Finding Kyle Shingles in Search for Answers to 18-Year-Old’S Suicide, Vaccine His Family Found a Mission — Helping Save Others Shortage Spurs Fear

Travel Inside Lake Tahoe grapples Cutaway of Datebook with Transbay Tube vacation Students rentals learn to dilemma. M1 think and write like BART ‘Hamilton’ Food + Home will begin work Monday author Ayesha Lin-Manuel on a 3½-year Curry seismic retrofit of Miranda. dishes on her the Transbay Tube. culinary See what its engineers are planning and how the and lifestyle $313 million project will affect empire. L2 your morning commute. A11

SFChronicle.com | Sunday, February 10,2019 | Contains recycled paper | $3.00 xxxxx• Finding Kyle Shingles In search for answers to 18-year-old’s suicide, vaccine his family found a mission — helping save others shortage spurs fear

By Catherine Ho

Two weeks ago, Paul Perrotta, a retired tech executive, found himself in a predica- ment now familiar to many Americans older than 50. His doctor strongly recommended that he get the new shingles vaccine Shingrix, but said his office had run out and he wasn’t sure when the supply would be replenished. He told Perrotta that he’d probably have to drive 30 miles from his Riverside County home of Rancho Mirage to find it, or wait. “At our age, we have met many people who have had shingles, some of them mul- tiple times,” said Perrotta, 58, whose husband, Curtis Scott, 62, also had problems getting the vaccine last year because it was too new for his health insurer to pay for. “It’s a slam dunk to know we want the vaccine.” Shinglescontinues on A12 Data privacy

Photos by Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle Above: Kymberlyrenee Gamboa prepares to toss a rose over the side of the Golden Gate Bridge backers push at 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 20, the moment in 2013 her son Kyle jumped. Below: A memorial to Kyle. Congress to act By Lizzie Johnson By Tal Kopan This is the perfect day. The thought danced in Kymberlyrenee Gam- WA SHINGTON — Lawmakers of both boa’s head as she drove from her home in Fair parties, advocates and business and tech Oaks to her two jobs at United Parcel Service industry lobbies all say this session of Con- and the Sacramento Area Sewer District, as she gress may be the best chance in years to pass scrolled through photos of her two sons over meaningful data privacy legislation. lunch with a co-worker, and as she met her hus- That still might not be giving it the greatest band, Manuel Jr., just after 3 p.m. in the drive- odds. way back home. Their work schedules never There is widespread consensus that Cali- synchronized like this. fornia lawmakers’ passage last year of a data “Everything seems so perfect,” Kymberlyre- privacy law, paired with a similar measure nee told him. “Doesn’t it?” enacted by the European Union, has strongly Awarm breeze filtered through the windows. motivated members of Congress to create a It was Friday, which meant the younger of their federal privacy protection regime. And the sons, Kyle, had soccer practice that evening. She fall from grace of some of Silicon Valley’s had texted the 18-year-old a reminder, but he Online extra biggest firms after scandals including the never responded. His mesh backpack and blue Watch a gripping interview with Kyle Gamboa’s misuse of social media during the 2016 elec- Suicide continues on A14 brother, Manuel III, at www.sfchronicle.com. tion has given advocates and lawmakers cover to take on tech giants. Privacy continues on A10 Suits, cost overruns slow Chinese developer in S.F.

By J.K. Dineen Tales of the housing crisis that, when built out, would Jose, including the 643-unit Housing is one of the Bay yield 3,400 condos. Silvery Towers development In 2014 and 2015, Chinese Area’s most troubling issues. The portfolio of valuable downtown and two high-rises real estate development com- Whether you are a buyer, seller, land — most of the parcels had with 708 condos on the former pany Z&L Properties jumped renter, landlord, builder or already been approved for Greyhound bus storage yard. into the California market with investor, the availability and development — included San There were additional sites a splash, going on a buying affordability of housing are Francisco sites in the Transbay in Los Angeles, Santa Clara spree that would eventually everyday concerns. The Chronicle wants to hear the area, Hayes Valley, Mid-Mar- and Marin County. Z&L Prop- include 12 housing sites in the story of your housing experience. Tell us: ket and South of Market. It erties, a U.S. spin-off of the Bay Area and Los Angeles www.sfchronicle.com/housingstories contained four sites in San Condos continues on A17

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Liz Moughon / The Chronicle Manuel Gamboa Jr. looks around the unchanged bedroom of his late son, Kyle. He is still searching for answers as to why Kyle committed suicide in 2013.

