UPDATED: Felony Charges Filed Against City Worker In Holly Park Tragedy; Driver Allegedly Made Two Attempts to Flee Scene

October 23, 2013October 24, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 10 Comments

The other shoe has dropped in the aftermath of the Sept 5 tragedy in which SF Recreation and Park employee Thomas Burnoski ran over and killed Christy Svanemyr while she was relaxing on the grass in Holly Park.

Yesterday the San Francisco DA’s Office filed felony vehicular manslaughter and hit and run charges against Burnoski. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Vivian Ho has the story:

Thomas Burnoski, 58, turned himself in to face the charges leveled by the district attorney’s office in connection with the Sept. 5 death of Christine Svanemyr, 35, at Holly Park. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

Burnoski was arrested the day of the accident, but had been free on $25,000 bail while police and prosecutors continued to investigate. Prosecutors did not explain Tuesday’s decision, but the charges suggest they believe Burnoski acted recklessly.

The Recreation and Park Department employee ran over Svanemyr in a city pickup truck as she relaxed in the grass with her dog and her then-10-month-old baby, Isa Amalie.

Burnoski’s attorneys said he veered onto the lawn from a paved pedestrian path to avoid an unleashed dog. However, park department policy does not allow workers to drive on pedestrian paths.

After hitting Svanemyr, the gardener continued down the grassy hill, hopped off a curb to Holly Park Circle – which surrounds the park – and drove to a staff meeting at nearby St. Mary’s Park. According to his attorneys, he then told his supervisor that he believed he hit something, but didn’t know what, and they returned to Holly Park.

“We believe in this case it was a tragic accident, but it wasn’t criminal,” attorney Tony Tamburello, whose firm is representing Burnoski, said Tuesday.

Burnoski, a parks employee since 2006, was placed on unpaid leave after Svanemyr’s death. He had no recent criminal record, though he was cited last year for talking on a cell phone while driving, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tamburello said Burnoski was devastated by the incident. The gardener’s 20-year-old daughter, Tiffany Burnoski, had died in a car accident in April in Fresno County.

“He understands what this all means and is devastated and feels very strongly,” Tamburello said. “He relates to the child that has to grow up without a mother and a husband who has to parent by himself. He understands all that. It’s been very difficult.”

A press conference on the charges filed against Burnoski is scheduled for this afternoon; Bernalwood will update this post if additional information becomes available.

UPDATE 24 October: SF Chronicle reporter Vivian Ho follow up with additional details about the prosecutors’ case against Burnoski:

The San Francisco city gardener accused of fatally running over a woman in a Bernal Heights park before leaving the scene told his supervisor that he thought he hit “a dog or a child” after he tore down the grassy hill where the victim lay with her baby, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Prosecutors outlined some of their case against the gardener, 58-year-old Thomas Burnoski, a day after charging him with felony vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run in the Sept. 5 death of Christine Svanemyr, 35, at Holly Park.

The district attorney’s office said the felony manslaughter charge, which requires a finding of gross negligence, was merited because Burnoski was simply looking for a shortcut when he veered onto the grass.

After he left the scene, prosecutors said, his supervisor forced him to return – before he made a second effort to get away.

But an attorney for Burnoski, who pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment Wednesday, said his client had no idea he struck a person after he was forced to swerve off a pedestrian path to avoid an unleashed dog.

The Department of Park and Recreation gardener quickly alerted his supervisor to what happened, and they returned to Holly Park, said the attorney, Tony Tamburello.

The prosecution and defense argued over Svanemyr’s death as they fought over bail. In the end, Superior Court Judge Monica Wiley decreased Burnoski’s bail from $350,000 to $100,000, which Tamburello said Burnoski’s supporters plan to raise.

Burnoski drove his Ford F-250 truck about 30 feet down a hill and over a spot where Svanemyr was relaxing with her dog and 10-month-old baby. He continued about 30 feet more over the grass, then jumped a curb onto the roadway below.

Tamburello said Burnoski had felt a bump under his wheels, but saw a dog running from under the truck and a baby about 45 feet away – and assumed both were safe.

