To become a San Franciscan, there are several things you have to experience in order to fully understand what it’s like to immerse yourself in the City by the Bay. They aren’t always uplifting experiences, trust me. But if everything were so easy here, more people would be trying to take root in our little paradise.
Rites of Passage No. 1 - Car window calamities
Listen, I’m not going to beat around the bush with this: your car window will get smashed. It may be at night or it may be during the day. I’m not sure of the time, but trust me, it will happen.
My boyfriend has parked his car on the street of our block for the past two years, and he’s had exactly two break-ins. The first time his window got smashed was a week before Christmas. On his birthday. To perhaps boost his spirits or garner pity from the neighbors, I used Christmas wrapping paper as the top layer of the temporary window cover. Thankfully, no smart ass got the wise idea to try and unwrap the package.
Two break-ins in two years is not a coincidence; it’s an annual thing that we have become accustomed to. It’s a payment every San Franciscan with their car parked on a street will have to endure at least once a year. Accept it. This is the new normal and it looks like it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
It’s obviously an awful predicament, but it sure beats paying $400 a month to park your car in a rented garage space.
I spoke with the auto repairman who replaces our windows at one of the leading body shops, and his estimate of how many windows are regularly smashed was astounding:
“If I were to low ball how many car windows get smashed every day in San Francisco, I’d say 100,” he told me. “On a busier day, I’d say it’s up to 300. I’d tell you more, but if I did, it would be a very angry and critical opinion of the efforts of the police force in this city and how they’re not protecting us at all.”
You could see why he requested to remain anonymous.
Don’t panic. Don’t even get upset. Just have the following stashed in your storage closet at the ready:
1. Giant Pieces of Cardboard
2. Duct Tape
3. All of your possessions you would normally keep in your car to reduce break-ins
I know it sucks, but just know that you’re not alone in this endeavor. Remember, it’s moments like these that truly make you a San Franciscan.
