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

Ed Who?

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom met briefly with embattled supervisor Ed Jew yesterday.

Jew is accused of attempting to extort $80,000 from a group of fast-food business owners. He pleaded not guilty in court on Friday.

The rookie supervisor, who was charged Thursday with one federal count of mail fraud, appeared briefly in U.S. District Court, and then was released on $1 million bond. The charge came after an FBI sting where prosecutors say the operators of a group of tapioca drink shops gave Jew $40,000 in cash and said they would paid him another $40,000 later.

"Enough is enough," Newsom told reporters this morning after the mayor spoke at the opening of the Moon Festival Street Fair in Chinatown, a short walk from Jew's flower shop.

"He needs to do the right thing and step aside."

Jew, 47, has acknowledged taking the money but said he did so at the businessmen's insistence and on behalf of a consultant he recommended they hire to help with their permit problem.

Jew's attorney Steven Gruel said the federal government's case was weak, calling the mail fraud charge a “throwaway charge because you can't get something else” and questioning what kind of influence Jew could have had over the issuing of city permits. He doesn't control the planning commission and he certainly doesn't control what types of permits are necessary for retailers.

Earlier in the day, Jew's attorneys had said they would not allow their client to meet with Newsom if they were not present. Nonetheless, Jew and Newsom sat down alone yesterday, for about 15 minutes.

• Check Out: KRON 4 Complete Interview.
• Photo Credit: Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal