Last August, a Red Bull stunt in which a “skysurfer (opens in new tab)” rode down the suspension cables of the Bay Bridge led to 20 minutes of closures along the interstate as high school students flocked to downtown to take the SAT.
In response to complaints, Mayor Daniel Lurie told ABC7 (opens in new tab) that such disruptions were the cost of San Francisco’s comeback.
“I will look into it,” Lurie said, “but if we’re going to be a global city that is on top again, we’re going to have to make sure that we know what’s coming. We have to expect that they’ll be some inconveniences.”
“Inconveniences” is a mild way to describe what happened in the Marina District on Saturday, where neighbors reported people peeing in backyards, climbing fire escapes, trampling landscaping, and scrambling on roofs and balconies to get a view of the Red Bull F1 event.
Source: Courtesy Patrick Souris
“It was chaos,” said Patrick Souris, a 35-year-old tech worker who lives in the neighborhood. “It was terrible.”
Now the energy drink company known for its audacious stunts and the mayor, who suited up in a bright blue race Ford-branded suit, are under fire, this time for a lack of crowd control.
In the aftermath of the exhibition, which Lurie said drew 50,000 to the Marina, broken pots and branches were splayed out on the sidewalk, along with chipped tiles and cracked windows. Skid scarred the roadway.
The mayor’s office declined to take responsibility for how the event unfolded, deferring questions about event planning to Red Bull and about law enforcement presence to SFPD.
Red Bull did not respond to a request for comment.
SFPD said it received several calls about trespassing into private areas, but made no arrests. “Overall, the event was extremely safe, and there were no major public safety incidents,” police spokesperson Robert Rueca told The Standard on Monday.
The lone public statement from City Hall regarding the event was a video posted to social media of Lurie (opens in new tab) in the passenger seat of an F1 car, calling it “one of the most thrilling events” he’s partaken in since becoming mayor.
At least one public official has taken issue with the lack of preparation. District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, who represents the Marina, acknowledged in a statement to The Standard that the event should have been handled with more care.
“San Francisco must be able to host exciting, world-class events safely and efficiently,” Sherrill said. “In partnership with the Mayor’s Office, I will convene city departments to review what occurred, address any shortcomings, and ensure future events are managed safely and with stronger safeguards in place.”
On social media and on the streets of the Marina, much of the criticism has centered around the traffic gridlock in the neighborhood and frustration about the lack of organized bleacher areas for spectators.
The event and its aftermath has also become yet another culture war debate. Many noted the irony of the Lurie administration allowing the F1 event on public streets while vowing in December to crack down on illegal sideshows (opens in new tab) by doubling fines for street takeovers.
“This fuckin mayor man,” commented @rae_ruckus on Instagram. “We aren’t Monaco bro. If that’s what you want then make us a sovereign city-state too.”
Some touted the tourists and the thrill it brought to the neighborhood, while taking issue with its organization. Others said it was only right that the wealthy homeowners of the Marina saw what parts of the Mission or SoMa regularly experience.
“RIP the victims of The Marina,” commented @drawinmonsters on Instagram. “Hurricane Red Bull was absolutely devastating.”
Source: Courtesy Patrick Souris
