Bonds, Strikes and Natural Disasters: The Origins of Muni

Bonds, Strikes and Natural Disasters: The Origins of Muni
By Jeremy Menzies

The first San Francisco Municipal Railway streetcars rolled into service 109 years ago on December 28, 1912. Muni was not the first transit provider in the city, nor the first publicly run railway in the country. However, it was the first to be established in a major US city, giving it widespread recognition. Muni’s immediate success  set an example that many cities across the country would come to follow. 

Reflecting on this recently passed anniversary, we took a look at some of the key events that led to the creation of Muni. What we found was a unique political, economic and social climate in San Francisco around the turn of the 20th century, all leading to the establishment of “the people’s railway”.. 

Monopolies Control Transit 

In the late 1800s, San Francisco’s transportation system wasn’t fit for the needs of the booming city. Service was provided by more than a dozen separate companies using a mix of modes ranging from steam trains to electric streetcars. Competition between companies created a confusing network for riders with duplicative lines mostly serving downtown, each with their own fare policies. 

By 1902, multiple mergers of smaller companies led to nearly all lines being run by the United Railroads of San Francisco. Unfortunately for San Franciscans, URR’s main priority was making profits for its investors and executives, not providing the best transit service. With a near monopoly on all public transit, there was little the public could do to demand better service. 

This is what public transit in San Francisco looked like in the 1890s and early 1900s. A complicated system of lines run by over two dozen different companies, dominated by cable cars. 

The Push for Public Ownership 

Around the turn of the 20th century, cities across the country were experiencing rapid economic and population growth as people flocked in to fill new industrial, service, and construction jobs. Life in the city exposed the deep economic differences between rich and poor. In San Francisco, a small wealthy class controlled most of the city’s industry and utilities like water, power, and transportation. Living the high life while many of those they employed struggled to get by working 12-hour days for low wages. 

The city government was seen as a tool to help equalize these disparities and popular support for the city to take control over basic utilities that everyone needed. In this political climate, a new charter was passed in 1900 which charged City Hall with gradually taking ownership of all essential public services. This charter laid the groundwork for building Muni, as well as other services that would come later, like the Hetch Hetchy Water and Power System and SFO airport. 

Disaster Exposes Deep Corruption 

The 1906 Earthquake and Fire destroyed most of the city and left vital transportation services in shambles. Shortly after the disaster, deals were made to allow URR to convert nearly all its cable, horse car, and steam lines to modern electric streetcar operation. The company’s heavy investment in reconstruction efforts improved the system and helped get the city back on its feet. 

In the years following the quake, positive public impressions of URR were quickly ruined by the discovery of bribery between company officials and City Hall. By 1910, the board of supervisors, mayor and all corrupt city officials were removed from office in attempt to clear the slate. 

Transit service following the 1906 disaster was critical in getting the city running again. Here an electric streetcar packed with people on Mission & 7th streets passes by another essential service, the US Post Office.

Labor Unrest 

URR’s corrupt practices and focus on profits also created serious problems for the company’s workforce. In 1902 and 1907, streetcar employees went on strike to demand better working conditions. The 1907 strike lasted months, with URR hiring armed strikebreakers to battle with strikers, turning into one of the deadliest in San Francisco history. All told, more than 25 people died and 1,100 were injured from clashes and accidents.  

This 1907 shot shows a streetcar on Turk and Fillmore Streets under police protection during the deadly URR strike. (Image courtesy CA State Library:  Dobbin, Hamilton Henry. Streetcar Strike. N.p., 1907. Print.) 

The Municipal Railway Dream Realized 

After three attempts to pass bond measures to build a city-owned railway between 1902 and June 1909, a fourth ultimately succeeded in December 1909. With over $2 million in bond money, San Francisco finally had a transit system “for the people, by the people” within sight. 

Construction began in June 1911 on the A and B Geary streetcar lines, which would serve Golden Gate Park and the ocean from Market and Kearny streets. By the end of 1912, the city had its own electric railway line with modern streetcars, a brand-new headquarters, and a promising future ahead.  

