1/ Extremely weird energy in the Mission this evening. Here's what happened on my 45 minute dog walk.
First I came across an unmarked cop SUV and 4 (!) officers who'd pulled over 2 POC men. (some/all officers were POC too).
So I stopped to observe.
First I came across an unmarked cop SUV and 4 (!) officers who'd pulled over 2 POC men. (some/all officers were POC too).
So I stopped to observe.
2/ I didn't start filming—in part because I had no idea what had happened before—but I had my phone in hand, and the cops for sure took note of me.
I just watch, maybe 5-7 min?, as they took the license and ran plates.
I just watch, maybe 5-7 min?, as they took the license and ran plates.
3/ So eventually a cop loudly asks me: Why are you watching this? And I say: Why did you pull over these guys? And he says: Ask them, I'm not going to tell you their business. So me and the driver exchange a 🙄 look, me with eyes only, I'm wearing a mask. As are all the cops.
4/ And then cop gives the guy his license back and says to me "Thank you for making sure all our cameras were working!" And I say, "no problem" and then I wait as they climb into SUV and drive away. Then driver and I nod at each other. And I keep walking but not 10 ft later...
5/ Homeless black guy (seen before), washing a car, says "Hey do you mind if I ask if you waited to make sure nothing happened?" And I say yeah. And he says thanks. And I say, gotta use that WW privilege for good when you can. And then he asks if I have a car I want washed. 😹
6/ I head to Precita Park, where there are a lot of dogs and owners—most of whom seem to know each other. Mask wearing <40%. A (mask-wearing) lady LOUDLY thanks me for wearing a mask, says "it's brave." It's nothing, I say. MORE LOUD THANKS. Then (as thanks?) her husband..
7/ warns me that park ranger is here, and he'll ticket people with off-leash dogs, which is to say every dog but their dog. I didn't even know this was leash-only space! But ok, put the leash on Cabbage and leave, passing the ranger, who's more concerned with social distancing...
8/ ranger seems abashed and truly concerned in a productive way about people not infecting each other. WHICH FAIR. So I head home and then see two neighbors (to each other) in some crazy ass fight where accusations of all kinds are being hurled and it's beginning to feel like...
9/ Mr Robot, when like you're following the main crazy plot line but you see in the background of shots about the protagonists signs that society is deteriorating...and I keep walking.
At this point I decide to buy a bottle of wine, can you blame me? And then...
At this point I decide to buy a bottle of wine, can you blame me? And then...
10/ I'm walking the last few block home and I come across another police/emt scene, in which a Post Office van has collided with car and/or motorcycle!
11/ And there's a crowd, and it's tense, but not in the same way as the previous cop encounter. And the person on the gurney in the ambulance is sitting up and texting, so I decide to head home.
12/ Stay safe out there people! Wear your damn masks, it's not brave, it's in your and the entire country's best interest. And stop to watch police when you can. This is also in everybody's best interests, including theirs.
*pours glass of wine*
*pours glass of wine*
