SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 7.9.2024

The Orb is looking at you. https://worldcoin.org/find-orb

I was transfixed by this article in the Wall Street Journal.

The controversial world of cryptocurrency, digital identity and eye scans is reality for six million users in 160 countries. The company which developed this, some would say Orwellian technology, is called Tools for Humanity. https://www.toolsforhumanity.com/ Based in San Francisco.

Tools for Humanity. An Orwellian company title to be sure. For a 21st century venture which has developed invasive and impersonal technology.

Wall Street Journal 7.2.2024

Tools for Humanity named a former X executive as its first head of privacy as the tech startup founded by OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman faces growing regulatory scrutiny over its Worldcoin https://worldcoin.org/ venture that scans people’s eyes in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens.

The San Francisco-based company appointed Damien Kieran as chief privacy officer in a newly created position that brings together several privacy-focused roles across the organization under one function. Kieran spent seven years at what was formally Twitter, leaving his job as chief privacy officer there following Elon Musk’s takeover of the social-media platform.

Now, he faces the task of liaising with regulators globally and addressing their concerns over how Worldcoin handles biometric data.

“We’ll always look to work constructively with regulators in any country in which we operate,” Kieran said.

Worldcoin lets users download a wallet app that supports a digital identity known as World ID. To get their identity verified, users stand in front of a physical imaging device known as the orb that relies on sensors to scan their eyes “to verify humanness and uniqueness.” Worldcoin tokens are then distributed out to users in countries where they are legally available.

Nearly 6 million users across more than 160 countries signed up for World ID, with orb verifications taking place in 39 countries, according to Worldcoin’s website.

Tools for Humanity oversaw Worldcoin’s launch last year, promising to create a public financial network and tools that would help distinguish humans from artificial intelligence online while preserving their privacy.

“Worldcoin enables people to prove humanness at scale, which is becoming increasingly important in the age of AI. The technology ensures individuals cannot be identified personally based on any information used to create their World ID,” Kieran said.

However, the processing of biometric data raised eyebrows in countries such as Spain and Germany, where Tools for Humanity has a subsidiary. The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision last year launched a review of Worldcoin, citing the high sensitivity of the biometric data it processes.

Earlier this year, Worldcoin said it would give users the option to have their biometric data deleted permanently after Spain’s data-protection watchdog temporarily banned Worldcoin from operating in the country, citing the need to safeguard the right to the protection of personal data and prevent possible data transfers to third parties.

Tools for Humanity is a separate entity from OpenAI, which has a content-licensing partnership with Wall Street Journal owner News Corp.

https://www.wsj.com/tech/sam-altmans-startup-names-former-x-executive-as-first-head-of-privacy-1d2dbfd8?st=mj8phc2crb02jo7&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

BERLIN OLYMPIC STADIUM via SAN FRANCISCO

Text, transcriptions and photos – Liz Heidhues – 7.6.2024

Liz sat transfixed watching the EuroCup match at the historic Berlin Olympic Stadium 5000 miles from San Francisco. Turkey and Holland battled to the final moment as the huge Turkish contingent cheered on its guys until the end. There are nearly 3 million people of Turkish descent living in Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_national_football_team

During our trips to Berlin we stay in Moabit, the largely Turkish neighborhood. It is a very welcoming and friendly place. The local residents are in mourning tonight as the Dutch team destroyed their hopes of moving on in EuroCup 2024.

Following is Liz comment about the Turkey v Holland match. The Dutch prevailed 2-1.

The din in the Olympic Stadium was coming from the supporters of Turkey.

It was a violent game, leave no doubt.

The announcer said, “It makes me tired just watching it.”

https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-set81dr4jzmka32l – Turkey scores to take 1-0 lead

FOX SPORTS running commentary transcribed by Liz.

Turkey has set up its own version of the Berlin Wall. Let’s see if you can get through it.

They do it their way and when the chances come, they take them. Ferdi Kadioglu. He’s brilliant. Abdul Kerim Bardakci, too.

They’re really a very old school team (Turkey), aren’t they?

There’s really only one ball, you’ve got to defend it.

If you can rattle Virgil VanDijk (Dutch centre-back and team captain), you know you’ve done something right. The big Dutch captain got rattled!

This is where the Turks can be dangerous. Turkey so close to its second goal.

It’s not the kind of night where you can leave anything to chance. What a header! No chance for the defender’ (Stefan de Vris header header giving Holland its first goal in the 70th minute).

Just like that, the Turks have fallen silent. Turkey has gotten a taste of its own medicine.

https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-jtraw9vv8u4dkdrw – Netherlands score to take 2-1 lead

England waits for the winners!

Berlin has gone ORANGE !!

Dutch goalie blocks Turkey’s goal. Let’s see what Turkey is made of.

