DISCLAIMER: NOT READY FOR WIDESPREAD PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION.
THIS IS A WORKING ROUGH DRAFT IN PROGRESS.
WHEN DISCLAIMERS ARE REMOVED THIS POSTING WILL BE READY FOR PUBLIC USE AND EXPOSURE BY MEDIA.
THIS IS A WORKING ROUGH DRAFT IN PROGRESS.
WHEN DISCLAIMERS ARE REMOVED THIS POSTING WILL BE READY FOR PUBLIC USE AND EXPOSURE BY MEDIA.
THIS INFORMATION MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. DO NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION UNTIL THE DISCLAIMERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THANK YOU!
-START OF ROUGH DRAFT-
** 6/9/2017 UPDATE -- Previous information posted (below this update) is from eyewitnesses.
1. The #TinyBBQ Cook told us today that when he was cooling down the coals safely and cleaning up (after his 4 or 5 guests left him alone) the Manager of Venga Empanadas started 'freaking out' again, and started another round of phone calls to Police to tell them 'it was taking too long' for the Cook to clean up and leave ...
Adding insult to injury.
Why rush anyone trying to clean up and cool down coals for proper disposal after the #TinyBBQ was over ? What's the next major hazard will the staff to make up so they can call up and bother the police again with ?
* 6/8/2017 UPDATE -- Previous information posted (below this update) is from eyewitnesses.
1. Today, a long time resident on Valencia street said 'I remember when Venga Empanadas first opened up, there was an offical notice from the city posted and they took a blank sheet of paper and covered the notice posted, to hide it from the public eye.
2. I also remember later, the time staff came out and attacked a woman outside, throwing pitchers of water on her, demanding she not stand on the sidewalk near his restaurant"
3. One of the four or five guests invited to the June 3rd #TinyBBQ told us yesterday that he too, used to be a firefighter.
So, both the Cook was a firefighter and so was one of our neighbors that was invited to celebrate Cook's new job and coming out of his darling 1 year old grandson.
A mini-smokeless kettle #TinyBBQ couldn't be safer than in the hands of experienced firefighters who live here.
Fascinating update on conduct and behavior towards our locals. More later.
END UPDATE
Bad Neighbor Violation Date: Saturday, June 3, 2017 3pm - 6pm
Public Event: 30th Safe #TinyBBQ Picnic To Celebrate New Job & New One Year Old Grandson of a Local Advocate
Location: Public Parklet, 443 Valencia Street, San Francisco, California
Violator Parklet Permit Holder: Venga Empandas
Direct Charges:
Unlawful Taking of Public Space by Permit Holder;
Permit Holder Staff Lying to 9-1-1/Police Officers;
Staff Making False Police Report, Harassment;
Unlawfully Blocking Access to Public Parklet ( akin to False Imprisonment whereby a person unlawfully denies a person their right-of-way or common access which limits their ability to travel freely);
Wasting Tax Payer Money on Expensive Police Services who already know us and know our #TinyBBQ 's have always been safe on all the places, street corners, alleys and in front of commercial and residential businesses, without a single problem or complaint, until now.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES:
* Hazardous, Illegal Driving:
For several years, every week (scofflaw), we've seen the staff or owner of Venga Empanada driving their Grey 'VENGA!' Empanada SUV or Panel Van, driving in a rush the Wrong Way up the Caledonia Alley behind the residential buildings onto 16th Street, next to Mission Hiring Hall.
This is also where we also see scores of Android and IPod Distracted newcomers, locals, tourists, rushing delivery bikes, school children, families and disabled folks walking and running across that alley who almost get hit by rushing drivers coming up the wrong way.
* ILLEGAL PARKING, NON-PAYMENT OF METERS:
UPDATED WED JULY 9, 2017 (see end of section)
UPDATED WED JULY 9, 2017 (see end of section)
We see staff and customers park their cars in the slots next to the parklet and NOT pay the meters. Especially in the early mornings.
On the day of this incident, the police ticketed a Scoot that was parked in the Fire Zone, next to the parklet.
Very unsafe, yet the upkeep of the parklet, according to the SF Parklet Manual is the Permit Holder, yet they allow vehicles to block the area where people safely stand to access the parklet and block a Fire Zone right-of-way.
** WED JULY 9, 2017 **
UPDATE: Venga Empanadas Vehicle Blocks SFFD Water Supply Access Daily & During Today's SF Fire Department Emergency Response at their location.
This morning, during our daily coffee meeting outside on the sidewalk in front of Ferguson's retail shop in the 400 Block of Valencia, we saw SF Fire Department trucks pull up in front of Venga Empanadas and the residential hotel next door.
