Lee Heidhues 6.15.2023

Mayor London Breed, born and raised in the housing projects of San Francisco, took the podium of the Board of Supervisors and lashed out at her number one tormenter. Dean Preston. Who happens to be white and progressive.

“Here we go, another white man talking about Black and Brown people as if you’re the savior of these people,” Breed told Supervisor Dean Preston, a frequent critic of both the mayor and police, whose district includes the troubled Tenderloin neighborhood.”

What London Breed surely knows is that Supervisor Dean Preston is married to the grand daughter of Dr. Zuretti Goosby. A one time member of the San Francisco Board of Education and long time significant presence in San Francisco politics.

Before his death in 2000 Dr. Goosby was appointed to the War Memorial Board of Trustees by Willie Brown.

Dr Goosby also served the San Francisco Airport Commission, the Airport Museum Board, the Human Rights Commission, the Exploratorium board and finally the War Memorial Board, where he “served with great distinction,” said Mayor Willie Brown.

I was the one time News Editor of the San Francisco Sun Reporter, the black community newspaper in San Francisco. Owned and published by the late Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett. A prominent City street is now named after “The Doc.” The street which runs in front of London Breed’s City Hall office in room 200. ‘Carlton B. Goodlett Place.’ The street was named during Willie Brown’s Mayoral tenure.

London Breed surely knows Da Mayor. She babysat for his kids as a teenager.

In 1972 I interviewed Dr. Goosby. It was a memorable experience. A copy of that interview follows.

Lee Heidhues 6.14.2023

“A (San Francisco) police officer at Central Station expressed sympathy for the theft but told him the police had been “defanged” and that nothing would likely be done to help recover his equipment.”

When Chesa Boudin was District Attorney the cops had a lame excuse for their chronic ineptitude. Just blame Chesa. Casting aspersions on the Progressive DA who was holding them accountable for their misconduct. The whole notion of respecting the rights of ALL citizens was (and still is) anathema to SF cops.

Well, Chesa was ousted a year ago with the active collaboration of their own Police Officers Association.

The question now becomes. Who is responsible for the “defanged” San Francisco Police Department? I am sure London Breed and her handpicked crony Brooke Jenkins, successor to Chesa, can provide a ready made excuse now that their Scapegoat is gone.

Excerpted from The San Francisco Standard 6.14.2023

A filmmaker took to Twitter to blast San Francisco police and crime after his car was broken into and $30,000 worth of camera equipment was stolen Wednesday near Lombard and Hyde streets, a wealthy area popular with tourists. 

“SF police do nothing,” wrote Steele on Twitter. “While dealing with our situation we see more robbers pulling up in a Mercedes and looking into cars. We yelled at them. They pulled a gun on my friend. He’s filing his report now. Not one police officer showed up.”

Filmmaker Eli Steele first tweeted that he had lost around $15,000 worth of camera gear after his rental car windows were smashed at around 11 a.m. near the famous winding street.

Upon further inspection, he said $25,000 to $30,000 worth of filming equipment was taken in the theft. He told The Standard via text message that a total of $30,000 worth of equipment had been stolen.

San Francisco Police Department confirmed Steele reported the crime and did not comment on the criticism aimed at them in the tweet thread. Police said no arrests have been and the investigation remains ongoing.

Steele said he is in San Francisco to film a documentary starring his father Shelby Steele, and the film is a look at how George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police officers affected America.

https://sfstandard.com/criminal-justice/shelby-steele-filmmaker-car-break-in-san-francisco-police/

Photo – Urban Art Berlin Version 2.0 – DDR Museum 2017

Lee Heidhues 6.13.2023

San Francisco media has its priorities straight.

Donald Trump may in the Federal criminal docket down in Florida but the local media knows what sells.

Dr. Jill Biden had her morning workout in the City’s Castro neighborhood.

Give a cheer to The Standard for being on top of this important story.

The San Francisco Standard 6.13.2023

First Lady Jill Biden was spotted leaving a workout class at a San Francisco SoulCycle on Tuesday morning.

“[Dr. Biden] was sitting in the front, in the very front. It was kind of an empty class, so it was like whatever,” said Kaylyn Shinault, a class attendee. “She did great! She was kind of right in front of me—she crushed it.“

What appeared to be Secret Service agents in suits and plainclothes gathered outside the 400 Castro St. studio at around 8:15 a.m., flanked by black Chevrolet Suburban SUVs lining the curb outside.

