What do skateboarders do when their mega-tour is under attack? They stand up, and fight back -- in the press.
San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos last week questioned the Dew Tour, which has taken over the Civic Center Plaza park and adjacent public space for the past few weeks, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Some skateboarders over the weekend took umbrage, calling Avalos the equivalent of a crusty old man.
Avalos asked the newspaper if the "Very large mound of dirt in front of City Hall" was the "best use of public lands." Rather than address that point, Bryan Hornbeck, president of the SF Skateboard Association -- yes, there is such a thing -- said that Avalos was continuing "a practice perfected by our parents' generation of elected leaders: Bash skateboards and deny us access to public spaces," the newspaper reported.
The Dew Tour attracted professional skateboards and BMX bicyclists, but regular old skate punks were allowed to skate the park. Carefully, of course.
Avalos pointed out that a skate park recently opened up in his district. But then he was accused of trying to deflect attention from his vote to reinstate formerly suspended Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi last week. Nothing's without its fallout, even from the skaters.
