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Subscribe to RSSSAN FRANCISCO -- The latest battle for control of Alcatraz Island is under way.
Many have laid claim to the wind-swept rock in the middle of the San Francisco Bay since the last prisoner left the federal land in 1963. American Indians occupied the island for 19 months ending in 1972. And politicians have floated the idea of building a casino or even a new San Francisco 49ers football stadium on Alcatraz.
Today, the National Park Service and organizers of the America's Cup are tussling over Alcatraz's role in the Super Bowl of yacht racing. The island will offer some of the best views of the most prestigious competition when multi-million dollar boats take to the San Francisco Bay in 2012 and 2013. Alcatraz sits almost directly in the middle of the proposed race course and offers 360-degree views of the bay.
But the island already receives 1.4 million visitors a year and is at capacity during the summer tourist season. Therein lies one of the main sources of tension over how to balance competing priorities that arose when San Francisco was selected to host the 34th America's Cup contest.
The National Park Service manages the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which includes Alcatraz and much of the race course. The city of San Francisco is in charge of satisfying environmental regulations, securing government permits and spearheading planning for the event.
The two got off to a rocky start when the city released a draft environmental impact report over the summer stating Alcatraz would be closed to the public and given over to well-heeled event sponsors and other VIPs for private viewing of the race. The report also made similar claims about Fort Baker at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. Both are popular tourist destinations.
"All lands and facilities in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including Alcatraz and Fort Baker, will remain open to the public throughout the entire period of the races," park officials declared in rejecting that proposal.
Today, the city's America's Cup project manager says the episode was a misunderstanding rooted in poorly written passages in the report.
Project manager Michael Martin said that organizers did discuss setting up private viewing areas for sponsors. But that idea was scrapped after park officials made it clear the America's Cup would have to abide by the same rules as the public when visiting the island.
The park service forbids any kind of seating — from bleachers to folding chairs — and limits picnicking to a dock area with obstructed views on Alcatraz. There are no food vendors on the island.
"There won't be any great accommodations," said park service spokeswoman Alexandra Picavet. "Because of that, Alcatraz may not be the best place to watch."
Park officials said America's Cup organizers will have to go through the same permitting process the public must go through to secure the prison for after-hours functions. Organizers plan to host parties in the prison's cell block in the evenings.
The America's Cup is expected to create 8,000 jobs and inject more than $1.4 billion into the region's economy during planning, construction and the actual racing, which will take place in a series of contests in 2012 and 2013. But the millions of spectators over that time— with 500,000 on peak days_will test the Bay Area's transportation network, sanitation systems and the environment during about 50 days of racing.
The city's draft environmental impact report, which lays out the preliminary plans for the races and the proposed precautions to be taken to protect the environment, drew comments and concerns from 34 public agencies, 41 non-governmental organizations and 115 individuals. The report, the comments and the city's responses will be presented to the San Francisco Planning Commission on Thursday. No construction can began until the commission approves the report, and its decision can be appealed to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The National Park Service's comments and concerns over the environmental impact run 22 pages. One concern was the potential impact of 80,000 people descending on historic Crissy Field, which has a beach and a newly restored wetland.
The park service also said the city has failed to explain "how ferry traffic to and from Alcatraz would be maintained, and what impacts would be to visitors attempting to visit the island." It noted that ferry service "currently runs every 30 min. through what would be the race area."
In response, the city said it would work with the U.S. Coast Guard and the ferry service to ensure safe passage during the races.
The park service is also concerned about how organizers plan to protect birds, marine mammals and plants. The city said it will prohibit America's Cup-related boats from coming within 100 yards (90 meters) of Alcatraz and barring helicopters from getting any closer than 1,000 feet (300 meters).
"In our experience, it is not realistic to believe that all events will proceed as planned around Alcatraz and that sensitive areas and closures will be adequately enforced," the park service responded in asking for bigger buffer zones.
Both sides say they are continuing to negotiate.
"We are still in a dialogue with the park service," said the city's project manager Martin. "We are taking their concerns very seriously."
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"Sometimes I think that's all this place is. One.. long.. count. The prisoners count the hours, the bulls count the prisoners and the king bulls count the counts". - Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
I love when they say, "There'll be 8,000 jobs generated...blahh, blahhhh, blahhhhh!!!" Yeah sure... 7,900 jobs at min wage working in concession stands and picking up litter and 100 supervisors!
