Blog3: Haighters Gon’ Haighted
One… one time I visited the Haight this week. My mind was clear and calm as I rode my bike through the park, passing by the track runners at Kezar stadium and through the skater’s at the lot converted skate park on Waller and Stanyan streets.
I had no plan in mind. It was just another day in the Haight for me, with my notepad and camera tucked away in my bag, ready when I was. My keen sight and eager heart shone on my face and I rode into the Haight like I owned it.
It was as if everything calmed and moved in slow motion when I reached the social hub of Golden Gate Park at Haight and Stanyan. I stood there and remembered my first days reporting this semester. I remembered just how terrified I was.
Blog1: Haighters Gon’ Haighten‘, was my first published article on my very own neighborhood blog. I remember I read through it, over and over, just to have a feel for the flow of the language I used, to see which words appealed to the senses and what worked in placing a reader in the middle of the bohemian neighborhood.
I remember how the overwhelming mix of characters, colors and voices—although unique—seemed to have a uniformity to their presence. They were/are—all Haighters.
Back at Haight and Stanyan, standing where it all started, I saw the Haighters. They were a mass of people that moved through the streets with the fluidity of a body of water. Every body that entered or left the flow, was like a ripple in the stream.
I approached. Seeing the creases in people’s squinted faces shading their eyes from the sun, I noticed that their expressions were unwavering. I had entered unnoticed and unbothered.
I, myself, have become “Haighted”.
This semester in reporting has been a great challenge in overcoming the fear of approaching people. Especially in a neighborhood like the Haight where the abundance of loud personalities is quite overwhelming.
But once I got over that fear… once I realized that everyone I interviewed is a person with some human quality in which I could relate, I couldn’t stop.
I love reporting. I love writing. I love what I do.
Politics for property
A recycling center in the park
His rolling suitcase barely zips shut. The overstuffed bag on wheels wobbles awkwardly, bouncing on the uneven pavement as he pulls it behind him like a disobedient dog on a leash.
He reaches his destination and the sound of crashing glass, clanking metal and working machinery is a mismatching of the green-growing garden before him. He picks his spot next to a series of trash bins and unzips his bag and outflows his daily collection of recyclables.
Gregory Paris unloads his collected recyclables.
“I’ve been homeless, recycling for about five years now,” says Gregory Paris, a daily customer of the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council recycling center.
Paris, says he comes to the center at least once a day. He makes his money by collecting recyclables from the park and the beach. He says that he goes deep into the bush and shrub where no one else will, because for one thing— it needs to be cleaned and for another—he needs money to survive.
“They need [recycling centers] for people,” says Paris. “For people who can’t do a rain dance when they are thirsty!”
The HANC recycling center at 780 Frederick St. was at one point considered to be an innovative contribution to the community for people like Paris. In the present day with citywide curbside services provided by Recology, the center is considered obsolete and an unfitting industrial business that attracts an unwanted homeless population to the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, according to the Recreation and Parks Department.
Holding the lease, Recreation and Parks has sent three eviction notices which HANC has ignored and finally appealed. HANC went into an unlawful detainer action arguing that there are political motives behind the eviction. Recreation and Parks plans on using the space for a more “appropriate” use such as a community garden, and nearby neighborhood organizations stand behind that agenda.
“Times have changed,” says Richard Magary, steering committee chair of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association. “Recycling operation necessarily involves noise and large diesel trucks on an on-going basis… the residents [across the street of the center] have complained about the noise for years—with no response.”
Magary argues that Golden Gate Park simply is not a suitable site for a recycling center anymore.
“They’re trying to play by how recycling was done 20, 25, 30 years ago when it’s a completely different situation now,” states Magary.
The changing times
HANC has been at its current location since 1981. At first, the center existed only as a drop off donation center and in 1986 the Bottle Bill was enacted and the center was fully certified for California Redemption Value by 1987.
“The Recycling Center was a tremendous asset for its first 10 years but when the city instituted sidewalk recycling—thanks to the example set by HANC—the drop-off function became redundant,” says Karen Crommie, president of the Cole Valley Improvement Association, who is also in favor of the eviction.
Since the start of curbside disposal in the early ’90s, HANC has been struggling to prove itself to the other neighborhood organizations. According to Ed Dunn, the HANC recycling center site director, the ongoing battle has always been political.
