S.F. plaque honoring Harvey Milk is stolen

[alp227]

(10-18) 15:26 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- A brass plaque honoring Harvey Milk outside the gates of San Francisco's Castro Street Muni station was stolen sometime over the weekend, police said today.

Police received reports Sunday that the 3-foot-by 2-foot plaque had been removed from its spot in Harvey Milk Plaza at Market and Castro streets, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, police spokesman.

Supervisor Scott Wiener said someone alerted him about the missing plaque late Saturday. He filed a police report the next day.

"This plaque is an iconic part of the history of this neighborhood," Wiener said. "It's been there for almost 30 years, and it really means a lot to the community. Whoever took it, I just ask that you return it, no questions asked, and let us put it back up."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/18/BAV71LJ7RR.DTL

[Taverner]

1. Why??

[NYC_SKP]

2. Precious metal?

:shrug:

[RKP5637]

6. Probably for the brass. They steal copper from houses, so possibly the same thing. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

8. Cashing in that hot potato could bite someone in the butt

California AB 844, co-sponsored by Farm Bureau, put an end to a pattern of quick cash for metal thieves by requiring recyclers to hold payment for three days, take a thumbprint of anyone selling scrap metal, photograph the metal and document its origin.

That is unless someone has a backyard foundry.

[Renew Deal]

10. It could be something like the Joey Ramone street sign.

At least, I kind of hope so.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. so sad

[Luminous Animal]

4. Whoever did this is an enormous asshole.

[RKP5637]

5. Sad, yet another WTF. n/t

[Xithras]

7. I doubt they'll see it again.

Plaques have been vanishing from historical markers and monuments around Northern California for quite a few years now, and the culprit is always the same. Metal thieves who torch and recycle them for money. They generally don't care that they're destroying historical monuments, and just want to make a quick buck.

If the article is correct and this thing was worth about ten grand, it's probably been torched apart and sold by now. That would be a huge score.

[mulsh]

9. Harvey would be working to get people assistance in addition

to pointing out how heinous this act is. One great things about Harvey was that he sincerely cared about the people around him and was deeply concerned about his constituents/neighbors.

For instance he was very nice to my girlfriend and me when ever we went to his shop back in the day.

[Name removed]

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