An unidentified motorist crashed his 2000 Toyota 4Runner into a light pole on Ocean Ave. near the Granada Ave. intersection on Aug. 21. JIMMY YOUNG / THE GUARDSMAN

By Alex Emslie
OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS EDITOR

A 2000 Toyota 4Runner crashed into a light post at the intersection of Granada and Ocean Avenues late in the afternoon Aug. 21. Impact from the head-on wreck sent the decorative lower light post cover into the window of Health Feet Spa.

The vehicle’s driver was taken from the scene in an ambulance as a precautionary measure, according to San Francisco Police Department Officer Chu. The unidentified man was conscious with no visible injuries and did not complain of any pain. No bystanders sustained any injuries.

All witnesses agreed the car was traveling “very fast” when it hit the light post. Signs posted nearby set the speed limit on Ocean Ave. at 10 miles per hour.

“I would guess it was going around 30 to 35 miles per hour,” SFPD Officer Leong said. He thought the vehicle traveling south on Granada was the most likely story. There were no skid marks at the scene.

“I thought it was gun shooting,” said Health Feet Spa customer Lorie Rueda about the sound of the crash.

“I was sitting right here,” Quyiah Le, the salon’s owner said as she pointed to a desk near the shattered front window. “It was very frightening.”

Witnesses gave conflicting accounts of the crash. Rose De Alba, who was sitting in the spa, said she was looking out the window and saw the vehicle traveling east on Ocean Avenue just before it hit the light post.

Paul Lara and Tim Coyne of San Francisco Meats and Delicatessen said the SUV was traveling south on Granada.

“We’re just happy he didn’t come through the glass,” Coyone said. Had the lamp post not been there, the SUV could easily have hit the deli.

Elbia Torrez, of El Jalapeno Taqueria, agreed with Granada’s account. She was outside the restaurant at the time of the accident.

“I ran like crazy when I saw it,” she said. “It almost hit me.”

By Alex Emslie
STAFF WRITER

Members of Bay Area Coalition of Welcoming Congregations lead the march from Church Street to Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco On May 26 in support of overturning Prop. 8. RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Supporters of same-sex marriage gathered in force early Tuesday morning at St. Frances Lutheran Church and marched chanting and singing to hear the state Supreme Court’s decision on the fate of Proposition 8. The cautiously optimistic crowd erupted into boos and shouts of, “shame on you,” when the decision was announced at approximately 10:03 a.m.

Of the three arguments before California’s highest court, two challenged the constitutionality of Prop. 8’s denial of marriage to same-sex couples. In a 6-1 vote, those constitutional challenges were rejected, and the amendment to the state constitution stating “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” was upheld.

The third argument before the state Supreme Court, raised by attorney’s representing The Official Proponents of Proposition 8 and asking for the annulment of roughly 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted before the passage of the amendment, was unanimously denied by the court. Common supreme court practice denies the retroactive application of new laws unless the legislation contains specific language requiring it. Prop. 8, as it was presented to voters, contained no such language.

Protester of the state Supreme Court's decision on upholding Prop.8 being arrested for blocking the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street in San Francisco on May 26. RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

After the announcement, angry protesters moved to block the intersection of Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue, just outside City Hall. San Francisco Police Department Lieutenant Slade said, one platoon — or about 60 officers — were present at the civil disobedience following the announcement. According to sfexaminer.com, 175 protesters were arrested and released.

“This is a great demonstration between community activists and local clergy who are really outraged by the decision of the Supreme Cxourt to uphold Proposition 8,” said Rev. Roland Stringfellow of The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry. He said despite the Court’s decision not to nullify previous same-sex marriages, many protesters still saw the ruling as a defeat. “That is why we’re out on the streets today to make our voices heard and also put our bodies on the line.”  Rev. Stringfellow was arrested roughly 30 minutes later.

United Methodist Minister Israel Alvaren, who helped to coordinate about 40 clergy members with the organization One Struggle, One Fight, said he had cooperated with the SFPD to stage the protest. “Yes. We had a liaison,” an SFPD Leiutenent said. “We’re going to give them their time to express their opinions and differences, possibly for about an hour. At that point, we have to restore order.”

Proponents of Proposition 8 also made a smaller appearance Tuesday, hoisting signs reading “‘Gay’ = Perverted” and “Marriage is still one man and one woman.”

“Our social fiber is based upon the relationship between a man and a female,” said Steve Macias, student body president of Sacramento City College. “That is the beginning of the family; the beginning of society. [The] ruling upholds the right way to conduct society. Without this, we have a degradation of society.”  He also said the state Supreme Court’s decision against nullification was “politically motivated.”

Frank Parish, who said he had worked for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, was outside the Supreme Court building collecting signatures for an initiative to strike down Proposition 8. He said more than 700,000 signatures would be required, since some would disqualified. Rev. Stringfellow said they would, “get marriage equality back on the ballot hopefully as soon as 2010 and, if not, 2012.”

“As a person of faith I would just say that the fight is not over; that we struggle in the tradition of the leaders of the civil rights leaders of the past,” concluded Alvaren. “This is a civil rights issue. For those who are on our side, let them have hope that this will, in the end, be a triumph for justice and equality.”

Ramsey El-Qare contributed to this story

By Alex Weinschenker
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The San Francisco Police Department has no plans to add Segways, the electric two-wheeled substitute to walking, to their arsenal of patrol vehicles.

“Because of the budget crisis, it is highly unlikely San Francisco [Police] will adopt Segways as a means of patrol without the help of a massive public donation,” Lynn Domioka, SFPD sergeant of public affairs said.

The price of a single Segway ranges from about $5,300 to $6,400, depending on the model.

Although San Francisco is currently unable to upgrade the typical foot patrolman, the San Jose Police Department has successfully been utilizing Segways to patrol the downtown area for roughly three years.

“The Segway has been effective in getting officers from place to place more rapidly in the downtown area,”  said Sergeant Fred Mills, head of the SJPD Public Affairs Department. Segways have not been put to use outside of downtown San Jose.

Locally, City College has implemented the use of Segways to patrol the parking lots of the Ocean campus as a substitute for patrol cars. “[The Segways] provide more mobility, giving patrolmen the ability to cover a greater area as well as offering an efficient green alternative to getting officers out of the patrol vehicle,” said Rod Santos, interim chief of the City College Police Department.

Despite the implementation of the Segway in parking lots, some students feel the device could contribute to a far greater good if utilized as a substitute for the current patrol car.

“It would be a great idea to increase the officer patrol presence on campus, bringing the police out of the cars to protect students in dangerous areas, not just patrolling the parking lots,” said Alex Hafner, a psychology major, adding Segways could help officers patrol the areas surrounding City College, improving security after the recent string of sexual assaults.

Currently, Segways are used only by non-sworn campus control guards, civilians with no arrest power, for purposes of traffic control.