— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
As many will likely recall, one of the biggest concerns about the Department of Recreation and Park's decision to commercialize Dolores Park was where exactly the department planned on placing the food trucks. People pointed out that putting the trucks on or near heavy use areas would upset the vibe of the park, others worried that putting it too close to 18th and Dolores would add further traffic and pedestrian stress to the commercial corridor. As a compromise, the department agreed to place any food trucks on the paved section by the playground, two blocks away from the most trafficked area of the park.
However, this solution created its own problem. When the renovation fencing went up recently, Chaac-Mool's truck was largely sealed off from the rest of the park. The department recognized this problem months ago and Nicole Avril, Director of Partnership and Resource Development for Rec. & Park, proposed a temporary location that would not cause food carts to be put in the middle of the park. From the Oct. 7th commission meeting minutes:
I also want to discuss what will happen when the playground undergoes renovation, sometime hopefully next year. As this playground renovation will occupy a large part of the southern portion of the park including the identified location for Blue Bottle Coffee it was necessary to find an alternative location during construction and due to uncertain construction logistics we haven’t identified exactly where that will go but we are proposing that it go against what is going to be a construction fence. It’s also on this map, it’s hard to see but it’s the top white box. This is almost 1000 feet away from 18th Street and Dolores.
Subsequent meetings and dialogue reiterated this proposition and assurance that food trucks would be kept away from high-usage area until it was generally accepted as fact. And while this may not seem like the biggest deal in the world (the truck is still on pavement, not parked on the corner of 18th and Dolores, and who cares about that nice view of 19th?), situations like these continue to erode the credibility of anything Rec. & Park tells us.
Comments (29)
let it go, it’s just a food truck, it’s just a park.
in 2 years no one (seriously) will remember this issue and your contribution to this debate.
I’m with the point of view that this is not something to get overly worked up about, but it is wrong.
It is a major diss on the people who spent their time on this issue saying that commercialization or the parks system, and privatization is not wanted. It certain is another big blow to credibility. And the trailer does look out of place, and detracts from the park.
I also see that the restrooms are locked. Has recreation and park informed when the will be reopened. Cause I’m kinda suspecting that closing the restrooms is intended as a punishment for people speaking up about Dolores Park, and privatization of tax payer resources.
PS, the new avatars don’t look good either.
Yikes, sounds like too many complaints from me today in this last post.. Maybe I need to go to the park and get my attitude adjusted? That could help.
You know, wasn’t there some rule about how taco trucks and other “unhealthy” food options have to be 2 blocks away from a school?
What I remember was that the El Tonayense Taco truck location on Harrison Street was being criticized by folk who said it was bad food for the students at John O’Connel High School to eat. Was that an official rule? Idk, but this one is just by Mission High School.
What about the Sunny Vibes truck on 20th btwn Church and Dolores?
ONE - Nicole Avril is a bonehead who doesn’t know how to communicate properly and at one point had asked the ‘opposition’ to not attend City Hall DPR meetings (check transcripts of meetings from last fall, its on record)
TWO - Glad to See Uptownalmanac on board with reporting of the craziness that DPR inflicts upon the city and how DPR (department of Parks and Recs) just doesn’t really care about people/neighbors in and around the Dolores Park. They do what they want. Hopefully in the future these positions on the DPR board will be elected versus the way they are now, which is appointed.
THREE - @ ‘your mom’/’San Francisco’ seems like your only issues are with people who DON’T wear Gigantic Stupid Hate in their photos. Its funny, you tell people not to get worked up over something, but you post about it a bunch of times? When the city takes your parking or your green area or the place you like to sunbath away to make room for one of those ‘PARKLETS’, then you may think its a big deal.
Wait, now I have a big crazy hat? Kinda loses the punch of a comment.
I’m against the commercialization of the park.
Maybe we have all become so used to it, that we are told that it is not a big deal when the local government guys with big pay checks lie to us, but it shouldn’t be that way.
The Truth is a bigger issue than tacos.
In San Francisco, the name goes the other way, it is the Recreation and Parks department, not the Parks and Recreation department.
Clearly the taco truck has not been placed against the temporary construction fence as was stated in the Recreation and Parks Department Public meeting minutes quoted here. I’d kinda like to hear from the Department if they have a reason and if they have issued and public notice that a change in location was being considered? I haven’t seen or heard of any public notice about meetings that the location was changed, but throughout this process the communication from Rec and Park has been embarrassing.