Of the unleashed dog that purportedly darted in front of Burnoski’s car on the pedestrian path, Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai said, “There’s no evidence of that. Even if that was the case, I would press the brakes. I wouldn’t swerve into an area where there might be people.”

Talai said Burnoski drove to a staff meeting at nearby St. Mary’s Park, where he told his supervisor, “I hit something. It was maybe a dog or a child.”

The supervisor told Burnoski they needed to return to Holly Park, and they headed back in separate cars. When he saw police there, Burnoski tried to make a U-turn that was consistent with an attempt to flee, according to Talai.

IMAGE: Illustration by Bernalwood. Inset, Thomas Burnoski via SFPD. Background, tire tracks at Holly Park incident scene on Sept 5, 2013, by the San Francisco Examiner.

Campos Conducts Safety Hearing After Holly Park Tragedy

October 11, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 9 Comments

Amid angry concern that City employees continue to endanger the safety of neighborhood residents, D9 Supervisor David Campos held a hearing yesterday in City Hall to review Recreation and Parks Department procedures in the wake of the Sept. 5 tragedy in Holly Park that resulted in the death of Christy Svanemyer.

Meanwhile, a decision on whether to file criminal charges against Thomas Burnoski, the Rec and Park employee who was driving the truck that killed Svanemyer, is expected next week.

ABC-7 details the status of policy under Rec and Park director Phil Ginsberg:

“We want people driving no faster than people can walk. We want lights on, hazarda and headlights on, and we’re going to be outfitting our vehicles with oral signals,” said Recreation and Park Director Phil Ginsburg. He says another goal is to use smaller vehicles that would do less damage and he says the entire department has been retrained on safety regulations.

According to Ginsburg, the gardener expected to be charged in the case, Thomas Burnoski, had 25 training sessions since 2006, yet violated policy by driving off a service road and onto the grass without having another employee guide him.
City Supervisor David Campos believes the public’s trust has been shaken and called for answers at a hearing Thursday. “Even if we have the right policies in place, if we change the rules so that the right rules are in place, how do we make sure that they’re actually followed?” he asked.

KTVU provides additional coverage:

“There is no single public policy management stroke that can perfectly inoculate an individual’s judgment in a single moment,” said head of San Francisco s Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

But Ginsburg did propose some changes. Among the changes were to increase signs on park service roads, impose a 5 mph speed limit for city trucks inside the park and install warning alarms for trucks used on service roads.

One department policy that wasn’t followed in this case was the requirement that trucks travelling off the roads and onto recreation areas such as where Svanemyr was have spotters on vehicles working with drivers.

“Since we have policies in place that clearly have not been followed, how can we ensure that — whatever changes we make — that the changes are followed?” asked Campos.

As for Thomas Burnoski, sources said a decision on criminal charges should come next week.

PHOTO: KTVU

Emotional Vigil in Holly Park Remembers Christy Svanemyr

October 4, 2013October 4, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

The vigil for Christy Svanemyr that took place yesterday was sad and powerful.

Held on the very ground in Holly Park where she was killed by a Recreation & Parks pickup truck on the afternoon of Sept. 5, the vigil celebrated Christy Svanemyr’s life, mourned her passing, and reiterated calls for accountability and improved park safety.

There were six or seven TV news trucks there, and several dozen people attending the vigil — a mix of Bernal neighbors, friends of Christy Svanemyr, and city officials.

A woman who had been a good friend of Christy spoke of the appreciation Christy brought to each moment in life. D9 Supervisor David Campos spoke movingly about the impossible difficulty of loss. Neighbor Lucy expressed quiet outrage, calling for the City to do the right thing.

Christy’s husband, Vegar Svanemyr, also spoke.

Vegar said hadn’t planned to come to the vigil; He said it seemed “overwhelming.”

Yet in the end he decided to come, because he felt called to speak about his own grief, and the depth of the love he shared with Cristy. Originally from Norway, Vegar said Christy had helped teach him how to open up his heart, and that she would have wanted him to attend the vigil, and embrace the spirit of what it represented. So he did.