It’s gone from Turkish Delight to Dutch Delight inside this stadium with 10 minutes to go.

They (Turkey) need a big finish! They just can’t continue to bleed.

There’s a real spring in the Dutch stride.

This has been a total turn around.

The Turk is only 19 (Arda Guler attacking midfielder).

I’ve really enjoyed this game. There’s only 70,000 fans inside this stadium in Berlin.

The Turks played so well. If they just had a little more firepower.

The players have given so much. The fans have given so much.

Some very brilliant goal keepers here in Germany.

It must have felt like Christmas when Turkey scored in the first half, but it was double Dutch at the end when The Netherlands scored two goals.

Editorial assistance: Lee Heidhues

DEDICATED TO OUR DEAR SWISS-ITALIAN FRIEND ED BEYELER WHO, 30 YEARS AGO, INTRODUCED US TO THE JOY AND EXCITEMENT OF FOOTBALL

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 7.2.2024

Why won’t President Biden walk away from all this gracefully and let a younger person who would totally destroy Trump on election day step up? Instead, Biden with an arrogance and sense of entitlement is bringing down democracy in America as we know it.

You don’t need another pundit telling you that Mr. Biden should quit the race, although I’m among those who emphatically think he should – Nate Silver in New York Times – 7.3.2024

Is this awful or what?

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Trump’s criminal activities are immune from prosecution. Which means his Federal and State criminal prosecutions will stop dead in their tracks. Given Biden’s abysmal performance last Thursday night and, with many Democrats beseeching him to drop out of the presidential race, Trump will probably win the election.

Liz was quite right when she said a couple of months ago that America wants a guy like Trump. It’s the stupid American people that makes a guy like this possible. Much of the world is now turning hard right Fascist.

A month ago the right wing did very well in the European parliament elections. This past weekend the far right in France did very well in parliamentary elections. And, in Russia you have a brutal thug like Putin. With few exceptions Trump is symptomatic of the global malaise.

Here, even in San Francisco, the Fascist vibe is becoming fashionable.

There’s nothing else to say when you realize the Supreme Court decision criminalizing homelessness came about in large part because of the Brief filed by San Francisco. Which is cited eight times in the Opinion. This is so fucked up.

Trump was in San Francisco a month ago and raised a lot of money.

I just do not understand how anyone can vote for Trump. He’s a racist through and through. Speaks ill of every immigrant and is threatening retribution on his opponents. And now the Supreme Court has handed the keys of the Imperial Presidency to Trump.

I just so much don’t want to be here on election day. The whole notion is too revolting and, yes, scary. I’m almost 77. Something that is almost impossible to decipher. I think about 81 year old Biden and I think of myself. I certainly don’t have the full on energy I used to possess. The presidency is a total 24/7 job without respite. Athletes know when it’s time exit. Biden needs to realize the game is over for him.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 7.1.2024

Last April 6th a crowd of anti-democratic rowdies disrupted the campaign kickoff for Mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin in Portsmouth Square in Chinatown. Leading the charge was Mark Farrell’s campaign manager Jade Tu. Her tool of harassment was a PYLE megaphone.

At the June 30th Pride Parade, Mark Farrell could be seen brandishing this very same PYLE megaphone used by his campaign enforcer to disrupt an opponent. (See photo above).

Mark Farrell should have fired or, at the very least, condemned his campaign manager Jade Tu’s antics.

Megaphones – Bullhorns

Once and future San Francisco Mayor’s dubious ethics are further evident as evidenced by The SF Standard dive into his ethically dubious entertainment expenditures. No wonder Mark looks so physically robust. That’s why many of his campaign events have him parading with a loose fitting shirt hanging over his ample frame.

Exclusive: Mark Farrell lived large on campaign cash while mayor, supervisor

Mark Farrell’s last stint as a public official concluded with a victory lap fit for a king.

During his final year as a supervisor, Farrell spent thousands of dollars in campaign donors’ cash to frequent some of San Francisco’s swankiest bars and restaurants, treating money raised for an already-concluded Democratic Party race in a manner that ethics experts likened to a slush fund. Farrell also appears to have used a legal loophole while interim mayor to accept large chunks of money from special interest groups that would have been otherwise barred.

The SF Standard provides considerable elaboration in its July 1, 2024 investigative piece.

Several active members of the DCCC told The Standard that leftover campaign funds for a seat on the local party are generally used to help pay off debts to staff, fund travel for Democratic Party functions and pay for civic events and organizations.

In contrast, from late 2016 through March 2018, Farrell’s DCCC campaign picked up more than $7,400 in tabs for meals and drinks at Spruce, Swig, Bix, Novela, Balboa Cafe, The Beer Hall, Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Izzy’s Steak & Chop House, Fat Angel Food & Libation—the list goes on for more than three-dozen meetings with “DCCC constituents” whom Farrell has declined to identify. 