“The recycling center became controversial,” says Dunn. “The HANC political organization… is a very progressive organization and has taken positions over the decades that have been controversial for some people.”
Dunn says that in 2001 the lease had expired and HANC was on a rolling month-to-month contract. After that happening, with the continuance of the group’s political stance on certain issues— such as their opposition to the sit-lie ordinance—came the political feud that fueled the fire for the eviction at hand.
“The neighborhood politics were getting hot as ever,” says Dunn, and in 2010 HANC heard word that various neighborhood organizations teamed up with Recreation and Parks and Gavin Newsom, whom was mayor at the time, and planned to evict the center to replace it with a community garden.
*numbers provided by HANC
According to Recreation and Parks, HANC provides only .1 percent of the city’s total recycling tonnage. In an agenda dated Nov. 29 2010, just one month before the first eviction notice, Recreation and Parks state that “the San Francisco Department of the Environment is confident that recyclers that use the facility will take their material to another existing site.” Therefore, they feel that there is no longer a practical use for the site and that a community garden would be more beneficial for the neighborhood.
Reasons for eviction evolved
Ted Lowenberg, president of the Haight Ashbury Improvement Association, says that there are two prominent issues involving the recycling center.
“Rec and Park has the right to terminate the lease with 30 days notice,” says Lowenberg. “Secondly, Rec and Park has the stewardship of public land in San Francisco for recreation.”
Lowenberg states that it is time for the center to vacate and by refusing, HANC is invalidating the legality of their contract which is setting a potentially harmful example for the neighborhood.
“Their lease is over and its their time to go, period,” says Lowenberg.
HANC is aware of the circumstances and is taking it upon itself to do whatever it takes to stay.
“So in the middle of last summer I said, ‘screw it!’ ” says Dunn. He and his team created their own community garden infrastructure.
Crommie says that HANC is trying to “stall” and “undermine” the eviction process.
“The underlying issue is the community anger resulting from the fact that after Rec and Park issued the legal eviction it planned to replace it with a community garden managed by the Rec and Park Department’s community garden program,” says Crommie.
Crommie argues that there were expectations for a Recreation and Parks operated community garden that is now on hold. The fact that HANC took it upon itself to implement a community garden itself is an example of how “HANC feels that the property belongs to them,” according to Crommie.
The multiple viewpoints and standing ground
Many neighboring business throughout the Haight Ashbury are unaware of the debate. Though they are unfamiliar with the politics, some still had a perspective.
Becky Dill of Cold Steel America Piercing and Tattoo, says that her business benefits from the center and that she does not see the recycling center contributing to theft or to the homeless population.
“We want to buy some pretty expensive equipment but it’s expensive to have a business on Haight Street,” says Dill. “So what we’ve been doing is saving bottles and cans for over a year now so we can save some money and by nice equipment.”
Brad Woehl, owner of American Cyclery on Stanyan Street is familiar with the politics, but still is unsure where he stands on the issue.
“People in the neighborhood that use the recycling center come by our store and push their shopping carts full of their bottles and cans… everyday,” says Woehl. He says that not only is it distracting but it is bad for business in that it creates an unpleasant atmosphere.
However, he sees HANC as an asset to the community. The mural painted on the side of the building to his business was done thanks to HANC.
“The funds needed to paint the mural and pay the artists came from money from HANC,” says Woehl.
BVNA, HAIA and CVIA amongst others stand in their fight behind Recreation and Park, and do hope that the current site facilitated by HANC will eventually be vacated.
All organizations involved firmly believe that the “CRV redemption program encourages and provides incentive for illegal poaching” and “enables illegal camping and illicit and unhealthy behavior,” according to the Recreation and Parks proposed agenda.
The appeal at hand is still being processed and there are no court dates scheduled. HANC was granted a stay as of Aug. 13 2011, while the appeal is processed. Dunn says he expects to be in court by June. Nevertheless, he remains hopefull.
“Hopefully at the appropriate time the mayor will look at this issue and tell Rec and Park to lift the eviction,” says Dunn.
Until a decision is made, customers like Gregory Paris will continue to use the facility in hopes that it will remain.
Emptying his bag full of recyclables, swiftly separating bottles from cans, Paris further explains the necessity of recycling centers. He says that it is his lively-hood and the city needs to be cleaned up.