His speech was halting, simple, deep, and honest.

It was heartbreaking.

Supervisor Campos tells Bernalwood he will hold a hearing on Rec & Park safety practices next Thursday, October 10 10:00 am, before the Neighnorhood Services & Safety Committee, in the Board of Supervisors Chamber.

In the meantime, you can read this piece from ABC-7 for an update on how the legal case against Rec & Park employee Thomas Burnoski is developing.

PHOTOS: Vigil, by Telstar Logistics

UPDATED: Weeks After Tragedy, Rec and Park Vehicles Still Drive in Holly Park; No Charges Filed Against Deadly Driver

October 3, 2013October 3, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 19 Comments

As you know, there’s a vigil tonight at 5 pm for Christy Svanemyr, the victim in the Holly Park hit-and-run tragedy.

Please attend if you can — not just because it’s a fitting way to remember Christy, but also because the violations of Rec and Park policy that triggered the accident apparently continue in Holly Park to this day.

Neighbor Rebecca sent this to Bernalwood earlier this week:

Perhaps I’m simply being hypersensitive.

I was there when tragedy struck earlier this month. Ever since, as solo dog walker, I’ve noticed the amount of vehicles that inhabit local SF parks. When I can I try to take photos and report inappropriate actions.

On Sept 29 at around 2:30p I witnessed a SF Rec and Park vehicle drive, yes slowly, towards the restroom in Holly Park to carry a single box from the truck to the restrooms.

Is it really necessary to drive through a park so small? Regardless of weather, he remained on park roads. There was no spotter, and all equipment he carried to or from the truck did not appear to be extraordinarily heavy. Also, the distance he parked from the restrooms seemed almost equidistant to parking on the actual street and carrying needed supplies.

I’m just a concerned Bernalite, who witnessed a tragedy and questioning all I see in regards to it.

That’s exactly what we all should do.

Tonight’s vigil will be an excellent opportunity to share those questions and concerns — to ensure that nothing like this ever happens ever again.

UPDATE: Also today, our friends at SFist report that no charges have yet been filed against Thomas Burnoski, the Rec & Park employee who was driving the vehicle that killed Christy Svanemyr:

A month after 35-year-old Christine Svanemyr was struck and killed by a Rec and Parks Department truck as she lay on the grass in Holly Park with her infant daughter and family dog, and the District Attorney’s office has yet to file charges in the case. The driver of truck, 57-year-old gardener Thomas Burnoski, has said he was unaware that he struck the woman after he turned off an asphalt path in the park.

Burnoski was released on $25,000 bail after the incident on September 5th and prosecutors original claimed they would decide whether to press charges by the end of September. According to the District Attorney’s office, they actually have up to three years to file charges

PHOTOS: Neighbor Rebecca

Thursday: Vigil for Christy Svanemyr, Victim in Holly Park Death

October 1, 2013September 30, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

A group of Bernal neighbors have organized to hold a vigil for Christy Svanemyr, the wife, mother, and Zen monk who died on on Sept. 5 after she was was run over by a Recreation and Park vehicle in Holly Park.

The vigil will happen on Thursday, October 3rd at 5 pm, in Holly Park near Highland Ave. Here are the complete details, from the announcement:

PHOTO: Top, flowers placed at the site where Christy Svanemyr was killed, photographed on Saturday, Sept 7 by Telstar Logistics.

As Investigation Continues, City Worker Says He Did Not Realize He’d Hit a Person in Holly Park

September 17, 2013September 17, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

The hit-and-run that caused the death of Christy Svanemyr in Holly Park at 2:30 pm on September 5 was a terrible tragedy that continues to unfold in many sad chapters.

Vivian Ho at the San Francisco Chronicle has been reporting on Thomas Burnoski, 57, the Recreation and Parks employee whom police say was driving the City-owned vehicle that ran over Svanemyr as she lay on the grass with her infant and dog:

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department worker who ran over a woman as she lay with her baby in a Bernal Heights park initially suspected he had hit something, but did not realize it was a person until he was arrested, his attorney said Friday.