Once again...disparity exists... there's the rich isolated on their private island sitting in their $5,000 Corporate Sponsored seats, and waa-a-a-a-aaaay over there at the foot of the GG Bridge... oops...there's more rich people sitting in those seats too! Now how the H*ll am I gonna see this once-in-a-while event?
No they will all be high paying jobs! $30.00 an hour to sell $12.00 sodas and $20.00 hot dogs. The clean-up will be done by union street sweepers. This is San Francisco man. When it comes to manpower we do it the expensive way!
Once again, big government is getting in the way of economic activity. Bureaucrats trying to justify their useless positions and bloated salaries.
Alcatraz has always bee the Devils paradise keep this in mind..
@Kilo: I'd rather see the economy tank than our national landmarks be desecrated by the rich for a stupid race
Typical response, if they desecrate anything let them be responsible for the damages. But I highly doubt that will happen, this isn't an OWS protest after all.
Stick to your guns Park Service. Yes, there is a lot of money for the city, but it is not a rich man's play ground. You (Park Service) are to maintain those areas for the public now, and in the future.
I think the park service is missing the boat (sorry) on this one. Close down the regular visits. Charge $150 for the ferry. $50 dollars for a seat. $10 dollars for a soda or water. $25 dollars for alcohol. Don't allow any bring in food. Have some of the best chefs from other parks operate tents on the island. Sell $35 dollar t shirts. Make it all upscale and charge up the butt. Use the cash to take care of the other parks major problems.
devils son......how would you think that there would be any money to maintain other public areas in the future? Just think how many times when there was an amount of cash that was setting around, where did it go? Somehow it just disappeared, wooooooshhhh it was gone. Good thought though.
Uhhh, yeh, marlen101917. Whatever.
Bottom line here is there is a federal treaty with the Indigenous Native American tribes that states all unused federal property reverts to the tribes. When the American Indians tried to reclaim the abandoned island, all of a sudden, the feds decided they wanted to turn it into a museum and used every means at their disposal short of actually shooting the Indians, to get them off of the Rock. Eventually sending in federal troops to physically remove them. And what have they done with it since then?
"Well ... er ... uhm ... ahhh ... Nothing? Well, yeh. Nothing. But .. but ... but ... we were gonna! And now we can make some money off of it. Ain't no way we're giving it to the Indians."
Some things never change. Sad.
Have you ever visited it? It's actually quite a fascinating museum; there's certainly nothing like it anywhere else. I had only ever heard the name "Alcatraz" in passing before I went there and I had no idea it was a prison. I can't explain it but there was something quite intriguing and powerful about walking freely through a place that had once been the hardest place in the world to freely walk through. Not to mention the history - housing some of the world's most notorious and dangerous criminals, location of one of the most violent escape attempts in history, the Indian occupation...there's so much to learn there. I actually ended up writing a paper on the Battle of Alcatraz a few months after my visit, a topic I never would have even known about that made for some gripping research. Don't discount the value of historical places.
yes
I lived within sight of it for many years. Knew of the Indian occupation firsthand. In San Francisco, the history of the Rock is pretty much common knowledge - sort of like the cable cars. The truth is, nothing was done with it from the time it closed down until the Indians came to make their claim then, all of a sudden, the federal gov't said, "No. You can't have it. We want it. We'll do ... something with it. We're ... yeh, we're gonna make a museum." And it took years ... YEARS before they niced it up and called it a museum. So, yeh. I've seen it before and since the museum label. And, while I appreciate the history of the place, I still find myself more than a little bitter over the fact that the American government's treatment of the Indians has not changed since we traded them smallpox contaminated blankets for land, rounded them onto reservations (the old west name for a concentration camp) and nearly wiped out entire tribes. Sadly, certain parts of the fed are still full of users and abusers and they will lean whatever way promises the most profit.
Oh yes, the federal government is so oppressive towards the American Indians and their multi-billion dollar casino empire.
KiloByte1339 of course the federal government lets the American Indians have all the casino's they want. Where do you think all that overly taxed money from the revenue from the casino's goes. I'mmmmm let me think, oh yea the GOVERNMENT!
Remember, white man speaks with forked tongue.
Who Cares?...Go kiss Your Wife.
I feel it's entirely appropriate that the high rollers who are footing the bill for the race get special treatment. They should also be offered accommodations on the island. When else would you have a chance to get them all in jail at one time?
