Golden Showers Rain On Castro

You don’t need to be a weatherman to which way the wind blows and Citizens for Halloween are forecasting golden showers, predicting a thunder clash of party revelers and cops with no port-a-potties in sight.

Co-founder and SF Party Party blogger, Ted Strawser, reached out to Castro resident and Port-a-potty guy, Michael Staley, in an effort to dam the urine river before it starts, offering outhouses to neighborhood homeowners.

But, on Tuesday, the Department of Public Works informed him that it would violate city bylaws to issue him a port-a-john.

Instead, The City hopes to stem the tide with a combination of lame PSA Announcements, Aggressive Law Enforcement, and Intimidating Bar Owners.

The No Halloween In the Castro Ads urge partiers to stay home or head somewhere other than the Castro:

“Because this year, the Castro is not where it’s happening”

The City’s Law Enforcement Plan includes:

• Deputy Chief David Shinn says Capt. John Goldberg will head the Mission Station, will receive reports every half hour from command stations throughout the city to deploy police as needed. He Shinn described a “aggressive enforcement” policy for drunkenness, public urination and other likely offenses.

• Shinn and at least half a dozen other officials made pains to note that Muni buses and drivers will be available to ferry “platoons” of cops around town like troop transports.

• Unlike the past, the streets will only be barricaded on an as-needed basis. Also, less of the Castro will be off-limits for parking than in the past.

• Large numbers of Meter Maids and Tow Trucks will be on-scene, to expedite the towing of cars in the no-parking zones, driveways or sidewalks.

• California Highway Patrol officers will be manning DUI checkpoints.

Joe Alioto Veronese, a civil rights attorney, also pointed out that by canceling the official Halloween event and opting not to barricade streets, the city had no legal right to subject random citizens to a weapons check as it did last year.

A number of Castro denizens went on to angrily accuse Supervisor Bevan Dufty, the mayor’s office and the police of attempting to intimidate local businesses into closing on Halloween – as the Weekly noted in its latest print edition.

European in the Castro?

I guess Gavin’s PSA’s don’t include subtitles - lol. Seriously, get your nose plugs out. No rain ’til Wednesday - peewww-eeee!

Complete Article: 100,000 People Are Coming: Where Will They Urinate? by Joe Eskenazi, SF Weekly

Breakin News: Castro Business Owners Forced to Board Up by Traci Grant, NBC11

Related Post: Smashing Pumpkins with Gavin Newsom

Tent City

While San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom roundly criticizes the war on drugs of robbing our prisons of precious cell space, Sheriff Michael Hennessey echoes his sentiments quietly freeing violent offenders back onto the streets.

That is, until Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio rides into with some old fashioned justice.

Last week,Hennessey said, “his hands are tied" by overcowding; and I say his early releases are effectively unknotting the mayor’s “services or citation” arrests, locking us into vicious cycle of “catch and release.”

It's like losing an old fashioned shootout by slightest margin of points - heartbreaking. The mayor lights up the scoreboard with huge numbers in his reelection bid; nevertheless, we lose as vegabonds play trading spaces with addicts and theives - not to mention overworked and under appreciated SFPD.

Enter Sheriff Joe, just in time to save the day with a temporary, permanent solution – Tent City.

Sheriff Joe says, If you can’t beat ‘em in Golden Gate Park, then join ‘em!

Pitch a Tent, Portable Fence and Toilets too.

Where the buffalo roam, polo horses play, windmills curn and rose gardens flourish stands a temporary solution to a permanent problem, economically and compassionately providing food, shelter and directing the homeless into programs they desperately need and desperately reject.

Related Posts:

• Turf War In the Tenderloin


• City's New Sit Down, Shoot Up Drug Cafe


• No Vacancy!


• Officer Suspended for Criticizing Mayor


• Wait and See


• Liberals March 'Right' Over Progressives


• Bum Fights


• Care Not Recycle


• Care Not Carts


• Chasing The Dragon


• Mayor Closes Golden Gate Park


• National Guard Deployed to San Fracisco


• Escape to New York

Video:

• Night of the Living Homeless - South Park


• The Homeless Return - Stanley Roberts, KRON 4


• Shame of the City - Stanley Roberts, KRON 4

Gavin Sucks Polls:

• Vote: Do you agree with Newsom's “Services or Citation” Homeless Plan?