The Taco truck looks bad where it is located, and as soon as possible it should be moved to a different location.
It’s been in the park by the playground for a while. Well, until they closed the playground off…
You people have way too much time on your hands. There are real world problems out in SF (homelessness, gangs, etc) and what do you choose to focus on: first world problems (commercialization of a park).
I also hear we’re currently at war. Or was that three wars?
I find it funny that a demographic which loves and supports companies like Apple, which, like other tech companies outsource their waste to third-world countries, would complain about the ‘commercialization’ of their beloved park. What a bunch of NIMBY elitist pricks.
Please don’t twist our our words and arguments.
Where we live, is important. Green space and a clean environmental is important. Parks for children and adults are important.
Bad government and good government services are important.
Stopping privatization and commercialization of public spaces, is important.
But if you’ve got the answer to gangs and homelessness, you’ve solved a big problem. But then you’d already know that.
@ PLEASE and ERIC GREGORY , its comments and attitudes like that they contribute to apathy, worldwide.
Some states an issue and has concern;
You, then throw out a general “Uh, what about AIDS people?!?!?!?!”
You belittle people’s concerns, whether you relate to them or not.
ERIC GREGORY aka MR ERIC SIR and PLEASE, I do have extra time on my hands….
When I am not donating time or money at my City Volunteer gig (youth outreach/gangs/after school program) I am attending meetings and functions to raise awareness to the city’s social ills…. this taco truck stuff, is really relaxing for me…. so yeah, I got time for it.
Eric Anderson a district supervisor said Rec and Parks decision of putting Chaac Mool in the most prime spot in Dolores Park (19th & Dolores) was because Rec and Park decided it was the only other flat area to place the truck in the park during construction at the mere rent of $1000 a month. Rumor has it they have been offering free tacos if you have one of their business cards!
Hi Mike S. Do you know when and where Eric Anderson said that? Cause there are several problems with that response.
1) He and his boss apologized for bad communication with the neighbors and community and said they would do better. Its not better to find out that the truck is at the entrance to the park without public notice. That is worse communication efforts because they were now on strong notice that they needed to communicate with the neighbors
2) The topographic of the park and location of flat and sloped places has not changed since long ago. So that is no excuse to change the location because the slopes and the flats of the park have not changed..
3) The truck is not in a particularly flat location. It is a particularly prime location that is not flat.
4) The truck looks out of place, and makes the entrance to the park look cheap.
Where the fuck does this mindset come from? Why do you people feel like you should be notified before anyone does anything in this town? Entitlement complex much?
Agreed. I don’t want that ugly truck in the center of the park either. I guess La Cocina are not the do gooders they claim to be. Its about money plain and simple. Nothing to do with the park except its super prime for any business to rake in profits. Chaac Mool probably makes a grand (their rent) in half a day. I wonder what the brick and mortars think of Chaac Mools rent especially since they are offering free tacos to try them out! Another can of worms Im sure
What happened to Chicken John?
I thought he always spoke up on this issue.
A tragedy.
http://whitewhine.com/
I think they should build condos on the park. That would settle everything…
On getting the Restrooms fixed, they replied,
PER RPD, “The repeated vandalism to the plumbing in MDP makes it difficult (to repair the restrooms) we hope to have it repaired in a few weeks.
Service Request Number 896485
Eric Anderson personally told my buddy as we walked in the park, as he was leading the truck to its new primo spot that he was told it was Phil Ginsburgs and Nick McKinseys decsion to move it to that location. He said he was following instructions since the playground shut down. Hope that helps your question
Who fucking cares. Why do all you fuck heads hate tacos. Who the fuck hates tacos. Tacos are god damn delicious. I should be able to get tacos FUCKING EVERYWHERE. There should be people walking around with fucking belt mounted tacos dispensers like it’s a taco casino. As a matter of fact Taco Casino is a good idea. Tacos as currency. Fuck you taco haters. Why do you hate fun!
Tacos are loser hipsters with super bad gas
Where did Chicken John go?. Buck, Buck Buck. He’s a chicken, what sounds do chickens make.
Anyone else notice that the first “upgrade” Rec & Park did to Dolores, other than destroying the kid’s playground, is the new footpath/ROAD right there at the entrance to the park so they can get that goddamned trailer in there easier. How many tens of thousands of dollars did they spend on that so they can collect $1,000 a month from that stupid thing? Lying Bastards