Apparently responding to some emergency in the Hotel or Alley next door..
We weren't sure why they were they but the brave fire fighters have their gear on and went fast down the alley less two doors down from where we were standing, next to the fire department water supply pipes.
We noticed there was fresh paint and miniature Red Cones on the curb which was being repainted by SFMTA.
We looked above the cone and newly painted red zone and saw a car illegally parked there.
We've seen that same car parked there nearly every day for the past year or so, but never really paid any attention to it, until this incident today with the Fire Department in action, responding to an emergency call.
The SFFD didn't need access to the water supply today, but now we have a better understanding of why there are small Red Fire Zone painted on curbs. Now we see, that its necessary to have those tiny areas clear of obstacles at all times, to fight fires and save lives.
At the same time, we noticed that a car was blocking the SFFD Access Right-Of-Way to the SFFD Water Supply Pipes on the wall of Ferguson's.
It's the same spot we stand at every day -- where we were drinking our coffee, listening to the radio, but today we learned more about why there are little strips of red zone no parking spots all over the city.
Lo and behold, it was the Venga Empanada Owners car, parked illegally in an SFMTA Red Zone, blocking access to the Fire Department Water Supply.
Imagine if there was a fire at Ferguson's or Samovar Tea; Venga Empanadas or the Residential SRO Hotel next door.
It would be tragically ironic if the blocking of access to the SFFD Water Supply pipes, daily, by the Owner or Staff of Venga Cafe themselves.
** WED JULY 9, 2017 **
UPDATE: Venga Empanadas Vehicle Blocks SFFD Water Supply Access Daily & During Today's SF Fire Department Emergency Response at their location.
 |
| SFFD Emergency Call 400 Blk Valencia |
 |
| SFFD at Venga Empanadas |
We weren't sure why they were they but the brave fire fighters have their gear on and went fast down the alley less two doors down from where we were standing, next to the fire department water supply pipes.
We noticed there was fresh paint and miniature Red Cones on the curb which was being repainted by SFMTA.
 | |
| SFFD Red Zones & Water Supply Pipes |
We've seen that same car parked there nearly every day for the past year or so, but never really paid any attention to it, until this incident today with the Fire Department in action, responding to an emergency call.
The SFFD didn't need access to the water supply today, but now we have a better understanding of why there are small Red Fire Zone painted on curbs. Now we see, that its necessary to have those tiny areas clear of obstacles at all times, to fight fires and save lives.
 |
| SFFD Fire water Supply |
 |
| 1 of 2 Red Zones Repainted |
It's the same spot we stand at every day -- where we were drinking our coffee, listening to the radio, but today we learned more about why there are little strips of red zone no parking spots all over the city.
Lo and behold, it was the Venga Empanada Owners car, parked illegally in an SFMTA Red Zone, blocking access to the Fire Department Water Supply.
 |
| Venga Empanadas Decal In Window |
 |
| Freshly Re-Painted SFFD Red Zone |
It would be tragically ironic if the blocking of access to the SFFD Water Supply pipes, daily, by the Owner or Staff of Venga Cafe themselves.
END OF UPDATE
SIX YEAR HISTORY OF #TINYBBQ AND INCIDENT DETAILS:
In a Mission Local Article from September, 2015, the Owner of Venga Empanada promised:
Excerpt:
Manuel Godino, founder of
Venga Empanadas, said his parklet is still awaiting approval.
According
to designs, Godino’s parklet will have an orange and blue color scheme
that is similar to the restaurant’s, and the designs show little
built-in seating.
But Godino said “the idea of the parklet is that [it]
is a public space. We will respect that concept.”
2017 REALITY CHECK -- HE FAILED TO KEEP HIS PROMISE AND VIOLATED LOCAL TRADITIONS AND LAWS TO DENY ACCESS TO THIS SAME PUBLIC PARKLET.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.
We've been doing #TinyBBQ's for years (see history below).
WHY WE DO #TINYBBQ 'S. WHERE? WHY ? TO BENEFIT WHOM ?
In part to Build Up Community; in part to Feed the Hungry People; and in part to boost up the Pedestrian Traffic and Retail Sales for local Mom & Pop businesses, we love, trust and mutually support, for the safety and prosperity of all.
WHERE ?
Taqueria La Cumbre, El Cafetazos, Pancho Villas, Four Barrel Coffee, Lil' Star Pizza are some of the sidewalks and parklet areas we've done our free community BBQ's at.
