Story dilemma (Blog 11)

Last Tuesday was probably one of the longest days of my life. It wasn’t that the Chauncey Bailey trial was boring it was all the bureaucratic garbage being spilled in the courtroom. Obviously I didn’t go into the courtroom thinking it was going to be like Law & Order: SVU (one of my favorite shows) in which I would understand everything that is going on. Everything that was discussed in the courtroom such as the evidence and key witness testimonies sounded like Japanese, I couldn’t understand 50 percent of it. Although I jotted down copious amounts of notes, I should have gotten more background information before going to the trial, but to my dismay I had tons of work from other classes that I couldn’t ignore.

Fortunately I had received contact information from Melissa Krum (prosecutor) and Gary Sirbu (Mackey’s lawyer); I was amazed with how helpful they were. After talking to the lawyers and diving into a whole mess of research I was able to connect with what went on in the trial to Chauncey Bailey’s murder and presto story complete. I had no idea how complicated the case was going to be, who would have thought so much crime would come from a small little bakery of all places. The case is so complex if someone were to make a movie out of it, they would have to turn it into a mini-series just to get it right.

I’m not sure how our professor would feel about my article since it was my first time covering a trial, but at least I completed my story on time with the format she asked for. All I can do is hope for the best at this point.

As for my final story it seems that all arrows points at nude people in the Castro. I’ve done a little bit of research on the subject while I was working on my crime story and it seems like too many people have written about nudists in San Francisco. Some of them were positive others were negative, either way I have to go with a different angle. I would like to write a profile piece on one of the nudists I spoke with a couple weeks ago I don’t think anyone has used that angle yet (at least not to my knowledge).

I may consider writing about the Castro’s night life because I heard it can get a little wild after a certain, especially in the bars. But if you guys have any story ideas I could use please feel free to send some my way, I would really appreciate it.

The Castro Crime Map

This is the crime map for my neighborhood beat. The Castro has generally been a safe neighborhood for 30 years.In fact most of the crimes that occurs in the neighborhood range from disturbances, vandalism and assaults. The Castro is still probably one of the best areas to raise a family.

PS: Click on the map or drag it down to get a better view of where I placed the thumb tacks.


View The Castro Crime Map in a larger map

Local Oceanview Business Burglarized Last Night

The RC Package House located at 98 Broad Street was broken into last night.

Shop owners say the only items taken were the cash register and some candy bars.

The security cameras showed two masked men entering the store at 4:23 a.m., two hours before it was set to open.

Police are continuing their investigation, though no suspects have been named. They asked for anyone with information about the crime to contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 553-0123.

No one was injured during the burglary.

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Dichotomy of Culture

The Ocean View, Merced and Ingleside neighborhoods, more commonly referred to as the OMI hold a history that's rarely seen today. Yet, it has become something of a cultural phenomenon: a case study to be delved into with the most introspective of purposes. Its downright interesting.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. When I tell people I came from the Midwest, they see a corn-fed white-boy that herded cattle or worked on the farm throughout much of my young adult life. However, until the age of 14 I was knee deep in a cultural triad that would define a large portion of my perspectives and beliefs up through the beginning of high school. The largest populations surrounding the greater Chicagoland area were Black, White(polish predominantly) and Indian. We were told there were neighborhoods to avoid, streets to walk around and hallways that would hold certain dangers were we to venture down them. We were never told why; though, there was an innate stigma that attached itself to these areas and the races and cultures that inhabited them.

Its different here. These stigma's still exist, yet perhaps it is my additional 13 years of real-world experience that have allowed me to view them with less of a perception of possible victimization. As I walk down Arch St. or Broad St. or Farallones Ave., there are signs that bring me back to my childhood. Gang symbols, graffiti and drug culture are prevalent throughout the OMI, in sharp contrast to the historical context by which many still view this area. Though now, the strong sense of fear is gone. Crime, robbery, assault and even murders are still reported regularly throughout the OMI, though it is what it is. Perhaps this is what comes with "big city livin'."

Its exciting to be here. Its exciting to smell the smells, hear the sounds, and revel in the folderol of life. From what I've seen, the key to survival is twofold. Civility and candor go hand in hand when talking to the residents and learning what it is to be a resident and member of this community. Can't wait for next week!