Golden Gate suicide net barrier The net, which consists of 385,000 square feet of Safety net marine-grade stainless steel at acost of $211 million, will be located 20feet below the sidewalk and will extend 20 feet out on either like a legacy side of the bridge. A250-pound person jumping into the center of the net will cause the net to sag for Kyle, 18 approximately 20 feet 2feet and will suffer significant bruises, sprains Suicide from page A1 Sacramento and across six and possible 20 feet broken bones. county lines, stopping at a Mc- The Golden Gate lunchbox remained on the Donald’s for an orange juice Bridge District fireplace hearth in the kitchen, and Egg McMuffin with bacon. and the Southern Marin Fire which seemed odd. Just after 11 a.m., he drove south Department will Maybe he forgot them, she across the Golden Gate Bridge. be responsible for thought. “Maneater” by Hall & Oates removing people 250 feet from the net. to Golden But that was before the played on his iPhone. Gate Strait knocking began, the sharp Once he reached San Fran- crack of knuckles on wood cisco, Kyle turned the truck echoing through the suburban around and drove back onto the The support struts will be spaced every 50 feet and painted the same Sacramento County home. Two bridge. This time, he flicked on International Orange as the bridge. female chaplains, one short and his hazard lights, parked in one The net itself will be gray. one tall, waited on the other of the northbound lanes, block- side of the screen door as Kym- ing traffic, and hopped out. berlyrenee answered. Near light pole 77, he climbed “We have something to tell over the railing separating you about Kyle Gamboa,” one of vehicles from pedestrians, them said. “Can we come in- crossed the walkway and side?” leaned over the side of the bridge. The water shimmered *** below, green and rippling. It The morning of Sept. 20, took maybe 10 seconds, wit- 2013, had dawned a fierce sum- nesses said. mer blue. “Yahoo!” Kyle yelled, and Kyle woke up around 7:30 then jumped. a.m. and logged on to his computer, like he did most morn- *** ings. His senior year at Sacra- At around 11:45 a.m., Kyle mento Waldorf School in Fair plummeted 200 feet into the Oaks was just beginning, and bay, crashing into the water there was so much to look for- near a couple aboard a sailboat. ward to. He was captain of the By 12:08 p.m., officials had basketball team, an athlete who pronounced him dead. could pick up any sport with Blunt impact injuries and ease. He had applied for a pass- drowning, the Marin County port to compete in a laser tag coroner would later confirm. tournament in Australia. He Kyle hit the water at about 75 hoped to visit New Yo rk City mph, so hard that his heart, after graduation and see the liver and lungs essentially ex- glittering of Times Square at ploded on impact, the coroner night. said. Outgoing and social, Kyle Four hours later, the chap- loved the spotlight. He once lains knocked on the Gamboas’ urged the boys on the track front door. Kymberlyrenee team to wear tiny pink shorts at sobbed as she ushered the ameet, and they did — his women into her living room. confidence was that infectious. This must be a misunderstand- To friends and family, he had ing, she thought. an