Video: Bush Street renamed Obama Street in San Francisco

February 4, 11:40 PMSacramento Environmental News ExaminerHarry Osibin

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The following video was apparently recorded during the early hours of Tuesday, January 20th, 2009, along Bush Street in San Francisco.  Bush runs roughly east from Presidio Avenue to Market Street and is one-way toward downtown.

An "organization" takes credit for the video, but I don't think it's a real group.  Would my GOP friends let me know?

Along its straight route east, Bush intersects Fillmore, Grant, Pierce, Polk and Taylor.  All presidents of dubious distinction.  Grant was a war hero, but led a corrupt administration.

Bush also intersects Baker, Broderick, Buchanan, Kearny, Larkin, Scott and Webster.

Baker was a US Senator from Oregon and friend of Lincoln's; Broderick was a US Senator from California, who was gunned downed in a duel near Lake Merced; Kearny was named for any number of men; Larkin was the first and only Consul from the USA to California; Scott and Webster were prominent politicians but unsuccessful candidates for the Oval Office.

One might assume that Buchanan was named for our only bachelor president, James Buchanan, who was the subject of scandalous Washington rumors during his adminstration.  No, that very pleasant thoroughfare which fronts Alamo Square between Fulton and Hayes was actually named for local pioneer, John Buchanan.

It's hard to get definitive information on the other streets that cross Bush.  Including one street that intersects Bush on its way up to Nob Hill.  Nob Hill-that's where the corrupt robber barons built their mansions.

That street is Leavenworth.  Don't know about the origin of the name but what a concept!  Meet me at Bush and Leavenworth!  I wonder if the pranksters left that intersection alone.

Which brings me back to the "pranksters".  Before acting did they perform an environmental impact study?  Did they get permits?  Were there at least community hearings with stout debate?  Did our green governor know about this?  How about the mayor?  Who took off the signs?  Is Jerry Brown filing an injunction?  I don't know any of this.  I live in Sacramento.  Gee, last week my mayor was on TV with P-Diddy!

All I know is:  I saw public transit..cheers.  I saw bikes...great.  I saw initiative...wonderful.  I saw celebration...bravo.  A little street theatre never hurt anybody.

There is footage (digitage?) on this recording of a bus (Muni route "3 Jackson")  turning right from Kearny to Bush.  You can hear, "I hope the driver doesn't get lost."  Muni route 3 is on trolleys and it would be embarrassing to have it lose its connection to the wires.

3 "Jackson"--another president.

By the way, the Starbucks at Van Ness Avenue and Bush has been many things over the years (my god, it used to be mod and called "Sergeant Pepper's").  In 1988 that space served as the SF campaign headquarters for Bush-for-President.  George H.W. won that one.

By the way, I used to live on Bush Street.  It was my first SF address.  That was when Truman was president.  What a guy.  He wore two-tone shoes and aloha shirts!  Truman, not Bush.

This post should get me through President's Day!!

Thanks, everyone!!

Wait, I didn't mention streets running parallel to Bush nearby.  Jackson, Washington, Hayes....wait, I'm being pulled from the keyboard....halp!  Franklin crosses Bush....ayyyyyyyyy!


 

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