In the video, a Google employee who hopped off the bus shouts down Erin McElroy, a protester who also heads the eviction mapping project. "How long have you lived in this city?" McElroy asked him. He shouted back "Why don't you go to a city that can afford it? This is a city for the right people who can afford it. You can't afford it? You can leave. I'm sorry, get a better job."
"What kind of fucking city is this?" he shouted, and then walked off.
That's the nut of the whole article/video if you are curious. Really bad move on the Google guy's point. I suspect he may himself be looking for a "better job" before long - as far as I know, no one at Google is critical enough that they can't be replaced essentially at will.
Update: as thrownaway2424 points out, the article has been edited to indicate this was staged.
The bus was being obstructed, which was his main problem, so he couldn't get to work. But yeah, it could easily have been just some guy playing the part. If he is a Googler, he's got trouble coming. If not, Google will be able to say so - either way he'll turn up sooner or later, with consequences one hopes.
UPDATE 12:32pm: Various tips have streamed in that this shout-out was staged. Protest organizer Leslie Dreyer talked to us on the phone and verified that this person's identity was Max Bell Alper, a union organizer from Oakland. This person was not a Google employee, and Dreyer was not able to verify if Alper was there in the morning with the group of 20-30 protesters. The Guardian is attempting to contact Alper for comment. Dreyer said she, as an organizer, was unaware of that the "performance" had been planned. We are following this as it develops.
Well the guy was apparently on the bus to start with. I am not familiar with how google runs their shuttles, but I imagine you aren't allowed on unless you work for them.
I thought I read somewhere that Google's buses provided free transit to anyone wanting to ride them, bearing in mind many stops will be within / at / near the campus itself ... similar the bus system in some college towns. Am I mistaken?
"What kind of fucking city is this?" he shouted, and then walked off.
That's the nut of the whole article/video if you are curious. Really bad move on the Google guy's point. I suspect he may himself be looking for a "better job" before long - as far as I know, no one at Google is critical enough that they can't be replaced essentially at will.
Update: as thrownaway2424 points out, the article has been edited to indicate this was staged.