obvious zest for life. There This was Kyle’s senior year. was none of the darkness that He was at soccer practice, kick- sometimes shadowed his broth- ing a ball under the late Sep- er. Manuel III, who was two tember sky. Or maybe he’d years older, had struggled with forgotten about soccer, despite slowly. might give you, but please be U.S. rose by 33 percent from depression, and often teased her text reminder, and was Kymberlyrenee scoured happy knowing this is what I want. 1999 to 2017. For people under Kyle by calling him “the suc- playing a game at Lasertag of every official report for details The world isn’t ready for Kyle 35, it trails only “unintentional cessful one.” Carmichael with friends. of that once-perfect Friday: how Gamboa. injury” as the leading cause of At 7:54 a.m., Kyle scrolled Shock coated her pain, and the couple sailing on the bay Grief, anger and regret crip- death. On an average day, 129 through a friend’s Facebook she let the truth of her son’s thought Kyle’s splash was a sea pled Kymberlyrenee, creating a people across the country take page, then clicked on a funny death depart with the chap- lion sluicing through the water chasm her husband and surviv- their own lives, according to the Yo uTube video. Minutes later, lains. For weeks, she told her- until his body surfaced. How ing son couldn’t cross. She American Foundation for Sui- he searched “Golden Gate self it wasn’t real. Sometimes they lassoed the teenager with searched Kyle’s bedroom and cide Prevention. Bridge” on Google.The first hit she even forgot Kyle was gone, rope so the tide wouldn’t drag internet history for clues, re- One day, she discovered was a six-minute Yo uTube her denial buoying her through him out to sea. How police read his suicide note until the something that felt both un- video about suicide on the the phone calls with the funeral officers found Kyle’s iPhone, words lost meaning. She re- expected and urgent: The 19- bridge set to a Coldplay song. parlor, the three-day wake in keys and wallet containing $38 searched the history of the member board appointed to Kyle refreshed the link five their home, the trip to Montana in his truck. Golden Gate Bridge, whose run the bridge was discussing a times. At 8:55 a.m., he clicked to bury him in the family plot The plastic glass of orange famed silhouette haunted her controversial proposal to build out of the internet browser and near the Beaverhead Moun- juice he had been drinking was from posters, car commercials an anti-suicide net under the climbed into his white Toyota tains, and the long afternoons in the cup holder. On the pas- and the back of her driver’s bridge deck. The Golden Gate Tacoma pickup, leaving his on leave from work. senger seat, Kyle left a hand- license. Bridge, Highway and Trans- backpack and lunchbox be- Why am I at home? I should be written note: She learned that her son’s portation District had a design hind. at UPS, she’d find herself think- Ithink this is a good place to death was a data point in a but no funding. Kymberlyrenee He drove southwest, past ing. Comprehension set in end it. I’m sorry for the pain this national crisis: Suicides in the had an engineering degree — XXXXX• SFChronicle.com | Sunday, February 10, 2019 | A15

