Cable Cars Come Back

I had the privilege of being elected President of the Fisherman's Wharf Association during the years that Friedel Klussmann and her group to "Save the Cable Cars" was finally victorious, a struggle she started back in 1947 and the dream finally fulfilled on June 21st, 1984. Can you imagine, a 37 year struggle for her true love of a San Francisco landmark. Reconstruction and modernization started in 1982 and lasted for the next two years in one of the most unbelievable construction projects in San Francisco's history. We owe a lot to Ms. Klussmann's vision and persistence.
Few people realize that the Cable Car in San Francisco is one of the very few public transportation systems in the U.S. that makes a profit! Also, the effort to rebuild and save them was, for the most part, a privately funded project by citizens from all over the world. The amount of donations was unbelievable and we have to thank the leaders of this effort, then Mayor Dianne Feinstein and the Chairman of Chevron, Mr. Clark Derr, for painstakingly accomplishing their goals for funding the reconstruction.
There were some unusual events during those times that few people know about or will remember, and I thought it important enough to relate those here on this blog site. These were events that I witnessed or played a part in, so I might be a bit predjudiced in my reporting. Forgive me for any omissions or exaggerations in this accounting.
Fisherman's Wharf merchants depended a lot on the Cable Cars for their business. Many customers would come every day from Union Square with their money to spend on the Wharf and the Cable Car was the only form of public transportation which could make it over the hills that separate the two areas. Our fish company was one of those businesses, and I knew that we needed these relics to help our profitable business.
For the duration, I, Alessandro Baccari, and others like Chris Martin of the Cannery, Pier 39's Fritz Arko, the Alioto's, so many more, formed a Fisherman's Wharf Committee during the construction to mitigate their 2 year loss and to facilitate the constructionthrough the various neighborhoods to the Wharf. The accomplishments were many and made the two year loss of the Cable Cars more bearable for many who depended upon public transportation.
Before construction even started, I think it was Chris Martin who realized that we were losing one of the City's main transportation links and that the potential loss for two years could be devastating. The Committee worked hard to find an alternative and came up with the idea of enlisting help from two businesses that had "motorized cable cars" to temporarily supplement the lost lines of the Cable Cars. This was an unbelievable battle with the bureaucracy, particularly San Francisco's Muni bus lines who wanted the overflow from the shutdown. The Mayor asked me to form a committee made up of merchants and the city departments to cut thru the red-tape and keep the project moving. It was soooo difficult, but, for the most part, we succeeded.
We made the City aware that emergency vehicles had to have access to all areas during construction. While the city departments complained, except for the fire and police, we found solutions to do this, and not one life was lost during construction. The construction companies complained but complied.
We had fights between the two motorized cable car companies who wanted all the business for themselves. The committee was able to accomplish compromises and got both companies to participate.
As the Wharf was still going to lose business during construction, we came up with the idea of an annual parade for three years to commemorate the Cable Cars with a Parade. I will never forget Stan Roth of San Francisco Pretzel Co who took this project on with relish and pizzaz. He contacted schools from all over the U.S. to participate and a lot of them did. It was just a small-town, good natured family parade with prizes and everything.
The amount of problems that arose during this period were too many to list, but, in most cases, we found solutions. Early on, I would listen to issues, we would develop a program to solve the problem, assign duties and get on with making the transition smoother. I will never forget those meetings. Most cooperated and accomplished their duties, and went even beyond their scopes. But Muni, and particularly Peter Strause, often came back to the meetings with their job not done, always giving excuses on why they had not performed. On the other hand, Norman Bray of Public Works was phenomenal and going way beyond his duty in cutting bureaucratic red-tape. The Fire and Police also were very cooperative. It was just Muni who was a pain in my side, and threatening to make our committee just a figurehead. I had to correct this situation and get on with it.
It was very early on that I found a solution. Mrs. Field's Brownies. One day, before our regularly scheduled meeting to report on results and take on new problems, I bought brownies for every sub-committee head. That day, I asked for reports from all and after they had reported their results, I would give them a brownie for a good job well done. As to be expected Mr. Strause started his report with excuses on why nothing could get done. After his report, I said, "Well, Peter, I guess you don't get a brownie today, but I can give it to Mr. Bray of Public Works as he did even more than assigned in his report." Peter hated Norman Bray and this just drove him wild. It wasn't after too many of these meetings that all of a sudden MUNI started to perform and get their brownies back. People today on the committee still talk about those brownies.
Another part of this story on the brownies. At one point we ran into a problem that just was not solvable. I think it was the fight between the two motorized cable car companies who would not compromise and we were at a stalemate. We had to get them both going on the project. Even brownies wouldn't work here. So I called Dianne Feinstein and told her we needed her intervention to break the stalemate and she called a meeting on her birthday. As usual, I brought my brownies along with Mrs. Field's recipe for the Mayor's birthday.
As we walked into her office, I gave her the brownies to help facilitate the meeting, and told her how it all works. At her discretion, she could give them out as she got cooperation. She gave me a funny look, then passed them around, but did not take one herself. All of a sudden I realized that she thought I had spiked the brownies with marijuana and was afraid of eating one. Naturally, this would be normal for San Franciscans to do such a thing. Yes, that would explain why the brownies had been working, but it wasn't true. Dianne was just being extra cautious. Finally, as the meeting progressed and got hotter in temper, she finally took a chance and began eating one. Obviously, nobody at the meeting was acting like they were high, and she now felt safe.
A few minutes later, the Mayor was standing and got a bit dizzy, a shocked look coming over her face as she again resumed her fear of consuming pot in public. It was then that I said, "Madame Mayor, I think we are experiencing an earthquake and that we should all stand under the doorways for protection." A look of relief swept Dianne's face as she could deal with earthquakes, but not marijuana. Needless to say, we soon broke the stalemate after the quake had stopped, and everyone rushed out. It was the day of the Coalinga earthquake, and the first time that brownies didn't work, but the earth did shake for the cause of the Cable Cars. This is the first time this incident has ever been told, but still remembered by the members of our committee. And we all laugh as we remember those days.
Two other major events also come to mind. The Wharf was not responding very well with public donations to help in construction. It was embarrassing to me as we were the ones who would benefit the most. But business was tough during those days and profits were down for all. Dianne was upset with our response, as she needed to keep meeting her funding goals and we were not coming to the fore. I then asked her to come to a luncheon of all merchants to reinvigorate our funding efforts. Part of the donation campaign was to give anyone who donated $10,000.00 or more a real cable car bell as a momento.
We were a small company then, and that was a lot of money for us to spend, but I got permission from my Board to make such a contribution. At the luncheon, I introduced the Mayor and as part of that introduction, announced our donation for $10,000.00, clearly noting that we were a small company amongst many larger ones which could afford this level of contribution. The mayor then asked for similar pledges, and got them. She was astounded at the response, but I had embarrassed them all into getting on board and they all rose to the occasion. I forget how much we raised that day, but the total contribution from the Wharf ended up being over $250,000.00 and probably a lot higher. It was one of the most successful donation programs in Fisherman's Wharf history. Our Chair at that time on fundraising for the Cable Cars was Virgil Caselli of Ghieradelli Square. I still have my Cable Car Bell in my living room to remind me of those days and ring it once in a while.
The final memorable event was the day that the Cable Cars came back on line. It was the last day of the Cable Car Parades, and Stan Roth was very burnt out on these massive productions. It had to be big, and it was. As part of the finale, we planned a massive firework display on the Wharf. I am really into fireworks, and this was my project. I raised donations of over $10,000.00 for the fireworks, and remember dealing with the company which would put them off. Privately, he wanted the money all in cash, and, if I could produce, he would throw in another $5,000.00 in fireworks. I agreed, and, for that, the finale was a Cable Car in Fireworks streaming across the skies of Fisherman's Wharf as if it was heading down one of San Francisco's hills. It was spectacular and certainly only on Fisherman's Wharf.
Today, the Cable Cars continue to run, thanks to so many people, so many stories that could have been told, and so many struggles surmounted in a final success. These were some of my most memorable times in my life, and I'm proud to have played a small part in bringing such a great part of San Francisco back for the next 100 years.

