Author: Todd_Lappin

Cops, Campos Coordinate to Catch Criminals in Illegal Dumping Caper

/ Todd_Lappin / 4 Comments

All garbage, all the time. That wasn’t the original vision we had for Bernalwood; This blog was supposed to be all about deep glamour, conspicuous consumption, and fabulous stories about Bernal Heights glitterati. And soon, Bernalwood hopes to return to our usual vacuity. But today, after a miserable string of four (4!!!) illegal dumping incidents during the last week, trash is the topic of the moment. Even the San Francisco Examiner has taken note:

The wee hours of Wednesday morning marked the fourth time in recent months that a dump truck has quickly rolled up the peak, dumped a load — in a handicapped parking space, no less — and rolled back down into obscurity. All in a matter of 10 minutes.

And then, over the weekend, the hill experienced three additional brazen dumpings; one ended with a pile being set ablaze. On Sunday morning, a trail of household filth could be seen leading to a charred mass of hot garbage.

A local blog — Bernalwood — is on the case, along with neighbors who have mounted a camera on Folsom Street and have even solicited help from a “forensic architect” to provide clues on the origin of the dumped material.

Supervisor David Campos has taken notice as well.

In a comment last night here on Bernalwood, Supervisor David Campos announced that he too is on the case:

I just saw this item and want you to know that we have alerted the Department of Public Works and the Police Department of the situation. Illegal dumping is unacceptable. I want to thank Bernalwood and everyone who informed us of this matter. We will do everything we can to deal with this promptly and will continue to monitor the situation. Thank you again.

And what of the investigation? Suffice to say, tips and information provided by Bernalwood readers have provided some very strong leads for law-enforcement to pursue. How strong? Let’s just say… this strong. We hope to have more — and more satisfying — information to share soon. But for now, it’s probably best for us to let the investigators do their jobs.

In the meantime, Bernalwood has a word of caution for any would-be illegal dumpers: You can sneak around in the shadows. You can drive under cover of darkness. But you cannot hide. There are many of us. We are watching. Bernal’s all-knowing, all-seeing Eye of Sautrito will find you. You have been warned:

IMAGES: Top, David Campos via Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal. Eye of Sautrito, by Joe Thomas.

With Three New Incidents (and One Fire), Illegal Dumping Epidemic Plagues Bernal Hill

/ Todd_Lappin / 37 Comments

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Outrage.

That’s the only word that describes the feelings many of your neighbors experienced today when they awoke this morning to find another trash pile dumped on Bernal Hill. Last night’s was a doozy: The mess is so extensive that it blocks the southbound lane of Folsom at the intersection with Bernal Heights Boulevard.

Even worse, that was not the only new eyesore. On Friday night, someone dumped a pile of lawn trimmings and demolition debris a hundred yards east along Bernal Heights Blvd. between the Folsom parking lot and Carver Street. Then they set the pile ablaze.

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One of our hilltop neighbors describes what he saw:

I woke up to a fire on Folsom in front of Bernal Hill Park. Someone had dumped and then set some debris on fire. Awesome. I called 911 and then walked outside to get a closer look but forgot my phone inside so no photos. Thankfully a fire truck arrived a couple minutes after I called and put it out before it could spread onto the hill.

And that’s not all. It appears someone dumped even more trash along the boulevard last night, leaving a miserable trail of household debris that stretches east from the burned-out trash pile all the way to the Vista Pointe Mini-Park:

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Here’s a video that shows what it looked like to drive west along the boulevard this morning:

It’s like the frikkin’ early 1970s up there. Horrible.

So that’s FOUR illegal dumping incidents within one week. Yet if there is an upside to this string of horrors, it’s the fact that law-enforcement has taken notice. Bernalwood will not divulge details here, for fear of compromising any ongoing investigations, but suffice to say that more than one agency is involved. And of course, if you have ANY information that might be useful to the investigators who are pursuing these vile trash-dumping goons, you can send it to us at the usual email address. Bernalwood will ensure that all promising leads are forwarded to the authorities.

Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeethe.

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics. Video courtesy of a Bernal neighbor.