“Imagine if everyone stopped recycling,” says Paris, staring stern faced and still. “It would be a mess… It would be a huge mess!”
A gift to the world
Sami Sunchild and the Red Vic
On a Sunday morning 9 a.m. arrives followed by guests filing down the stairs and locals rushing through the front doors. The café fills with voices and laughter as conversations spring up at each table. Near the front entrance there is a table reserved—but not for a private party—everyone is welcome and everyone was invited. It is about to begin and a group of seven gathers around with their attention focused on a woman as they anticipate how their breakfast conversation will unfold.
Sami Sunchild spreads peace one conversation at a time.
“What are you doing to contribute peace to the world?” asks Sami Sunchild. Her bright sky-blue eyes, wide with excitement and glistening with hope matched her soft-spoken voice, weathered by age and wisdom.
She explains that they will introduce themselves, describing where they live and what they see when they look out their window so that everyone can learn and share his/her perspective as they discuss what they are doing to make the world a more peaceful place. Thus begins this Sunday morning’s Peaceful World Conversation.
Peace symbols can be found throughout the Red Vic.
The Red Victorian Bed & Breakfast Peaceful World Center at 1665 Haight St. is Sunchild’s life’s work and permanent residence. It only makes sense that as a single-independent woman she would find peace in San Francisco when she stumbled upon an indefinite opportunity—the Red Vic— back in 1976.
“I want to turn the tourist industry into the peace industry,” Sami says. “That’s my mission, to be getting people off of the tour buses and to be bringing them in to ask the questions: Why am I alive? Why am I here? And what is my greatest contribution?”
Sunchild says that San Francisco is “famous for being open minded and creative,” and that tourists “never touch the heartbeat of San Francisco.” She wants to show people that it is a place that “is alive and full of possibilities, full of living your life.” She says that is why she paints the peace symbol, because it is a universally understood symbol that attracts people.
“San Francisco has been immortalized as the peaceful city of the world,” says Remington Cox, employee of the Red Vic. “The hippie movement started here and Sami… she hasn’t let that dream die.”
Red Vic host Danielle Barnett, sits and talks with customers in the café throughout the day.
Sunchild visually fortifies peace throughout the building. Her therapeutic methods of painting are not only hung for display on the walls, but the building itself is an example of peace and love. The building’s exterior is painted red, even the inside is carpeted in red and “red is the color of love and passion,” says Danielle Barnett, host and tour guide.
Ugyen Dolma, a fellow businesswoman and shop owner of Tibet Styles, just doors down from the Red Vic, has had an ongoing relationship with Sami for the past 10 years and says that she feels the peace and the love from the Red Vic.
“In my opinion, [Sunchild] is one of the most wonderful people I’ve met,” Dolma attests. “She cares for us, cares for humanity, where you come from. She fights for peace. Good people will come to support her.”
Dolma reminisces her first encounters with Sunchild and how she joined in on a Sunday morning’s Peaceful World Conversation.
“I shared everything,” says Dolma. She says that she was amazed by how Sunchild was able to bring everyone to the table to all join in on the conversation. Dolma says it was peace inspiring that everyone was so open and that the conversation was filled with “wonderful moments.”
Kate Hockett, a Red Vic receptionist, says that Sunchild makes those moments happen. Hockett says that people will be seated alone spread throughout the café and Sunchild will walk up to the individuals and introduce people and make conversation.
“The most beautiful experiences come out of it,” says Hockett. She says, “[Sunchild] brings out people’s perspective,” and it’s because “her eye contact is really present… She looks at you and she is looking into your heart.”
The Red Victorian used to be the Jefferson-Haight Hotel.
Alezeia Brown, a guest from Brisbane, Australia, was on vacation with her partner Justin Wiles and they stayed at the Red Vic and were able to experience the Peaceful World Conversation first hand.
“I felt a bit uncomfortable at first,” admits Brown. “However it was very refreshing just to sit and chat with people about what motivates them and how they intend to make a difference.”
She continues to explain her impressions of Sami.
“Now [that] I have met her and learned some of her story I think her dedication to improving the world one conversation at a time is admirable. Sami is Genuine,” says Brown.
“She’s amazing. [After] meeting her for the first time I feel honored,” Wiles adds.