As the city’s first publicly owned utility, the opening of Muni was a source of great civic pride. On the first day of service, a reported 15,000 people rode the streetcars and more than 50,000 gathered downtown to see the dream that was years in the making. 

Opening day of the San Francisco Municipal Railway on December 28, 1912. Muni was the first publicly owned railway line in a major American city, sparking a national movement. 

Today, Muni is one of the nation’s largest transit systems. Our special blend of historic and modern vehicles, rail lines and bus routes, and administrative structure reflect our city’s history and our citizen’s values. Created in a political and economic climate as unique as San Francisco itself, Muni stands as an enduring symbol of what can be done in the “City that Knows How”. 

 

Published January 31, 2022 at 11:43AM
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Happy Lunar New Year 2022: Year of the Tiger

Happy Lunar New Year 2022: Year of the Tiger 
By Pamela Johnson

Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in many Asian communities. Diverse San Franciscan communities including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese people have long celebrated this festive occasion.  For many, the Lunar New Year brings a fresh mindset and resolutions for happiness and health. A zodiac animal with specific traits represents each year in the repeating zodiac cycle of 12 years. 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, the third animal in the zodiac. The tiger is considered courageous and adventurous.  

The holiday follows the moon's cycles and usually begins in late January or early February. This year Lunar New Year begins February 1.  

Fun Fact: In the lunar calendar, the Vietnamese zodiac and the Chinese zodiac are similar, but the Vietnamese zodiac includes a cat while the Chinese zodiac includes a rabbit. 

As we enter the Year of the Tiger, join SFMTA in supporting Asian heritage events throughout January and February: 

Local Lunar New Year events:   

• January 9: Japantown's Oshogatsu (New Year's Festival) virtual recording  

• January 17- February 19: Year of the Tiger public art project  

• January 29: Vietnamese cooking class with Banh Chung Collective Virtual 

• January 30: Flower Market Fair 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Chinatown, San Francisco 

• January 30: Lunar New Year Storytelling Virtual at 11 a.m. - SF Asian Art Museum 

• February 19: Chinese New Year Parade 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Chinatown, San Francisco  

• February 24: Dumpling Adventure with Kristina Cho 6:30 p.m. - SF Asian Art Museum  

 

 

Published January 27, 2022 at 01:17PM
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Bus Testing on the New Van Ness BRT Corridor a Success

Bus Testing on the New Van Ness BRT Corridor a Success
By Nehama Rogozen

Muni and Golden Gate Transit staff recently conducted important bus operations testing that is an important step towards the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor opening this spring. This testing included emergency turns and maneuvers, repositioning buses, verifying signals are working, clearances between passing buses and safe turns while bike racks are deployed.  

The training also included several staff. Traffic engineers made sure traffic and transit signals were working and reviewed street markings. Transportation planners coordinated closely with operations, training, engineering and construction staff to make necessary adjustments. Outreach staff and ambassadors answered questions and made sure customers knew testing was taking place. Field managers and operators provided suggestions for improvements based on experience.  

Since most Muni operators are new to operating a bus on a BRT corridor, operators will be trained on the new system over the coming weeks. To ensure that their training is as robust as possible, trainers from Muni and Golden Gate Transit participated in the testing activities to see what additional skills operators will need to learn.  

The Van Ness Improvement Project is bringing San Francisco’s first BRT corridor that will improve transit service and address traffic congestion on Van Ness Avenue, in addition to providing extensive utility upgrades, civic improvements and safety enhancements.  

We know that this project has been a long ride for the community, and we are eagerly preparing for several opening activities to celebrate the new BRT corridor. These will include a ribbon-cutting, lighting of the public light sculpture, family-friendly activities and ways to support Van Ness businesses.  

During testing, our ambassadors heard lots of positive feedback from people walking. A parent remarked that it would be easier to take her daughter to school on the bus, while someone else noted that an ambulance successfully used the red lanes to cut through traffic, saying, “Wow! I didn’t think about it until now, but I see how this is not only good for those of us riding the bus, but also really good for emergency services!” Someone else commented that the BRT system, despite delays, “was well worth the wait.” 