Our peers refer folks into their doors who smell our cooking and are attracted to us. We increase the sales and popularity of the spots, that often give us free pastries or pounds of chorizo, as donations to this great community cause.
Newcomers are blind to all of this.
Our reasonable cops and fire department staff have always been around and have had ZERO problems to do with cooking on no open flame mini-BBQ's for six years now.
Our reasonable cops and fire department staff have always been around and have had ZERO problems to do with cooking on no open flame mini-BBQ's for six years now.
BAD NEIGHBOR SNITCHES:
Anyone who calls 9-1-1 on a non-illegal, non-hazard is not only 'out of touch' with our community, but wastes a tremendous amount of city services for nothing.
In this case, because 9-1-1 and Station did not give their (false, malicious) complaint a priority for Patrol Response (after 25 minutes) the freaked out Venga Manager or Staff Member actually walked all the way down to the Mission Station to force Patrols or Command Staff to respond. They did and it was very expensive.
Details of what the responding units ( 2 patrol cars) said and did will be posted after we transcribe all the witness statements who were there watching everything.
GOOD COPS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE ARE NOT HAPPY!
We hate seeing good cops being lied to and forced to respond to lawful, safe public activities and events. They were not happy, but they already know us.
Hell, the guy who cooks was a Rural Fire Fighter and his advocates are former military vets, have CPR training and after at least 29 #TinyBBQ 's, never single accident or citizen or business complaint, until this one.
ROUGH DRAFT IN PROGRESS BELOW. MAY NOT BE ACCURATE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ONCE FINALIZED, THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE REMOVED.
BLOG STORY DRAFT:
VENGA EMPANADAS MANAGER FREAKS OUT OVER TRADITIONAL LOCAL #TINYBBQ -SNITCHES TO S.F.P.D. AT GREAT COST TO THE CITY
BACKGROUND:
BACKGROUND:
#TinyBBQ 's in San Francisco when scores of residents of Hayes Valley and SF Project Homeless Connect and Department of Public Health H.O.T. Team Members reclaimed two lots to make a community garden with, out of recycled material (from Loma Prieta Earthquake damage) some time back in 2008, or so, on Octavia Street, north of Market.
We built open public gardens on two lots for food, medicine (for natural healers like Dr. Deborah Born of Tom Waddell Clinic) and had a large BBQ Grill to Feed The People with. One day, a small group of residents or students popped in, brought a nice, safe little mini-gas grill and a Sautee Pan. They plucked fresh veggies and leafy greens from our garden, cooked up a meal and ate lunch in less than 20 minutes.
We
were so impressed by this safe, easy way to cook meals on the spot, no
matter where you are.
Over the past six years, a group of cannabis patients and advocates of feeding people got together and designed a portable, safe, bike cart mini-weber grill, attached to a bike -- and have served hundreds of meals on sidewalks, in parks, in front of constitutional protest, demonstration or occupy sites, all over the city, without a single 'local neighbor' complaint, until two days ago, on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 at #public #SFParklet #SFValencia400Blk .
Over the past six years, a group of cannabis patients and advocates of feeding people got together and designed a portable, safe, bike cart mini-weber grill, attached to a bike -- and have served hundreds of meals on sidewalks, in parks, in front of constitutional protest, demonstration or occupy sites, all over the city, without a single 'local neighbor' complaint, until two days ago, on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 at #public #SFParklet #SFValencia400Blk .
On a handful of occasions, fair and reasonable police officers; fire men (from #SFPD & #SFFD ) have checked out (on their own) or been called out (at Safeway Memorial(s) for community mascot Rosco the tiny dog in the #G4S Assault in #WhoKilledRosco matter) to see what we are doing.
And in every single
instance, the enforcers of safety we trust (SFPD & SFFD) declined finding any hazard
or violation of law that trumps our Constitutional Rights to assemble
in public or have safe #TinyBBQ 's on any public spot that poses no
hazard.
This last BBQ we had, (despite the lies told to 9-1-1 operators) at the #public #SFParklet in front of Venga! Empanadas -- the FOUR EXPENSIVE police officers responding -- found no violation, relating to the BBQ or our presence and use of the PUBLIC SPACE PARKLET.
Our police make between about $83,000 to $125,000 per year, plus benefits. So the hourly COST FOR POLICE is anywhere from $40 to $60 per hour. Four Officers with average of $50 per hour, per Officer or Patrol Person is about $200 per hour.
They issued a Faux ticket for 'standing in road' which can't even be applied to The Space between Parked Cars and the Parklet, which are no longer 'a road' for vehicular access.
