Photo-op with Mayor Ed Lee

Out yesterday, Sunday, working Sunday Streets at Galeria de la Raza on lower 24th Street. Selling my jewelry and crafty items, the streets were alive and happening with a great mix of latinos and hipsters or latino hipsters, other San Franciscans and visitors promenading, bicycling, skateboarding or riding unusual two or three wheeled vehicles blowing bubbles or blasting music everywhere. It was a scene!

This is the San Francisco I fell in love with many years ago. All types of people on the streets, enjoying the sunshine (in June?) and feeling like a true community. I believe events like Sunday Streets provide San Franciscans an opportunity to enjoy our neighborhoods. Our incredible diversity is highlighted in these events. We walk away feeling united, happy to live in such a beautiful city while together dealing with high rents and housing prices, a slightly improved employment rate, homelessness, sometimes frustrating politics, dismal public education. Yes, it all looks pretty on the outside but like any city, there are issues. At least we have Sunday Streets to remember why we live here.

Did I mention politics earlier?

Mayor Ed Lee was doing a "walk through" of various businesses and organizations yesterday on Lower 24th Street. He stopped by, with his peeps (group of staff members and supervisors) to talk with people. He spoke with Ani Rivera, the Executive Director of Galeria de la Raza for a few minutes. Having my camera...I saw my own chance for a photo op. Working on adrenalin, I asked one the staff members whether it was okay to take a photo with the Mayor. He said Mayor Lee was very nice and I should just ask him. Ani was nice enough to introduce me to him and I immediately blurted out, "I live in Glen Park too." He came back with, "All the artistic people live there." I loved that! One of his staff members volunteered to take the picture with me in it. When we lined up, I didn't know where to put my hands. I asked the Mayor: "Can I touch you?" A few guffaws erupted from his staff. Mayor Lee said Yes to my question so I carefully placed my hand on his shoulder. It wasn't until I got home that I thought about how my question of "Can I touch you" might have been inappropriate to say to the Mayor or anyone else for that matter.

Sometimes too much adrenalin doesn't always work in your favor!

Here's the pic (and other Sunday Street photos follow)

Ani Rivera, Mayor Ed Lee, me and assistant to Mayor Lee

Michele Simons and some of her clients making flowers @Galeria de la Raza on Sunday Streets

Oscar Cisneros of Tu Tienda Azteca selling his FAB folk art at Galeria de la Raza, Sunday Streets

Sunday Streets in front of Galeria de la Raza on Lower 24th St.