In the meantime, there remain a few more specific turns that need to be tested, so if you see buses in the median, please do not attempt to board them. Sidewalk signage is directing customers to the correct stops that are currently boarding from the sidewalk curb. We look forward to welcoming you aboard buses in the BRT corridor in just a couple of months.  

 

Staff from Muni and Golden Gate Transit in front of revenue vehicles before testing begins. 

Staff measure passing distances between a Golden Gate Transit bus and a Muni bus at the Geary-O'Farrell BRT stop, where public artwork is being installed. 

A fire truck uses the red lanes to bypass traffic on Van Ness. 

Published January 25, 2022 at 02:05PM
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Get a Text, Not a Tow

Get a Text, Not a Tow
By Erica Kato

Today we are pleased to announce “Text Before Tow,” a first-of-its-kind program where customers can sign up to receive a text message notification prior to having their vehicle towed.

This pilot program applies to four categories of tows: (1) parking more than 72-hours (2) blocked driveways (3) construction zones and (4) temporary no-parking zones such as special event or moving trucks. These categories represent 27% of all vehicles towed in 2020, approximately 12,500. It is important to note that peak-hour tow-away lanes, hazards, yellow or white zones and all other violations are not included.  

To enroll a vehicle, customers need to complete a short online form to register their license plate and phone number. When a customer’s vehicle is about to be towed, they will receive a text notifying them that a tow truck has been dispatched. Note: Vehicles will still receive a citation for the violation from Parking Control Officers (PCO).

This service does not provide the drivers with a “countdown” as it is dependent on the travel time of the tow truck, which could be as few as five minutes. Once a vehicle is hooked up to a tow truck, the tow cannot be stopped. Should the driver return before the tow truck arrives, the vehicle will not be towed, however a parking violation ticket will still be issued.

 Please note that this program is provided as a courtesy only. The SFMTA cannot guarantee the delivery or receipt of text messages. Failure to receive a text message cannot be used as a basis for a refund claim or for the release of a towed vehicle.

For more information or to sign up for this program, we invite you to visit our website: https://www.sfmta.com/text-tow-program-application.

 

 

 

Published January 13, 2022 at 12:23PM
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San Francisco Beautiful and the SFMTA Launch the 2022 Muni Art Project

San Francisco Beautiful and the SFMTA Launch the 2022 Muni Art Project
By Sophia Scherr

We’re partnering with San Francisco Beautiful (SFB) to announce the kick-off of the 2022 Muni Art Project. The annual collaboration features the original work of five new local artists who visually interpret poems and a new theme each year.

For the first time, instead of featuring the work of five different local poets, only one local poet was chosen: the late Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The 2022 theme, “Streets of San Francisco” is the seventh year that the SFMTA, San Francisco Beautiful and The Poetry Society of America (sponsors of Poetry in Motion®) have collaborated to bring art and poetry to Muni commuters. The Muni Art Project is the only public art project that exclusively features local, San Francisco artists and poets.

The inspiring biographies of the Muni Art 2022 artists, Richard Louis Perri, Sebastian Rafael, Steffan Sanguinetti, Krithika Sengo and Tan Sirinumas are available at: sfbeautiful.org/muni-art.

You can see one of these works of art and read the accompanying poetry on your next Muni ride through April.

Poems

The Changing Light

Recipe for Happiness in Khabarovsk or Anyplace

Populist Manfesto

 What is Poetry?

At the Golden Gate

Artists

Learn more about artist Steffan Sanguinetti

 

Learn more about artist Tan Sirinumas

 

Learn more about artist Krithika Sengottaiyan 

 

Learn more about artist Richard Louis Perri

 

Learn more about artist Sebastian Raphael

Published January 11, 2022 at 10:51AM
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Are Ride-hail Companies Serving Wheelchair Users in San Francisco?

Are Ride-hail Companies Serving Wheelchair Users in San Francisco?
By Maddy Ruvolo

Since 2013, ride-hail companies, also known as Transportation Network Companies or TNCs, have become increasingly visible on San Francisco’s streets. In the area of disability access and TNCs, while some individuals have reported increased mobility and independence because of TNCs, wheelchair users have largely been unable to use the service. Ride hailing apps generally did not offer wheelchair accessible vehicles—nor were they required to do so by the CPUC.