LOL!...thats a great start...Devils Son up there also has a great Idea. Why keep business as usual on that island...take advantage of all those rich race fans and make the Island a special place with high usage fees. Someone here, is thinking like a "save the owl" liberal, and not like a business person. Its not going to kill the area, it will only enrich it.
@ Richard H. Pratt
Dream on.
As was pointed out above, the parks, including "The Rock" won't get a dime of any money made and nor will the citizens of Frisco. What the parks will gain is trash, beer cans, plastic bags, hot dog wrappers, dirty diapers, etc., etc,. etc.
I'm part Native American, and I would like to know why there's such a problem with us? Your ancesters murdered us and took over our land and now the only place(s) we can practice our culture are on decrepid reservations. Isn't Alcatraz crummy enough for us?
Hey Marlane,
And who did you so-called "Native Americans" take the land from, eh? Best anthropological evidence indicates that "Native Americans" came over the land bridge from Asia to North America...they were not "just here forever". Did YOU use force? If the only occupants when your people arrived were other animals, you not only killed them, you ATE them as well!
This whole "Native American" trip is total BULL$HIT! "native" means "born here" which would make me, a Scots-Irish and German paleface, as much a "Native American" as you and all the other "indians"!
The animals that were here lost any claim they had to this land because they could not defend it! You and your people lost your claim for the exact same reason! If you want "your" land back, then, c'mon...attack us and take it back! Otherwise you would be well advised to give up this "our land" crap, get off your whining butt and join the rest of us as simply "Americans", and take advantage of the boundless opportunities the Constitution offers you and everyone else.
Im also part Native American...and I grew up in the Bay Area. I have been to the island several times and cruised around it half a dozen times...what will the Native Americans do with that Island? Im all for them owning and living on it...but for what purpose? It can get windy as hell there and cold as a well diggers a##. What you need is a proposal that will generate some funds for the state...that will work. Nothing else does. You cant just occupy the place, you have to have a plan and some serious financial backing. White men dont pay any attention to treaties, they only pay attention to money. And you may have noticed, there is nothing on earth meaner than a white person.
Killing was rampant on both sides. Just check out what the Mohawk men did to the Catholic Priests that were dumb enough to wander into their camp and preach some foreign religion. Meanness is common. The island is in a strategic location, I don't think my Navajo ancestors being marched to death has much to do with this island. Or my Irish relatives, mostly drunks and fighters, have much to offer here either. Its a piece of land in a great spot for viewing water sports. Its in a good location to make some serious money and as one poster pointed out, its already a great museum. This Indian issue, will never get very far.
Ishday, tuesday washday. Kimba, simba. wannababy?
You say "part"... well what is your other part? To me, you look white. Saying there is nothing on earth meaner than a white person is total ignorance.
Im mostly white and far from ignorant. Im Irish from father and Navajo from a mixed irish and Navajo mother...not that that is any of your business. Like you, I dont like liberals, but you didnt read my other posts, or maybe you tire easy. White people are mean, it sure was not a bunch of brown folks that murdered 6 million people in europe..whiz bang. But then this is about some boat races, not human races, unless thats too complicated for you. "part" for your erudition is a "fraction", as in 1/4....that means .25 or 25%, but I know, I know, math is not your best subject. Go bother someone else, find some liberals to chew on.
You say "Liberals can eat you"...sounds like you have a serious problem....find out what "part" you want them to eat and then get some therapy for it. Start with adderal Rx for brain function.
What do you have to say about the mountain lions that ate the deer, the bears who ate the salmon, the bobcats who ate the little bunnies? Of course when the white man arrived they all belonged to the Sierra Club and were members of the Greenpeace Party. They bought all their property though real esatate agents!
The white people who came along and took indian land only did what the indians had been doing to each other. how much of the land claimed by one tribe once belonged to another weaker tribe. The white people only did what the indians had been doing to each other every since one tribe found out there was someone else other than them on the land. How many indians killed other indians for there land. so to be fair everyone keeps what you have or start giving back what you stole from someone else.
Hey Marlene. You say "your ancestors murdered us" If my (white guy born here) ancestors murder you than you wouldn’t be able to post the dumb message. You act as though what happened back then happened to you and as if somehow people like me (white guy and also native American) had something to do with it.
