Cable Car Sesquicentennial Celebration -- August 2, 2023

Today my wonderful and patient wife accompanied me to the Cable Car Sesquicentennial Celebration at Powell and Market. There was a good crowd, and many were in costumes from various eras. I had a nice chat with Emperor Norton. Our host was Rick Laubscher of today's Market Street Railway. The PA system was weak and it was hard to hear some of the speakers. Representative Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, and many others spoke. Andrew S Hallidie had a few remarks. 

Powell Street Car One, which was built to celebrate the Centennial in 1973, was beautifully decorated by Val Lupiz, who also pulled the grip today. The VIPs rode away on the car.

Senator Dianne Feinstein was scheduled to be there, but she wasn't feeling well. 

Senator Dianne Feinstein to Retire -- February 17, 2023

 Senator Dianne Feinstein has announced that she will retire from the Senate where she has served since 1992. Many of my Democratic Party friends found her too conservative, but she was a smart politician and she did many good things, like the 1995 assault weapons ban, which unfortunately expired in 2004. She became a San Francisco Supervisor in 1969, before district elections. As President of the Board, she became mayor when Mayor George Moscone and fellow Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated in 1978. She served as mayor during the Great Reconstruction of the cable car system in 1982-1984. She will not seek reelection next year. 

Her aunt lived across the street from my family's house and my mother knew both of them. 

I could swear I saw Dianne Feinstein perform in the amateur portion of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, but I have not been able to determine what year that was. When I contacted her office, her staff was unable to find out.