KitKat wasn’t just a bodega cat – he was family. For six years, this striped tabby welcomed customers at Randa’s Market on 16th Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. Whether he was lounging in a cardboard box by the fridge or greeting neighbors after a late-night movie or drink, KitKat brought warmth, charm, and joy to thousands.

But on Monday night, KitKat was fatally struck by a Waymo autonomous vehicle. Witnesses say the robotaxi didn’t stop. KitKat was rushed to an emergency vet, but he didn’t survive.

In the days since, the community has built a growing memorial—bouquets, candles, handwritten tributes. One sign reads: “Rest in Power, KitKat.” Another, heartbreakingly blunt, says: “Kill a Waymo, Save a Cat.”

This isn’t just about one cat – it’s about what kind of city we want to live in. If a self-driving car can’t recognize or stop for a living being in a neighborhood it’s supposedly “safe” to operate in, what happens next time? What if it’s a child, a pet on a leash, or a person crossing the street late at night?

We demand the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the California Public Utilities Commission take immediate action by pausing Waymo operations in residential neighborhoods like the Mission until thorough safety reviews are conducted and community concerns are addressed.

KitKat was part of the soul of the Mission. His death cannot be brushed aside as a glitch. Sign this petition if you believe the safety of our neighborhoods should come before corporate testing – and that KitKat’s life deserves justice.