In truth.... "you" or your ancestors were not a common group covering the entire area now known as North America. The areas you have now that you call "decrepit reservations" are that way because you and your kind (Lazy so-called "Native Americans") have turned them into such places. Those areas are also more than the so called natives ever actually owned before "we “came and if you say that your ancestors had freedom to roam anywhere before "we" came.... well you still do, it’s a free country just don’t set up your Teepee on any other "Hostile Native's" campsite (MINE).
Most of the area that was given to "Natives" as reservation was chosen by your ancestors and numerous changes have taken and still are taking place regarding the boundaries because every time "Natives" trash the area they have been given, they bi#ch about it then sue and change the boundaries. And yes I said GIVEN to you! The rest of the PC world better sit up and smell the SH!T they are shoveling... last I checked when other countries kicked someone’s A$$ they "kept what they conquered" and WE (true Americans) have not done that even when we kicked someone’s a$$ who attacked us (i.e. WWII ring a bell). In fact we try to help them rebuild (that is a completely different bitch session). Your A$$ was kicked and WE (some old relatives of mine) gave it back to you. Your ancestors and you are lucky it wasn't some other less friendly conqueror’s who arrived before us otherwise it may have been complete genocide.
Near where I live the Natives have WAY more land than they need or even try to use (thus the Lazy comment). The local "Natives" get huge sums of money (mine and other working taxpayers) from the federal government and free everything medical and they are too lazy to even go to the dentist 2 times a year or the doctor to take advantage of it. Then they get on TV all toothless and wine about how they have been mistreated. They buy new cars with money they never earned (unless you count bitching as a job) and then when they run the tires bald they park and part out the cars or just smash them up cause they are bored (LAZY) and they learn how to act from TV and video games cause their parents were always drunk (not a lie or a mischaracterization). They do the same with their houses and the whole area that they have just looks like something out of an Apocalypse movie..... and I have seen the views and landscape in some of these areas before they trash it and there is no excuse for what they (your so called native Americans NA) do to it.
Jay The First is right......... it wasn’t you back then and it wasn’t us so all you Native-American's (and African-Americans and any other Hyphenated-Americans) that don’t want to shut up and get to work and just be good AMERICANS (no hyphen) go ahead and gear up and attack and see how far it gets you. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY WHO FEEL THEY ARE IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED GROUPS BUT ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT THE PROBLEM AND YOU DO THEIR PART AND THEIR BEST TO BE GOOD AMERICANS AND CONTRIBUTE in other words....be happy you’re a part of the greatest country that has ever been on the face of the earth and if you’re not then .... GET OUT>>>>> NO ONE WILL STOP YOU!!!
"You People" just don't get it. Racists never get it. Talking to you is a waste of time.
What I said above goes for any lazy good for nothing complaining sittin on your azz protesting European-Americans too (THATS YOU WHITE FOLKS). And if you are not good at remembering what you read.......I'm a white guy.
Marlene, I’m going to break it down for you since you are obviously illiterate. You said:
I'm part Native American, and I would like to know why there's such a problem with us?
You say your part Native American and then go on to refer to yourself as one of the “us” then you said:
Your ancesters murdered us and took over our land and now the only place(s) we can practice our culture are on decrepid reservations.
“Your ancestors” as if all who are reading your poorly spelled message are somehow related too and therefore responsible for what occurred regarding the unfortunately (for them) ill prepared inhabitants of this continent. Then you said: “took over our land” again you weren’t there and neither was any one else reading this. It was never your land or mine. The land I own I purchased and worked hard to do so. The land you and yours have was given to you. You say “practice your culture” and I challenge you to find any other country in the world were you will have the freedom to do so and the abundance of government assistance to live such a good life. You call the reservations “decrepid” (nice spelling) and I say I have seen some of the worst spots in the country turned into pieces of heaven by hard working folks and what “your people” have done to perfectly good land is criminal. I made it perfectly clear how my experience with so called Native Americans has over time shaped my views on their “plight” and I’m not buying into you and yours whole “woe is me” BS you are all looking for an easy handout which the casinos are more proof of. You can scream “racist” all you want but that is actually your problem and anyone who doesn’t see it your way will be labeled as such by you. I work hard and achieve some success for it and will enjoy the fruits of my labor. You keep whining and enjoy a tombstone that reads “B!TCHY NATIVE”.
Once again… If you don’t like it here… get to work or GET OUT!
Give the entire country back the Native Americans. Start over. And, we all know WHO will be allowed to take their land this time.
