The real San Francisco Chronicle and SF49er

Note: My rant below, is just to be on record for what I believe to be racial insensitivity to put lightly, of the San Francisco Chronicle and the SF 49ers.

In the last two months, I sent numerous bits of information to the San Francisco Chronicle concerning what I believe would be the result of the departure of the San Francisco 49ers.

 
This information included these 4 published pieces, which illustrate my concerns best.
March 25, 2012 Published in New America Media
http://newamericamedia.org/2012/03/in-a-page-from-the-bible-49ers-no-good-samaritan.php

April 6, 2012 YouTube ten-minute video, http://youtu.be/BPw52WUbRzQ

SF Chronicle letters page for March 6, 2012. Fifth letter down the page. Hunters Point is in the title.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/05/ED311NEPFG.DTL#ixzz1ofgjgDCw

SF Examiner letters page for March 3, 2012. Second letter down the page.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/letters-editor/2012/03/reckless-taxi-drivers-are-hurting-city

 
However, on March 10, 2012, I sent business reporter David Baker a suggestion for a story, after reading a C.W. Nevius piece of work about a drug addict who shines Nevius’ shoes.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/09/BACE1NIF2F.DTL#ixzz1ok6c2h5h
This is self serving journalism 101. I bet Denise York, the NFL and San Francisco's elected officials also find this story as heart warming as C.W. does.
C.W. Nevius reaching out to an addict so he can continue to get the best shoeshine possible; give me a break.
C.W. why don't you go into the Bayview Hunters Point for a story where SOME people can't even afford to have their shoes shined. Then report on how some will struggle even further do to the greed of the 49ers and the NFL. And wear your good shoes.
 
Finally, I was outraged to read in Yesterday’s SFGate.com/Chronicle the story of a family forced out of the possibility of continuing their long tradition of being 49er “Season ticket holders” due to the high cost of the new stadium seating, by staff reporter Scott Olster.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/17/MNUA1O403R.DT

 
Out of the 15 journalist mentioned below who I tried to get to report on a real complaint, displaced long time season ticket holder was the best story the Chronicle could put together while the 49ers are abandoning a struggling community.

 
The San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Chronicle are showing a newer version of racial insensitivity by ignoring a struggling community of San Francisco.

 
The list of SF Chronicle “Journalist” who I e-mailed concerning the Bayview/SF49ers.

 
David Baker
Eric Branch
Phil Bronstein
Willie Brown
John Diaz
Rachael Gordon
Chip Johnson
Will Kane
Gwenn Knapp
Heather Knight
Stephanie Lee
CW Nevius
Phil Matier
Andrew Ross
Debra Saunders
Metro Desk News tips

STAY TUNED FOR THE STORY OF “HOOD  ROBBIN’ AND HIS MERRY MEN.

My Published Pieces on SF49er Stadium Deal

April 6, 2012

Ten Minute YouTube video “Citizen's arrest of the NFL and SF49ers”

http://youtu.be/BPw52WUbRzQ

March 25, 2012

850-word commentary

http://newamericamedia.org/2012/03/in-a-page-from-the-bible-49ers-no-good-samaritan.php

March 6, 2012

SF Chronicle letters page. My letter is the fifth letter down the page. Hunters Point is in the title.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/05/ED311NEPFG.DTL#ixzz1ofgjgDCw

March 3, 2012

SF Examiner letters page. My letter is the second one down the page.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/letters-editor/2012/03/reckless-taxi-drivers-are-hurting-city

Racist or Racially Insensitive, You Make the Call!

Racist or racially insensitive to the needs of a struggling community, you make the call!

The San Francisco 49er ownership is too good to build a new stadium in the struggling community of Bayview Hunters Point where they have been a resident since 1971.

The NFL is proud of its involvement in struggling communities. Even when many of its players “Give back” to struggling communities, the NFL is not shy about this fact.

Detroit Lions corner back Eric Wright was raised in the Bayview Hunters Point where the 49ers call Candlestick Park, home. Wright is proud to give back by helping out at the Bayview YMCA. However, the NFL has the nerve to loan the 49ers $200 million to leave this same struggling community of San Francisco to build its new stadium in affluent "Silicon Valley," south of the city 35 miles in Santa Clara, California. Apparently, the NFL has forgotten about all of their documentaries about where it gets many of its players.

The 49ers threatened to leave the area entirely if not allowed to move to Santa Clara and keep the name San Francisco on the team (Google the proposed law SB49 by State Senator Carole Migden.) This proposed law, poorly designed in my opinion, but was intended to stop the team from leaving San Francisco. The team wanted to leave the city of San Francisco but retain its iconic name.

Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch the 49ers, the city of Santa Clara and the NFL are all hoping to profit off this stadium deal. However, the continued use of the iconic name of San Francisco does not even leave crumbs for an area of the city, already struggling with many of its minority businesses and the young adult unemployment rate of 70%.

"We all agree that Candlestick Park needs to be replaced. Nevertheless, it is better to play a football game in a broken down stadium then play in a new stadium; that looks good on the outside but when you get a feel of the inside, it feels like racism, hypocrisy, blackmail and greed."

You make the call! No really, call or e-mail the NFL commissioner and tell him what you think of the 49er stadium deal.

Commissioner Roger Goodell
Phone: 212-450-2000
E-mail: goodellr@nfl.com

March is Black Future Month in NFL, 49er Land

The San Francisco 49ers announcement of their new $1 Billion Santa Clara County stadium, set to break ground in July 2012, has me shouting, Hold the phone! 

Struggling with its heavily populated black residents, the Bayview Hunters Point district of San Francisco is no longer good enough for its neighbors since 1971, the 49ers. However, the city name, San Francisco is good enough for this NFL team. On the other hand, Santa Clara has a good enough neighborhood but the name, Santa Clara, is not good enough for this NFL team. 