Jackie Jones Reveals Secrets of Her Famous Dancing Cat

/ Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

It’s Friday, which means the Alemany Farmer’s Market will take place tomorrow — just as it has for about as long as anyone can remember. And for almost as long, the amazing Jackie Jones and Her Dancing Cat have been entertaining the crowds, and especially the kids

Recently, Vicky Walker from the excellent Bernal History Project interviewed Jackie Jones about her Farmer’s Market act, and the interview was published this week on (wait for it…) Catster, a fansite for cat lovers.

The article contains at least one bombshell: In it, Jacky Jones reveals that her freaky-awesome dancing cat actually has a name, and the cat’s name is Effigy. Which is kind of freaky-awesome.

Jackie says:

The cat’s name is Effigy, and she’s over 15 years old. She’s lavender — well, she’s supposed to be, but the sun has changed the color and now she’s pink. I wanted a cat because it’s something fun to look at while I play, because the music can turn off some people. And I don’t have good diction, so I don’t sing.

If you notice, she’s wearing a striptease outfit! She has a tasseled fringe and pasties. She might need eight pasties if I was being anatomically accurate, but I’m not into being anthropomorphic.

She also revealed that the cat has been equipped with a lethal self-defense system:

I don’t have much energy these days, so I play until about noon, 12.30. If I get a big crowd, I’ll play a bit longer. The kids are my bread and butter, as long as they’re well behaved. If I can get them dancing, that’s a plus. I have to keep an eye out, because some of them run up and hit or touch the cat. If I don’t watch that, they could pull off her arm and take it home.

Someone at the market makes long skinny balloons, and the kids go to hit the cat with them, but I’m ready for them now. I put a thumbtack on the top of the cat’s head! [Mimes small child’s disappointment at burst balloon.] “Waaaaaah!”

Vicky’s interview is packed with great details about Jackie Jones, her music, her life, and her influences. Read it to see this weekend’s Farmer’s Market from a very different perspective.

PHOTO: John Blackburn via Catster

Smutty Succulent Startles Visitor From Mission District

/ Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Us boring (but glamorous) Bernalfolk may get hyper-upset over a pile of dumped trash, but our neighbors in the Mission District are normally a rather unflappable bunch. Yet during a recent walk through Bernal Heights, famous MissionMission celebrity blogger Vic Wong made a most startling discovery.

While exploring a community garden “near Esmeralda and Winfield,” Mr. Wong aroused the cactus shown above. The full spectacle apparently unnerved the visitor from the Mission, as he later huffed on the Tumblr:

Oh grow up, nature

Memo to the flatlanders: We go big up here.

PHOTO: Vic Wong

Security Camera Captures Photos of Suspect Truck in Bernal Hill Dumping Incident

/ Todd_Lappin / 34 Comments

Citizens of Bernalwood, several of your neighbors are working hard to identify who dumped a big load of construction debris on Bernal Hill Tuesday night. And they could use your help.

Some clues have emerged. For example, it appears the dumping didn’t actually happen on Tuesday night. If the security camera photos above show the actual suspect vehicle, it seems that the dumping occurred between 4:29 and 4:39 am on Wednesday morning.

In the first photo, we see the truck lumbering up Folsom at 4:29 am, with a full load in the back.  Ten minutes later, it came back down the hill, apparently empty. Here are zoomed and enhanced closeups of the vehicle. It is a white, late-model medium-duty truck in good condition, perhaps made by Navistar International.

Meanwhile, other clues have emerged.

Included among the debris was what appears to be a snare drum cover, with the name “Rene Maples” spray painted on the front:

Lastly, a forensic architect has joined the case, and after examining the debris, the architect made a few observations:

1) The project involves the renovation of a existing older house (Victorian/Edwardian) that had existing exterior and interior rot/water damage. The roof is flat or has flat parts. Center support beams and columns and some joists were replaced (stairs probably too). There was also likely plumbing completed (water bottle filled with urine and extra fittings) and a partial deck and/or footing replacement. Old and new siding patch.