SAN FRANCISCO – MARKET STREET

Lee Heidhues 6.30.2024

The United States is heading in a total dystopian direction. Don’t doubt that fact for even a second.

In San Francisco tens of thousands threw their worries and fears aside for a day.

To revel and bask in the annual Pride Parade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Pride

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.29.2024 UPDATED

Often, encampments are found in a city’s “poorest and most vulnerable neighborhoods.” Brief for City and County of San Francisco et al. as Amici Curiae on Pet. for Cert. 5 (San Francisco Cert. Brief ); see also 2020 HUD Report 9. With encampments dotting neighborhood sidewalks, adults and children in these communities are sometimes forced to navigate around used needles, human waste, and other hazards to make their way to school, the grocery store, or work. San Francisco Cert. Brief 5; States Brief 8; California Governor Brief 11–12. Those with physical disabilities report this can pose a special challenge for them, as they may lack the mobility to maneuver safely around the encampments. San Francisco Cert. Brief 5; see also Brief for Tiana Tozer et al. as Amici Curiae 1–6 (Tozer Brief ). – Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch

(The case is Grants Pass v. Johnson, No. 23-175)

“With this opportunity, we’ll be able to do more to clean and clear our streets — especially for those who are refusing shelter and services,” Mayor London Breed said at a City Hall news conference. “This is very helpful to us as a city.”

City Attorney David Chiu said the court’s action “will give cities more flexibility to provide services to unhoused people while keeping our streets healthy and safe. It will help us address our most challenging encampments, where services are often refused and re-encampment is common.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the ruling “provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets. This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities.”

–June 28, 2024. Official San Francisco reaction to Supreme Court decision to legalize the criminalization of the homeless.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins defended encampment evictions last December by arguing that homeless people “have to be made uncomfortable.” 

San Francisco, the City of St. Francis which prides itself on progressivism and compassion has completely shredded this reputation.

It was Trump appointed associate Justice Neil Gorsuch who penned the 6-3 decision. In it he relied on the Brief San Francisco filed with the Supreme Court in its effort to disenfranchise and criminalize the homeless.

It was Mayor London Breed and her minions who led a MAGA style rally in front of the Ninth Circuit courthouse last summer imploring the court to overturn an injunction. Which placed limits to what degree San Francisco could abuse and mistreat its homeless population of several thousand. Now those limits have been eviscerated.

Excerpted from The San Francisco Chronicle 6.28.2024

Since December 2022, a federal magistrate has barred San Francisco from enforcing certain anti-camping laws, though the city has actually been able to increase encampment sweeps over the past two years by relying on other laws to clear tents

The Supreme Court overturned that ruling Friday in an appeal by Grants Pass that was supported by San Francisco officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 6-3 majority, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch, said the ban on “cruel and unusual punishment” in the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment does not prohibit cities from removing people from encampments or from imposing fines and other criminal penalties on those who refuse to leave.

In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the city of Grants Pass, Ore., which is where the case originated, was punishing people for their status of homelessness.

“Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime,” wrote Sotomayor, joined by the other two liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. “For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The City of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use as little as a blanket to keep warm or a rolled-up shirt as a pillow. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional.”

Now that the Supreme Court has given a green light to cities’ sweeps of homeless encampments, San Francisco officials intend to use the broader authority granted by the court to more aggressively respond to the hundreds of tents spread across city streets.

Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, which filed the lawsuit that led to Judge Donna Ryu’s injunction, was critical of Mayor London Breed after the Supreme Court ruling came out. 

“The Supreme Court, and I guess the mayor of San Francisco, is aligning with right-wing justice (Samuel) Alito in saying that it’s OK to put unhoused people in a cage when they have no other choice but to sleep outside,” Friedenbach said.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/homelessness-grants-pass-ruling-19484767.php

Top photo – Homeless person with his meagre possessions tries to rest in the shadow of San Francisco City Hall

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.28.2024 UPDATED

I am so shocked and depressed after watching Biden crash and burn on global television tonight.

All’s I can do is look for some solace in the backyard.

Our back porch bird feeder fits the bill.

I can’t sweep up the crumbs of President Biden’s disastrous presidential career ending meal. So, I will let the crows, birds and, yes, the neighbor’s cat Bendi clean up the mess.

At least our backyard neighbors don’t have to think about what comes next for America.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.22.2024

Mark Farrell the local guy, Venture Capital millionaire, former Supervisor, former temporary Mayor and violator of campaign laws in San Francisco can add another title to his sketchy political resume.

Bully.

This is the same Mark Farrell, whose campaign manager Jade Tu bullied and harassed the campaign kickoff of Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s mayoral campaign. Which took place before a huge throng at historic Portsmouth Square in San Francisco’s Chinatown on April 6, 2024.