• Vote: Would You Dump Daly?

Turf War In The Tenderloin

Haight Drugs, Heart Newsom!

Mayor Gavin Newsom launched another operation targeting the drug trafficking in the Tenderloin, Mission and Market Street with a weeklong crackdown in which SFPD arrested over a hundred suspected drug dealers!!!

The latest sting went Monday to Sunday and involved officers posing as drug users seeking heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

Captain Tim Hettrich of San Francisco police narcotics detail said the price of drugs on the street is going up.

"That means there is not as much of it, or we are making a dent in making these buys."

Hettrich added nearly three quarters of the dealers were from outside the city and the narcotics unit seized $1.5 million in methamphetamine in the first six months of the year, and the price on the street has gone from $12,000 a pound to $17,000 a pound.

"It's like a farmer's market out there - a pharmaceutical market - it's non-stop. We are out there every day, week in and week out.”

With a price increase, he added, more dealers are coming from out of town and drug-related violence has increased as dealers fight over turf.

Complete Article: Tenderloin Drug Sweep by Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle

Gavin Newsom's Report Card

As Written by Chronicle's Cecilia M. Vega:

From behind the desk in his stately City Hall office, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom looks back on his first term and says the "chattering class" - his term for political insiders - got it all wrong when they thought they had him figured out.

When he was elected in 2003, Newsom was the young, rich entrepreneur who made his political name with a plan to slash welfare checks to the homeless. He was expected to serve the downtown businesses that helped elect him and not disturb the patronage politics of his predecessor and political benefactor, Mayor Willie Brown.

"There was a characterization that was advanced during the campaign that was quite difficult for me, being painted as ... disconnected from the challenges of reality, real people."

Four years later, San Francisco's youngest mayor in a century still contends with the Pacific Heights liberal label, thanks to his society wedding to prosecutor-turned-TV commentator Kimberly Guilfoyle, his posing for fashion magazine photo spreads with her at the Getty mansion before their 2005 divorce, and the playboy-ish pursuits that have followed.

But Newsom has surprised observers by being far more politically progressive than many anticipated, displaying an eagerness to clear the air of cronyism and influence-buying that long hung over the mayor's office and showing a willingness to put his political future in jeopardy by taking a stance on same-sex marriage that, while popular in San Francisco, was eschewed by many, including key Democrats on the national scene.

Newsom is a politician who seems to revel in the world of policy, a technocrat who praises managerial "best practices," who rattles off statistics in almost robotic manner, who seems to announce a new program or initiative every week - from the big, like universal health care, to the small, like visits to schools. But at times his follow-through has fallen flat.

Complete Article: Newsom Reflects On 4-Years of Ups & Downs As Election Approaches

On Deck: Cecilia Covers the Other Mayoral Candidates

Related Posts:

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• Cecilia, You're Breaking My Heart

Gavin Sucks Polls:

• Vote: Do you agree with Newsom's “Services or Citation” Homeless Plan?


• Vote: Would You Dump Daly?


• Vote: Is Cecilia M. Vega Your Favorite Gav Girl?

City's New Sit Down, Shoot Up Drug Cafe

The Associated Press reports about 150 people gathered in the Mission District to build community support for a city-funded safe-injection center, including backing from Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Board of Supervisors.

Heroin and Cocaine aren’t cheap and sort of addicting. Good luck keeping a job to support your habit. Shooting drugs is a real slippery slope:

A) AIDS
B) Homeless
C) Thievery
D) All of the Above.

If you answered “All of the Above,” you were correct.

Why spend taxpayer's money to sit and watch junkies kill themselves, when we can build a jail complete with a rehab center?

The law is supposed to be blind; not us citizen's who trip over these chalk outlines on our way to work. Junkies are just as responsible for upholding the law as the people they rob. Enough of this preferential drug treament, jail them! If mayor’s new “services or citation” sweeps don't net these zombies, then holding, selling illegal should.

Sure, zero will want to participate and few will succeed. Yet, better behind bars, than in front me. The chronic users return to the streets,only long enough to violate their probation and earn longer and longer sentences.

Alive in jail or dead on bail - don't care! In fact, 911 should answer overdose calls with two options: prison time or funeral parlor?

