Poor Tech Bro Writes Open Letter About How He ‘Shouldn’t Have to See’ Homeless People in SF 

This guy is a real douche.

The unfortunate tech bro insurgency in San Francisco continues with a guy named Justin Keller, who has lived in the Bay Area for all of three years (that means we can still return him, right?) and recently felt entitled enough to write the mayor and police chief about his distaste for the homeless. Cool, cool.

In an open letter to Mayor Ed Lee and police chief Greg Suhr— as if those men don’t already know about the homeless situation in a city where they’ve no doubt resided for longer than 36 months—Keller wrote the following fuckshit, excerpted at the Guardian:

I am writing today, to voice my concern and outrage over the increasing homeless and drug problem that the city is faced with. I’ve been living in SF for over three years, and without a doubt it is the worst it has ever been. Every day, on my way to, and from work, I see people sprawled across the sidewalk, tent cities, human feces, and the faces of addiction. The city is becoming a shanty town … Worst of all, it is unsafe.

Poor, poor Keller, founder of some server-centric startup called Commando.io which I hope I never come in contact with, was miffed because he ran into a few drunken and mentally unsound homeless people while his parents were visiting from that place he should go back to. Fine, but his entitlement makes native Northern Californians like myself want to catapult him onto Alcatraz and hope the ghosts get him.

Source: Poor Tech Bro Writes Open Letter About How He ‘Shouldn’t Have to See’ Homeless People in SF 

A Medium post by Jim Gavin has a nice response:

As “Justin” says, there is no “magic solution,” but believe it or not, there are many people working really hard to deal with the homeless situation in San Francisco. They are motivated to help individuals who are suffering. That may not interest “Justin,” but in the end they want the same thing he wants: to get people off the street. So next time, instead of crying to the mayor, “Justin” should consider donating to the Homeless Youth Alliance or going someplace like St. Anthony’s in the Tenderloin (links below) and volunteering to serve meals.

Stretching one’s wings

A few years ago I would sometimes take my airplane-crazed son over to watch the planes at RDU Airport. One Saturday we were watching from the General Aviation terminal as a private jet pulled up. A couple about my age hopped out, walked out to their expensive SUV, and drove away. At the time, I didn’t consider this the part of the show that my son wanted to see but the scene stuck with me.

It was a moment where my mind was opened to new possibilities. Who were these people and how do they afford to travel by private jet? How could I one day travel by private jet? This couple didn’t look much different from me and yet they’re high flyers while I’m just a lowly blogger.

I recently set up some simple gear that tracks airplanes as they fly over (I am a radio geek, after all). Occasionally, I’ll see one cruising over at 45,000 feet. Private jet, of course, and I can feel my mind kick into gear again, plotting a course to someday reach that same altitude.

It’s funny how that works. I don’t really want for anything. My life is pretty sweet, and then something comes along that gives you a peek into a new world you didn’t really know existed.

I don’t need to travel by private jet, but it’s fun to imagine being there some day.

Raleigh’s Bike Share is key to Raleigh’s growth

A Bike Share bike rack in downtown Boulder, CO.

A Bike Share bike rack in downtown Boulder, CO.


Raleigh City Council is considering sponsoring a bike share program. This was a project first begun a year or two ago, resulting in winning a federal grant. Now that grant is in danger of expiring next month if the city does not move forward.

I am reminded of the presentation former Raleigh City Planner Mitchell Silver gave a few years ago on our society’s changing demographics, an eye-opening look at today’s new workforce. Today’s new workforce does not want to drive anywhere (sorry, RTP). The new workforce wants their living, working, and playing all to be nearby. One need only see the massive investments recently made in upscale apartments clustered around downtown, N.C. State, Cameron Village, and other commercial areas. Durham’s American Tobacco Campus is the same way.
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