Sponsored link
Friday, July 11, 2025

Sponsored link

News + PoliticsOpinionFirst they came for the streetcars ...

First they came for the streetcars …

An ode to Cruise and Waymo

-

First they came for the streetcars, but thanks to cheap oil and General Motors, I got a car instead.

Then they got rid of the taxis, but because I’m not a taxi driver I thought they could always just work for Uber.

Some Safe Street Rebels (but not the author) are using traffic cones to disable robotaxis.

Then I heard that Uber failed to protect their passengers from rape, but because I am not a woman, I wasn’t too concerned.

Then I was unable to get my walker in the Cruise, but I shouldn’t let my disability get in the way of economic disruption.

Then former SF Mayor Willie Brown said we should not stand in the way of progress. The fact that he is paid by Cruise must mean he knows what he is talking about.

Then California Public Utilities Commissioner John Reynolds voted for unlimited Cruise in San Francisco.  Because he worked as chief counsel for Cruise until being appointed to the PUC, I knew I could trust him.

Then I called for an ambulance, but because my street was blocked by malfunctioning Cruises, there was nobody left to help me.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our FacebookTwitter, and Instagram

Sponsored link
Sponsored link

Featured

Britney blackout: Author Jeff Weiss relives the ’00s pop culture cataclysm

Music journalist's gonzo new book 'Waiting for Britney Spears' dives into the tabloid-strewn wreck of the schlocky decade.

Under the Stars: Madlib’s sonic crystal ball spins again

Plus: Kendra Morris scores a reggae-tinged 'Flat Tire,' Jay Som rocks back with 'Float,' Directions in Stereo dips into the wax stacks

Good Taste: An obsessive early guide to the Outside Lands food multiverse

Fun bevs, free samples, fries as meals, super splurges, and more: It’s not too soon to plan your festival menu.

More by this author

Rümeysa Öztürk’s ‘last’ Op-Ed

Expressing a provocative opinion is not a crime; if it is, I plead guilty.

A public health nurse makes the case for vaccine and mask mandates

Testing alone has simply not worked. We call this 'universal precautions'—and it has to be part of our response to the ongoing pandemic.

An open letter to Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg

SF General nurse asks Facebook founder to drag brunch in the hope he's willing to take his name off the public hospital (and quit doing studies on people without their consent).
Sponsored link

You might also likeRELATED