The only good junky is a dead junky. The problem is the addicts living amongst us; and the solution is jail. My 'soul' goal is clean, safe streets for taxpayers and voters who've had it with vagrancy, panhandling, defecating in doorways and other quality-of-life crimes:

• Dirty Needles in Golden Gate Park


• Busted Car Windows


• Muggings at Knifepoint


• Constant Paper Cup Jiggling Change


• AIDS, Hepatitis C, Etc.

But seriously, I agree with Gavin Newsom's assesment of the war on drugs as well as these services from police to facilities to counselors won't be cheap, but the status quo is more costly - maybe, your life? Have you walked the Tenderloin lately... It looks like a third world country and now the City want's us to add a drug den?

I'm not a social worker, but I know how to tie my shoes and wipe ass; and this drug den idea stinks - flush it!

One alternative to overflowing jails is to build a “Tent City” in the Golden Gate Park in which to incarcerate ‘low risk’ inmates with the autority to funnel these addicts and eyesores into mandated programs and out of my face!

Complete Article: San Francisco Considering Safe-Injection Center For Drug Users

Breaking News: SF Injection Center Draws Support & Doubt

Photo Credit: MESH Magazine

No Vacancy!

Full Jails + Tight Budgets = Early Releases.

Okay, we get it. Gavin’s got no room and no budget to house the homeless (behind bars).

San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey says he's forced to let theives and addicts go free - essentially reversing the Mayor's "services or citation" programs into a "catch and release" revolving door.

Only, Homelessness, Drugs and Homicides aren't going away.

Nor are the Drugs, Prostitution, Panhandling and defication that seed AIDS, Malaria and TB outbreaks associated with the squalar, squatting under bridges, over sidewalks and in our doorways - thereby living amongst us in our living rooms and at our throat.

Just like subsidized flu shots, helping alcoholics, addicts or otherwise helps everyone – most importantly voters!

Not just San Franciscans stand to benefit by helping those who don't want our help. Slightly, this is a national issue central to our City in which Gavin most stands to profit.

Neighsayers, would argue Gavin’s criminalizing the homeless in order to serve big business or ride the pendulum swing of public reaction.

They’re right, but with a caveat...

• Firstly, the “Services or Citation” approach is completely appropriate. It takes a badge and a stick, not a carrot to pull this rabbit out of a hat. Nine out of homeless refuse housing and shelter.


• Next, it's Gavin's not the Chaplain on M.A.S.H or Mahatma Gandhi. He's a politician running for election - four year's from now! San Francisco 2007 was never a question: rather, he’s running for the next big thing far outside The City limits with a constituency infinitely more conservative... and we all stand to benefit!


• Lastly, it behooves San Franciscans to help Gavin, help us by harnessing these quality-of-life arrests to not only make a difference in the perpetrators (them) lives, but to make a difference for the victims (us).

“We want to walk down the street with no danger on our back and no hand out in our face!”

I propose we benevolently house the homeless in a tent city at Golden Gate Park for the duration of their sentences. This way we can minimize cost through centralizing volunteers and professionals to feed, clothe, shelter the homeless and beyond – diagnosing and counseling individuals towards behavioral, drug and educational programs they would otherwise reject.

Homelessness is at epidemic high impacting everyone in any endeavor. You can’t run from it, so stand up and fight... and help our fair mayor get re-elected anyplace, but here.

Truth is I like Newsom. I recognize myself in his mistakes. I think he's reconciling the not so distant past and is finally acting with the urgency and leadership we need. Hopefully, he's making some noise at Federal and State level too.

Matier & Ross writes:

While the public clamors for safer streets and a crackdown on quality-of-life crimes, San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey is quietly allowing scores of drug users and petty thieves to walk out of jail early so they don't have to sleep on the floor.

The early releases were ordered last week even as all but one wing of a 360-bed County Jail at San Bruno sat empty, the result of budget and staff shortages.

It's just the latest wrinkle in San Francisco's revolving-door justice system, and it helps explain why - despite the public furor - it's so hard to keep petty criminals behind bars.

"If they keep bringing more people in for low-risk crimes, at some point I'm not even going to take them, and that point is coming up pretty darn soon."

The sheriff says he's housing about 2,100 prisoners in a 2,000-bed jail system. For the past few months, an average of 50 to 60 prisoners have slept on the floor, with others stashed in temporary police lockups.

