From: paul@mmotion.com (Media In Motion (tm))
Subject: [sfskaters] FNS
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 22:11:41 -0800

Hi Skaters,

I have been helping D. with several items concerning the Friday Night
Skate and would like to report my findings on behalf of him.

1)  The FNS is *not* in jeopardy of being shut down.
The Mayor and several of the S.F. Supervisors are very supportive of us.
When the ticketing started, Supervisor Ammiano put us in touch with the
Department of Field Operations which reports directly to the Chief of
Police.  This department controls *all* of the percincts in S.F.  We will
be meeting with them next week to finalize the issues with respect to
Union Street, but today I was reassured by Ltd. Carlson of that
department, that they have "no intention" of shutting us down.  He also
mentioned that he was appreciative of our efforts to avoid conflict and
self-control our actions.

Until we have this meeting with the police, D. would like to avoid Union
street by continuing straight on Chestnut St. to Polk St. for this Friday.
This will help eliminate tickets and keep the conflict to a minimum.

2) Our meeting place:
The Market/Embarcadero at the Clocktower meeting place is being changed.
For the next two weeks, the meeting place will be *Justin Herman Plaza*.
This Thursday, Friday and next Friday WE WILL HAVE TO FIND STREET PARKING
AND MEET AT THE PLAZA!  We will not be able to park or skate in the Ferry
building lot!

When we were first asked to leave our old meeting place, we began
negotiating a new location with the Port of S.F. (they own/control
nearly all of the parking lots on or near the water front).  At this
time it looks hopeful for meeting at the parking lot located at Bryant
and the Embarcadero, but we need several weeks to finalize the details.

3) Halloween Skate:
The Halloween skate will start at Justin Herman Plaza on Thursday.  Meet
at 8:00 pm ... leave time is 8:30.  Come dressed in costume!   Please
note that will will *not* be skating the usual route, so once we leave
it may be difficult to find us!

The Friday skate will be in costume also, at the Plaza, at the usual time.

4) The Legal Battle:
The laws regarding skating in S.F. are in the process of being changed.
Unfortunately, we can not speed the wheels of this type of change...
I suspect it will happen by the end of the year, as the recent newspaper
article mentioned.  At this time, Supervisor Ammiano said there doesn't
appear to be any strong opposition to the change at the City Government
or Police level.

If you would like to help the legal cause, we need letters of support
from skaters, and *particularly shop owners and any non-skaters* that
view our event in a positive light.  These letters should be addressed
to Supervisor Tom Ammiano, 401 Van Ness Ave., Room 308, S.F., CA
94102-43-535 and signed with a name and the city (full address and phone
are optional).  Please send/fax a hard copy to me so I may take them
into our meetings with the police and the Board of Supervisors.  My
fax is 415-621-1724.  My address is PO Box 170130, SF. CA 94117.

5) Skaters and Vehicle status:
We are moving toward the goal of skaters having the right to share the
road with motorized vehicles.  Bicyclists have been working successfully
toward this goal for many years and fortunately, we will be able to
leverage much of the work they have done.

There are good and bad points about being recognized as such... we see
the local law change as the first step.  Anything other than S.F. City
law is governed at the state level in Sacramento.  If anyone is
interested in getting involved in this long term project, please contact
me and I will fill you in on the details we have to date.

Skate on,
Paul Pillitteri