Though, Sunchild has been accepted by many people, there is still a need for recognition in Haight Ashbury community. Laurie Marshall, Executive assistant and peace networker of the Red Victorian explains that there has been so much negativity on Haight Street, and that many times Sunchild and the Red Vic have been overlooked and misunderstood.
Sunchild paints the peace symbol because it is universally recognizable.
“Sami’s huge focus on building the Red Vic Peace Center has led to a misperception that she only cares about her business,” says Marshall. “She has a heart and mind that encompasses the well-being of the world community on more levels than most people can imagine.”
A local shop worker, June Smith, from Decades of Fashion, just next door to the Red Vic, agrees and hopes that Sami’s peace and love would spread.
“There is so much negativity on this street,” Smith says. “I wish that Sami Sunchild’s mission of peace was more widespread in the Haight Ashbury district.”
Nevertheless, Sami Sunchild is still fighting and she will not give up.
“[Sami] keeps going, when her eyes are stinging, her balance is off and her precious vision is compromised,” Marshall says. “For 30 years, Sami has been a model of bringing beauty, imagination, play and a focus on peace to the street.”
Now an 86-year-old woman, Sunchild sits in her café and recounts how she struggled since she was just a little girl. Osteomylitis, an infection in the bones of her leg, consumed her childhood. She said that as a nine-year-old girl she found her life’s worth after nearly dying.
“I was here for something. [My parents] gave me a feeling that life is worth living and you can contribute something,” says Sunchild.
Sunchild devoted her life to changing the world and promoting peace. She graduated with an M.A. and Ph. D from Columbia Pacific University. Studying Transformational Art and Societal Change established the foundation that led her to greatness through peace.
Sami Sunchild works seven-days-a-week to promote peace.
After living in multiple cultures, marrying twice and adopting two children, Sunchild found the Red Victorian. It became hers, and she had established her life as her own independent person and with that ideology she wanted to create herself as she thought she was.
In 1977 she legally changed her name to Sami Sunchild and even had a name changing ceremony. She had bore the name of three men before, and now she wanted her own. She chose Sunchild, because the sun is the source of life and she says that we are all children of the sun.
As her own woman, Sami Sunchild has only one thing in mind.
“What I’m really convinced is that I want to, as long as I’m alive… I want to keep giving my gift to the world.”
Undercover weed bust
The extensive amount of marijuana sales in recent weeks in the Haight Ashbury has led to police action, according to smoke shops and street dealers.
There has been an increase in enforcement against the offense. Undercover officers have been approaching people in the streets asking if they know where marijuana is sold and when the sale is secured, the arrests are made, according to street dealears.
A dealer shows a potential customer the "green'" he has to offer.
“I actually went to jail a couple of days ago,” said a street dealer known as Mission. “I didn’t even make a sale or anything. They dismissed all of the charges.”
Mission explained that before the arrest, a suspicious person asking for marijuana approached him. He felt uncomfortable so he denied having any connections to drug sales. He then saw the same person approach every “street kid” on the block asking for marijuana.
“Thirty seconds later they arrested me for sales,” said Mission. He said that once the officer found a seller, seven to eight undercover officers swarmed the dealer and made the arrest.
Similar instances have occurred up and down Haight Street according to shop workers. In front of the store The Cannabis Company at 1334 Haight St. a man was smoking marijuana and was ambushed in the same way.
Eric Rosenberg, piercer at Braindrops just next door to The Cannabis Company remembered the occasion.
“Like eight undercover cops swarmed him,” said Rosenberg. “It was overkill, too many officers for one guy.”
Allan Sprague, manager of the Cannabis Company, said that the man arrested in front of his store is a local “street kid” who stops in on occasion.
“All of a sudden I’ve heard that they are on the hunt for the small-time weed offenders,” said Sprague. He said that customers have been coming in and telling him their stories of their run-ins with these undercover officers.
“There have been 60 to 75 busts in the last two weeks,” said Mission. Even though he and others have been arrested, the dealers continue with their sales, but with more caution, he said.
The San Francisco Police Department was contacted and would not comment on the matter.
A shoe parlor that completes the puzzle
Piper’s Shoe Parlor adds to the ever changing Haight
Piper's Shoe Parlor opened in Aug. 2011.
The Upper Haight is a galleria of shops, bars, restaurants and cafes competing in a constantly changing market. A new endeavor—by way of shoes—steps its way up establishing prominence in the neighborhood.