Hennessey says his hands are tied. In fact, he says the jailhouse crunch would have been far worse had he not already shaved as much as 30 days off the sentences of thousands of other low-risk prisoners over the past two years under a parole program that most other jurisdictions rarely invoke.

To help ease crowding, Hennessey has opened one 60-bed wing of the empty County Jail No. 5 in San Bruno - but in the process is burning up his overtime budget. The jail, built in 1989, had been shut since the city opened a state-of-the-art replacement last year for the 550-bed Jail No. 3, a Depression-era hulk that was the subject of prisoner-rights lawsuits.

"You can't continue to crack down on drugs, crack down on the homeless and make more typical drunk-driving and violent-offender arrests without having the jail space to put them in; and you can't keep hiring more cops - who if they're doing their jobs are going to make more arrests - without having the space."

For his part, Mayor Gavin Newsom is "committed to pursuing a variety of options" to address the overcrowding, a spokesman said. Those include home detention monitoring and residential drug treatment.

"It's not just a matter of locking them up," spokesman Nathan Ballard said.

Until the city finds the money and answers, however, Hennessey says he'll keep releasing prisoners early.

Complete Article: S.F. jails' tight budget means early release for petty criminals

Related Articles:

• SFGate: After A Month, Park's A little Less Of A Mess - Major Homeless Campsites Cleared, But Some Have Just Shifted Position by C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle


• SFGate: City Says 167 Homeless Camps Removed From S.F.'s Golden Gate Park by Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer


• Gimme Shelter by Sarah Hromack, CurbedWire

Related Posts:

• Officer Suspended for Criticizing Mayor


• Wait and See


• Liberals March 'Right' Over Progressives


• Bum Fights


• Care Not Recycle


• Care Not Carts


• The Mayor's Chinese Dragons


• Mayor Closes Golden Gate Park


• National Guard Deployed to San Fracisco


• Escape to New York

Video:

• Night of the Living Homeless - South Park


• The Homeless Return - Stanley Roberts, KRON 4


• Shame of the City - Stanley Roberts, KRON 4

Gavin Sucks Polls:

• Vote: Do you agree with Newsom's “Services or Citation” Homeless Plan?


• Vote: Would You Dump Daly?

Newsom Suspends Whistle Blowing Cop

San Francisco police officer, Sgt. John Lewis of Park Station, wants to turn back time to get a jump on the homeless.

Lewis is under departmental investigation - and could be suspended - for writing a letter to The Chronicle criticizing the way Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Police Department are handling the homeless problem in Golden Gate Park.

According to police sources, Sgt. John Lewis of Park Station is being investigated for authoring a letter that "undermines the efficiency of the department."

Lewis' letter, published on The Chronicle's editorial page Aug. 15, questioned the Newsom administration's tactic of sending cops and outreach workers into the park before dawn to steer campers into social programs or, if they refused, cite them for quality-of-life crimes.

"Instead of sending a horde of people into the park at 4 a.m., the city should be sending this same horde into the park from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., when the real problems exist."

Lewis, who has 20 years with the department, wrote that the campers were neither interested in programs nor concerned about being cited, and that the real problem was during the day when drug use, drug dealing, drinking and fights were commonplace.

What's the big deal? Instead of citing the fast asleep and drunk, operate at a decent hour and arrest the wide awake and drinking. This way, we'll have more to prosecute!

Police Officers Association President Gary Delagnes said that if charges are filed and upheld, Lewis could face anything from an admonishment to a suspension.

Complete Arcticle: SF Cop On Hot Seat For Writing Sizzling Letter About Homeless by Matier & Ross

Related News: Stephen Colbert Runs For President

Grasshopper, Chicken On FOX

What, no Wolf?

Watch candidate Josh Wolf's interview with formidible opponent Stephen Colbert.

Sean Penn: Anyone, But Newsom!

The timing is a little speculative as the fling deadline for the mayoral election has passed; nonetheless, Wonkette just posted that Sean Penn has offered to stake Matt Gonzalez a $5 million dollar war chest to run against Gavin Newsom with the caveat Gonzalez hop to the Democratic Party.

When Spicoli says, “Let’s Party,” he means Gonzo and a Donkey Show!