Once again, the "well heeled" attempt to just bully their way into doing whatever they want, like no one will stand in their way. They're probably already making calls to "Supervisors" and trying to slant them with gifts and gratuities.
They'll trash the Island, trash the wetlands and damage the marine environment. Then they'll simply just walk away like it's not their problem.
You KNOW there's no way to maintain regular Ferry runs during the races. You KNOW their "guests" will demand luxury shaded air conditioned seating/viewing and you KNOW they'll demand on-site food and drink concessions.
Make them put up a $20 million dollar clean-up fund, in addition to all the permit costs.
I hope the Park Service denies them any 'special privilages" and forces them to play by the rules like everyone else.
Hell, even Mitt Romney would probably bet you $10,000 that it'll happen!
Hey Larry-2073---, are you happy been part of the 99%. If you put the same effort in a job just any job in this country, you could watch the race from an Air conditioned Tent drinking Mimosas and eating Caviar from Alcatraz Island... I hope you comeback in your next life with more stamina and that way you will be able to offer a better life to your children. They do want to watch the race from Alcatraz but cant. Their father choose to be a 99%.
I want to know if privately owned boats are going to be restricted from using the Bay during the races.
Its apart of history and not a place where the rich can have fun. If the city has an issue with that then its their problem! The PUBLIC should be able to access it not just the rich.
11th!
Why not turn it back into a prison? The last I heard california was dumping criminals back onto the streets due to overcrowding.
You've obviously never been there.
No I haven't been there, but I know the place is falling apart and outdated, but is there any reason why a new prison counldn't be built on the location? I mean, its always been iconic for that reason.
It should be the final resting place for Nancy Pelosi because of what she has done to this Country under the Obama Administration
It should be the site of the next Republican "Debacle" - for all the good they have done this country over the last 11 years. Have all of them swim back and if any of them make it - make them swim back to the island! And then make it Carl Hubert's final resting place!
Carl Humpbert: And just what did she do to the country exactly?
Can't be ant worse than the republi@!$%#s.
Jay the First, your ignorance is pathetic. The government of the good ol USA has NEVER kept ONE treaty with Native Americans, not one. So that supports your ignorance and hate and stupidity? Why don't you go back to where the f your ancestors came from? Oh, that is right, war and killing fixes everything. Little minds like your are what needs to be corrected in this country.
I live in Oklahoma where there are more American Indian tribes than any other state. And guess what .... white people here can not own or operate a casino. The Indians make billions of dollars a year from their casinos, so what is the problem ? The casino treaty is one they have certainly kept.
Lets see, what is produced when you gamble. One person wins a very little and one person losese a lot, the casino get the difference between the win and loss. And while jobs were created, nothing is really being produced just like a government job. No, I think we need jobs that produce a product instead of sending all that to some other foreign country. Instead of creating more gambling, lets create something worthwhile.
I suggested to that conservative dummy Carl Hubert that the island should be the next site for the Republican Public Display of Ignorance, aka the Republican Debates. After they all get through demonstrating their ignorance, poor memories and just plain self-agrandizement, they will swim from the island to shore. Should any of them make it, make them swim back to the island and crown them the Republican nominee for president in 2012.
David, stop trying to be funny because you aren't. You just sound like an idiot. You're one of those guys who has to tell the same joke over and over to everyone so people think you're funny. All the while everyone else around you that's heard the joke roll their eyes and think you are a complete moron.
Liberals can eat me: NO, we'd have to clean you first and I don't think that's possible. However spreading you on the garden would be useful.
I think the city and National Parks Service are missing out on making some good money that could be used to maintain or upgrade facilities on the Island other necessities. Much of the sailing public is very well off.
I think San francisco screwedthemselves when they bid for the race to be held there, before determining what permits could be gotten and what could not be done.
I San Francisco ends up holding the race, the rich will watch it on pay-per-view from home, see it better, and save a ton of money.
About minimum wage jobs - if you have no money, and need to eat, buy clothes, gas, and shelter - it is better than sleeping under a bridge.
Teddy Roosevelt just emailed me..... "Get a grip"...Delight that people sail and compete, make it a national event with every possible sailboat class competing. The place was a jail that only guards and horribles could use. Give it to the sport that celebrates our incredible history by living it tack by tack puff by puff. A temporary use as a place of joy is a lot better than 99 per cent of all of its history. Use the proceeds to fund Native American schools sailing teams. HAVE FUN....BE PROGRESSIVE AS TO SAILING THE MOST ENVIRO RELATED SPORT EVER !!!!!