While the SFMTA and our sister agency, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) do not have the authority to regulate these services—a job entrusted statewide to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)—we have worked together to pay close attention to the impact they have on our transportation network and shaped our areas of studies, policies, and programs accordingly. For example, over the years, the City has documented how well these services do or do not meet San Francisco’s Guiding Principles for Emerging Mobility Services, helping to shape policy and recommendations around our congestion and disability access goals.

A move in the right direction: the TNC Access for All Act

For this reason, San Francisco was proud to support the TNC Access for All Act, signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2018. The bill requires the CPUC to develop regulations relating to accessibility for persons with disabilities, including wheelchair users who need a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). The bill also created a financial incentive for TNCs to increase accessibility by imposing a per-trip fee on all TNC rides in the state. The funds from this fee are then used to reimburse ride hailing companies for their expenses if they demonstrate they are improving access to WAVs on their platforms. If a company does not meet the requirements established for reimbursement, or if they do not provide WAV services in a county at all, the collected fees are deposited into an “Access Fund” for other eligible providers to help provide on-demand WAV services in that area instead.

Since July 2019, TNCs have collected a 10-cent fee for every non-WAV trip in California. While the CPUC has not yet distributed funds to non-TNC providers as part of the Access Fund, we have started to receive data on how TNCs like Uber and Lyft are trying to improve WAV services in the few counties for which information has been reported.

So, how do we know if wheelchair accessible TNC services are improving in San Francisco and throughout the state?

For TNCs to keep the fees they are collecting to pay for WAV services, companies like Uber and Lyft must demonstrate to the CPUC that their WAV services are meeting certain quarterly performance requirements. The CPUC requires TNCs seeking reimbursement to submit reports, called “Advice Letters,” to the CPUC and anyone registered on the CPUC’s official “service list.” These reports are a series of PDF and Excel files that include aggregated data by county on service aspects like number of trip requests and rate of fulfillment, hours of service provided, response times (the time between requesting a trip and receiving a ride), expenses incurred, complaints received, and outreach performed.

All of the information provided in these Advice Letters is incredibly valuable for understanding the state of wheelchair accessible TNC service throughout California. However, the way CPUC requires the TNCs to file the information to a small group and in a difficult-to-read format has limited the utility of the data. Until now! In 2021, the SFMTA and SFCTA were chosen to participate in the San Francisco Office of Civic Innovation’s Civic Bridge Program. Through this program, we were matched with pro-bono partner ZS Associates to develop publicly available data dashboards to display key pieces of the data submitted by TNCs.

The dashboards, which are now hosted on our website, feature the following tabs: Total Trips Requested and Completed, Trips Requested and Completed by Operator, Average Number of WAVs Available Each Hour, Trips Requested – Completed and Cancelled, Response Time, TNC Expenses, and TNC Complaints.

The Trips tabs show requested and completed WAV trips, as well as cancellations. The Response Time tab includes a breakdown of the average time between passenger request and driver arrival. The Expenses tab includes program expenditures by spending category (and note that “Partnership Costs” include most of the direct costs of providing WAV service—usually the amount paid to a contractor who is providing WAV trips for the TNC. “Operational Costs” are primarily overhead). Finally, the Complaints tab categorizes the complaints reported about the TNCs’ WAV service. Each tab can be viewed by vendor (currently Lyft, Uber, or Nomad), county, year, and quarter.

We are pleased to make this important reporting data more publicly accessible, and encourage you to explore the dashboards.

Published January 10, 2022 at 01:21PM
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Omicron Surge Impact on Muni Routes and Schedules

Omicron Surge Impact on Muni Routes and Schedules
By Julie Kirschbaum

As has been reported widely in the media, the highly contagious Omicron variant has led to rapid and unprecedented spread of the COVID-19 virus in San Francisco. More than 100 SFMTA staff have contracted COVID since late last month. Combined with pre-existing staffing shortages, this has led to an increase in missed Muni service. We’re also experiencing staffing impacts in other job classifications, including mechanics, car cleaners and transit supervisors. 

