Mission Mission

And then we’ll be devoured like a bucket of KFC or a ham and cheese croissant.  Muni is insatiable these days, and even with unfair fare increases (see what I did there?) and service being cut all over the city, its new director will make $225,039!!!  And despite all that, it’s still a self-admitted sinking ship.

So, how does everyone feel about the proposed March Against Muni boycott?  It’s not a “march” in the classical sense but instead a rather clever pun which asks participants to “pledge not to buy a March Fast Pass and stop or reduce riding Muni for the month of March 2010.”  Some of their demands are reasonable (no more rude drivers), some are pure fantasy (no more delays–sure dudes, whatev), and some are completely contradictory (no more paper fast passes AND no more exploiting seniors–make up your minds!). 

Jeff over at Muni Diaries thinks that since Muni’s problems resulted primarily from Governator-imposed budget slashes, a boycott will only worsen Muni’s monetary outlook and ability to serve the city.  He makes a good point.

So what do you think?  Will this lead to cleaner, on-time buses?  Over-crowded bike lanes?  Or will it just push Muni past the event horizon into the swirling vortex of bankruptcy and deterioration?

Wow, cyclist heroism is the theme of the week! You may remember a post from a couple of weeks ago about Jesse’s beloved green cruiser being stolen from his garage. Well, MM reader Emily posted a comment that she had a similar bike gathering dust in her yard:

hey, i’ve got a not-as-cool, but similar black schwinn cruiser in my backyard (that somehow hasn’t been stolen) looking for some love if you want a replacement. i’ve been meaning to fix it up, but would rather give it to someone who needs it!

Yesterday Jesse reported:

Just wanted to let you know that I hooked up with Emily today and grabbed her old cruiser.  She didn’t want anything for it, but I brought her a nice bottle of Amador Cellars Zinfandel I picked up when I went wine tasting there over Thanksgiving.  A very cheap price to pay for a replacement cruiser. Thanks for posting for me, and thanks to good hearted people.  I’ve attached a pic of the new bike.

Now that’s what I call an awesome neighbor. You rock, Emily!

(Say, you wouldn’t happen to have any French-threaded 58cm road forks in your yard, would you? )

Photographer Matt Baume says he detects a hint of skepticism in this “pious” PSA.  Link.

P.S. My sister was just telling me about watching some movie on TV in which censors had changed every instance of a character saying “Jesus Christ” to “cheese and rice.” Cheese and rice! I’ve started using it.

P.P.S. I’m listening to the new Johnny Cash album right now, and it’s pret-ty good. (He’s talking about Heaven and Jesus and virtues and stuff.)

The latest entry in Mission Mission’s Introduce Yourself section comes from Jason and concludes:

Oh, and if your new to the neighborhood and you drive an SUV I have stopped popping your tires and keying your paint job long ago. In fact, welcome.

Link. Kudos, Jason!

“It’s the orange that makes it,” says OMG the Mish of this piece of art currently for sale at Gestalt. Link.

Whoa. Street art is starting to read like tweets. … 2010!!

Photo by KayVee.INC.

Dear Mission Street Food community — I hereby demand JAPADOGS:

I was up in Vancouver for a couple of days for the Olympics, and this line was one of the longer in town. (Longest were the lines for public transit –  they were Toyko-crowded, but they moved fast.  OMG I simply cannot imagine Muni trying to deal with the Olympics.)

Anyway, more on the magic that are JAPADOGS here.

Dolores Park View has the full skinny on on a recently announced public meeting being held to inform the community about steps being taken to minimize fallout from the impending renovation of Dolores Park. Here’s some of it:

Quickly moving up on their outreach timeline, the Parks Department in collaboration with Supervisor Bevan Dufty’s office will host the first official public meeting on the upcoming Dolores Park renovation project. Titled  “Shining Light on 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Projects: Mission Dolores Park”, the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, 6-8 pm at the Dolores Park Church, 455 Dolores St.

Read the rest. See you there.

Photo by J is for Jetsetter.

Reader Anna K. witnessed some bikes getting jacked this morning, and served the thieves a heaping bowl of JUSTICE:

I was walking to get some coffee at Rogers this morning and saw two bums acting suspicious around a pair of bikes locked up in front of Jocelyn’s bakery at 20th & Lex.

On my way back I saw the bums running off with the bikes. Called the cops, they picked up the two douche-faces and the bikes are now safe with SFPD.

Thought I’d let you know, in case the owners email you in hopes of finding their wheels.

I only saw the bikes from afar, but here is what I gathered with my limited eyesight.

• Two (possibly dude’s) road bikes
• 20 inch frames
• one maroon
• one black

To reclaim the bikes, they should call the SFPD non-emergency number at 415 252 1426.

Some might call Anna a hero! Not me though, I’m more into RAZOR scooters.

Yesterday’s special at Napper Tandy! Too bad you missed it, but if it’s any consolation, they always serve full English breakfast which will definitely make you well aware of your bowels within two hours.

(via reader Paul V.)