It housed tax evaders, I think it had a few murderers like the "Birdman" but it was nothing like the prison population of today is.
hey why not move the STATUE of Liberty to Alcatraz? Along with all the TALL SHIPS. Change the name of the Island to the Evolution of Foreign Conquest.
post a sign to: *Sorry No Wake*
Special Note to Our Indigenous Elders and Brothers & Sisters of Our Original Nations something like 2% of us walking on Earth....that gives us 98% in the Spirit World of the Heavens.....looks to the Star Nation and smiles @ whose really Sum 1 day has the majority ruling!
I don't understand...I thought we were selling California back to Mexico?
i hope ellison loses this one he is a jerk and thats being polite, i met him once and let me tell you if it hadnt been for his armed security? he would of been sitting on his fanny, he is a arrogant piece of dog poop, would be nice to see someone like him lose face with his billionaire freinds, he also found out that no one in lake tahoe is selling them thier waterfront homes, i tol dhis attornies to go suck rocks, he wanted to buy up all of hte nevada side of tahoe, for his own use, , jackass, his money doesnt impress me , i dont use the word hate to often but him i hate, love to see him lose,
somehow I have a hard time seeing a person, and I am being nice, who uses "dog poop" to describe someone else as being a threat in knocking any body on their "fanny" another word that further demostrates my point. I think you were luck that whats his name had a entourage or you would have been on your "fanny".
I know that I probably will be the only person to criticize these so important games where the rich can rub shoulders and the usually beggers the government looking for any way to draw in revenue. Wow where is the 1.7 billion coming from. When are us stupid Americans finally going to see that we need to put our efforts into producing instead of spending money on entertainment. If you want a house or a car or something else a boat, four wheeler, wave runner anything to show for your paycheck. When you go see a movie or something else as entertainment this is fine but America thinks that we can support our economy on nothing but entertainment or government which both neither give us the things we wish to aquirer with our hard earned paycheck and I use hard earned paycheck very loosely. We think that we can have these foreign workers build or make all the things we want to own and us Americans either have government jobs that give us nothing, we can be celebrities, sport people and all that support sports, movie stars and all that go with that field and lets not forget the paris hilton contributions or tory spelling, I myself love to follow her pregnancy almost as much as watching paint dry and when it is a choice between rearranging my sock drawer or watching what the kandasteries are doing and sorry I don't care whether I spelled their name wrong, some of you might and those who do write your congressman instead of expressing that concern to me because as little as I cared to spell their name right, I would care much less to hear anybodies complaint much much less. Has it ever occured to anybody when you buy something made in China or some where else that we are in a trade deficit and have been for decades and do you think just because your checking account says you have a balance or you still have credit left on that charge card that will pay the other foreign countries when we use their labor force instead of Americans worker. It is just one big party if you are one of those famous movie stars or some fancy black person that is real tall and can make a shot on the hardwood floor or can run that winning touch down but guess what? the party won't last long if America doesn't start making things instead of selling all our real estate and companies not to speak of our government which also is owned by foreign investors. So wake up America party is over.
What th...HUH??
One long article about nothing but rich-people problems.
Poor little enviornmental tree huggers. With these little twerps it's all about crackers and granola. I was in New Zealand for the America's Cup 2000. NZ went all out to accommadate these people and the sailing. Now New Zealand has an industry on these very expensive boats, their owners and the races. We can do the same however the commumentalists are going to have to have their sandaled feet stepped on. Go in the corner little granola chruncher and hush now.
What's wrong with protecting the environment? Not to mention the city of SF won't make as much money from the private event as they would from leaving it open to the public. Having the races where they want them will prevent public access limiting millions of dollars in revenue.
The park is a public space for everyone to enjoy and should be treated like such. It shouldn't be closed up and restricted for private use for especially if the city won't be making any money from it. They get more money from keeping that park open to visitors than they would shutting it down for private use. Not to mention the amount of money it would cost to clean it up afterwards.
Here's my idea for Alcatraz. Let the Wealthy ON to the island to watch the race. Then charge them 1 Billion dollars a pop to LEAVE unless they want to SWIM back. If they choose to swim, make them wait until the tide is going out. I've sailed those waters. There's about a 10-knot rip current headed directly out to the gate and the Red Triangle of Great White Shark country. I would also chum the water for an hour or so before letting them start the swim