Tighter measures planned for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and Fleet Week in S.F.
Fans attending the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, as well as taking part in Fleet Week activities in the Marina this weekend can expect tighter security measures following the deadly attack at an outdoor country music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
The San Francisco Police Department said the public can expect a more visible police presence — including officers on foot, motorcycle, horseback and in patrol cars — as a precaution.
“As the city begins a week of special events, we want to reassure the public that we are working with our local and federal partners to provide a safe environment for everyone,” SFPD said in a statement.
That proclamation came Monday afternoon following the Las Vegas festival shooting deemed the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, with at least 59 people dead and more than 500 injured.
The attack was reportedly carried out by Stephen Craig Paddock, a 64-year-old retiree from Mesquite, Nev. He was on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino when he rained heavy fire on a crowd of more 22,000 festivalgoers watching country music star Jason Aldean perform at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Aldean had recently performed at another Live Nation show at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View on Saturday.
Mary Tilson, a stage host at this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, will be introducing bands to crowds during the three-day festival and said any performer taking a stage any time in the near future will likely have the horrifying event on their mind.
“I’ve been sitting here at work today, convincing myself that the probability (of another shooting) is low,” said the Berkeley resident. “The other thing I think about is, ‘Wow, what if something happens? What do you do?’ I don’t think there’s any one of us who isn’t thinking about this today.”
Organizers of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, which expects more than 500,000 attendees at the outdoor event featuring Randy Newman, Brandi Carlile and festival regular Emmylou Harris, among others, said safety of attendees is their top priority.
They did not release details about how and whether security plans are being changed, but the festival’s technical director, Sheri Sternberg, emphasized that they “are working closely with the city and county of San Francisco to make sure the most up-todate protocols and procedures are in place.”
Mayor Ed Lee urged a “see something, say something” approach to the weekend, adding that there are no known threats to San Francisco.
“No one can ever guarantee zero risk,” said Mark Herrera, director of education at the International Association of Venue Managers, a Texasbased firm that provides venue operators with innovative safety and security guidelines. “With outdoor events, it’s a very unique environment.”