The death of the beloved neighbor of the neighbor named Kitkat, who hit and killed Through a WayMo in San Francisco’s mission district last week, it swept through the city and across the Internet. Now, local politicians and community leaders are coming together to put new limits on the rapidly expanding auto industry.
Kitkat is a regular fixture at Randi’s Deli and Liquor Market, and is well known in the neighborhood and on social media. In a recent Podcast interview, Daniel Zeidan, part of the family that owns Randi’s, described Kitkat as unfairly worshipped.
“The nickname they have for him is the mayor of 16th Street,” Zeidan said. “He would walk out there, stare at the employees, and wait for them to chicken out. He really ran the block.”
But on 27 October, Kitkat was beaten by an autonomous WayMo, which in recent years has become a frightening sight around town. Waymo confirmed the death in a statement to the Guardian. “While our car was stopped to pick up passengers, a nearby cat crawled under our car as it was being picked up,” said a company spokesperson.
Tributes poured in all over social media for Kitkat, who can often be found behind the Supers counter at Randi’s, or head to the nearby Dalva Bar to receive a royal welcome. A shrine rises outside Randi’s, filled with photos of Kitkat, bouquets of flowers and well wishes.
Local lawmakers used the incident to call for limits on the industry’s growth. Jackie Fielder, a supervisor of the City of San Francisco, said that he plans to introduce legislation that will decide whether they allow the operation of autonomous vehicles, and they allow the operation of automatic vehicles, and allow the operation of automatic vehicles, and call the California legislature to consider doing so. Fielder said the bill is similar to a 2024 effort by the California legislature.
“We’re absolutely coming for your bottom dollar,” Waymo’s Fielder said at a Tuesday press conference held outside Randi’s market. Speakers included local politicians, union leaders and transit advocates, who touched on the replacement of work by AI and the loss of local political control against Tech companies.
Justin Dolezal, a local bar owner and head of a small business coalition, also spoke on Kitkat’s role in the community, and in favor of the resolution.
“The mayor of this space was taken by technology that no one asked for, and with this resolution, no one agreed with us,” said Dozel.
Kitkat’s death is the latest to ride waves of anti-ai sentiment and concerns over autonomous cars, though Others point to data that show a strong safety record. While Waymo says it operates about 1,500 cars across the US, The exact numbers for San Francisco’s Fleet are unclear. Protesters and activists made to prevent the waymos by placing traffic cones on their hoods or even set them on fire. Cruise, another autonomous taxi company, agreed last year to Shell for more than $ 8m In 2024 until a Bay Area woman is dragged 20 ft down the pavement by an autonomous car. Questions have also been raised on how to ticket and discipline autonomous drivers when they violate the Traffic Law.
Waymo declined to comment on the proposed legislation in a written statement to the Guardian but said “trust and the safety of the communities we serve are of the utmost importance”.
“We send our deepest sympathies to the cat’s owner and the community that knew and loved him, and we are making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor,” the statement said.
As politicians push for change, some have taken it upon themselves to credit KITKAT with Silicon Valley’s clear methods. Zeidan released a memecoin honoring Kitkat’s legacy, and also said he was disappointed to see others launch an attempt at Kitkat’s demise.
Zeidan hopes to use the proceeds to support local veterinarians and animal welfare organizations. He was inspired to do so after the vet who tried to save Kitkat’s life ended up with a full medical bill.
“We want to respect the cat,” Zidan said. “We want to support shelters, we want to support local animal organizations that help animals.”