“Happy Pride, Jill!” yelled an onlooker as Dr. Biden headed into a car.

Dr. Biden is visiting San Francisco for a busy day of fundraising for her husband’s reelection campaign. President Joe Biden is also expected to visit the San Francisco Bay Area from June 19 to June 21. Further details have not been released.

Dr. Biden attended an 8 a.m. SoulCycle spin class with instructor Chris Layda for 45 minutes and was spotted leaving in blue leggings paired with white running shoes and a black top. Layda did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.

Attendees said security checked their bags and waved airport-style security wands. Shinault and another attendee said they had no idea the First Lady was riding in their SoulCycle class.

A SoulCycle area manager, Caroline McConnell, declined to confirm the presence of any special guests at the site in an e-mail.

SoulCycle is a popular exercise chain with three San Francisco locations. It offers a signature spin class it describes as a “45-minute cardio dance party on a bike.” Classes start at $25 for new riders.

https://sfstandard.com/politics/jill-biden-spotted-san-francisco-soul-cycle/

Lee Heidhues 6.11.2023

Liz and I went to our first San Francisco Giants game since the Pandemic put a damper on many social activities.

Taking advantage of a Levi’s ‘501’ ticket promotion we bought tickets to see the Giants play the Chicago Cubs. The City of Lee’s birth.

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon we walked down 3rd Street from Market to Oracle Park at 3rd and King. As the following photos show there was certainly a lot of street activity. It made the day more memorable.

By the way, the Giants thrashed the Cubs 13-3. Hitting four home runs. What made the game more exciting. All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford pitched the 9th inning. Since the Giants were ahead 13-3 manager Gabe Kapler must have thought, “Let’s give the fans a thrill.” Good call. They cheered lustily as Crawford put down the Cubs with a scoreless inning to end the game.

Top photo – Statue of Willie Mays in front of Willie Mays Plaza at Oracle Park – Third and King Streets – San Francisco

Lee Heidhues 6.10.2023

The Twilight Zone would be hard put to come up with a better plot line.

Amidst the carnage of Friday’s night’s senseless Mission District mass shooting (aren’t they all senseless?) is a local business called DYING BREED.

It was five years ago this month London Breed was elected Mayor. Five years later London Breed has successfully rid herself of a Progressive District Attorney, Chesa Boudin, who she held responsible for the dismal state of San Francisco safety. One year after Chesa’s ouster, and five years after Breed became Mayor, the situation has gotten worse under the tutelage of Brooke Jenkins, her handpicked successor to Chesa Boudin.

The Mayor now owns it. So, it’s an eerie coincidence that a store called Dying Breed may be the political epitaph for London Breed.

Lee Heidhues 6.10.2023

San Francisco can’t catch a break. The doom loop has even caught a historic brewery in its web in a form of “corporate Darwinism.”

The beer gods are abandoning San Francisco. At least in part. Iconic Anchor Brewing, now owned by Japanese brewing giant Sapporo, is canceling its annual holiday beer. And cutting back its national distribution.

It could be that Anchor workers unionized. This is how another corporation treats its workers and disrespects its loyal customers.

Excerpted from The San Francisco Chronicle 6.10.2023

Anchor Brewing Co. is significantly scaling back its distribution — and canceling Christmas this year.

Garrett Kelly, a former brewer at Anchor, said the recent news confirmed concerns he and others voiced after the sale to Sapporo. “The loss of a beer as iconic as the Anchor Christmas Ale, the first American holiday beer post prohibition, is a loss for not only beer nerds like me, but anyone with an interest in preserving culture against the grinding pressure of corporate Darwinism,” Kelly wrote to The Chronicle.

Anchor, founded in 1896 and rescued from bankruptcy in 1965 by longtime owner Fritz Maytag, was acquired by Japanese beer giant Sapporo in 2017. Fearing changes, workers of the brewery successfully formed a union in 2019. A representative for Anchor said it has just reached a tentative second contract with that union.

The San Francisco brewer will halt national distribution of all of its beers, including its signature Anchor Steam Beer. Currently, the beer is available in all 50 states.

Going forward, Anchor beers will be available only within California, which represents 70% of its sales, according to a company representative.

Then, this coming holiday season, Anchor won’t be releasing one of its signature offerings: Anchor Christmas Ale, a dark winter warmer made annually since 1975. A small amount, however, will be for sale solely at Anchor Public Taps for visitors to the tasting room. 