Piper’s Shoe Parlor at 1682 Haight St., dreamt up by brother and sister Justin and Jessica Dega, opened in Aug. 2011. Their shop is a thought-out showcasing of unique footwear revitalizing the soul of the Haight Ashbury shopping experience, according to nearby businesses.
“I think we need more stores like them on the street,” says Lisa Beach, buyer at Aqua Surf Shop. “It’s a refreshing store to have… It’s a good presence.”
Beach explains that the shop adds diversity to the street. Although there are many stores focused on shoes, she says that Piper’s is a “good move for Haight,” because it is a step towards retail growth in the neighborhood.
Shop owners Justin and Jessica Dega doing product inventory after receiving a shipment.
Justin says that their product is what makes them stand out from similar stores.
“I think we dig a little deeper than some stores,” says Justin. He explains that they look for “unestablished brands,” because they are “willing to grow” as Piper’s itself grows.
Jessica agrees by saying that what makes the store work is the fact that they build a partnership with the companies that they work with.
“It’s actually really nice to work with other companies that are small,” says Jessica. “They understand where you are coming from and they want you to succeed.”
The store has received a warm welcoming thus far and they are glad to be a part of the Haight Ashbury, especially since their location happened by chance.
“It fell into our lap,” says Jessica. She says that they were in the “right place at the right time,” and that they are “happy to be in this location.”
Jessica Dega rearranges shoes on the display shelf.
“As of now this is where I want to be,” adds Justin. “It’s an established retail area.”
Maurice Lee, manager of Wasteland agrees that there is no better place for Piper’s than Haight Street.
“I like when shops open up, rounding out Haight Street,” says Lee. “It’s not another ‘head-shop’ so that is awesome!”
Piper’s is still within its first year and Justin and Jessica are in the process of learning their business with hopes for great growth.
“I think a lot is changing on Haight Street right now,” says Jessica. “The fact that this is a new endeavor for both of us and since it’s ours, we want it to work.”
She says that within the next five years they plan to expand to different locations, maybe even different cities and states.
“Really we are just trying to keep and learn where we stand,” says Justin. He explains how eventually they will have a responsibility in contributing to making the street “thrive” by participating in merchants associations, fund raisers and events.
As for now they are putting their passions and experience to the test. The store sells everything from hats, bags, coats and jewelry, but of course their main focus is on the shoes.
“We definitely like to put a lot of effort into finding things that are cool and have good design that maybe people don’t know about,” says Jessica.
“We can finally put everything into it,” says Justin. “We are definitely passionate about shoes… what drives us is our love to find something new.”
Phone: 415-553-6884
Address: 1682 Haight Street
Business Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m to 8 p.m.
Before the Fall book release at The Red Vic
Orna Ross, author of the novel Before the Fall.
The Red Victorian Bed and Breakfast Peaceful World Center at 1665 Haight St., played host to the e-book release celebration of Orna Ross‘ new novel, Before the Fall, on Tuesday night.
A group of about 15 gathered to participate in the event that was highlighted with readings from the new novel. Along with Ross, was a three-piece-Irish-folk group that provided a musical breath in-between readings.
People came from all over to take part in the book release, a few even were fellow Ireland-ers, but all were writers and peace-lovers who joined.
The new release, Before the Fall, has a great deal to do with the civil war in Ireland, and the framework is loosely based on Ross’ own observations growing up there.
“I was brought up in Ireland in the 1960’s and 70’s and the civil war quite simply was not spoken about,” Ross said, addressing her audience. “We learned history in school. It jumped straight from our glorious Republican operating of 1916 to the Eucharistic congress of 1932.”
She then continues to relate the book to her own reality.
“The story is told through the life a young woman,” she said. “She grows up in a village knowing that it is divided in two, but never really having that explained to her. She just sort of grows into it like its the air she breathes.”
Through research she finds that the war had torn friends and families apart, fighting on opposing sides and again relates her own experiences.
“I knew that my father’s uncle had been killed in that war and shot by his best friend… and I was absolutely fascinated by that. How on earth could it get to a situation that you would wind up shooting your best friend?” she said to the audience.
Remaining audience members wait in line for an autograph and a chance to meet with author Orna Ross.
