»In which we head for the end zone
The District 5 supervisor, Ross Mirkarimi, hopes to re-zone parts of Haight St between Pierce and Fillmore in order to accomodate the famed San Francisco pot clubs. While his heart may be in the right place, the disproportionate amount of time and energy that his office spends on the legislation for medicinal marijuana has detracted from other, critical problems in the neighbourhood.
He has let his attention lapse from the very serious homicide issue; he has dropped the ball on community policing, which for a while in autumn looked like it might actually happen; and, more disconcertingly, has not shown a presence in addressing the problems that make community policing important. The tide of vandalism (graffiti, tagging, smash-and-grab theft) continues unabated, despite vocal community protest.
I do not agree with the priority that the pot clubs receive; and, after much observation, no longer feel that they are consistently good members of our community. Despite their pretentions to healing and medicine, they encourage more loitering and traffic, -- I'm thinking of the Vapor Room in particular, because I always have to trip across parked cars, wandering stoners, and dilettantes standing in front of their basement entrance. Why not find a way to integrate marijuana dispensaries into already-legitimate pharmacies? We have several of those, including the Davies Medical Center. I also find the overwhelming number of medicinal marijuana dispensaries problematic: in a neighbourhood without bookstores, a fresh fish market ("Lo-Cost Fish and Seafood" on Haight St. doesn't count as fresh), nor a doughnut shop, how come we have a half-dozen pot clinics? It's easier to get (semi-legally) stoned than it is to get a bunch of flowers or a copy of Moby-Dick in the Lower Haight. The zoning distinction is NC-1 vs NC-2, where NC stands for "Neighborhood Commercial District"; the -2 allows a business to remain open until 2 AM, where the NC-1 requires a specific permit for this. The proposal for this stretch of the Lower Haight also converts the existing Victorian residential (RH-2 and -3) buildings to NC-2, allowing for more basement businesses such as the once-proud Naked Eye, and for the Vapor Room to be open into the wee hours. Will this bring additional commercial traffic into the neighbourhood? Quite probably -- but, without amendments for additional transit and parking, we may see an increase in automotive traffic. Happily, NC-2 calls for street beautification such as trees.
While I am glad that District Five comprises a forward-thinking population (limp cheers from the audience), I suggest that our Supervisor make as much noise about the residential problems of crime and vandalism as he does for the commercial, hip issue of for-sale pot. And he should find some city monies for an epidemiological study of why so many goddam fixed-gear riders have glaucoma.
... or perhaps I am just cynical because I can't get any of the good stuff from the dispensaries. Hey, Ross! Where's my dope prescription?