Currently, we are missing up to 15% of scheduled Muni service, which means that riders may need to wait longer than usual for their bus or train. Our hope is that this will be the extent of our impacts. However, the situation is fluid, and we are monitoring staffing levels on a daily basis.

As part of our contingency planning, we are preparing for what might happen if our overall staffing levels drop significantly or if a small, but vital group—such as our Transit Management Center or Power Control Center— is significantly impacted. Either of these situations could leave us with no choice but to make additional Muni service reductions such as cancelling routes or introducing bus substitutions for rail service.

We are doing our best to avoid this situation by communicating proactively with staff about masking and staying home if they have any symptoms and keeping some staff working vital functions at remote locations to limit exposure. We are grateful that nearly 100% of the SFMTA workforce is vaccinated, and we are encouraging boosters as an effective precaution. We are also doing hard work behind the scenes to prepare signage, operator instructions, and all the other materials we would need to implement changes as smoothly as possible — in the case these become necessary.

For the latest information on service changes, please visit our Core Service webpage. You can also find our latest updates by subscribing to Muni alerts or visiting our Twitter feed.

Published January 07, 2022 at 02:10PM
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Grab a Cab and Support a Small Business

Grab a Cab and Support a Small Business
By Pamela Johnson

Taxi drivers are an integral part of what makes San Francisco unique and contribute to the city's economic vitality.  They are essential workers playing a vital role in our transportation network. Each driver works to move people safely and efficiently from one destination to another on their daily journey. 

And, importantly, taxis are small businesses. Taxi drivers are trained and experienced professional drivers who obtain a permit to operate and pay taxes.  

To promote taxi ridership in San Francisco, the SFMTA launched our Taxi Marketing Campaign on January 3, 2022. The campaign is based on input taxi drivers provided in discussions with the SFMTA and an initial campaign to test key marketing messages. The drivers talked and we listened --doing all we could to increase taxi ridership.  

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, taxis got people to their health appointments, the pharmacist, the grocery store to buy food, restaurants to pick up a meal, or helped them meet other essential transport needs. They are also vital to San Francisco’s hospitality and tourism industry and are often the first contact with people entering our beautiful city.  

Over the past decade, taxis in San Francisco have experienced a significant decline in ridership. Customers have been incentivized to instead summon rides through rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft which offer venture capital subsidized pricing, unlimited supply, and minimal regulations and enforcement from the California Public Utilities Commission. Taxi drivers took a brutal financial hit, with many barely hanging on financially. Recently, these ride-sharing hailing companies have raised their prices, and more customers are finding that taxis are a viable and less expensive option and have once again returned to requesting taxis. This offers hope to drivers and the economy as the city reopens from restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.   

Taxis are a logical choice for transportation since drivers are reliable and experienced professionals who are familiar with the city. Our drivers have also gone through fingerprint background checks so you can rest assured of a safe ride. In addition, we have established regular cleaning protocols for a clean, healthy ride during the pandemic.  

The Ease and Convenience of Taking a Taxi  

Taxis are the only passenger vehicles authorized to use transit lanes, sharing them with buses and other efficient transportation modes. And the industry's low-emissions vehicles create a green fleet that offers a better choice for the environment.  

Finding a ride and paying for it have never been easier, with the ease and convenience of smartphone-based apps.  

To become a taxi driver in San Francisco, an individual must be trained in local traffic laws, driver, safety, the local street layout, communications equipment, and customer service. 

Use an App 

You can request a taxi through Smartphone-based apps, Flywheel, Yo Taxi, and ARRO that allow for ease and convenience of payment.  

The SF taxi booking apps connect you to taxis in San Francisco with the tap of a button.  

Download the app of your choice to request your ride, and make your contactless payment, or if you prefer, you may pay the taxi driver directly.  

