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Friday, July 30, 2010

Better to d SF311 or @SF311

If your reading this, you know that I have been making graffitweets to @SF311, that is on the public timeline. It is also possible to make the reports to SF311 with the d SF311 syntax, that way the reporter's twitter account is not on the public time-line.

I came across some evidence that someone else is making direct report to SF311 about graffiti in my area of the Mission. Since it seems she, or they don't want to be on the public timeline, I'm gonna respect that. But it does feel good to have company.

Come on people, it is really easy in your daily out time on the streets to snap a picture of a graffiti that damages the cityscape, and then feel the appreciation of seeing it cleaned. Your friends will love it too.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Need to update my top ten list for August.

I'm expecting the list to concentrate more on commercial graffiti, and certain long term graffiti that has not been removed. 2298 Mission Street, 2345 Mission St., 2351 Mission Street, back of Giant Value will be on the long term list. The commercial list should include 2293 Mission Street Mark Kaplan realator, Empty Furniture store accross from Mission Police Station, another Mark Kaplan realator, the PGE building on Folsom Street, and Market by Scyamore and Mission Streets. Round out the list with newsracks and rec and park.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Wrote a postal letter to DPW asking for fixed pedestal newsracks at 16th and Mission

Done.

It was a quickie, four paragraph letter with most being one sentence, but it is done. Has a stamp on the envelope.

if you're reading this, try it. It was easy. It may work. Choose your own corner that needs improvement.

Thanks SF311 twitter staff, they provided me with the link, that I now pass on to my blog

http://38.106.4.205/index.aspx?page=371

18th and South Van Ness, Beer comerican by Catholic and Korean Churches, + San Carlos school

The Billboard companies, agreed to self regulate themselves, and not put Billboards for items not available to minors, e.g. for 500 ft visibility from places of worship, schools, parks, where children congregate.

But they made a mistake, and have a billboard at 18th and South Van Ness, that is close to the Catholic church, the Korean church and San Carlos elementary school. SF311 had some trouble understanding this request, rather than keep trying, I contacted Clearchannel Billboards, and they said they would pass the request on to people who could do something about it. About 5 days ago, I haven't heard more. Thats good, but if 30 days go by without hearing anything, I should follow up.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

I tried

@SF311 Status request for SR 648783 made on May 2. http://twitpic.com/1kzg2x Shown closed but graffit remains. SF311 U R the Best! 8:15 AM Jul 23rd via web

The request had to be resubmitted as a new report because the previous request was closed. The time frame will begin from 7/23/2010. ^GA 10:30 AM Jul 23rd via CoTweet

Friday, July 23, 2010

Was I tired that day

I read my posts on the failure of the of the City to effectivly remove ANY of thhe Commercial graffiti, and now think that in someways a public blog has a newpaper role. I have not gotten a statement from the City about why it has taken so long. Maybe there is a good reason, and in fairness I should try to learn it and present it in my blog.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Illegal Commercial Postings.

I've read comments that if billboards are allowed, than so should graffiti. I don't like billboards either, but as a society we've developed a system of time, place, and manner type restrictions on corporate billboard in the urban space.

But from my experience in making all these graffitweet reports to SF311, the City is only working to prevent the gangster type graffiti, and has given a green light to the commercial illegal postings. Although they are given just three days to remove an illegal corporate posting, none of the corporate posting that I have reported have come down, compared to the 30 day period for tag graffiti, which has had many successes.

If the City is to be content un-neutral, e.g. giving a green light to illegal corporate posting graffiti of skimpy American Apparel models, Sailor Jerry Rum, movies including those looking violent, foreign beers,should I question being an active part of the process that greenlights corporate lawbreaking scofflaws polluting the urban visual environment, and shutting down more native graffiti?

Commercial postings

SR 696980, The City's goal is to respond to these requests and remove the posting within 3 calendar days. ^BM

Monday, July 19, 2010

I've got to concentrate on getting more graffitweeters.

Think out a strategy for getting graffitweeters.
The most basic strategy is to pay for them.
It is not going to happen by itself, I have been doing this long enough, and although there might be a slight uptick in the number of people using twitter to 311, it is mostly about muni, and almost just me on graffiti.
I did an analysis for Dolores Park and Mission District.
Assuming that people are just going about their normal lifes, and graffitweeting when they see a graffiti that bothers them, to clean up Dolores Park, it would need about 4-7, and 40 to 80 for the Mission District.

Dog people at Dolores Park are good candidate. They are at the park every day. Further thought.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Another milestone of success passed.


Another milestone of success, the other building at 18th St and by Mission and Capp Sts was painted clean. The public furniture graffiti is cleaned. The system is mostly working. although exceptions exist, by two month after a tracked report the graffiti is cleaned. Better than I predicted the graffiti is staying off buildings found as blight. several of the top ten buildings still tagged have a ticking clock. At least on the public spaces rapid cleaning means less new graffiti.- will this change crime, use patterns, business successes,

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Two more top 10 sites cleaned!


Both 780 Valencia and 190 Capp St have been cleaned!!! Successes are happening!! Remember to imagine what Mission St. would be if most of grafffiti and dirty streets were cleaned. Yes we can.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

I've been asked to write a how to be a graffitweeter article.

I like that. I'm going to think about what it should contain. Should it contain a significant portion of empowerment ideas, or just a technical tips on how to do so.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Why people don't make graffitweets?

I came across this quote, and am thinking if it is valid

I'm inspired by the idea that nuggets of opened data could seed guerilla public services, plugging gaps left by government, but i don't see any of that in the data.gov.uk apps list. The reasons aren't technical but psychosocial - the people and communities who could use this data to help tackle their own disadvantage and marginalisation don't have the self-confident sense of entitlement that makes for successful civic hacktivism.

Source

http://flowingdata.com/2010/07/05/open-data-doesnt-empower-communities/

Or turning this observation into my own question of why am I (almost) the only one who graffitweets in the Mission. The reason people don't graffitweet is psychosocial - everyone has a cell phone, even my MetroPCs phone account works, but the people and communities who live in the graffiti filled environment of the Mission don't have the self confident sense of entitlement to an unvandalized environment that makes for successful use of SF311.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Spreadsheet - Alpha Version

Yes, ! Another top ten blight building cleaned, Rainbo Bread at 16th and Folsom

The graffiti was cleaned, that building was heavily graffitied way before I started making these graffitweet reports to SF311
Spoke to Stanford urban specialist, advised need change 16 n Mission St. small step newsrack to green neat appearance ones.

TO DO List

Get others to join
Spreadsheet/ This is a serveral part project.
Economic valuation of Service externalities.
Map
Test the sidewalk dirty reports.
Separate Photo Streams for separate type reports.

Justify my TODO's so I'm not spending time just for idleness.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Newsracks


By 23rd street there are green newsracks that are four wide by two high, they have a attractive and tidy appearance. I would like to get the Valencia and other nearby Mission St newsracks replaced with those boxes. Several months of reports and available photos should give the proof and financial incentives to make it happen.

Friday, July 2, 2010

July starts with two successes !

First,
One of the top blight buildings on the top ten list got a real painting. 2205 Mission St was repainted, and this time like they meant it. There is still some graffiti visible behind a locked gate, and near the roof, but those are legitimate excuses.

Second,someone else has made graffitweets to SF311 about the exterior of the rec building at Dolores Park. I've got help and company !!