Harassment, Threats & Assault by Bldg Mgr - 500 Block of Valencia St during Valencia "Closed Street Event" Today

 Harassment, Threats and Assault by Building Manager in 500 Block of 

Valencia Street during Valencia "Closed Street Event" Today

 

    At approximately 4:30PM, on April 30, 2022, during the Valencia Closed Street 

Event This Man (in photo below), approached James, The Volunteer Coordinator, 

of the Valencia Street Safety Patrol, apparently being upset that James asked a 

driver or employee of a restaurant to move out of the fire lane and bike lane 

during the event (earlier at 2:30PM),  or SF Parking Enforcement may be called. 

    At that exact moment (during encounter with the offending Driver),  one could

hear multiple Emergency Vehicle Sirens wailing, as they were responding to 

locations all around us, a couple streets away and at any moment,  one or more 

of them can come speeding towards the 500 Block Closed Street Event Area in 

need of cleared barricade and fire lane access.   That 2:30PM Driver encounter 

was recorded on video. 

 

    Whenever they come to or through this area,  it takes about 30 to 45 

seconds to arrive -- when they are about a block away.   There's no time 

to ask them to wait for a Driver to come back in a few minutes to move

the car out of the fire lane.   

 

    If a police, ambulance or fire truck is delayed by any obstruction 

blocking an intersection; road or fire and bike lanes blocked, fires get 

bigger, people in crisis get worse and people die, only because the 

emergency responders were delayed by seconds or minutes.

 

    James explained that if he (the driver blocking) has to come in or out 

of a business there,  he can park at the curb, to prevent blocking emergency 

vehicles, who pass through the event area, quite often.    

 

    James also told the Driver that, at that moment -- sirens can be heard all 

around, indicating they may come through our Event any moment.   

 

    Right Now was the time to insure the Fire Lane was clear and start moving 

barricades so they can enter or leave the area immediately, without obstacles, 

hazards or delays.   

 

    Driver was unaware of all that and was only concerned about his task.  

 

    He actually started cussing at James, then he finally moved to the curb 

and actually said Thank You, as he exited his car to go do his task.

      Today,  we had several fire and ambulance vehicles actually come 

through this 500 Block, at high speed since their path by cleared well 

by James, on their way to emergencies.  

 

     When they come through the Closed Street Event Area, James makes 

sure the barricades; cones;  fire lanes and bike lanes are clear at all times, 

to prevent any delay in emergency responses.    

 

    No one has the right to delay or impede any emergency responder.  That's 

how residents die when help arrives too late.  Ask any heart attack victim 

what a 2 or 3 minute delay of help does to them.  They get worse or die.

    Is your life worth more than a speedy restaurant order;  a rushed or lazy 

Driver who doesn't care about you or safety or fires, or not ?   

    Almost every week,  emergency responders come through the 500 Block or 

stop in front of buildings in the 500 Block of Valencia,  including areas around 

the Crown Hotel, Limon Restaurant and others, responding to emergency calls.   

    This is why SFFD and SFPD insist on the fire lane; bike lane; intersections 

and crosswalks are kept clear of all vehicles and obstructions, at all times.   

    When the city, the SFPD or SFFD see any public safety issues and 

problems with this,  especially, during Closed Street Events,  they write 

up the Event Promoters and business owners -- who cause any unsafe 

conditions, such as blocking Fire Lanes, at any time.

    Two hours later (at 4:30PM) this man (in the photo below) said he 

was the Senior Manager of a building in the 500 Block of  Valencia St 

(pointing towards the buildings to the north of 518 Valencia Street (on 

the West side of the Block) came up to James, who was recording the 

talented Street Musician Marzipan, standing with several other residents.   

                                    Photo of Angry Man and Marizan the Musician in shock!