An Anchor representative cited “time-intensive and costly brewing and packaging requirements” as the reason for the change. Christmas Ale is unlikely to return next year, the representative said.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/anchor-brewing-cuts-christmas-ale-18145920.php#photo-23923782

Lee Heidhues 6.9.2023

Nobody thinks this is going to be Easy.

Either by random choice or conscious decision by the Federal Court in Florida a Judge, who has already shown extreme favoritism to Trump was assigned to the Case.

Judge Aileen Cannon’s rulings last year regarding the FBI search a Mar a Lago were so bad that she was over ruled and admonished by a three Judge Federal Appeals panel.

The legal pundits are already in overdrive on how Judge Cannon will handle her second go around with Trump.

At least, for now, Trump can’t whine and moan about Judge Cannon. That could all change. Quickly. Stay tuned.

Excerpted from The New York Times 6.9.2023

Even as prosecutors publicly unveiled a deep and detailed array of evidence against former President Donald J. Trump in the documents investigation on Friday, they suffered a potential setback with the surprise assignment of the case to Judge Aileen M. Cannon.

Judge Cannon, 42, a Trump appointee in Florida, shocked legal experts across ideological lines last year by intervening in the investigation and issuing rulings favorable to Mr. Trump, only to be rebuked by a conservative appeals court.

The chief clerk of court for the Southern District of Florida has said that new cases there are randomly delegated to its judges even if they are related to previous ones. It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Trump lucked out, or if an exception was made. Either way, legal specialists said Judge Cannon’s return was significant.

The unsealed indictment offered “a strong factual presentation,” said Paul Rosenzweig, a former Bush administration official and federal prosecutor who worked on the independent counsel investigation into President Bill Clinton. “If this were a normal person and a normal case, you’d be talking to your client about pleading guilty. So I think the Cannon draw is actually a serious blow to the prosecution.”

Lee Heidhues 6.9.2023

Special Counsel Jack Smith didn’t mince his words in discussing the indictment of ex-President Donald Trump.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?528657-1/special-counsel-jack-smith-delivers-statement-indictment-president-trump

Only a New York tabloid could convey the lengths Trump went to conceal his crimes in a manner the average American can understand.

I choose to have the article from Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post.

Excerpted from The New York Post 6.9.2023

Donald Trump unlawfully kept hundreds of classified government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving the presidency — including papers detailing America’s conventional and nuclear weapons programs, potential weak points in US defenses, and plans to respond to a foreign attack, federal prosecutors charged Friday.

The 45th president stored boxes containing the documents throughout the Palm Beach property, including “a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room,” according to a 49-page indictment filed in Miami federal court Thursday.

Trump also wasn’t shy about showing off the material, according to prosecutors, who cited a recorded July 2021 meeting at which the ex-president reportedly displayed a “plan of attack” against Iran prepared by Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

https://nypost.com/2023/06/09/federal-indictment-against-former-president-trump-unsealed/

MAR-A-LAGO MESS

Federal indictment against Trump unsealed, reveals ex-prez kept documents in Mar-a-Lago ‘ballroom, a bathroom and shower’

Lee Heidhues 6.8.2023

It’s about time. Why have the Feds taken so long? Trump should have been indicted two years ago for his Insurrection and Sedition on January 6, 2021. Hopefully, that is coming soon. Along with an indictment in Georgia for his blatant 2020 election interference; i.e. “Get me another 11,000 votes.” In any other civilized country this Criminal Loser would have been behind bars, already.

Excerpted from The Guardian 6.8.2023

In a historic development Donald Trump has been indicted for charges connected to his alleged retention of national security documents.

The charges – which include willful retention of national security material, obstruction and conspiracy, according to a person familiar with the matter – came more than a year after federal prosecutors began investigating the former president for knowingly retaining the classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after he left office.

Federal prosecutors have charged Donald Trump with violating the Espionage Act and conspiring to obstruct the criminal investigation among other counts, according to a person familiar with the matter, a historic development marking the most significant legal peril yet for the former president.

The exact nature of the seven-count indictment, filed by the office of special counsel Jack Smith in federal district court in Miami, remains unclear. At least some of the counts include willful retention of national security materials, obstruction, scheme to conceal, false statements and conspiracy, the person said.

Trump and his legal team were told of the charges on Thursday afternoon. Trump is expected to surrender himself to authorities in Miami on Tuesday at 3pm, the person said, confirming what the former president posted on his Truth Social platform.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/08/donald-trump-charged-retention-classified-documents