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GOLDEN
GATE BRIDGE SUICIDE BARRIER COALITION
MINUTES April1999 |
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Present: M. Mahoney. E. Jindrich, M. Hailett, L. Meredith, J. Motto, R. Tauber, J. Vidaurri, B. Angotti |
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MEDIA: There were several recent Media
stories, which were brought to the meeting. The Press Democrat had a
recent suicide editorial and a man leaped to his death during the Hooligan's
race. One jumper survived this past February. Dr. Motto feels
it would be helpful to speak with this recent survivor to know of his
motivation for jumping. There was a suggestion to write to the California
Highway Patrol under the freedom of information act to get information on
this jumper. Dr. Motto will pursue information on this individual. TORONTO (Suicide Barrier Group): Mike Mc Camus of Toronto has been in touch with our group for help in furthering their work towards erecting a suicide barrier at the Toronto viaduct bridge. The Barrier Coalition provided him with the Mary Currie’s number at the GGB, as she would be most helpful in providing him information on the efficacy of phones and scooter patrols. Mc Camus will be provided with R. Tauber’s e-mail address and phone number in case he should want any information on the activities of our group. The phones on the bridge, as we know, have been particularly ineffectual as only five calls have been patched through to SFSP in recent years. The Bridge district claims that the scooter patrols have been effective. B. Jindrich pointed out that it is at least safe to say that the death rate has remained constant despite the telephone and the scooter patrols. M. Hallett questioned whether or not funding has been continued for the scooter patrols on the bridge as they were, at first, funded only temporarily.
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NEW DIRECTOR GGB We need to meet with the new Manager of the
Golden Gate Bridge District, Celia Kupersmith, in order to allow her to
know who we are. It would be appropriate to schedule a 15-20 minute
meeting with the new Manager in order to get acquainted, and to let her
know how helpful her staff has been in the past and how we are concerned
about the Bridge Director’s commitment to erecting a suicide deterrent.
The deterrent was mentioned in the GGB newsletter. It was an article,
which talks about barrier issues. L. Meredith contacted the bridge about
the bicycle barrier and found out that there have been no fatalities as a
result of not having this barrier and that there is a legal requirement
that the bridge erect one. BUDGET M. Hallett indicates we have collected $9,000 since 6/97 and have expended $6,598 of that amount. Refreshments for the GGSBC meetings have not been charged against the original funding but have been charged to Suicide Prevention.
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GGB/Z-CLIP AGREEMENT: J Vidaurri spoke of the recent
construction on the Bridge retrofit. Trash was being thrown down and
affected the workers below so the Bridge District constructed a chain-link
fence from Vista Point to the North Tower on the Bridge’s north end.
J.Vidaurri indicated that we need to find out the exact status of any
agreement that the bridge has with Z-cip at present. E.Angotti to call
Russ Haycock to find out the status of any agreement that might exist and
if he has had any direct contact with the new manager, Kupersmith, and his
suggestions with regard to her. E. Jindrich, B. Angotti, and J.Motto spoke
of the most recent meetings which they attended. STRATEGIES: There was a brief discussion of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisor members and the need to contact the new
Board members. L. Meredith suggests that their politics are not consistent
with Amiano but are more closely aligned with Mayor Brown. The prevailing
point of view among board members is that aesthetics trumps the health and
safety issues. |
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ACTION PLAN: Press release to be issued by L. Meredith a
week before bridge anniversary to partner with the Health Department. M.
Mahoney suggested inviting M. Luckhoff to |
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GGSBC NEXT MEETING IN MARIN Monday, JUNE 21, 1999
7:00PM
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(Across
from the Civic Center) From Highway 101, going north, take
the San Pedro Road (Civic Center) Exit. BEAR
Let me know if you are unable to
attend our next meeting. If you have any questions
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