Liz Moughon / The Chronicle 2018 Dana Bark, whose son Donovan jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2008, burns sage at the end of the annual Names in the Sand ritual at Baker Beach in June.

like them, people intent on channeling their pain and con- fusion into a tangible act. Over the years, many family members had held their own framed photos in front of the board. But the Gamboas’ zealousness was unique. “There were a number of families that came more than once,” said David Hull, 75, who in 2006 began the Bridge Rail Foundation, a nonprofit advocate for building a suicide barrier. “But one of them de- clared that they were going to come every time until the net was up.” Finally, in 2014, a new measure hit board members’ desks —this time to fund the net. *** Maybe Kyle thought he was going to live. This thought comforts Kym- berlyrenee at times when little else does. Her son was a dare- devil, always pushing bound- aries. Maybe this was a stunt — or maybe it wasn’t. She sus- pects Kyle suffered from bipo- lar disorder, his jump the cul- mination of his first episode of delusional mania. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle 2017 She had tried to be a good Kymberlyrenee holds Kyle’s photo at a ceremony to begin construction of the Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Deterrent System. mother, checking in often with both of her sons, asking: “How are things going?” and “How can I help you?” and “How could we do better as parents?” They were a close family, and after Manuel Jr.’s liver trans- plant in 2005 had grown closer still. She trusted that her sons were truthful. Kyle always said things were fine, and she be- lieved him. Sometimes Kymberlyrenee dreamed of floating in the water with Kyle, submerged in cold darkness, until flames sparked on the surface, casting everything in light. She couldn’t decode the vision. Grief washed over her while she folded the Courtesy Gamboa family laundry that was now devoid of Left: Kyle is all smiles at his 9th birthday. Right: At his last, his brother (left) films, father beams and mom snaps this shot. Kyle’s socks and sports jerseys. It struck her at the grocery store when she noticed that her and had worked in construc- Since its 1937 opening, the last year. Still, on average, one Nonetheless, the fight for a cart was lighter. tion management for Sacra- Golden Gate Bridge has been person every 13 days dies leap- net ran into a misperception: “You find yourself question- mento County for 16 years — so far more than a passage for ing from the bridge. that suicide was somehow a ing, what is the purpose of life?” she knew about the impact of commuters. People come to The idea of a suicide net choice rather than a treatable she said. “You’re trying to pro- public comment on government walk or bike the 1.7-mile span, dates to the 1950s, but officials mental health issue. vide every opportunity for your officials. to snap photos of its soaring could never reach consensus on “I’ve been retired eight years child so they can succeed and On Nov. 15, 2013, exactly 54 towers and Art Deco details — whether to build one or how it now, and I still have moments build the best life. Yo u think days after Kyle’s death, his and to leap over the 4-foot rail- should be done. Too expensive, where I get incredibly angry you’ve done everything you parents and brother made the ing to their death. The first some critics said, or too ugly. A that the mental health world possibly can, and this still hap- two-hour drive to San Francis- suicide was reported three net won’t help anyway, they hasn’t treated this like it pens.” co, crossing the bridge in si- months after the span opened. argued, because a suicidal per- should,” said former Marin She often thought about the lence and parking at the toll To date, more than 1,700 son will find another way — County Coroner Ken Holmes, evening before the seemingly plaza to attend the bridge board people are known to have killed though research has proved whose office handled the bodies perfect day, rubbing it raw in meeting and speak for three themselves by jumping off the that untrue. of jumpers. “When you take her memory. Kyle finishing a minutes each. Golden Gate Bridge, including Some who survived the fall, away easy access to lethal homework assignment on the “If a suicide barrier was in at least 27 in 2018. It is the sec- like net advocate Kevin Hines, needs, it’s a great deterrent for computer and asking his older place on the Golden Gate ond most popular suicide desti- said they regretted jumping as people in a crisis who are look- brother for help. He was bathed Bridge, our son, Kyle, would nation in the world, behind soon as their hands left the ing for an immediate answer.” in the monitor’s blue light as still be alive today,” Kymberly- China’s Nanjing Yangtze River railing. Suicide is often an im- The debate raged for de- she peeked around the door renee told the board, holding a Bridge, and one of the only pulsive decision, a2001 study cades, until the composition of frame to say goodnight. framed portrait of her son. major landmarks without a found, with 70 percent of peo- the board shifted. In 2008, the Why would Kyle finish an as- “Each day that goes by without protective barrier. ple committing the act within district approved a suicide net, signment if he knew he was going asuicide barrier is one more Some deaths from the bridge an hour of the decision. Anoth- with only one vote in opposi- to die? day a life may be lost to suicide are unconfirmed, because vic- er studylooked at 515 people tion. But there was no funding. Kymberlyrenee isn’t a reli- on the Golden Gate Bridge.” tims vanish at sea. Their bodies who were prevented from leap- This was where things still gious woman, but after her son We aren’t going away, she are often found much later, ing from the bridge from 1937 to stood when the Gamboas at- died, she read books about the promised, until one goes up. marked with shark bites. Other 1971. Researchers found that 94 tended their first meeting. The afterlife and reincarnation. She attempts are averted. Foot, bike percent were still alive more most powerful voices for a created a small shrine in the *** and car patrols saved 187 lives than a quarter-century later. barrier had belonged to people Suicide continues on A16 A16 | Sunday, February 10, 2019 | SFChronicle.com XXXXX•