Mark Farrell displayed his genuine political character. He should have immediately fired Jade Tu for this anti-democratic attack on free speech. He did not. The goal of Farrell’s campaign manager was to disrupt and harass a political opponent. The fact Mark Farrell did nothing is indicative of the bullying and abusive manner he conducts his political operation.

Bully, campaign finance violator and dissembler. This is the true character of the candidate presenting himself as the once and future Mayor of San Francisco.

San Francisco Ethics Commission 2014 decision https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Farrell_(politician)

In June 2016, Farrell was ordered to repay $191,000^[18] in unlawful campaign funding after the City ethics panel voted, 5-0, to uphold the original 2014 decision of the San Francisco Ethics Commission that he should have to forfeit back to the City the amount raised from just two donors and used late in the 2010 election by Common Sense Voters,^[19][20][21] an independent expenditure committee, with improper communications from a campaign consultant. Farrell was exonerated by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, although the campaign consultant Chris Lee and Common Sense Voters were found to be in violation of federal campaign finance laws, but a further complaint was filed with the City commission by Janet Reilly, who lost to Farrell by 256 votes. City law, stricter than state law, holds candidates personally responsible for staff as well as themselves, whether they knew about the illegal communication or not. In an unusual move, Farrell responded with a lawsuit against the City in May to prevent further collection efforts from the Treasurer’s office, and settled with the City for $25,000 in October 2016.^{[18][21][22][23][24]}

This is the same Mark Farrell who now describes himself as a Small Business Owner. A misleading job title he wants included in the November voters handbook.

Venture capitalist Mark Farrell wants to be ‘small business owner’ on November ballot

Farrell practiced law as a corporate and securities attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Silicon Valley, then joined Thomas Weisel Partners as an investment banker. He subsequently co-founded Quest Hospitality Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused on the hospitality and travel sector.^[7] Prior to his election to office, he served as a mid-level director of Quest Hospitality Ventures,^[8] now Thayer Ventures^[9] a venture capital firm.^[3][7]

Excerpted from Wikipedia

Top photo – Jade Tu with bullhorn and symbolic fly swatter disrupts Aaron Peskin’s rally in Portsmouth Square – April 6, 2024 – photos of Jade Tu by Lee Heidhues

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.21.2024 UPDATED

The media, by accident or design, has already found Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Guilty. Of what????

The mainstream media loves a feeding frenzy. The local news hounds are in full throated tabloid mode. Following the early Thursday FBI no knock raid on the home of Oakland Mayor Thao.

It’s all speculation at this point. The Justice Department is being closed lipped about why the hours long search occurred. The FBI has said nothing.

Nonetheless the media with its saturation coverage is playing nicely into the political hands of the Mayor’s opponents. Who, by the way, have just handed in sufficient signatures to have a Recall election this November.

The Mayor’s opponents have just been handed a political gift by the media. With their coverage and giving air time to Mayor Thao’s political opponents.

Excerpted from The San Francisco Chronicle 6.21.2024

More than a day after the FBI raided and searched her home, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao had not been seen or heard from as of midday Friday, and spokespeople provided no information on her schedule or whereabouts.

Thao had not commented on the federal law enforcement operation that unfolded early Thursday morning, when FBI and IRS agents and postal inspectors raided four properties, including three linked to a family that runs Cal Waste Solutions, the city’s curbside recycling provider.

Her staff only referred questions to the FBI, which would not say why its public corruption unit was interested in the mayor.

On Friday, City Administrator Jestin Johnson was, as usual, directing day-to-day operations in Oakland City Hall, spokesperson Sean Maher said in a statement. 

“The show has to go on — we have to continue to have a functioning government,” Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins said in a phone interview Friday. Jenkins was at home with COVID and had not been in touch with Thao.

The mayor’s absence baffled many residents and leaders in a city already plunged into crisis: Thursday’s raids followed both the verification Tuesday of enough signatures to qualify a November ballot measure to recall the mayor, and a rash of shootings Wednesday during a Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt.

Thao had not responded to multiple calls or text messages from the Chronicle, and her phone went straight to voicemail on Friday.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/oakland-mayor-day-after-fbi-raid-19524562.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2ZjaHJvbmljbGUuY29tL2NyaW1lL2FydGljbGUvb2FrbGFuZC1tYXlvci1kYXktYWZ0ZXItZmJpLXJhaWQtMTk1MjQ1NjIucGhw&time=MTcxOTAwMTQ4NjU0Nw%3D%3D&rid=OTJhM2RhZWItNDMzYy00ZjMxLTgyMTQtZTU2ZjE2NDIzNDRl&sharecount=NA%3D%3D

Top photo: The media camped outside the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao – 6.21.2024