Thomas Burnoski, 57, was driving a city truck on a pedestrian path in Holly Park just before 2:20 p.m. Sept. 5 when he veered onto the grass to avoid an object on the pavement, said his attorney, Robert Waggener, providing his client’s first public account of the fatal accident.

It was the end of Burnoski’s shift and he was on his way to St. Mary’s Park a few blocks to the south, where city gardeners gather at the end of the day, Waggener said. When he arrived, Burnoski told his supervisor he thought he had struck something back at Holly Park, but wasn’t sure what it was.

The supervisor suggested they return to Holly Park. But police stopped both of them on their way back, Waggener said.

He said it was only when Burnoski was in custody at the Ingleside Police Station that he learned he had run over Christine Svanemyr.

As the investigation into the incident continues, The Chronicle reports that Burnoski is currently free on $25,000 bail while prosecutors decide upon possible charges.

In a written statement released by his attorney [Burnoski] said that he and his family “wish to express our profound sorrow to the family of Christine Svanemyr and her community of friends.”

“My actions caused the death of this person and there is nothing I can do to bring her back,” the statement reads. “I am absolutely devastated by this tragic accident. Mere words can never convey what I and my family feel, knowing that a child will grow up without her mother, and that Mr. Svanemyr faces parenting alone, in shock, bewilderment and immeasurable grief.”

In a separate Chronicle item, columnist C.W. Nevius follows up with Vegar Svanemyr, the surviving husband of Christy:

“Someone told me that grief is really chaotic and never what you expect,” [Vegar Svanemyr] said. “One moment I feel OK and then it just washes over me. I feel like I am in this dream state. Everyone feels the need to do something and there’s nothing to be done.”

His natural tendency, he admits, is to withdraw. But that day, standing next to Christy’s body at the hospital, he made a decision.

“I’ve always been kind of reluctant to share my feelings and thoughts,” he said. “I don’t know why. But I kind of made a promise to her not to be a hermit but to open myself up. When I saw her lying there, I felt an immediate need to open up my heart to the world. I think it makes all the difference to talk.”

There are a few things he wants to say. First, the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

“I have felt completely held and loved by everyone, from family and friends to total strangers that have cooked us meals and donated breast milk,” he said. “I’m experiencing a strange blend of total loss and total gratitude.”

And second, he’s moved beyond the blame and anger.

“My wish would be to say something beyond that this is so shocking and how can this happen,” he said. “Some things seem terribly unimportant right now, but I want to be sure whatever I do from here has value and meaning.”

Bernalwood will continue to provide updates about the Svanemyr family, memorial efforts, and the criminal investigation as additional information becomes available.

IMAGE: Illustration by Bernalwood. Inset, Thomas Burnoski via SFPD. Background, tire tracks at Holly Park incident scene on Sept 5, 2013, by the San Francisco Examiner.

Supervisor Campos Calls for Hearings to Review Rec and Park Vehicle Policy

September 10, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 15 Comments

More fallout from the hit-and-run death of Christy Svanemyr last Thursday in Holly Park. San Francisco Chronicle reporter (and Bernal neighbor) Marisa Lagos has the details about a round of hearings proposed by District 9 Supervisor David Campos:

Campos will call for a hearing Tuesday to examine the Recreation and Parks Department’s vehicle policy. He can’t focus exclusively on Svanemyr’s death, he said, because of the ongoing investigation, but wants to make sure nothing like the incident ever happens again.

Neighbors have told the Chronicle that they saw park workers repeatedly driving off pathways and too fast in Holly Park, but that complaints went unanswered.

“I want to do a hearing to see: What are the policies and procedures that govern how maintenance vehicles enter and drive in parks? How are they enforced? What training is provided? How are complaints handled?” Campos said. “I was sick to my stomach, dismayed and very angry and upset (by the death).”