2) The contemporary debris (laminated beam ends and composite joists) was slightly weathered, so its not from a project that started last month–but it could have been started a month or two earlier and been weathered from our recent rains.

Those are the clues your neighbors have collected so far.

If you have any additional information about the truck, the origin of the drum cover, or any neighborhood construction projects that might match the type and timing described above, please contact the Bernalwood tip line at bernalwood at gmail dot com. Let’s find the people who did this.

Son of Stephen Stymiest Visits Precita Park to Learn About the Father He Barely Knew

/ Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

Last January, Bernal Heights mourned the death of Stephen Stymiest, the homeless neighbor and gentleman who lived in Precita Park. This week, Stephen’s 21 year-old son came to Precita Park to learn more about the man he never really knew and visit the place his father had called home.

Reporter Zusha Elinson from the Bay Citizen was on hand to talk with Brent Lawson, 21, who last saw his father when he was 5 years-old:

On the last Sunday in January, weeks before Stymiest’s family learned of his death, more than 40 neighbors gathered at a spot in the park where he often spent his days. There were songs and cookies and eulogies, and the event was recorded in the neighborhood blog, Bernalwood.wordpress.com.

“It wasn’t until I heard about what happened to him that everything came out about who he was. And I learned a lot about him, about what a nice guy he was, how smart he was, how he enjoyed life,” Lawson said.

Dear neighbors, meet Stephen’s son:

The last part of the Bay Citizen story is heartbreaking:

“We all wished we would meet him someday, but you know. . . It’s just what happened,” Lawson said.

For the rest of the day, Lawson sat in the park where his father sat.

“This is where he was every day,” he said. “It might just be a regular bench to most people, but it’s more than that to me.”

The full Bay Citizen article is a must-read, and it also includes two more video segments from their interview with Brent Lawson.

On behalf of everyone here who knew Stephen, Bernalwood would like to extend our most sincere and grateful welcome to his son. Thank you, and thank you for coming to Bernal Heights.

PHOTOS: Top, Stephen Stymiest, via Telstar Logistics

Yet Another Awful Dumping Incident on Bernal Hill

/ Todd_Lappin / 19 Comments

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Once again, shady contractors dumped a load of construction debris near the Folsom gate of Bernal Heights Park last night.

This morning our friends at Monkeybrains, our giga-awesome locavore ISP, captured the scene you see above. (Monkeybrains suggests checking the construction taking place on the 600 block of Peralta for a possible debris match. Note that this is merely one of many potential sources of the debris, NOT an accusation.)

Meanwhile, Neighbor Regina, who lives near the top of Folsom Street, was dismayed to find yet another trash pile dumped near her home. “My palms are sweating, I’m so mad,” she said this morning.

In response, she sent this email to Eric Andersen, the manager who oversees Bernal Heights Park for the SF Recreation and Parks Department:

Hi Eric,

It’s your favorite homeowner! 🙂

I’ve cc’d Todd Lappin, who manages Bernalwood. I figured you two should have each other’s contact info.

The dumpers have struck again.

In your honest opinion, what can we do about this? Is there a way to gate off that parking lot between certain hours?

I still haven’t had any luck with Joey at DPW regarding maintenance of their property. I feel like making this section look nicer will deter dumpers. If an area looks ignored, why not dump some trash there? Is there anyone else there who can help?

Thanks,

Regina

PHOTO: Courtesy of Monkeybrains

What’s Going On Inside That Big White Tent on Cesar Chavez?

/ Todd_Lappin / 24 Comments

Someday, Cesar Chavez Boulevard will be a glamorous, tree-lined thoroughfare equipped with clever design touches that allow cars, bikes, and pedestrians to share the street safely and efficiently. But today is not that day. Today, Cesar Chavez is a gnarled maze of traffic pylons, heavy equipment, and congested traffic. Yet amid all the construction chaos, one new feature is rather conspicuous: a large white tent that was recently erected at the intersection with Florida Street.