John Clark Jr. goes on to write; Matt really wasn't sure if his Hollywood pal was serious and we’re not sure if Wonkette is stretching the truth either. We're still trying to finish off our last serving of gossip - fresh off the hot stove:

• Is Gavin dating Chronicle reporter?


• Is Gavin dating Jennifer’s Melrose Place pal?


• Is Gavin wearing diapers during long staff meetings?

Vote For Your Favorite Gavin Gaffes

Down Goes Newsom.
Down Goes Newsom.

With Mayor Gavin Newsom’s only debate appearance in the rearview mirror and snooze control ahead – Election Day, it’s time to back and reflect on Newsom’s biggest blunders.

I’m certain Senior Adviser, Eric Jaye, not only warned Newsom off debating; rather, he has directed him to an underground bunker at an undisclosed location for guarded care where the heavily sedated mayor will be strapped to a bed and carefully monitored in an effort to protect Newsom from himself.

• Diapergate
  
• Drinking with Underage Girl


• Sleeping with Best Friend’s Wife


• Declaring Gay Porn Day


• Performing Oral Sex On Microphone


• Drunk On the Woody Show, LIVE 105


• Interview Meltdown


• Campaign Contribution to Rival


• Using Fake Names Online


• Gay Lovin' Gone Bad


• Drunk At the Hospital


• Cocaine

Gavin Sucks Poll: Vote For Your Favorite Gavin Gaffe?

Vote For Your Favorite Gavin Newsom Date

Who's your preferred piece of pie?

It's been almost a year since SFist zipped up their poll. So, we thought to open our Vote For Your Favorite Gavin Newsom Date election.

Brittanie as Ms. Pac-Man lying on her back eating delicious Gav Girl pie!

Of course, things have cooled considerably between the Gav and Barely-legal Brittanie Mountz ... while picking up with Jennifer Siebel's gal pal and Melrose Place star, Daphne Zuniga, sidekick Paris Hilton, and the mayor's latest squeeze the smokin' hot journalist Cecilia M. Vega. Don't forget Ruby Rippey-Tourk!

When it comes to polls, it wouldn't be a dance-off without Ruby!

Previous results are in pie graph -- but if you can't read the names and numbers in those little wedges, here they are in legible form:

• Brittanie Mountz -- 68.3%
• Sofia Milos -- 10.5%
• Erin Brodie -- 9.4%
• Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom Villency -- 6.1%
• Jennifer Siebel -- 5.6%

Gavin Sucks Poll: Vote for your favorite Gav Girl

Related Posts:

• Gavin Drops Jennifer, Picks Up Star of Melrose Place
• Cecilia M. Vega Is One Smokin' Hot Journalist
• One Night n Paris Hilton

Video: Chickography (Music)

Photo Credit: SFist

Newsom Ducks Debate

The reigning Chump, Gavin Newsom, climbed into the ring less than willing to spar with serious unknowns like Quintin Mecke, Dr. Ahimsa Porter-Sumchai, Lonnie Holmes and Harold Hoogasian.

Yet, with 78% Approval Ratings and a roomful of backward Progressives:

Why give a pretender a shot at the title?

GavinWatch Report Card:

• At least nine of Gavin’s challengers are serious candidates capable of making strong arguments for why we need a new Mayor. The audience was generally engaged and impressed.
• Gavin has little respect for his challengers. He sauntered in 45 minutes late, eating into the time of the only forum he’s agreed to attend.
• Gavin only participated on the condition that ABC7 not broadcast the debate, thus depriving a large audience of seeing how he stacks up to the competition.
• Gavin refuses to participate in any real, televised debates that gives candidates more than 30 seconds to speak or allows for rebuttals.

Gavin wasn’t the only one taking time out in the corner. The Chronicle's Smoking Hot Cecilia M. Vega got a ‘D’ for continually walking Mecke and other Revenge of the Nerds candidates off the page to the back of the Delta House.

Though she described Gavin as tardy and superficial – Ouch! Hearsay has it, Cecilia's pulling her punches (and breaking my heart) as the rumor mill spins:

"The striking reporter is romantically linked with the handsom mayor."

While gossipers are gullible, this blogger remains uncompromised (by the facts). Let me assure you, I have the utmost integrity and given the opportunity to get up close and personal, I promise to keep a professional distance - that'll be $50.00 Gav!