Ross continued on with more excerpts from her story. She closed the night with a poem entitled The Writers Calland the night was played out with one last song from the band.
Orna Ross has had a long going relationship with The Red Victorian and the staff, in particularly Sami Sunchild, the owner of the establishment.
“I have returned many times, alone and with my family,” Ross said. Her relationship with the bed and breakfast peace center has been going on for more than 15 years, and throughout that time, she has worked on numerous writings within its walls.
Muni Shattered Glass
The bus driver stands against the wall, waiting after police and Muni investigator tape off scene and deliberate.
by Adrian Rodriguez – Wednesday Feb. 29 @ 8:38 p.m.
A Muni bus shattered glass after ramming into a street pole smashing through a window on Stanyan and Frederick streets, earlier today.
The 71 bus line was en route, outbound, when the driver turned and hit the pole. Officer Greer, of the Park Station Police District, explains at the scene that the transit has its own investigators for Muni involved accidents.
“I know a bus hit the pole,” says Officer Greer. “We are here just helping with traffic.”
Muni investigator at the scene refused to comment on the matter.
No one around was witness to the accident, but nearby business American Cyclery was just next door where everything could be heard.
“It was pretty minor, no one got hurt,” says shop worker Tyson Mitchell. “Just a bang and glass!”
The details of the accident are currently unavailable; however, PG&E have been called to the scene to reconstruct the pole, and it should be cleared this evening, according to police.
Cheers! Here’s to feeling at home!
Home is where people live, and what makes a place feel like home is food, drink, warmth and most importantly, good company. Magnolia Pub and Brewery on Haight and Masonic has become this place for the locals of the area. The bar seems to never have a dull moment, constantly packed with customers. As I learned the warm smiles and endless conversations are easily welcoming to newcomers.
“I consider this place to be an extended living room for a lot of people in the neighborhood,” says Scott Mason, bartender at the pub. “People come here for the beer… for the food… for the ambiance.”
Mason continues stating that the Haight is a “supportive community,” and having such a “dynamic menu” from house-made sausage to cask ales, Magnolia caters to the culture.
Justin Williams, a familiar face to the Magnolia crowd, stops by the bar to treat himself to a celebratory birthday drink. He has just turned 25 and right away he greets the bartenders, exchanging handshakes and making small talk. He makes the rounds and orders his drink before taking a seat next to me.
“I live a walk up the hill…” Williams smiles pointing out the window and taking a brief pause holding his breath, “which is convenient and also terrible!” he bursts laughing.
He explains that he frequents the bar because he enjoys the micro brewed beer and of course, the good friends.
“It’s like the Cheers of Haight,” says Williams, referring to the old television comedy show. “It’s cool because it builds more of a sense of a community.”
It is definitely a bar with more of that homey feel to it, and not only do the locals love it, but visitors and shoppers do too.
Emily Kidd, and Matt Simanton stopped by the pub after spending some time in the Haight shopping.
“We are here because we like beer!” says Kidd jokingly as she explains that they decided to drop in and grab a drink because it reminded them of a place that they would go to back home in Chicago.
“I like this community table,” she says, referring to the bar-like table where we are seated.
I hadn’t noticed before, but now that Kidd pointed it out, I realized that the table really is like an extension of the bar. It has the same feel to it, as sitting at the bar. However there are seats all around the table, on either side.
Just as in any normal bar, sitting here you may find yourself surrounded by strangers, but quickly you become one of the crowd and you are surrounded by friends.
I look around. It grows late, and the pub is now brightly lit. The golden hue illuminates the faces and you can hear the soothing sound, a sea of voices; their conversation calm, like rippling water and their vibrant laughter crashes like waves. This is a place where people come to feel at home, like one body, a family.
So let us raise our glasses, make a toast, to new friends and new memories, our home is yours! Cheers!
BREAKING SKIN: BODY ART PRACTITIONER IS LEGITIMATE PROFESSION
Sitting behind a counter on a stool tilted back, leaning against the wall behind him, Paul Shinichi waits. The day is unpredictably rainy, off and on, on and off, just like his customers. He grows anxious—he wants to stick a needle through someone.
Senior Piercer Paul Shinichi cleans his workstation.
“There are too many shops, period!” Shinichi says, serious in tone with his eyes piercing. “There is no realization of the veterans that have been here… that’s the American way, trying to undercut each other.”