The SFMTA’s Taxis, Access & Mobility Services Division regulates the city’s taxi operations. To operate a taxi in the city, the driver must have a permit and operate a vehicle that has a taxi medallion. The medallion is a permit to provide service in San Francisco. The drivers who purchased a medallion have invested a lot of time and money for the right to operate a taxi on city streets. These drivers often take out bank loans to start their businesses.  

As you travel to your next destination, remember to Support a small business and take a taxi!  

Please visit the SFMTA on the web to learn more about the city’s taxis and services.  

Published January 07, 2022 at 09:05AM
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Making the JFK Drive Promenade a Space for All

Making the JFK Drive Promenade a Space for All
By Eillie Anzilotti

The JFK Drive Promenade is a place for all—and its new signage reflects that!  

Starting January 5, 2022 you’ll find new signage all along the promenade route reminding users to be kind, share the space, move slowly, and say hello to each other.  

Through over 50 outreach events held by the Golden Gate Park Access & Safety Program team throughout the fall and over 10,000 survey responses we received, San Franciscans have overwhelmingly said they appreciate the space for walking and rolling along JFK Drive—but also want to see more guidance on how to use the space. 

In response, the SF Recreation & Park Department and SFMTA co-designed this courtesy campaign to encourage park users to put safety and kindness first when navigating the promenade. 

A simple reminder to go slow and say hello can go a long way! 

Published January 06, 2022 at 10:37AM
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Muni Drivers Prove the Perfect Muse for this San Francisco Artist

Muni Drivers Prove the Perfect Muse for this San Francisco Artist
By Jonathan Streeter

Muni has long been an enjoyable part of artist Kurt Schwartzmann's life, riding the bus to work, to school and as a sightseer.  Kurt — utilizing his monthly pass  — has ridden countless trains and buses and befriended several operators. Taking the time to learn their names and stories, Kurt envisions both the reality and the dream of navigating a bus through San Francisco streets. Pointing to an image he created (see above photo far right), Kurt noted, "I drew an escape hatch for this driver, so he could get away when he needed a break." 

In fact, Kurt’s website "Yellow Line Art," is named in honor of the demarcation at vehicle entrances behind which passengers are asked to stand.  "Conversation welcome but cannot interfere with safe operation of the bus," has real meaning for Kurt, who sees the yellow line not as a restriction, but an invitation. In his art, Kurt wants to share the feelings that Muni inspires in him — the sights, the sounds and the sensations that are all a part of the travelling experience. His first exhibition, in 2018, “was created to honor the hard-working SF Muni Operators that keep our city running.”   

He has a lot he feels grateful to Muni operators, one of whom he credits with giving his life a new trajectory. On a cold winter's night in 2008, Kurt Schwartzman was literally given the ride of his life.  Alone and unhoused, seeking refuge at a bus shelter in the Excelsior district, Kurt was surprised when one of Muni’s all-nighter "Owl" buses pulled up and the doors opened. "Come on in and keep me company," said the operator, reassuring him that he could ride even when he confessed that he didn't have the full fare.  

That night, Kurt found not just the warmth and safety of a seat on the bus, but the reassurance that he was a person worthy of welcome. Living with HIV, suffering from a meth addiction, and working at a string of jobs that he couldn't seem to hold down, Kurt says what he lacked most was, "the need for humanity."  Now Kurt has a dream — that one day he will be able to find and thank the operator who welcomed him on board the Owl and to a new destination (at press time, the identity of the operator remains a mystery). 

Kurt’s long rise out of homelessness came through his ability to connect with people and keep faith in himself and in others. With assistance from city and AIDS-related social services, as well as from kind strangers, Kurt eventually found a path forward that enabled him to establish a new life for himself in the city he loves. 

When he first moved to San Francisco, "I had no idea there was a subway," said Kurt "and so one day I got on a streetcar and was astonished when it disappeared into a tunnel under Market Street."  Since then the N Judah has been a particular favorite of his, especially when the long ride from Embarcadero out to the ocean offered Kurt a respite from the streets and a chance to meet people and listen to conversations. 

To see Kurt Schwartzmann’s online exhibit honoring Muni operators, go to Yellow Line Art Gallery. 

Published January 03, 2022 at 01:28PM
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