Time to battle
Sometimes the battles come to me, some times I come to the battles.
The first is the case of the battle coming to me is the new jet-sounding air exhaust system that the Parc 55 Renaissance Hotel installed just outside my apartment’s window a couple weeks ago. It is huge, loud, and runs full blast because of the latest heat wave to hit California. I’m not the only one who has to be annoyed by these buzzing fans, since the entire south side of the building faces them and I can hear it from the street level too.
The first stage of this battle is to look up noise ordinances, contact the San Francisco Tenants Union, and send the Parc 55 a letter. If that fails, I may have to resort to getting a lawyer as stage 2.
The second is the case of me coming to the battle is the GoGeary movement to implement a BRT system along the Geary corridor. While this is a good idea, it isn’t the best idea. Do we need more diesel powered vehicles on the road? They are noisy, uncomfortable to ride, and have short useful life times. Why they don’t expand the light rail to Geary is beyond me. Well, actually, it isn’t. Local business are meddling in the deployment of light rail, fearing that it will cost them business due to parking spots being lost.
I don’t know about you, but if I can take a non-crush capacity vehicle to your business, I’ll likely spend money. Why a another vehicle in Muni’s fleet? Why not the devil we know, the Breda cars?
I’ve been doing some research, of which I’ve made some very interesting finds on both San Francisco’s internal workings as well as just how a BRT will not help the dire situation the 38-Geary line is in. I’m going to prepare a 2-minute statement and let Muni and the GoGeary folks know during the project meeting on July 29th.
Heck, I don’t even take the Geary line anymore. I moved because it was just so bad — the downtown area transit is so much better. And guess what, it is mostly electric rail!
We have to set the president.
July 23rd, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Is this working?
July 23rd, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Cool. Now, I’ll have to read your blog again when I haven’t been subjected to three hours of Grandpa Ray in the hot sun. He’s doing well though, better than me. Thanks for fixing the comments. I am interested in reading comments from your like-minded, or not so like-minded, friends.
Your sis,
Christa
July 25th, 2006 at 5:36 am
Mark, Have you seen the zillow.com site? I saw your real estate category and was wondering. Mom is doing fine, Dad is at critical mass. I was trying to think of something to get for them. Kitty jewelry always works for mom, but the only thing I can think of for dad is books and I don’t know if he reads them. Maybe science and discovery magazines?
July 25th, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Hey Mark,
Sounds like you are having fun there. It is always something new. All I have to say is you go Mark! Fight for what is right. No really, I hope those people with the loud air conditioner care about other people than themselves. Maybe they could put a big box around the AC unit. Anyway, Chris, what do you mean dad’s at critical mass? Write more later.
Catha
July 25th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
By the way Mark, are you going to add me to the family list or does the blog do that automatically. I would still like to be your sister, you know. :)
Catha
July 26th, 2006 at 5:27 am
Catha, That day, he was just about the typical Ballew, patience all gone. But he admits it’s worse when it’s really hot here and he’s trying to run all of the family around. So critical mass for him is saying one of the kids needs a nap. Yesterday morning I went and bought him a bunch of magazines like National Geographic, and Scientific American to get his mind off the noisy kids and the hot weather. It seems to work.
July 26th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Mark, I went to your friends blog and found a link to cats that look like hitler, Kitlers. Funny. They say a man’s character depends on the company he keeps…seig meow!
July 26th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
I really wish threaded comments would work. I could respond better to all these comments!
The kitty hitler link was actually a link I gave to my friend. Looks like he scooped me. Woops!
I’m setting up a family filter, but it looks like you and catha will be the only ones on it. I guess mom and dad are just slightly busy anyhow.
Thanks for the comments sisters! :)
July 26th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
It looks like the best I can do is password protect entries. Maybe there is a plugin to do what I want? Oh well, that will have to do for now.