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06
BOHEMIAN
Rhapsodies The Sound of the Police
Overcoming our ingrained fear of the bleating sirens BY KYLE O’CONNOR
W
hile driving down Highway 116 to Guerneville recently, I spotted six police cars of various shapes and sizes; the typical sheriff’s cruiser, the Ford SUV with the occupant’s more “approachable” baseball cap, the black-andwhite intimidator of the CHP. Why was there such a congregation of “the Man” on this particular day?
It is amazing how paranoia envelopes even the most wellbehaved of us. Whenever I see the police I am afraid. I understand the risks law enforcement officers take every day. I am a military veteran. I can walk a mile in their shoes. It is a job that can be very dangerous. Yet somehow, some way, they scare the crap out of me every time I see them. We have become suspicious of the police, and they seem to always be suspicious of us. If you’re lucky enough to be “picked” by the police, you instantly become submissive and they become dominant. Every interaction appears to be met with intimidation and fear. My registration is current. My headlights both work. But I still feel helpless and void of freedom in their presence. If this dance of roles is real, and feels misplaced, how can we counteract this impulse of opposition, both the citizenry and law enforcement? We can wave. Whenever I see them, I wave. People waved at Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife. They waved back with a smile. They were part of the community, as our police are. Maybe they need to hear from us some other time than when we are in that uncomfortable situation of a “professional” encounter. Could a kind word to police officers limit their willingness to beat a teenager after a hot pursuit or help a BART policeman control his weapon more effectively? Anger builds and so does love. I prefer love. We are still a democracy and this is still a relationship, not a police state. And this relationship should not only exist in a crisis or when we break the rules. Wave as you pass by or say hello when you see them at the coffee shop or the supermarket. It feels weird at first. But consider the present alternative. We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write openmic@bohemian.com.
Vouchers for Botched Trees
Well, I sure can relate to your story about PG&E and Davey Tree (“Hack Job,” March 2). Thanks to the Johnny Appleseed efforts of a previous owner, our rural property is overflowing with aging pines and eucalyptus that grow like weeds. Every year, I go head-to-head with Davey Tree, and while they always want to chop, chop, chop, and I’m always urging restraint, I have to say that all in all they’ve done all right by me over the years. Also, in the past, PG&E has compensated us for removing or severely trimming trees with vouchers ($50 per tree) at Home Depot. Whether they still do this or not, I don’t know. I’m all for responsible tree trimming, but on the other hand, I’m not about to leave my day job for a spot on a PG&E repair crew during the next big storm.
PETER DALY Sebastopol
Hold the Rabbit I would have thrown your rabbit-ascuisine piece (“Cottontail Club,” March 2) on the floor in disgust, but my own pet rabbit was sleeping at my feet, and I didn’t want to disturb her. Thanks for a useful article. Now I know which restaurants to avoid.
LORI BARRON Sonoma
Right On, D’Argenzio This is a great article about a relevant topic (“Art Official Intelligence,” March 2). I really wish more building owners in San Francisco would take this idea and allow the up-and-coming artists of the
city to enliven the dead spaces that are otherwise falling to ruin and dust. It would be such a benefit for all.
Thanks for covering this topic!
LAYIL UMBRALUX San Francisco
Local Yokels Love the Boho’s new, clean lines and brightly colored layout—but I have one rant I just have to express. You’ve cut off half of our local yokel voice! I’m referring, of course, to the “Open Mic”—now a mere blip in the new “Rhapsodies” section. How can we locals scream out loudly or even just inform the uninformed about our mindexpanding insights and opinions with only a half (and a measly half) page? Even the letters to the editor now have more space on their side of the page! The new Culture (Clash) gets a whole page, and with all the emphasis on culture and dining, the Boho is starting to look suspiciously like San Francisco Chronicle-lite! Hmmm . . . How rather homogenous we’re all starting to seem.
LINDA DARNALL Sebastopol
Hi Linda—thanks for the feedback. The Open Mic section was always a half page, but now simply occupies half of a slightly smaller page. Our letters to the editor section has actually expanded, since our readers, like yourself, tend to submit their opinions largely in letters instead of formal Open Mic submissions. All told, that important screaming localyokel voice is still represented just as much as in our older design—only now with more voices. Glad you’ve noticed our culture and dining coverage. Please also enjoy our news story this week on U.S. Uncut’s actions in San Francisco, which went entirely unreported by the Chronicle, as well as our cover feature on wineries’ excessive use of groundwater, which the local daily has yet to investigate.