This is an absurd, ridiculous prioritization of spending taxpayer’s money. My good friend King of the Road reminds me ‘If a net goes under the Golden Gate jumpers intent on doing away with themselves will just go to the Bay Bridge or other nearby tall structures.’ He also asks ‘What’s next? More nets under the other tall bridges in the Bay Area? Nets around tall buildings? Foam peanuts filling up the Grand Canyon? Plus, a net underneath the Golden Gate Bridge will just attract thrill seekers who know they can safely leap.And there’s a whole lot more of them than folks committing suicide.’ If these folks wish to expend such enomous sums, then let those who support these nets raise money privately.” -George Allen

Bridge directors vote for net to deter suicides

Michael Cabanatuan
San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, October 11, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO - — Golden Gate Bridge directors voted decisively Friday to try to stop people from jumping to their deaths from the landmark bridge by hanging nets along the sides of the span.

The Board of Directors voted 14-to-1 to install the stainless-steel net system, which would be placed 20 feet below the deck, and would collapse around anyone who jumped into it, making it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to leap to their death. The lone “no” vote came from Director James Eddie of Mendocino County, who said his constituents did not consider a barrier necessary.

An audience of about 50 people, including psychiatrists, suicide prevention experts and family members of people who had jumped to their deaths from the bridge, applauded the decision. Some had fought for decades for a suicide barrier.

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