That 'dead space' between parklets 'on the road' and parked cars and parking barrier are Pedestrian Rights of Way to enable access to both parked cars and standing around the Public Parklet itself.
It's all the police could do because There Was No Hazard or Safety Issue and No Illegality for using a safe, tiny BBQ in a public space, sidewalk, parklet or park, period.
Proven by Six Years of safe Tiny BBQ's all over the city, with Zero hazard or harm, to anyone. In fact, the spots we do them at, are safer and increase cash flows to surrounding businesses, including restaurants.
Venga Empanadas staff freaked out, over-reacted, violated law and parket rules, denies public access to the parklet and wasted more than $200 of Your Tax Money on the 'forced to respond' Police Officers in Salary.
Plus cost of 9-1-1 Calls and wear and tear on vehicles and 'down staff' who can't respond to real, serious police matters. Preventable costs that will keep happening, as long as folks keep 'freaking out', lying and making false, malicious reports to them, that are not real or important to anyone else.
Except the snitch complainers who only want what they want -- and do not care about what you want, even when it comes to public spaces.
Plus cost of 9-1-1 Calls and wear and tear on vehicles and 'down staff' who can't respond to real, serious police matters. Preventable costs that will keep happening, as long as folks keep 'freaking out', lying and making false, malicious reports to them, that are not real or important to anyone else.
Except the snitch complainers who only want what they want -- and do not care about what you want, even when it comes to public spaces.
(Details on the incident below.)
LOCATIONS:
LOCATIONS:
We've done about 30 of these #TinyBBQ 's in front of several local restarants and parklets and cafes, including:
* Four Barrel Cafe Parklet - Good Neighbors !
They not only gave us free pastries but had no problem with our Feeding the People at their Parklet. We often help them put their chairs away and used to hang out to make sure staff get out safely. During the day we'd tell tourists about the nice folks there to drive business their way. They are not a long time Mom & Pop, but we support them based on their conduct and behavior towards us and our hungry locals. KUDOS!
* Taqueria La Cumbre Restaurant -- Great Neighbors !
They love us doing #TinyBBQ 's there, especially with strip steak (which we offer to passing SF Fire Department folks Philly Steak Sandwiches on Boudin's Sourdough Bread Slices) because the folks smell this incredible steak sizzling on hot coals (no open flames) and if they look poor, we offer them a free meal.
If they look like they are tourists or have cash, all we do is point to the door of La Cumbre and they drift on in, in a hungry trance. We also blog our meetings and BBQ's with that location, and use word of mouth to refer folks to go there, for the past six years.
Also builds up community and protects the area from cell phone thieves and 'too rowdie or drunk' or violent folks. That's the Harm Reduction Component of doing outreach with FOOD and MEDICAL CANNABIS RESOURCES on our streets. Reduces cost to us all.
We also back up bouncers up at Cassanova and often make sure employees closing, leave safely.
* Rondel Lane (Alley, Pancho Villas Taqueria & Bond Bar ) & 16th Street -- Great Neighbors !
One of the Owners of Pancho Villas' supplies us with quality Chorizo when we do #TinyBBQ 's in the alley. They also donate money when our friends (like cab driver steve) dies and we do memorials for our locals of our long time, neighborhood family.
Also, thugs (using guns) stay away when we occupy that alley for meetings and #TinyBBQ 's.
We also call out unsafe drivers and warn pedestrians of 'running for money, killing for cash' ride share and food delivery drivers who are a daily hazard to the hundreds of families, students, children and disabled folks who have to cross that alley when going to and from Valencia and Mission Streets.
IT ALL STARTED WITH S.F. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, H.O.T. TEAM'S ERIC BAYER'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT WORK:
Many of us do this Feeding of People, in everlasting memory of Eric Bayer, who inspired FOOD FOR THOUGHT and saved many, many lives in the short time he was with us.
THE SATURDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2017 INCIDENT -- MALICIOUS & FALSE POLICE REPORT MADE BY VENGA EMPANADA STAFF AT OUR 30TH SAFE #TinyBBQ :
VIOLATION OF RIGHTS & BAD CONDUCT OF VENGA EMPANADA MANAGER WHO -SNITCHED- TO COPS ABOUT A LEGAL, SAFE #TinyBBQ AND FAIR USE OF PUBLIC PARKLET. LIED TO POLICE AND COST THE CITY A LOT OF CASH FOR THE COPS WHO RELUCTANTLY RESPONDED TO THE BOGUS CALL OF VENGA STAFF.
Pics (showing no smoke, no hazard), Reports and Details are in progress. we downloaded the SF Parklet Manual and are citing their Violations.
Update later, stay tuned
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