A bit of SF in B’game

December 5, 2025

I’m a big believer in the “Broken Window” theory. It posits:

a criminological theory suggesting that visible signs of disorder (graffiti, litter, or broken windows) encourage further crime and antisocial behavior. First introduced by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling in 1982, it argues that maintaining order in communities helps prevent serious crime.

The challenge is the police cannot be everywhere all the time. And so it was yesterday in the middle of the afternoon on El Camino at the Safeway bus stop. Shoppers were treated to a little bit of the Tenderloin as a guy decided to relieve himself right there in broad daylight. Nevermind that the Safeway restroom is open to all a one-minute walk away.

The news, particularly the SF Comicle, is replete with reports of arrests of people that have 10, 15, or 25 prior arrests for all sorts of crimes including the violent ones that made that day’s news in the Ingleside neighborhood. I’ll bet that is the case here as well. Unfortunately, the news is also full of how slowly the Care Court we highighted almost two years ago is ramping up and I’ll bet it would help in this situation as well.

Posted in Crime

5 responses to “A bit of SF in B’game”

Handle Bard

December 7, 2025

A Midday Mischief on El Camino Real

There once was a fellow from old San Fran,
A Tenderloin wanderer, whimsical man.
He hopped on the bus for a Burlingame stroll,
Let sunshine and curiosity carry his soul.

But midday adventures can take sudden turns,
As every traveler sooner or later learns.
On El Camino Real, with cars rolling by,
He danced a small jig and he let out a sigh.

For nature, relentless, had chosen its time—
A moment far shy of discreet or sublime.
So there on the sidewalk, in broad, golden light,
He answered the call in full public sight.

The locals looked on with a gasp and a stare,
Unsure if they ought to keep walking or care.
But the man simply smiled with an awkward “Oh well,”
For sometimes life’s stories are funny to tell.

And later he chuckled, “I won’t soon forget—
Next time I’ll plan out my restroom roulette.”
Thus travels continue, with lessons in tow,
Down Bay Area streets where the wild things go.
Jennifer Pfaff

December 7, 2025

‘Very impressed with this one, well done! Please don’t tell me it is an AI construct (!?)
Handle BardGPT

December 8, 2025

Busted!
Joe

December 9, 2025

I was suspicious….and impressed.
Grace

December 27, 2025

The new BART gates are a joke in Millbrae. People can and do easily slip under the railings to the side of the gates. I don’t know if it’s this easy to evade paying at other nearby stops, but it might explain why I am seeing an increase in homeless people: they can’t get off at San Bruno, the airport, Colma or Daly City anymore so they all come to Millbrae. Today I saw an old style alcoholic sitting on the ground on Burlingame Ave. with 2 bags of chips and 6 empty Fireball shooters between his legs. Then a block down I saw a young couple with plastic bags full of the belongings looking like they were just coming off their high.

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