We asked after Chris, an organizer with whom we'd traded emails. He was busy coordinating activity around the city on his cell phone. We watched as two people in fluorescent green "Muni Security" vests guarded the rear entrances to the busses as they stopped at the corner -- slowing down the route as dozens of people were forced to queue and board in front. As far as we could tell, most folks weren't paying cash fare, but we couldn't tell how many held transfers or fastpasses.

We chatted with Mo, an activist handing out pamphlets and engaging with the security guards. They'd all been there for hours, since the morning action, and were on speaking terms. Apparently as many as ten of these guards had been at the stop in the morning -- and Muni has a fare inspection force of only 20 (though we think some of the security was hired just for the day -- we'd never seen fare inspectors actively blocking entrance to the rear of the busses before).

ever