The bad news is if built, a beautiful new Santa Clara 49er stadium will look like corporate greed, racism, hypocrisy and legal tax cheating, all in one. The good news is the 49ers are not leaving beautiful San Francisco at all. 

A new generation of black leaders called, Black Future Month, will prevent this stadium deal from happening, to restore the reputation of San Francisco. More importantly, it will also restore pride of the Bayview Hunters Point area, by its residents initiating a 21st century call to action.

Several NFL teams have benefited from the swindle of using the city name but building a stadium just outside that city while getting huge legal local tax breaks. In another greedy move, these teams then have the nerve to sell the naming rights of the stadium to the highest bidder. The result, struggling areas of a particular city struggle much longer.  

The NFL and all its owners owe all its employees a minimum duty of respect. Many NFL players come from places like the Bayview Hunters Point. Detroit Lions cornerback, 26-year-old Eric Wright, was raised on Third and Palou, in this neighborhood. The NFL prides itself when players give back to their community as Wright has done in helping at the Bayview YMCA. 

However, the National Football League loaned the 49ers $200 million for this new stadium, which is reprehensible. They are assisting an NFL franchise in deserting a depressed area with its (49ers) pursuit of selfish greed. 49ers owner Denise York might fear a black male from the Bayview Hunters Point, but she has no fear of using blackmail in getting her way. 

In 2007, California State Senator Carole Migden answered the 49er owner, with a proposed law SB49 that would not allow the team to relocate to Santa Clara and retain the San Francisco name. The 49ers threatened to leave the area entirely if the bill passed. 

Fearful elected officials (past and present) swore an oath to protect the city. However, in this shady deal, San Francisco officials are willing to sacrifice a less desirable area of this great city, just to keep the San Francisco name on the 49ers. This too deserves a strong rebuke. 

There is no legitimate reason on record for the 49ers to leave this area. A reason of a “Toxic waste” from the nearby naval shipyard is a good excuse but never mentioned; I wonder why. Team stated reasons are: (1) “Traffic” (2) “Closer to the Santa Clara office” and get this, (3) Candlestick Point “Does not meet the needs of the 49ers.” What needs! The team won 5 Super Bowls and sold out every regular season game (65,000 per game) for the past thirty years. Its home was Candlestick Park the entire time. 

Concerned blacks should quietly and respectfully go into their Third Street Bank of America branch and announce YOU ARE CLOSING YOUR ACCOUNT. Then, in protest of Bank of America’s partnership with this stadium deal, proceed with caution and commonsense (trusted individual or notify the Bayview station SFPD). Open an account with those same funds across the street at U.S. Bank Third Street branch, who is one of the other partners in this stadium deal.

The purpose of this 21st century protest is to let the world know that corporate racism, hypocrisy and greed still exist, though it can’t run; nor hide.

The Volunteer Champ

I was 26-years-old when asked to teach Bible to teenaged felons housed at the San Francisco juvenile hall. Until then, I never knew sixteen-year-olds committed murder or rape. Particularly, these young men all looked so innocent or at the most, like a room full of candy thieves. 

Teaching teenaged felons, with lives on hold due to youthful anger, ignorance and mistakes was a challenge and a lot of fun. The challenge was getting and keeping their attention. The fun was watching over time as if the words, “I get it”, lit up like a neon sign in the pupils of my delinquent pupils.

However, what made me a better volunteer counselor was a couple of neon “I get it” moments, I experienced, away from the facility. 

One such moment, was the result of me witnessing a street fight where one man stabbed another. Blood, gushed out of the victim’s upper thigh as if it were water spewing from a fire hydrant. A quick thinking bystander immediately began first aid. However, the paramedics actually saved the victim partly because they kept feeling a very faint heartbeat; whispering, “Please don’t give up on me.”  

I began to apply that analogy to the hardened hearts of the young felons I ministered; metaphorically, I became their paramedic. I checked their pulse by telling true stories from my own life’s experiences, which also enabled me to detect a spiritual pulse more easily. I even witnessed some, not openly, but secretly practicing what I preached; love, hope and respect towards one another.  

My friends Mike and Greg contributed to another epiphany I had, which caused me to miss-out on one real special moment. I recall it was, “Monday Night Football!” I used “The Game” to talk myself into being too tired to volunteer; therefore, I stayed home to watch it. 

Greg, a boxing fan, told Mike he was going to San Jose that same Monday to see Muhammad Ali. Apparently, that lit up a neon moment for Mike, who worked at the facility where I volunteered. He suggested tagging along with the intent of asking The Champ to take part in a video, aimed at encouraging the kids at the juvenile hall.  

Now at the event, Mike and Greg waited patiently. Then one of them slipped Ali a note that read, “The Kids at the San Francisco juvenile hall could really use a lift.” 

Ali, who was in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, read the note. He then leaned over to his driver and said, “Get the car.”

They proceeded to follow Mike and Greg 40 miles back to San Francisco and up to the juvenile hall. 

With video camera rolling, they all entered the building. Mike is shouting from behind his camera, “I got The Champ with me; I got The Champ with me!” Staff instantly turned into wide-eyed children themselves.

Ali was escorted up to each unit where he visited everyone. He shook hands with staff, encouraged all the kids including shadowboxing with some housed in my, maximum-security unit. 

The following evening, several detainees shared with me their special moment. “Fresh Dan”, a 17-year-old award winning thespian, always put on an act. This night however, Dan was not acting; he put up his dukes and gave me a big neon smile, describing how he shadowboxed with The Volunteer Champ.