The Occupation of The Cathedral Hill Hotel
by Dina Boyer via indybay
Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:58 AM
Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:58 AM
Pics and write-up about The Occupation of The Cathedral Hill Hotel.
While driving home from my part time job, I turned on the scanner. I had known Occupy Housing was going to hold a protest in the evening, so I was hoping I would be able to cover it even though I was driving to SF from Redwood City during a Friday evening commute. I identified-with with this protest because I am now also homeless in San Francisco! Traffic was heavy, and I was initially driving towards Justin Hermann Plaza, but scanner chatter indicated the hot-spot was at Geary and Van Ness. So I pointed my car in that direction. All the while scanner chatter was getting very interesting. Officers were starting to communicate, “Please be advised our officers are under attack, and getting hit with bricks. Also be advised protesters are using grappling hooks to remove barricades.” The target apparently was The Cathedral Hill Hotel. I made it to the locale, but missed some of the action. Protesters were marching down Van Ness, and I was able to park and started following them. Minutes later they turned back to The Cathedral Hill Hotel and they had gained entrance to the abandoned and closed hotel. This hotel once featured over 300 rooms plus suites and a fitness room. The hotel had its own parking garage. I admit I was nervous documenting the occupation, but I took it step by step, and ended up capturing an historical marker. The homeless were taking what they have been denied “Decent safe housing and or shelter”, but I knew the police would take the place back by the morning because it is currently being turned into and or used by Sutter Health as a high end health related facility. I stayed and roamed the halls of this Hotel and noticed that most of the rooms appeared habitable and safe from pests or vermin. Water was running, electricity was on, and the fire alarm system was active. People could live there! I would also like to state before the protesters got through that building and did their thing, the hotel and the rooms were already a mess. Stuff was laying everywhere. It’s like someone had ransacked the place. I hung around for a while shooting video, and taking pictures and chatting with some of the protesters. I admit I was excited to see them get away with this occupation. But I knew the police were coming. I have police scanners, and heard the chatter. SFPD was prepping squads to take-back the The Cathedral Hill hotel. When I heard on the scanner that SFPD was waiting blocks away I left the area. However history had been made and The Cathedral Hill Hotel had been OCCUPIED!
Videos on Youtube about my experience
Gaining entrance to The Cathedral Hill Hotel
Inside The Cathedral Hill Hotel
Inside The Cathedral Hill Hotel
Videos on Youtube about my experience
Gaining entrance to The Cathedral Hill Hotel
Inside The Cathedral Hill Hotel
Inside The Cathedral Hill Hotel
§Protesters directing traffic
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Gaining entrance to The Cathedral Hill Hotel
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Security kicked out!
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Occupied!
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Occupy!
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Rooms appeared habitable
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Common area
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Room
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Mattresses and bed frames
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§View from the top
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
§Occupy.
by D. Boyer Tuesday Jan 24th, 2012 9:59 AM
via cuntrastamu!