Welcome to San Francisco

[flaminio]

Driver hits woman, then Cruise driverless car runs her over

Video taken by the Cruise car shows that the woman was struck first by another vehicle. The video shows both the Cruise car and the other vehicle stopped side by side at an intersection and when the light turns green both cars proceed into the intersection, where a woman is walking. The other car hits her and she tumbles and bounces off the side of the car then falls into the path of the Cruise car, which runs her over.

I can't fault the robot-car here, although I'm sure many will. The woman (likely a fentanyl'd up zombie) walked into traffic and was hit by a human-driven car, and then bounced into the path of the robo-car. This is no trolley problem; this is just a situation that no amount of programming can avoid.

It also should be noted that the Cruise stopped, while the human driven car took off. Hopefully the Cruise's camera got a pic of the license plate, so at least they can trace it back to guy who had his car stolen.

As I've stated many times, all I require of robo-cars is to be safer than human driven cars. It's a very low bar.

[Barndog]

it was tragic that one survived

[flaminio]

it was tragic that one survived

I can only imagine the hospital bills for the survivor that the taxpayers will have to cover.

Of course, if you or I were in such a wreck, we'd probably end up bankrupt.

The system is complete screwed up.

[BigMark]

to live in a nice place and claim poverty is the California dream.

[flaminio]

This is getting serious.

Starbucks to close seven downtown S.F. locations.

Starbucks will close seven of its downtown San Francisco stores by the end of the month, the company said. Employees were notified of the closures Tuesday.

A company spokesperson said that employees at each of the closing locations — Mission and Main St., Geary and Taylor, 425 Battery, 398 Market, Fourth and Market, 555 California and Bush and Van Ness — will be offered the opportunity to transfer to another location. The stores will close Oct. 22.

I'm pretty sure the 4th&Market location closed a while back. I walk by there frequently; it shows as a Pokestop but there's no Starbucks visible. Anyways, I always go to the Peet's across the street, so no harm there.

[BigMark]

I have been to many Starbucks where you can see another. They don't have drip coffee here. An Americano is expresso mixed with hot water.

[MacGyver]

All a guy needs is Tim’s…

[flaminio]

[BigMark]

Savages.

[flaminio]

Crocker Galleria, Downtown San Francisco’s Other Mall, Is Down to Three Tenants

“Best Shoeshine in the World” according to Vanity Fair magazine in 2012 may be among the sadder flexes still posted to a wall in 2023, but that’s what greets visitors to the lower level of the Crocker Galleria in Downtown San Francisco. The shoeshine stand, however, is long gone.

Currently, the Galleria’s only extant businesses are La Luna Cupcakes, Julie’s Kitchen and one of the Bay Area’s 10 locations of Ladle & Leaf.

[flaminio]

California DMV has revoked Cruise's permit to operate driverless vehicles, effective immediately.

Public safety remains the California DMV’s top priority, and the department’s autonomous vehicle regulations provide a framework to facilitate the safe testing and deployment of this technology on California public roads. When there is an unreasonable risk to public safety, the DMV can immediately suspend or revoke permits. There is no set time for a suspension.

The California DMV today notified Cruise that the department is suspending Cruise’s autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permits, effective immediately. The DMV has provided Cruise with the steps needed to apply to reinstate its suspended permits, which the DMV will not approve until the company has fulfilled the requirements to the department’s satisfaction. This decision does not impact the company’s permit for testing with a safety driver.

It's a bit unfair. The recent accident was almost unpreventable -- this is no trolley problem. But I get that luddites have problems with robot-cars running over people.

[flaminio]

‘They just said we had to go’: S.F. clears homeless hot spots ahead of APEC

San Francisco officials have been working to clear some of the city’s hot spots for homeless tent camps ahead of world leaders, dignitaries, corporate executives and international journalists descending on the city for this month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Yes, sweep 'em under the rug. Always a good strat.

Also -- APEC is going to mess up traffic big time. Not that any y'all were coming anyway, but APEC week is definitely the time to stay away.

[flaminio]

[Rollo Tomassi]

[flaminio]

[BigMark]

A MILLION IMAGES AND YOU CHOSE ROUND?

[flaminio]

[FatMan]

This is getting serious.

Starbucks to close seven downtown S.F. locations.

Starbucks will close seven of its downtown San Francisco stores by the end of the month, the company said. Employees were notified of the closures Tuesday.

A company spokesperson said that employees at each of the closing locations — Mission and Main St., Geary and Taylor, 425 Battery, 398 Market, Fourth and Market, 555 California and Bush and Van Ness — will be offered the opportunity to transfer to another location. The stores will close Oct. 22.

I'm pretty sure the 4th&Market location closed a while back. I walk by there frequently; it shows as a Pokestop but there's no Starbucks visible. Anyways, I always go to the Peet's across the street, so no harm there.

With SBUX recent problems I would be interested to know if these are unionized locations. No mention in the article.

[flaminio]

[flaminio]

SF reparations office on hold due to budget cuts

San Francisco’s first-ever Office of Reparations is among the programs gutted by Mayor London Breed’s budget cuts.

Funding for the office, which was set to launch this year, was erased as part of Breed’s $75 million cuts to the The City budget in preparation for a major deficit in 2024.

Guess the homies won't be getting $5M this year...