TRIBUTE AND A RANT

In the many months that followed the attacks of 9/11, there was a protocol that was followed when the body of a New York Fireman was found in the ruins. That body was give a full police and ambulance escort up the Westside Highway and then along 10th Avenue, where the procession would turn right onto W. 23rd Street (where I lived at the time). The convoy would continue driving east along 23rd and then turn left at 1st Avenue to its final destination, Bellevue Hospital.

Every time this happened, and sometimes it would happen several times a day, all street traffic would pull over, as you're supposed to. What was interesting was that even foot traffic would stop and conversation would cease for that short moment. It was sort of like a momentary silent tribute to those who selflessly ran into those towers, not knowing if they were going to make it out.

On July 2, two San Francisco Firemen were killed in the line of duty, Lt. Vincent Perez, 48, and fireman/paramedic Anthony Valeiro, 53. Today is their funeral and it was announced that there would be transit disruptions and street closures as the funeral precession made its way from St. Mary's Cathedral to Holy Cross Cemetery, in Colma. This includes a partial closure of Interstate 280, just as the evening commute begins.

I don't know why, but I really was stunned and angered at some of the responses to the closures. SFGate, like most online newspapers, allows readers to leave comments and sometimes they get a little crazy. I know this because I've left a few. However, below is a sampling of what some people had to say (there are mispelling and I've opted not to fix them):

"It's kind of a shame to see police and fire turn these deaths into an over-the-top public relations campaign"

"There really should be a better way to honor the fallen without shouldering taxpayers with the unchallengable expectation that every single member of this occupational fraternity deserves to have freeways closed down if they suffer a fatality . . . The sacred cow days are over, way over."

"Ok, this has gone too far. First how many days per mo. does a fireman work. 6-7. Risky? sometimes. 7-11 clerks face greater risks. this is them trying to sell everyone that they are different. Not working here. sorry. Go sell crazy elsewhere."

"Who is paying the bill for this? I think that the taxpayers are entitled to an explanation. How many PD and CHP staff are going to be required to oversee the traffic nightmare? How many FD personnel are going to be on the clock. Who is paying for the gas for 200 firetrucks? We don't even have enough money to keep the firehouses open and staffed. Wouldn't the fallen firefighters rather see the money go to keep the FD staffed and trained so that these kinds of tragedies don't happen?"

The comments got uglier. People complaining about traffic jams, unions, etc. It's probably one of MANY reasons why I haven't really enjoyed my return back home to San Francisco. I've never really experienced the kind of complaining and whining that I've witnessed here. It is so disturbing and makes a very beautiful city look VERY ugly.

Is the funeral over the top? Not really, it's fairly standard. Is closing the freeway a bit too much? Maybe, but so what. I'm not going to begrudge the two families who are saying goodbye this afternoon anything. Interstate 280 isn't the only way into or out of San Francisco, so the assholes who felt the need to complain about the traffic, expense or anything else can just kiss my fat ass. It's only a couple of hours (at the most), so suck it up.