San Francisco "just says no" to the Marines

The City of San Francisco sure doesn't seem to have a problem closing off city streets to accommodate protests and demonstrations, but don't ask for permission to film a recruitment commercial for the Marines. The filming would have required one lane of California Street to be closed for a few minutes at a time during the morning rush hour on the anniversary of 9/11.

Captain Greg Corrales commands the police traffic bureau that works with crews shooting commercials, TV shows and movies in the city. He's also a Marine veteran and his son is serving his third tour of duty in Iraq.

He says Film Commission Executive Director Stefanie Coyote would only allow the Marine's production crew to film on California Street if there were no Marines in the picture. They wound up filming the empty street and will have to superimpose the Marines later.

But New York City had no issues with the Silent Drill Platoon performing at Times Square yesterday morning.

Manhattan was packed with diplomats and world leaders on Monday, but it was a platoon of Marines that took the city by storm.

It all started at 2:30 a.m. at 46th and Broadway, with a line of Marines lit only by the glaring displays of Times Square. They came to film another portion of the America’s Marines commercial. But it became a destination event for nearly 150 future and former Marines.

It was a curious scene, people trying to keep quiet in the perpetually noisy Times Square, all intensely focused on the line of 26 Marines performing.

The filming wrapped up just as the sun began to rise, but the Marines’ work was far from done. They quickly relocated to the sidewalk outside Fox News' studios (48th Street/6th Ave) for a live performance on Fox & Friends.

Pedestrians on their way to work were treated to several highlights from the silent drill platoon's regular performance. By the time the brief segment was over, there were crowds on the sidewalk craning to get a better view.

Then it was on to The Early Show at CBS, 11 blocks away. The Marines boarded a bus, but soon hit rush hour gridlock. The Marines made one call and, suddenly, morning commuters were treated to a column of Marines marching, with rifles at port arms, past The Ritz Hotel.

I love New York!

h/t Gateway Pundit