    The angry man (on left in pic above) started accusing James of "impersonating 

a city employee", which James denied.    Then he started to harass and threaten 

James (to stop trying to keep fire lanes clear of "his employees or drivers of 

his restaurants" below his building.  He was very hostile, not listening to truth.   

 

    When James told the man to call the SFPD if he has any complaints about any 

Volunteer Safety Team member, Event Staff or Residents about issues to do with 

the Fire Lane.   They will be sure to help him with his issues. Have a good day.   

 

    With that,  James said the conversation on this matter was over. Then James 

turned around and walked away from the man towards other residents and 

members of the Valencia Street Residents Group and the popular Street 

Guitar Player Marzipan (whom we were filming before the man came over).     

    That's when the man came up from behind;  grabbed James' left shoulder 

(by surprise).    James reacted by swatting the man's hand off his shoulder 

and stepped back away from the angry man, putting his arms down by his 

sides in a relaxed position.   James told him he was not into violence and 

kept his distance, moving away from the man.    

 

    That's when the man falsely accused James of "assaulting him" and 

then he said he was  "20 years younger and would beat down " (James) 

and started clenching his fists; jumping around like he was warming 

up,  to attack James....  

 

WOW!   

 

    Everyone around was shocked by this man's violent behavior and 

"acting out" like he was going to start picking a fight with James.    

 

    James went about his work escorting some elder folks across the 

Crosswalk and walked back, but kept his distance as Marzipan kept 

telling the man to stop harassing us and just leave us all alone.

    Nearly every business owner and resident in the area knows that 

James tells people that he only works for the safety of the residents 

and does not work for the city, the police or the local merchants and 

that James has been volunteering to help everyone putting on the 

Closed Street and Valencia Art Corridor events to monitor the North 

Entrance to the event,  for years.   

    Most drivers who are warned about parking in the Fire Lane or 

blocking MUNI buses,  are reasonable and usually just move to 

avoid being ticketed by Parking Enforcement or MUNI Bus Drivers, 

who do issue tickets, some for over a hundred dollars.    

    The City,  the SFPD and SFFD and MUNI take the blocking of 

their right-of-way and space, seriously.   Anyone causing any hazard 

is subject to being Ticketed or Towed.   Any violation of safety and 

parking rules during Permitted Events, can result in the Permit 

Holder for the Event,  to be cited, and fined up to $1,000 per day.   

 

    So, if police or city inspectors see Drivers constantly and actually 

being told to park illegally; block bike and fire lanes; intersections 

and crosswalks, during Closed Street Events,   Event Permit Holders 

and repeat offender drivers and business owners can be cited and 

penalized for allowing hazardous nuisances to persist.   

 

    This isn't rocket science.   If Drivers keep blocking fire and bike 

lanes, then over time, too many violations could cause these Great 

Events to be suspended or cancelled.   That hurts everyone.  

 

    We must do right by all in the neighborhood and not try to cater 

to any Driver or Business that wish to operate contrary to the law 

and hurt the whole neighborhood.

    When James or his volunteers give warnings,  it benefits drivers 

who are parked in hazardous ways.  Warnings saves offending drivers 

money and keeps our neighborhood safe.  Warnings prevent tickets, 

tows and harm that will surely come if warnings and the safety laws 

are ignored. 

       For nearly five years,  James has been here looking after residents, 

escorting folks in crosswalks;  warning cars blocking intersections;

disabled ramps; crosswalks;  or Bike & Fire lanes to move.  

 

    Lest they get a ticket, for example,  from a MUNI Driver who can't 

make a turn because of an illegally parked car in the crosswalk or 

intersection.    

    And that during events, any car that blocks the Fire Lane or the 

Bike Lane can't do that because we have frequent emergency calls 

to and through the 400 & 500 Block of Valencia every day.  

 

Parking enforcement will be called on any car parked in any way

that obstructs Emergency Vehicle right-of-ways or endangers 

residents, pedestrians, bikes, scooter or cars, in this area.   