For residents of Bernalwood’s north side, the purpose of the tent has become the object of much conjecture and speculation. Some say the the tent will serve as the venue for a Teatro ZinZanni-style pop-up dinner theater, with the menu selected and prepared by chefs from the Hillside Supper Club. Others cite rumors which say the tent will play host to the bar mitzvah reception of young Herbert Schwartzmann of Peralta Avenue, who requested a “Bob the Builder” theme.

Fellow citizens, your Bernalwood investigative team is here today to tell you that those theories are incorrect. The truth of the matter is that the tent shelters the access point for a high-tech effort to stabilize the subterranean 19th century sewer pipe, which was recently supplanted by the brand-new pipe installed on the north side of the street.

The stabilization effort uses a technology called Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) that involves stuffing giant, resin-impregnated felt tubes into the old old sewer pipe. You can see a pile of the felt tubes stacked up here:

The felt tubes are become solid when they are cured with hot water, which stabilizes the old sewer pipe — eliminating the need to dig up the street to remove it.

Here’s an explanation of the process from the website of Sak Construction, which is performing the work on Cesar Chavez

During the wet-out process, the felt tube, coated on the outside with a continuous impermeable layer of polyurethane, is resin-impregnated, fully saturating the felt so that no voids or pockets of air remain in the tube. The wet-out liner is inverted into the existing pipe using a hydrostatic head or pressurized air. As a result, the resin-saturated side of the liner interfaces with the wall of the existing pipe. The reverse side of the liner—which is coated with polyurethane—thus becomes a smooth interior surface to effectively carry the rehabilitated pipeline’s flow.

Once the liner is in place throughout the entire length of the pipeline that is being repaired, we inject hot water or steam to cure the liner resin. When properly cured, this provides a continuous, jointless “pipe-within-a-pipe” and restores structural integrity to the damaged pipe.

This video shows how all the pieces come together:

PHOTOS: Courtesy of @SomaFMRusty

Stealth Aircraft Captured Flying Over Bernal Heights

/ Todd_Lappin / 5 Comments

A planespotter affiliated with the Bernalwood Air Force captured something rather unusual this morning:

Just got back from breakfast with a friend, and we were checking out the city view from my back set of stairs.  To the east we saw a set of contrails heading west, and I speculated they were tourists heading to the bliss of Hawaii.  Just as they reached due south of us, they began to make a turn to the northwest with the second aircraft weaving along the patch of the first one,  Grabbed my Nikon and took a few shots and you can see what did a fly-by of SF.

Let’s zoom and enhance:

And even more:

Wow!  Look at that! There’s only one plane shaped like that: It’s a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, conducting an overflight above Bernalwood. For comparison’s sake, here’s a photo of a B-2 taken during a 2010 airshow:

B-2 from below

All that expensive stealth technology should come in very handy to evade La Lengua’s infamous “Ring of Salsa” defensive grid.

PHOTOS: Above, Bernalwood Air Force Planespotter. B-2 closeup up by Andrew Abernathy

Stop! Runaway Car Collides with Wild Side West

/ Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

It’s been a bad week for vehicular control here in Bernalwood. Last Saturday we had a car flip over on Precita, while on Wednesday a runaway car bonked into the sidewalk bench at Wild Side West on Cortland. Neighbor Teri tells it:

My friend took the shot. All I heard was that a runaway ghost car parked in front of BofA just slowly rolled across the street and hit that bench. Through the crosswalk!! It was Wednesday around 5:30.

Looks like damage was light and no creatures were injured, but… WHEW!

PHOTO: Neighbor Teri’s anonymous friend

Possibly Bernal’s Best Passive-Aggressive Parking Note, Ever

/ Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

During a recent visit to the secret workshop of the Bernal Dads Racing Team, I spotted this note tacked to the wall. It had been left under the windshield wiper of one of the Dads’s cars, perhaps in jest — or at least half-jest.

Regardless, it made me laugh out loud, and it is definitely a candidate for nomination as the Best Passive-Aggressive Bernal Heights Parking Note, Ever.

The note says:

Please do not park your dilapidated crapwagon in front of my house. It scares my children and makes the house look better than it actually is.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is perfection — or at least near-perfection.

PHOTO: Telstar Logistics