car was “engulfed in flames,” according to the statement, which added that there were no reports of injuries.
Aaron Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, told NBC News that the incident was “terrible” and “extremely dangerous.”
“Buildings could have been lit on fire, people could have been hurt and most importantly, this was the day of the Chinese Lunar New Year,” Peskin said. “This is one of the most important days for families, there were thousands and thousands of tourists here, partaking in the events.”
A Waymo spokesperson told Reuters that the passenger-less car was moving along a street in Chinatown when people surrounded it. Later someone threw a firework inside, setting the fire, the company said.
“The vehicle was not transporting any riders and no injuries have been reported,” the company said.
Although cars without drivers have become a common sight on San Francisco’s winding and sloping streets, there are long-standing tensions between the city’s residents and the cars.
Still, rarely have driverless cars been set on fire.
A Waymo vehicle struck a cyclist last week in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, resulting in minor injuries, the Verge reported. The Waymo passenger was unhurt, and the cyclist left the scene on their own.
Driverless cars have caused major concerns in San Francisco by disrupting first responders on multiple occasions, including driving into scenes cordoned off by caution tape and striking a firetruck responding to an emergency, The Post previously reported.
Last year, a robotaxi operated by Cruise — a Waymo rival — rolled over a pedestrian and dragged her about 20 feet, after which the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended its operations. Days later, the company said it would suspend all driverless operations in the country to examine its process and earn back public trust.
In four videos uploaded by witness Michael Vandi, who heads Addy AI, an AI company, a man who is using his jacket to cover his face can be seen scribbling on the back of the car with what appears to be a sharpie. Others in the crowd appear unmasked. An unidentified voice encourages others to light the vehicle on fire.
The atmosphere directly outside Hua Long Trading, a shop selling cigarettes, snacks and other daily items on Jackson Street, appears charged.
Once the car is set on fire, however, people appear to back away from the vehicle. The Post could not access footage of the moment when the firecracker was thrown inside the car.
Vandi told Reuters in a direct message on X, formerly Twitter, that people were celebrating the Lunar New Year on Saturday evening by setting off fireworks. He said he saw a person jump onto the hood of the vehicle and break its windshield, and another later jumped onto the hood as the crowd clapped. Vandi could not be reached for comment Monday morning.
“That was when it went WILD,” he wrote. “There were 2 groups of people. Folks who encourage it – and others who were just shocked & started filming. No one stood up – i mean there wasn’t anything you could do to stand up to dozens of people.”
San Francisco, CA
Night Navigator pilot program offers help to San Francisco fentanyl users
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San Francisco, CA
This Week: Prop. 4, Green Mobility, H2 Ferry – Streetsblog San Francisco
Here is a list of events this week.
- Tuesday Proposition 4 Explained: The Climate Bond for a Sustainable California. Join SPUR, Save the Bay, and Greenbelt Alliance for a discussion on Proposition 4, which seeks to address aspects of global warming through targeted investments in parks, the environment, energy, and water infrastructure. Tuesday, Sept. 17, 12-1 p.m. Register for Zoom link.
- Wednesday All About Bikeways: Green Mobility Ambassadors Training Series. This session is part of Bike East Bay’s ambassadors program. Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6-7:30 p.m. Register for Zoom link.
- Thursday Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry Ride. Join SPUR for a ride on a hydrogen fuel-cell ferry, the MV Sea Change. Thursday, Sept. 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m. San Francisco Pier 41 Ferry Terminal, S.F. Reserve a ticket.
- Thursday Moving San Francisco to a Transit-first Future. Join this San Francisco Transit Riders panel to reimagine the future of Bay Area public transportation as a fully funded and fully accessible system to serve ALL riders. Thursday, Sept. 19, 6-8:30 p.m. Google Community Space, 188 The Embarcadero, S.F.
- Saturday Smart City Cycling-Road Practice. This San Francisco Bicycle Coalition class includes a guided group ride to practice street-riding skills on increasingly high-volume streets. “Smart City Cycling 2: Maneuvering” is a prerequisite. Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Arguello Extension, Arguello Blvd and Lincoln Way, S.F.
- Saturday Muni Heritage Weekend. Take free rides aboard unique vintage transit vehicles rarely seen on the modern streets of San Francisco. Saturday, Sept. 21 & Sunday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. San Francisco Railway Museum, 77 Steuart Street, S.F.
- Saturday Adaptive Cycling in Golden Gate Park. In partnership with BORP.org’s Adaptive Sports and Recreation and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, SF Rec Park is providing hand cycles, foot trikes and tandem bikes. Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. GGP Music Concourse Bandshell, 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, S.F.
- Saturday BART and Bike to the Walnut Creek Walnut Festival. This Transbay Coalition ride goes along the gorgeous (and separated) Iron Horse and Contra Costa County Canal trails. It’s about 15 minutes and mainly flat. After the ride you’ll park your bike at the festival’s bike valet. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2 p.m. Meet at Pleasant Hill BART Station, 1365 Treat Blvd, Walnut Creek. Event admission is $15. Register for the ride.
Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco public school families and teachers face delays on closure decisions
SAN FRANCISCO – Families and teachers in San Francisco’s public schools will have to wait longer than expected to find out if their school could close next year.
SFUSD Superintendent Matt Wayne was expected to reveal a list of schools that may close or merge at this week’s board meeting. However, on Sunday, Wayne announced that the list would not be made public until sometime in October.
In a notice issued Sunday morning, Wayne said, “The process of closing and merging schools is complicated, and I want to make sure we’ve looked at it from every angle, including how after-school care, grant funding, and transportation will be affected.”
Sara Meskin, a member of the SF Parent Coalition, voiced disappointment, saying, “Not necessarily surprising, but it was disappointing because I think people were really counting on getting information this week.” She added, “The longer we go without answers, it just makes it really difficult for schools to plan, for teachers to have security, and for parents fundraising for their school.”
The nonprofit advocacy group SF Parent Coalition is hosting a mayoral debate tomorrow evening, with all five major candidates expected to attend.
SFUSD remains under financial supervision by the state, a result of years of overspending and declining enrollment.
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