Related Posts:

• Menke Rejects Daly's Endorsement
• Cecilia M. Vega Is One Smokin' Hot Journalist
• Mayor McChicken

Gavin Sucks Polls:

• Vote: Do you agree with Newsom's “Services or Citation” Homeless Plan?
• Vote: Would You Dump Daly?
• Vote: Is Cecilia M. Vega Your Favorite Gav Girl?

Video Credit: GavinWatch

Happy Birthday Gavin

What do you get 40-year old Mayor who has everything?

Two Twentys!

Sorry Gav, just enough Dough Ray Me-ow in the City kitty to pass a single Twenty-Something Zillion-eiress to scratch out a tune at your Big 4-Ho-Down!

... Guess Jennifer's Girlfriend Interupted. Shot the wad doubling down on our first installment of the Playboy Mansion and stud founding father - Hugh Hefner.

Trust in the DNA, Skywalker - Hugh's Your Obi-Dad Kenobi: Out of Orbit and Out to Pasture at Half Your Age; yet, Still Kickin’ in the Corral at Eighty!!

Do the Math - 78% Approval Ratings say U Rock! ... Close your eyes and wish for Paris Hilton to blow out the Lightsaber!

Happy B-day!

Gavin Sucks.com

• SFist: Happy Birthday Gavin by Brock


• Culture Blog: Happy Birthday Gavin by Beth Spotswood

Gavin Sucks Poll: Vote For Your Favorite Gav Girl?

LGBT Says Newsom’s the Only Alternative

Bay Area Reporter (BAR) is San Francisco's oldest and largest local newspaper of record serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities endorsed incumbent Gavin Newsom, crediting the mayor for changing the national debate for LGBT rights and equality.
Bay Area Reporter writes:

More than 2,000 homeless in San Francisco have been housed since Newsom's "Care Not Cash" measure took effect, a success acknowledged in a recent television news broadcast interviewing previously homeless people who have benefited from the program. We acknowledge and support the mayor's other key initiatives on transportation, infrastructure, public safety, sustainability and housing, particularly housing for people with AIDS.

We Gavin Newsom because we believe he has done his best to make San Francisco a better place to live.

When the mayor stopped by our office Monday, he said that he believes the city is moving in the right direction, with great or modest progress in many areas, including the city's push to offer universal health care to its uninsured residents and Muni. Crime, particularly the city's homicide rate, remains a great concern, he said, and he acknowledged that he's "taking a lot of heat" over the city's decision to cancel Halloween in the Castro, even as law enforcement prepares for a unprecedented presence in the gay neighborhood this year in case people don't heed the city's "Home for Halloween" message that should soon blanket local airwaves.

Being mayor of a large city as diverse as San Francisco is not an easy job. Newsom is the first to admit that there is much still to do, but we have confidence in his vision and faith in his abilities to lead San Francisco for the next four years.

We endorse Gavin Newsom for mayor.

Complete Article: Gavin Newsom For Mayor by Bat Area Reporter

Candidate Forum: Mayor

Thursday, October 116 to 7:45 pm
San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium,
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco

6 to 7:45pm, Incumbent Mayor Gavin Newsom and challengers will respond to questions posed by the public.

Scott Shafer, host and reporter with KQED radio’s California Report Magazine, will moderate.

The League invites community members to email the League your suggested questions for the candidates.

The League will select questions from this pool as well as those submitted via comment card on the evening of the forum. Please email your suggestions to lwvsf@lwvsf.org by 5 pm on October 10.

Roast Chicken

Sorry to those of you who missed Chicken John's lunchen today, because we posted too late.

Chicken John roasted a whole pig. Perhaps, symbolic of the Elections Commission (appointed by Newsom) which chose not going to give Chicken matching funds, as they are refusing to acknowledge real donations by real San Franciscans.

Think it's time to return the hospitality by roasting Chicken John?

Whether you're a comedian or just want to make a donation and help the showman gone mayor call: Chicken John /415-215-1632.

Video: Chicken Goes to City Hall

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The Homeless Divide

Liberals March 'Right' Over Progressives.

CW Nevius writes San Francisco - the liberal, left-coast city conservatives love to mock - could be undergoing a transformation when it comes to homeless people. Although the city would still be a poor choice for a pep rally for the war in Iraq, indications are that residents have had it with aggressive panhandlers, street squatters and drug users.