As senior piercer at Braindrops Tattoo & Piercing at 1324 Haight St., Shinichi argues that it is time for a change in the industry and raising the standards is the way to go.
“If they want to break skin with their art, then this is how it’s going to be.”
In a time of economic struggle coinciding with the popularization of the body art industry in the media, Shinichi is one of many who seeks respect for his profession by supporting The Safe Body Art Act to create a “fair playing field,” he says. The act which went into preliminary stages on Jan. 1, enforces stringent regulations on the body art industry to ensure that all practitioners follow the same precautionary procedures.
Justin Malan, executive director of the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, helped propel the act and is taking measures to institute proper training throughout the industry.
“The purpose of the bill is to establish a standard of procedures that are consistent and protect the public and the industry,” Malan says. He explains, that it “will significantly reduce blood-borne pathogens,” and “it legitimizes the practice.”
In addition to a two-hour training on blood-borne pathogens, body art practitioners are required to follow a repeatable routine in their decontamination methods and provide “a written log of each sterilization cycle,” complying strictly to the procedures outlined in section 119315 of the Health and Safety Code; logs must be kept in the facility “for two years after the date of the results.”
Furthermore, according to the guidelines of the code, there are restrictions mandating when it is necessary to change gloves and how to properly dispose of biohazards and sharp-single-use objects. The rules in place affect the facilities financially due to costs of equipment, according to the practitioners.
Paul Stoll, owner of Body Manipulations, helped write the Safe Body Art Act over the past four years. Stoll says that the act creates a “level playing field,” because every practitioner has to make the same expense in complying to the regulations, so price competition amongst shops will decrease.
“Everybody has to follow the procedures, not only in their facility, but in their methods,” Stoll says. “The reason you charge $30 [for a piercing] is because you have expenses.”
Many tattoo artists and piercers are on board for the change, but some are a bit skeptical.
“It is mainly to give the industry integrity,” says piercer Kevin Green who works at Mom’s Body Shop Tattoo and Piercing. “But the health department needs to be on the same page; they have to have integrity as well.”
Kevin Green pierces Adriana Crespin.
In response, Cathy Montie, blood-borne pathogens trainer for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, acknowledges the skepticism and realizes it is due to the “expenses and fees,” artists pay.
“They are really good at taking our money but don’t provide the service,” she says laughing, referring to restrictions in place by county ordinances. However, Montie believes in the purpose and supports the act by serving as a trainer to the practitioners.
“It will get rid of all the ‘scratchers’ out there and make the reputable shops more reputable,” Montie says.
Like Green, tattooer Bobby Paulmenn, also from Mom’s Body Shop, is a little doubtful about the law coming into play.
“I don’t mind laws as long as there is reason for them,” Paulmenn argues. “They are not going to tell anyone in this shop something that they don’t already know.” Paulmenn argues that “the industry has already kinda regulated itself.”
Stoll agrees that the industry has been “self regulated,” but this law is “for the protection of the practitioner.”
“It’s the beginning of being a real profession!” exclaims Stoll. “It’s a huge step forward if the state recognizes us as actual practitioners!”
Other shops in the Upper Haight are also on board. Becky Dill of Cold Steel America Piercing and Tattoo is proud to be a part of The Association of Professional Piercers and a founder of The Bay Area Piercing Group.
Marie McCarthy, owner and manager of Soul Patch Tattoo and Piercing says it will “help bring back the health department with the tattoo industry,” and they can work together to create an “opportunity” for “shops to do things correctly.”
Since the opening of the first tattoo shop in the Upper Haight, Haight Ashbury Tattoo & Piercing, back in 1993, the Haight has been a popular place to go for this “alternative look.”
“There are five shops in four blocks,” says shop manager Justin Lawrence. “It’s a destination that people come to, to get tattooed.”
“I come often for the street wear and clothing, or to get pierced or tattooed,” says Adriana Crespin, a San Francisco resident.
“If I do come down here it would be for a specific reason,” says Autumn Valjien, “like to get tattooed.”
Paul Shinichi remains hopeful for the law, which will go into full affect July 1.
“It’s going to be a slow change over,” he says. “I’ve been here [at Braindrops] for 12 years, since the beginning… and I’m stoked. I’m not going anywhere.”
HAIGHTERS GON' HAIGHT 