According to the parks department, workers are not allowed to drive on park pathways, sidewalks, closed roads or the actual park area “merely for convenience purposes.” If they do need to drive “on a park-scape or other surface not designed for vehicle operation,” they are supposed to have a spotter outside the vehicle.

PHOTO: The Rec and Park vehicle that struck Christy Svanemyr, via KCBS.

How to Make Holly Park Safe Again

September 10, 2013September 10, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

Lilia S. lives in Sunnyside, but she wrote to Bernalwood last night with an astute list of reforms that might be undertaken in the aftermath of Christy Svanemyr’s death last week in Holly Park, to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again:

I am heartbroken and dismayed by the tragic killing of Christine Svanemyr in Holly Park last Thursday, September 5, 2013. I can’t imagine how such an event could even take place – and yet it has. The point of city parks is to be a safe haven for people to relax and children to play away from dangerous traffic. If that isn’t the case, as clearly it isn’t, we need to take a long hard look at our priorities.

I am on half a dozen local parents’ lists and the outcry over this tragedy has been overwhelming. Below, I have compiled a brief list of actions needed to change our broken system so that the parks can be safe and tragedies like this never repeat themselves. These concerns are compiled from a range of San Francisco residents and parents; I don’t pretend they are all mine.

Increase the effectiveness of the 311 customer service line: I understand from the parents’ email lists that people have been complaining to 311 about motor vehicle driving in Holly Park for some time now. I personally have been hung up on more than not by the customer service representatives whom I reach through 311. All customer complaints must be followed up and resolved. This tragedy never would have happened if that were already the case.

Prohibit motor vehicles from driving in the parks unless there is significant construction or object (like a large tree) removal: human power should be plenty for most regular park maintenance. Unless there is something significant and unusual going on, there should never be motor vehicles in the parks.

Use the smallest vehicle that will do the job: if a motor vehicle is needed for a specific, larger than usual, park maintenance activity, it should be very smallest one that can do the job. Unless a giant thousand-year-old redwood has died and needs removed, there is no reason for anything larger than a golf cart to be in the parks.

Enforce existing rules when motor vehicles must drive in the park: I understand there are a range or rules in terms of MPH limits, not driving on the grass, and having a second worker spotting the vehicle during any time they are within park grounds. I also understand that thousands of parents using our parks have seen Rec and Park workers ignore these rules.

Assign job responsibilities appropriately: the job of maintaining our parks is a privilege that should only be offered to workers who respect the vulnerable nature of recreational space. If a worker takes a different view of recreational space, I am sure the City can find another job responsibility for him or her.

We have lost more than a local mother; we have lost our ability to feel safe in our parks. Christy is gone. But significant action, including the items described above, can return our parks to their intended role as a place for safe recreation. We all grieve in different ways – mine is to try to address the cause of this tragic loss so that it never happens again.

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,

Lilia S.

PHOTO: “Jenny Naps” in Holly Park, by Jeff Gray, 2007 via Flickr

Fund Collects Donations for Holly Park Victim Christy Svanemyr’s Surviving Family

September 9, 2013September 9, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

Christy Svanemyr didn’t live in Bernal Heights. But last Thursday, when she died in Holly Park after a Recreation and Parks Department truck drove over her as she lay on the grass with her daughter, Christy Svanemyr became a part of the Bernal community.

Christy Svanemyr had a strong network of friends and co-workers here in San Francisco, and in an email to Bernalwood, here’s how one of her friends described her:

Joyful, playful, deep, clear, open, VERY loving, really together. Zen monk, coach, trainer, amazing loving friend, mom, wife, dancer, snowboarder… Just one of those luminous, humble beings who made you feel special and brought out the specialness of the moment.

Yes, very clearly One of Us.

Many Bernal residents have asked if there is anything that can be done to help Christy’s husband, Vegar, and their infant daughter.

Indeed there is: Christy’s friends have created the Christy Svanemyr Family Fund to assist the family with near-term expenses. The fund has already exceeded its initial goal (thankfully), but as the fund page explains, “Even though the ‘goal’ has been reached, the support needed is endless. Please continue to give as you are moved to. The site will continue to accept donations through this page.”