Consider the case of David Kiely, who has lived in the South of Market area for 18 years. He bought a home when prices were low and now lives there with his wife, Jenny, and their three boys, ages 7, 4 and 1. Kiely insists "we're not some white, yuppie parents saying we can't take this." In fact, he says, they donate to programs for homeless people at Glide Memorial Methodist Church and the food bank at St. Anthony Dining Room. But he's finally saying "enough is enough."

"I don't expect it to be Cow Hollow or Pacific Heights, but the other day Jenny is bringing the kids back from the park, and some guy is standing on the corner throwing up on himself."

"Maybe there has been an epiphany," says David Latterman, president of Fall Line Analytics, a local market research firm.

"People have realized they can hate George Bush but still not want people crapping in their doorway."

Trent Rhorer, executive director of San Francisco's Human Services Agency, is at ground zero for homelessness concerns. He's heard it from local residents at meetings, he's read the polls, and he noted the huge response to Chronicle columns about the homeless people and intravenous drug users in Golden Gate park. Like others, he thinks there's been a change in the way San Franciscans think the homelessness problem should be approached.

"I don't think this is a conservative or liberal thing. This is quality of life for everyone. What research has shown and what we have seen from visits to cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, Portland and New York is that you need to combine good social outreach with law enforcement."

That means something more than an offer of help, which often is declined anyhow. (One city official estimated that nine out of 10 say they are not interested in a shelter or housing when approached.)

"Maybe, you just need a guy with a badge standing over them and saying, you can't stay there any more."

That's tough talk for a city that's been known as a friendly place for those down on their luck. And in previous years it would have been a political non-starter. When Mayor Frank Jordan tried to push homeless people off the street with his "Matrix" program, the crackdown got much of the blame for his failure to win a second term.

But this has the feel of a new day in San Francisco, says David Binder, a statistical analyst and founder of David Binder Research.

"Homelessness, and quality of life issues, are dividing the liberals and the progressives in this city. The liberals will say we've got to get tough on the homeless and the progressives are more old-line liberal."

How that debate will come out is anyone's guess, but it is hard to disagree with Latterman's blunt assessment, which is:

"People are just pissed. For the first time, even the left is saying they've had enough."

In an informal poll by SFGate.com, 90 percent of respondents said Mayor Gavin Newsom's crackdown South of Market was a great idea.

San Francisco Chronicle: ‘Enough is enough. S.F. says of homeless by C.W. Nevius

Wolf On Notice; Go Bears!

Tree Huggers Embrace Recall

Cal Berkeley’s Vegans say Pro Gay Marriage, Pro Immigrant, Pro Marijuana Mayor Tom Bates is just too Conservative.

These ‘Nuevo Reek’ Stinky Hippies assert Bates is too close to developers and the Cal Bears winning streak, and is only trying to get tough on the homeless in order to satisfy business interests.

And your Parents say:

“No shit you idealist punks. Why don’t you leave the house, why you still have an answer for everything?”

Meantime, Chief Sitting Bullshit, Zachary Running Wolf, a former mayoral candidate and an organizer of the Berkeley tree sitters is working overtime at doing nothing at all.

The same Mental Midget not only brings us this useless Petition Drive, but is also Masterminded the current 'Save a Tree' Stupidity.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest Cal enroll all San Francisco’s homeless - please!

This way, Dry Zach Creek can runneth over with smoke-um, toke-um peace pipes and I’ll finally be able to walk unmolested down a City Sidewalk.

...And now a word from our sponsor: Crystal Deodorant Stick – by MotherNature.com!

Complete Article: Campaign Launched to Recall Berkeley Mayor - By Phil Matier, CBS5

Newsom's Insurance Policy

Fourth and Hail Mary

... And Mayor Gavin Newsom taps Former 49ers President Carmen Policy to lead the city's effort to keep the 49ers from exiting for the South Bay - bringing the veteran football executive's long journey to build a stadium in San Francisco full circle.

Policy headed the $100 million bond measure drive in 1997 that would have helped pay for a stadium at Candlestick Point. The voters approved it, but the stadium never got built.

"I consider it unfinished business."

