KitKat, a fixture at Randa’s Market on 16th Street, died late Monday night after allegedly being run over by a Waymo robotaxi. There is now a growing memorial for the beloved neighborhood cat.<\/p>\n
“If I were the Waymo PR team, I would be hoping that this whole KitKat thing just dies. And, that’s not happening,” San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder said in a social media video on Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fielder announced a plan to ask the state to allow voters in each county to decide how they want autonomous vehicles to operate in their communities.<\/p>\n “He was the neighborhood cat. He was truly loved by everyone. He loved everyone. He brought smiles and comfort and joy,” Mike Zeidan said.<\/p>\n Zeidan runs Randa’s Market in the Mission and was KitKat’s owner.<\/p>\n MORE: Waymo pulled over by San Bruno police for making illegal U-turn with no driver, passenger in car<\/a><\/p>\n He says since the cat’s death, there’s been an outpouring of community support.<\/p>\n Outside Zeidan’s shop, many customers told ABC7 News they’d support Fielder’s resolution.<\/p>\n “I was like, ‘those things don’t belong on the streets.’ If it can’t see animals, it doesn’t belong on the streets,” Randy Ponciano said.<\/p>\n Fielder’s proposed legislation has also gotten criticism. Some worry that, if passed, it could harm the local economy.<\/p>\n That includes Ahmed Banafa – a tech expert and professor at San Jose State University.<\/p>\n “This is going to slow innovation, increase costs, discourage the deployment,” Banafa said. “And other states like Arizona and Texas would welcome Waymo and other companies if we give them a hard time about this.”<\/p>\n MORE: Waymo detour leaves SF tourist temporarily stuck inside garage with other robotaxis<\/a><\/p>\n Beyond the economic impact, Banafa believes Fielder’s proposal also has logistical problems. He says it could lead to a patchwork of different rules among the state’s 58 counties, leaving driverless cars almost impossible to use.<\/p>\n “If you don’t have some kind of standardization, whether it’s from the DMV or CPUC, it’s going to be a problem here,” Banafa said.<\/p>\n As for Zeidan, all he wants is for another being not to suffer the same fate as his beloved KitKat.<\/p>\n “All I would hope is that they would make the car safer for animals and humans,” he said.<\/p>\n In a statement, Waymo said KitKat darted out in front of a vehicle as it was pulling away.<\/p>\n The company plans to donate to an animal rights group in the cat’s honor.<\/p>\n If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/131c44567cfd550c1c93df1368fb6896.jpeg\"\/)
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