Vegar and Christy’s friends have expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received from Bernal Heights. A donation to the Christy Svanemyr Family Fund is a way to make that support even more tangible. If you are so inclined, please make a contribution.

PHOTOS: Top, flowers placed at the site where Christy Svanemyr was killed, photographed on Saturday, Sept 7 by Telstar Logistics. Photo of Christy Svanemyr and her daughter, via Facebook.

UPDATED: Mother Killed by City-Owned Truck in Holly Park Hit-and-Run Identified; Driver Arrested

September 5, 2013September 9, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 94 Comments

An unimaginable tragedy has transpired in Holly Park.

This is what we know: [UPDATED] During a warm and sunny afternoon on Thursday Sept 5, 2013 in Bernal Heights, Christine Svanemyr, 35, her infant daughter Isa, and her dog Ponyo were relaxing under a tree on the south side of Holly Park. Shortly after 2 pm, a green Ford pickup operated by the San Francisco Department of Parks and Recreation and driven by Rec and Park employee Thomas Burnoski, 57, ran over Svanemyr as she lay on the grass. Burnoski fled the scene of the incident, and despite valiant efforts by first-responders, the gravely injured mom later died at SF General. Her infant and dog were unharmed. Police quickly located Burnoski near St. Mary’s Park, and took him into custody. A Rec and Park employee since 2006, Burnoski has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run, and remains in jail with bail set at $315,000.

Reporters Nanette Asimov and Vivian Ho from SFGate describe what happened:

The 35-year-old woman was lying with her baby and a dog in the grass at Holly Park when the driver struck her at about 2:20 p.m., said police spokesman Officer Tracy Turner.

The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died. The baby girl was not injured and is now in the custody of her father. The dog is with Animal Care and Control.

The driver left the park after running over the woman, but was detained by police several blocks away, Turner said. He was taken to Ingleside Station for questioning, and police plan to book him on suspicion of felony hit and run.

His name was not released because he has not been officially arrested.

The driver has been an employee of the Recreation and Park Department since 2009, parks spokeswoman Sarah Ballard said. Neighbors said there is a gardener known for driving recklessly on both the grass and paved pathways.

Neighbors report that streets around Holly Park were closed by the SFPD after the accident, with multiple TV news vehicles onsite.

KCBS says this was the Park & Rec vehicle involved in the incident:

ABC7 News details how and where the driver was located:

A witness tells ABC7 News that the truck was driving across the grass, which was very busy at the time, and then ran over the woman who was sunbathing with her child and dog nearby.

The woman was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries where she later died. The child and dog were not hurt.

The driver of a green parks department vehicle took off after the incident but was later found and detained by police at Crescent and Agnon avenues.

Neighbors say that parks vehicles are always here and it’s a big problem with people driving on the grass.

KTVU carried aerial footage of the scene, which clearly showed both the vehicle tire tracks and the white blanket where the victim had been sitting:

The San Francisco Examiner has a view of the same scene from street level:

Horrific.

Bernalwood will provide updates as additional details become available. We will also provide guidance about memorial and neighborhood assistance efforts as soon as possible. In the meantime, please keep the victim and her family in your thoughts.

UPDATE Sept 6, 9:30am: The San Francisco Appeal has an update on the victim’s identity. She was Christine Svanemyr, 35, from Daly City.

A woman who was fatally struck by a San Francisco Recreation and Park maintenance truck at a park in the city’s Bernal Heights neighborhood on Thursday has been identified by the medical examiner’s office as 35-year-old Christine Svanemyr.

Svanemyr, a Daly City resident, was struck by the Rec and Park vehicle shortly after 2:20 p.m. in a grassy area on the south end of Holly Park.

She was taken to San Francisco General Hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Bernalwood has located a biography for Christy Svanemyr, Director of Development for New Ventures West:

UDPATE: 10:55am The driver of the Park & Rec pickup has been identified as Thomas Burnoski, 46. He has been arrested and charged. From SFWeekly:

Police say it was 46-year-old Thomas Burnoski was driving the city truck when he ran over Christine Svanemyr, killing her. He was arrested and booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run.

Added tragedy: It appears that Mr. Burnoski’s daughter died in April 2013 at age 20. The SF Chronicle wrote about the car accident that took Tiffany Burnoski’s life at the time.

UPDATE Sept 7 8:50 am: The SFPD released this photo of Mr. Burnoski after his arrest.

In today’s front-page story, the SFChronicle brings details of the Rec and Park Department’s policy on staff driving in public parks:

Sarah Ballard, a spokeswoman for the Recreation and Park Department, said she couldn’t comment on an open investigation, but said the department’s vehicle policy is that workers are never allowed to drive on park pathways, sidewalks, closed roads or the actual park area “merely for convenience purposes.”

“If work requirements necessitate operating a city vehicle on a park-scape or other surface not designed for vehicle operation, utilize a staff person outside the vehicle to serve as a safety watch or otherwise guide vehicle movement,” the policy reads.

No spotter was in place, according to police reports, and the site of the collision was well off any roadway.

“It was definitely on the grassy areas. It didn’t have a sidewalk near it or a pathway,” said police spokesman Officer Albie Esparza. Svanemyr was on the southeast end of the park when she was hit.

Ballard said employees who operate Rec and Park’s 707 vehicles, which include mowers, cars and trucks, must complete training every two years. The department’s vehicles include 312 road vehicles that travel more than 1 million miles a year.

The Chronicle also reports that of the four official complaints filed with Rec and Park by citizens over the past two years about poor driving by employees, two were filed about Rec and Park driving in Holly Park.

UPDATE: 2:15pm, Sept 6: D9 Supervisor David Campos just released a statement about the death of Christine Svanemyr:

“I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Christine Svanemyr yesterday in Holly Park. I, like the rest of the City, am dismayed and upset that a new mother was taken from her family in such a senseless way.

I have been in conversations with the General Manager of Rec and Parks and law enforcement for answers as to how this horrific event could have happened in a place where families and children expect to be safe and protected. I assure you that my office will do everything we can to get to the bottom of what happened and to ensure that there is accountability and transparency about this tragedy.

Any residents who may have witnessed the tragedy or who have surveillance video of the area should contact the Ingleside Police Station to help further the investigation.

UPDATE: 11:50 pm Sept 5: Via NBC Bay Area, we learn that Park & Rec General Manager Phil Ginsburg issued a statement Thursday night:

“On behalf of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim of a tragic accident that occurred at Holly Park this afternoon. This is a devastating day for all. The Recreation and Park Department is cooperating fully with the San Francisco Police Department as they investigate this accident.”

NBC Bay Area also reports that Bernal neighbor have already started leaving flowers on the patch of grass where the mother had been sitting.

Friday, 6 September 7:30 am: Neighbor Sarah sends this photo of the scene at Holly Park this morning. It’s a preview of what will follow in the days ahead; sad memorials and intense media scrutiny:

IMAGES: Top, screengrab via NBCBayArea. Map via GoogleEarth. Pickup truck via KCBS; Aerial of scene via KTVU; Street-level view by SF Examiner; Flowers, Neighbor Sarah.

Bernal Isle Resort: A Modest Proposal for the Future of Bernal Heights

August 21, 2013August 21, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 26 Comments

This week, the New York Times reports that scientists believe global warming could cause up to three feet of sea-level rise by the year 2100.

With sea levels rising, we must look forward… many, many, many years forward, to envision a future in which the oceans have risen 200 feet and reclaimed much of San Francisco — except for Bernal Heights, which will enjoy many natural advantages as a post-urban island with wonderful beachfront real estate.

It may take centuries for Bernal to attain its island destiny. Yet whenever that future arrives, we, the residents of Bernal Heights, should ourselves be the architects and authors of our shared destiny. Which is why — aided by detailed maps of Bernal Isle created by La Lengua rebel leader Burrito Justice — Bernalwood has developed some conceptual mockups to demonstrate how we might leverage Bernal’s prime beachfront location overlooking Mission Gulf… for the benefit of posterity.

As you can see, the central element of our proposal is the development of the luxurious Bernalbleu Hotel and Resort near the site of present-day Folsom and Ripley Streets:

The northeast end of Bernal Isle will be the ideal location for a premium residential enclave, with convenient access to watercraft and prime views of San Francisco’s majestic Submerged Skyline. With its own on-demand ferry service, Prentiss Island just off Bernal’s South Shore could be an exclusive haven for a select group of high-value homeowners:

On the west side, the gated community of Hipster Vista will serve a younger clientele that prefers a more active lifestyle. The Cortlandia Shopping District will be a thriving retail corridor, with merchants specializing in the sale of fudge candies and resusable hemp-fiber shopping bags decorated in the local style. Localsonlyville will be where many year-round residents live, and it shall nurture the spiritual core of Bernal identity.

Of course, Bernalwood understands that change is difficult.

We also understand that dramatic change is even more difficult, especially when it comes in the form of 200′ sea level rise and the redevelopment of Bernal Heights as a Catalina-style island resort destination.

Yet change is coming — whether we like it or not. That’s why we propose to look change right in the eye, pour it a stiff drink, and give it a big, wet minty-fresh kiss. Let’s begin to prepare for tomorrow… today! All ideas are welcome.

Fire! Another Blaze Burns East Side of Bernal Hill

August 14, 2013September 10, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

At sunset last night, a small brush fire singed the eastern tip of Bernal Hill.

It was the second blaze on the hill in as many months, following a small brush fire in the same general area that broke out last July 4, just after the annual fireworks show.

Bernalwood Contributor Joe Thomas lives near last night’s fire zone, and he swung into action when he saw the flames, transforming himself into a one-man Bernalwood Action News satellite truck.

In addition to taking the photos you see above, Joe also filed this report:

I started smelling smoke around 7:30 and went outside to see what was burning (hopefully not anybody’s house). A neighbor heading the other way said the hill was on fire, and sure enough, it was. The fire was next to the patch that burned on July 4th, and extended to the south and uphill. As I arrived, a city vehicle went by, followed quickly by two fire engines. I overheard a neighbor (who was holding a small fire extinguisher) say to one of the firemen “We did what we could with this little fire extinguisher.”

The SFFD quickly extinguished the flames, leaving a newly charred patch of hill for the rest of us as an unfortunate souvenir.

Of course, what’s an Action (action… action…) News (news… news…) team without some dramatic video? Joe got that too (even without the fancy satellite truck):

PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Joe Thomas. GRAPHIC: Bernal via Google Earth

Sad Neighbors Want to Know Who Hit Their Parked Car on Saturday Night

July 29, 2013July 28, 2013 / Todd_Lappin / 13 Comments

This is a sad photo of Neighbor Amanda’s car. The car was hit on Saturday night while parked on the east side of Bernal Heights. Neighbor Amanda and her husband are understandably very sad, and they would welcome your help to track down the driver who did this:

My husband’s car was parked on the corner of Montcalm/Brewster [on Saturday] night, next to the mailbox. At around 2am, it was rear-ended hard enough to be pushed ~10 feet and wedged under the Subaru Outback in front of it. The car that hit it was apparently a teal Nissan, because it left its grille behind. Many neighbors heard it happen, but nobody called 911. Kind thanks to all the neighbors and Officer Adams from the Ingleside for their help (and coffee) this morning.

Officer Adams underscored the importance of calling 911 when you hear an accident, even if you don’t have a license plate number or description. More eyes and more cops around the neighborhood lessen the chances of drunk drivers racing through the neighborhood.

If anyone sees a teal Nissan with a smashed-up front end, please let the Hit and Run unit know at 553-1641.

PHOTO: Neighbor Amanda

Bernalwood

Broadcasting from glamorous Bernal Heights, San Francisco (Elev. 443 ft.)

Calamity