    James has been doing this safety work for almost 10 years alone,  

and has had local resident Safety Volunteers helping him out, since 

about 2019.   

    Anyone that has issues with James; his volunteers or other residents 

are welcome to discuss them with him, but James will not tolerate 

harassment, intimidation, threats or assaults by anyone, against him,  

or any residents in the neighborhood.

 

    Because no one deserves to be treated like that, especially those 

who really care about life and safety more than those who hate or 

attack them, for doing so.  

 

    Respect for life and safety trump convenience and mony making.  

 

    The lives and the safety of every resident in our neighborhood, 

matters.

 

 

 TO RECAP THE HARASSMENT, THREATS & ASSAULT  

 BY THIS ANGRY MAN:

 

    After James walked away from this man,  he grabbed James' shoulder 

by surprise, from behind, which caused James to spin around and block 

his arm, down off of his shoulder and stepped backwards, to keep distance 

away from this man's threats and physical assault.

    He started shouting threats and said he was 20 years younger and could smash 

James.  He started to go into some fighting stance and advanced towards James 

and a local Native American resident man, calling him "She" and "Her".   

 

    Most insulting, since that resident is a man who doesn't like being labelled 

or referred to as a woman, by an angry man trying to intimidate James and 

other residents.

     James told him he was non-violent and continued to move away from him,  

as the other residents did as he became more violent and threatening, saying 

James has to stop telling "his people" who park and block the fire lane, to 

stop warning them.   

    James told him that if he has a problem with him or any other Volunteers of 

the Safety Team, keeping the residents safe like this, he needs to call the police

and let them decide.  

    This was done in front of dozens of witnesses and members of the Valencia 

Street Residents Association.    The musician "Marzipan" kept asking him 

to go away and leave them all alone, but he kept harassing the group of 

residents and would not stop until several minutes went by and then he finally 

walked away, east on 16th Street.

    James and his safety volunteers have been keeping these two blocks safe for 

years and as far as we know,  the police and fire department who have known 

James and the volunteers for years,  do not have a problem with keeping the 

intersection, bike and fire lanes clear,  because it speeds up emergency response 

and keeps everyone safe.

    Although, no filing of a formal complaint with the SFPD about this incident is 

being made at this time,   we are sending  the SFPD and SFFD material related 

to this incident for future reference, in case this angry, violent man continues to 

threaten, harass or assault James or one of the volunteers on the resident 

Valencia Street Safety Patrol or the resident members of the Valencia Street 

Residents Association, who witnessed this man, being out of control and

threatening.

    For the record,  any time any vehicle blocks fire lanes, bike lanes or crosswalks,  

during Valencia Closed Street Events or otherwise,  will be warned by James or 

the safety volunteers and may be subject to having Parking Enforcement called, 

to keep us all safe from folks who choose to ignore safety and laws, that exist, 

to keep us all safe.

 

      Anyone choosing to ignore warnings and continue parking in any 

hazardous way, do so at their own peril.   If they follow safety laws, 

then nobody gets ticketed or towed.

 

   Everyone must realize how residents feel about fires in this city and the critical 

need to keep all bike lanes and fire lanes clear,  at all times,  lest emergency 

responders are delayed,  which may result in injury or death due to delay in 

response caused by hazardous drivers who block their right-of-way or 

negatively impact public safety.     

    Remember that any delay of seconds or minutes to an emergency response, can kill.

    PLEASE BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND DO NOT BLOCK 

THE FIRE LANES, BIKE LANES CROSSWALKS, DISABLED 

RAMPS OR     THE INTERSECTION, IN THE AREA OF 

VALENCIA & 16TH STREETS, AT ANY TIME.  

    LIVES COUNT ON YOUR COOPERATION.   

 

    NO ONE IS ABOVE OUR SAFETY LAWS WHICH KEEPS US ALL 

    SAFE, EVERY DAY.   NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BLOCK 

    EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.  REAL LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

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