A Close Call

Last night I was in Virginia City dropping off tax returns and coming back home a strange thing happened. As I was leaving town, I started to speed up as the limit changes just outside town near the cemetery from 20 mph to 35. I was pressing down on the accelerator, and suddenly the car started to slow down. I pressed the gas pedal down more, and yet the car continued to slow, almost as if it was dragging something. Ginny, my dog, started barking and looking toward the rear of the car. By then, I should have been going about 35, but the speedometer kept creeping down toward 15 mph. I was getting worried; maybe my alternator was going out or something was wrong with the engine. I kept pumping the gas pedal. The car's engine was really struggling to move faster as I passed by the cemetery, but to no avail. I could hear the metal of the car straining, almost being pulled apart. All of a sudden, the tires screeched laying rubber as the car suddenly jerked ahead and finally began to accelerate. It was like a big weight had been removed. It was so sudden, I almost spun out. Finally, we got home and I put the car in the garage. For some reason, I walked around the car toward the rear. There on the rear bumper were these large claw-like marks on both sides of the bumper. It was creepy. Not human hands, but claws which were obviously very sharp as they had dug deep grooves into the plastic. Could it be that I had just escaped the "Grim Reaper" and that I had escaped death itself? All I know is that I'm very glad I own a Honda Element and that it has enough power to pull a heavy load behind it. I'll have to get the bumper fixed this coming week, but I think that's a small price to pay. Thank God for the Japanese! And another reason why one should drive slowly through Virginia City to avoid the "Grim Reaper".