want to channel it into some- Family’s thing else? Or are we OK with just dealing with what is left? We have put a lot of ourselves mission into this project. For us, we are still in the middle of it.” achieved *** It’s late September, and the Gamboas drive to the Golden Suicide from page A15 Gate Bridge. The water is white-capped living room, displaying draw- and roiling, dotted with sail- ings from Kyle’s classmates, his boats. A cold breeze cuts the basketball jersey and the Mc- warmth. As Kymberlyrenee, Donald’s cup. Pairs of Kyle’s her husband and her son walk shoes remained heaped by the to light pole 77, the pavement front door: hiking boots and shudders from the weight of soccer cleats, Airwalks, Adidas passing cars. Kymberlyrenee and Converse. carries 10 red roses in her back- And on the fourth Friday of pack. She hides the bouquet, every month, she and Manuel though — police confiscate Jr. skipped work, driving four anything that can be thrown hours round trip to speak at the over the railing. Wind blows bridge board meeting. Some- her long brown hair, knotting times Manuel III, who is now 25 Liz Moughon / The Chronicle it. and studies English at San Golden Gate Bridge light pole 77 is where Kyle Gamboa, 18, jumped on Sept. 20, 2013. Tourists pass on bikes, ring- Francisco State University, ing the handlebar bells and came along. The Gamboas’ speaking a dozen different names appear on every copy of board meetings. Madden said If you need help ing for what is formally known languages. Shorebirds swoop the board’s minutes dating to the Gamboas had “explained as the Suicide Deterrent System through the air. The Oakland National Suicide Prevention 2013. Persistent and patient, that this is what they decided to featured supportive words from hills are obscured by a layer of Lifeline: Call 800-273-8255 to they always thanked the direc- do — this was their work to reach a counselor at a locally Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. marine fog. Beneath the bridge, tors for their work, never blam- process their son’s death. That operated crisis center 24 hours a Dianne Feinstein. Also there heavy equipment is staged. ing them for Kyle’s death. is kind of amazing to me.” day for free. was Kymberlyrenee, peering Each night, crews shut down Kyle’s suicide had been par- In the months before the 2014 from beneath her thick bangs lanes of traffic on the bridge ticularly hard to shake because vote, Kymberlyrenee started an Crisis Text Line: Text “Connect” and holding the same photo of and build the net, piece by to 741741 to reach a crisis coun- they couldn’t understand why online petition in support of the Kyle she had carried with her piece. By day, their progress is selor any time for free. it happened. It seemed sense- net, gathering 158,000 signa- for four years. She was the only invisible. less. But in pressing for a net, tures from around the world. family member of a suicide What did Kyle see here, five they found focus. Maybe there Even as she rallied support, the victim invited to speak at the years ago? was a higher purpose for Kyle’s questions still tormented her: dedication. The Gamboas always make death: ensuring that other fami- Would Kyle have attended college? deaths,” Manuel Jr. said, tear- “Today belongs to the love this journey on the anniversary lies wouldn’t know the same Would he have visited Australia ing up as he held Kyle’s photo, and leadership of every family, of Kyle’s death. He would have pain. and Times Square at night? Who before passing it to Kymberly- like Kymberlyrenee’s,” Pelosi turned 24 this year. But next “There was a collective mo- would her son have become? renee. said that day. “Take great pride September, they might comment where it really dawned on Board member John Moylan, in your tears, your grief, your memorate it in Sacramento. people that something had to be *** whose grandson had commit- sadness. Yo u are lifesavers.” Manuel Jr. doesn’t want to live done about suicide on the In June 2014, nine months ted suicide on the bridge that In August, crews began con- in the pall of loss forever. bridge, and the Gamboas had a after Kyle jumped, the historic month, made the motion. After struction of the marine-grade Kymberlyrenee holds her lot to do with it,” said Brian vote finally came. the votes came in, the room stainless steel net. It will stretch phone, waiting for the digital Sobel, a Sonoma County repre- Three agencies — the Met- erupted in cheers and applause, the length of the bridge, hang- display to flick to the time they sentative on the bridge board. ropolitan Transportation Com- and the Gamboas hugged. ing 20 feet below the public believe Kyle jumped. Her hus- “They never repeat themselves. mission, Caltrans and Califor- Later, the full $211 million for walkway. Officials estimate it band peels some petals off his They always share new memo- nia’s Mental Health Services the project was cobbled togeth- will be finished by January rose. The clock glows: 11:45 a.m. ries. They beautifully humanize Division — had agreed to ear- er through the Metropolitan 2021. The Gamboas plan to They drop the flowers, leaning their loss so everyone on the mark money for a suicide net if Transportation Commission continue making the drive to over the railing to watch them board can feel what they are the board voted to approve $20 ($74 million), the California San Francisco and trying to disappear. going through. And they con- million for the project. The Department of Transportation broaden support for the net. For a few seconds, the roses tinue to do so without fail. It’s room in the toll plaza adminis- ($70 million), Golden Gate When the construction is com- float on the breeze. their catharsis, which we get to tration building was packed. Bridge, Highway and Trans- plete, they say, they might stop. be part of.” Families stood against the portation District revenue ($60 “When the net is completely Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Pat Madden, whose 15-year- walls. million) and other state funding done, we can probably look at Chronicle staff writer. Email: old son, Jesse, committed sui- “My main thing for being ($7 million). our grief and what’s left of it,” [email protected] cide in 2015, has attended some here is to prevent future An April 2017 groundbreak- Kymberlyrenee said. “Do we Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn