Tony Bennett often sang, “I lost my heart in San Francisco.” If he were still alive, he would realize that he didn’t lose his heart; San Francisco city officials lost theirs.

California’s daylighting law (Assembly Bill 413), amends the California Vehicle Code to prohibit parking or stopping within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk on the approach side. It’s a sensible law that leaves enough wiggle room to accommodate reasonable exceptions. Unfortunately, the exemptions are only as good as the people given the power to apply them.

My History

I was attracted to San Francisco almost 40 years ago because of it’s reputation for being a compassionate city. Maybe that was “old fashioned,” but my parents instilled in me values such as these.

I accepted a position at San Francisco State University and made a self-imposed commitment to serve the city’s most vulnerable. I was honored shortly after arriving here when the Board of Supervisors asked me to serve on the Advisory Committee for Children, Adolescents, and Maternal Problems, a position I held for seven years.

When the San Francisco School District withheld services from disabled children, parents asked me to lead an effort to restore services. It took national media coverage before services were restored, the Director of Special Education was fired, and, because of the negative publicity, the District became reluctant to reduce mandated services in the future.

As a volunteer at the Zen Hospice Guest House and other end-of-life facilities for eight years, I followed a series of damning newspaper articles about the crumbling buildings that served San Francisco’s indigent, elderly, and dying population, and applauded their decision to update Laguna Honda Hospital.

And now, living with Parkinson’s, caring for two disabled family members, and serving as an Ambassador for the Parkinson’s Foundation of America, I expected to receive the same type of compassion I rendered to San Francisco’s vulnerable communities for the past 40 years. I’m still waiting.

San Francisco City Bureaucracy

Some people believe attitudinal changes occurred because of “culture” clashes: liberal vs. conservative, young vs. old, pedestrians vs commuters, etc. But other residents have a more laser-focused explanation: the gradual creation of an entrenched, uncaring bureaucracy.

I had sided with the culture-clash folks until a 20-foot strip of red paint mysteriously appeared on the curb directly in front of my house, extending almost the entire length.

I was sure it was a misinterpretation of the daylighting law. After all, my house is at the end of the block on an “L,” not at an intersection; there are no sidewalks or houses beyond it, and few people even venture to walk up the steep hill to the end of the block. In the 35 years I had lived in this house, there had never been an accident. Hardly the dangerous corner the law was targeting. Why would the city implement a rule that made no sense?

Surely it was an innocent mistake that could be corrected with a quart of gray paint. When I emailed the San Francisco Municipal Traffic Authority (SFMTA), I was told, “It’s the law. We can’t change anything.” When I cited the passage that allowed exceptions and noted that there was no sidewalk to walk on after my house, the answer was, “Read the law.” There was no response when I said that not implementing the exceptions to the law will jeopardize the health of three people, including me.”

Seeking Help

My District Supervisor’s office was more sympathetic but not encouraging; I was told the SFMTA would neither review my request nor visit the street. An email to Mayor Lurie’s office was met with a polite response saying someone would get back to me in a few days. It never happened.

A call to the San Francisco Office on Disability and Accessibility was even more distressing: Yes, they understood that the SFMTA’s decision might negatively impact my family’s health, and yes, the SFMTA’s interpretation of the law was wrong, but their office was only advisory.

When I spoke with current and retired city officials, everyone expressed genuine concern about SFMTA’s unreasonable position and frustration at wanting to help but knowing there was nothing they could do.

As I was shuffled from department to department, I learned that what I was experiencing was not an isolated indifference by just one department, possibly even one person—it was endemic within San Francisco city bureaucracy, as well as in most large cities.

The Takeaway

I have no delusions that calling attention to a city’s indifference will change the outcome of San Francisco’s “red zone” ruling, nor am I after revenge. But I’ve learned that embarrassment can be very effective when one side believes they are in a position to arbitrarily decide on significant changes. I’m sure the red paint on my curb will remain long after someone in my family has a catastrophic fall and long after I’m dead.

This article goes beyond my differences with the city. It’s about how traditional and social media exposure can be effective in changing “unchangable” positions. For example: 1) services to economically disadvantaged mothers and children were increased rather than cut when people learned what poor families were experiencing; San Francisco’s school district became reluctant to reduce services when their strategy was revealed nationally; funding was secured to rebuild Laguna Honda, our hospital for the indigent, poor, and dying when the public learned of its deplorable conditions; and access to San Francisco parks improved when local media sources revealed limited access for the disabled.

I don’t expect city officials to do anything that would reduce the impact of their decision on three people’s efforts to lead a “normal” life. But maybe my soap opera can serve as a model for what powerless classes of citizens can do when powerful bureaucrats are more interested in covering their backsides and not making waves than in caring for the needs of their city’s most vulnerable people.

Forget about my problem; think about the various powerless communities you belong to, then share this email with them. Also, I’d love to hear what you think. Add your comment below, and unlike the Mayor’s office, you’ll receive a response from me.

You’ll never know how strong your voice is until sometime in the future, when you become the target. Good luck and BE LOUD!