Newsom says Carmen will serve as San Francisco's go-between with the Niners and the National Football League. He will also help lead a referendum headed for the ballot next June to allow construction of a stadium at Hunters Point, along with a housing and retail development at neighboring Candlestick Point.

"I'm absolutely thrilled Carmen will be joining our team. His track record speaks for itself."

While Policy will be reporting to the mayor's office, Lennar Corp. - which is behind the stadium and Candlestick developments - will be footing the bill for his work as well as for the ballot referendum.

• Complete Article: Carmen Policy to lead S.F.'s effort to keep the 49ers by Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross.
• Related Post: Newsom Fumbles 49ers

The Homeless Return

Stanley Roberts recorded th video for KRON4, August 2nd just two weeks after the Golden Gate Park sweeps began.

Today, Gavin Newsom’s spokesman, Nathan Ballard says it's working.

Meantime, City Hall is a buzz with operation Gatored Community and Stanley's still betting on the homeless return. See his other video: Shame of the City.

Newsom Welcomes U.S. Navy

Mayor Gavin Newsom welcomed the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels today to kick start the city's 26th annual Fleet Week.

Air demonstrations will take place Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. and Navy pilots will be joined by the U.S. F-16 Viper West and Patriot jet demonstration teams, the U.S. Air Force's F-22A Raptor A-10 and the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.

As part of Friday's show, Airbus will fly their new A380 over the waterfront crowds to demonstrate the latest development in high capacity, long-range aircraft.

San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, who attempted to pass a resolution blocking the Blue Angels air show from participating in Fleet Week will not be among the swarm of people at the wharf to view the aerial acrobatics.

Good. Lumpy can stay home and knit pink booties.

Newsom opposed the Daly resolution, citing the city's longstanding history as a "Navy town."

Naval ships will dot San Francisco piers during Fleet Week and will be open to the public for free tours from Sunday through Tuesday, according to the Fleetweek.us

Complete Story: Newsom Welcomes Fleet Week to SF by NBC11.com

War On Drugs

But Seriously...

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had some tough words for the people and party of the people today - declaring war on the war on drugs.

Newsom asserts local jails are overcrowded with people incarcerated for drug offenses, taking up room that could be used to hold more violent criminal offenders. He says violent criminals with lengthy felony records are being turned loose, too often.

"If you want to get serious, if you want to reduce crime by 70% in this country overnight, end this war on drugs, you want to get serious, seriously serious about crime and violence end this war on drugs."

San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey agrees estimating 75% of crime is drug related.

But Seriously, Chris Daly, disagrees continues to criticize his way out of a job. For the record, he also disagreed with:

• Blue Angels
• Budget
• Running for Election
• Downtown Outreach Plan

If history tells us anything, it's Daly's history and Drug$ R 4-Ever!

Bum Fights

The Mayor’s Office is really turning SOMA and GNS around. If homeless programs like the downtown outreach plan continue, we’ll cease to exist. How’s the name Gav4Gov.com?

Mayor Gavin Newsom’s plan consists of three separate teams of police officers and social service staff working in a 15-block area, from Third Street to Fifth Street and Market to Harrison streets, according to a Sept. 28 memo from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s deputy chief of staff, Julian Potter, to Newsom’s chief of staff, Phil Ginsburg.

The memo states:

“Any person committing a crime (littering, encampment, trespassing, urinating, defecating, dumping, blocking sidewalk, intoxication, etc.) will be asked to cease the behavior and enter into services. If the individual resists services, the officer will issue a citation. If the arrest is related to a misdemeanor, warrant, intoxication, or a second citation for the same period, the individual will be taken into custody for processing.”

Newsom’s spokesman, Nathan Ballard, adds:

“This is exactly what we’ve been doing in Golden Gate Park and it’s been
working.”

Predictably, Chris Daly has to stand up for the downtrodden constituency of addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes. He wants to waste our time and money with a hearing on the effort before a Board of Supervisors committee.

“San Franciscans have time and time again rejected that approach. We’ll see what happens this time.”

The targeted area includes the Moscone Center, home to The City’s convention industry. San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Angela Jackson said homelessness “is a problem in San Francisco and I’m glad to hear that they will be addressing the Moscone area.”

Examiner: Daly Blast Newsom’s Homeless Plan by Joshua Sabatini