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

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.20.2024

I was truly fortunate to watch Willie Mays play many times. Originally at Seals Stadium, the Giants home in 1958 and 1959. Then at Candlestick Park for many seasons. Even seeing Willie Mays play the Cubs twice at Wrigley Field in Chicago during the summer of 1963.

At the time I didn’t think much about it. Willie Mays was the best and the leader of the team.

Now that Willie is no longer with us I can reflect on how lucky I was to watch this baseball icon in action.

In 1962 The Giants won the National League pennant. Having to beat the LA Dodgers in a three game playoff to seal the deal. That season was memorialized in a 38 minute LP with announcers Russ Hodge and Lon Simmons providing the hi-lites.

Perhaps the ultimate 1962 hi-lite is the brawl between the Giants and New York Mets in May 1962. It’s here on the hi-lite tape. I was at Candlestick Park that day and witnessed the fight.

Willie Mays, with the reputation for being such a low key diplomatic player, was right there in the midst of the “fracas.” A word Giants announcer Russ Hodges used to describe the brawl.

Top photo: President Barack Obama awards Willie Mays the Presidential Medal of Freedom – 2015

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.19.2024

The announcement yesterday that San Francisco voters will decide to create a 24/7 Oasis by the Pacific Ocean is a potentially momentous event. Momentous when the voters JUST DO IT!! on November 5, 2024.

https://www.greathighwaypark.com/ballot-prop-press-release

Creation of this urban park will complete the San Francisco Triple Play.

First was the demolition of the horrid Embarcadero Freeway following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This concrete eyesore was a blight on the San Francisco Bay for decades.

The second item in the San Francisco Triple Play is JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park which was approved by the voters in November 2022 with a resounding 63 percent YES vote

On November 5 The People of San Francisco will have the opportunity to complete the environmental Triple Play and ensure The City of St. Francis is an international environmental oasis.

Top photo: The People enjoy the Great Walkway along the San Francisco Pacific Coast shoreline.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.16.2024

“Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it was treating (Russian reporter) Nikita Kozhin’s death as murder, as well as a case of obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

The hypocrisy of Vladimir Putin is stunning. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been jailed in Moscow since March 2023. He was simply doing his job and now faces a sham trial for espionage.

Sadly, a Russian reporter was killed by a drone attack in Ukraine. Moscow is now describing Nikita Kozhin’s death as murder and “obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

If Mr. Kozhin’s death can be described as “obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists” what is the false arrest, 15 months of imprisonment and upcoming sham trial of Evan Gershkovich?

Moscow Times 6.16.2024

A Russian journalist was killed in a drone attack in eastern Ukraine, his employer announced Sunday, coming just days after a cameraman from the pro-government NTV channel was killed near the front line.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it was treating Kozhin’s death as murder, as well as a case of “obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.”

President Vladimir Putin claimed earlier this month that “at least 30” Russian journalists had been killed since he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

The outlet said the attack happened around the Saint-Nicolas monastery near the town of Vugledar, which has been the scene of fierce fighting for the past three months.

Tsitsagi has done reporting for a number of Russian news publications, including Lenta.ru, Holod and Novaya Vkladka, the latter two of which operate in exile abroad.

On Thursday, an attack in eastern Ukraine killed a cameraman and injured a war correspondent working for the pro-government NTV television channel. Law enforcement authorities launched an investigation into the strike.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/06/16/russian-prison-standoff-ends-with-hostages-freed-suspects-liquidated-a85430

Top photo: Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich behind bars since March 2023

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.15.2024

Those of us who were around back in the height of the Cold War will never forget the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Russian nuclear weapons in Cuba. The World on the brink of Armageddon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis

Those grim and scary memories are being recast as Russian ships are visiting their ally Cuba. Just 90 miles from the American mainland in Florida. There are Fake videos exaggerating what has been a normal activity for decades. It is much ado about nothing. Just another opportunity for red baiting cold war fear mongers to blow off more hot air.

Deutsche Welle takes a deep dive in the sea of misinformation.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 6.13.2024

Four Russian naval vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate, have docked in Cuba ahead of planned military exercises in the Caribbean.

The fleet, featuring the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan submarine — both armed with advanced weaponry — entered Havana’s harbor on Wednesday morning.

With Havana situated roughly 145 kilometers (90 miles) from the southern state of Florida, Moscow’s deployment of these vessels so close to US shores has been seen as a provocative show of force.

It comes at a time when tensions seem to be rising between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden recently gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weapons for strikes inside Russia.

In the days leading up to the arrival of the Russian warships, images and videos circulated online, purportedly showing the arrival of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in Havana’s port.

A separate video allegedly showed US troop deployments in response.

DW has investigated the footage.

Outdated footage claimed as new

Claim: A video allegedly shows the recent arrival of the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in Cuba.

In the footage, a gray frigate is seen approaching the harbor. Specific Havana landmarks are visible in the background, such as the San Carlos de la Cabana fortress and del Puerto Avenue. In recent days, the video has been shared across social media platforms in various languages, including Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic and English.

One version of the video, posted on June 10 on X, formerly Twitter, was captioned, “Zircon hypersonic missile carrier, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, arrived in the capital of Cuba today,” attracting about 166,000 views by the time this article was published.

A separate, German post on X captioned the video similarly and was viewed about 35,000 times. Multiple other posts containing the same video with similar claims have each gained tens of thousands of views.

DW fact check: False.

While the video does show the frigate Admiral Gorshkov at the port in Havana, it has nothing to do with the fleet’s visit on June 12.

A reverse image search of a screenshot from the video using TinEye reveals that the video refers to a visit to Havana by the same frigate in 2019. A longer version of the video is available on YouTube, published by The Associated Press news agency in June 2019.

Has US deployed troops due to Russian threat?

Claim: A video shows US troop deployments in response to the Russian fleet’s visit to Havana.

Another video spreading across multiple platforms claims to show US warplanes and helicopters flying over a beach in Miami, Florida.

One of the posts, which has so far garnered about 2 million views, captioned the video as follows: “US Navy has now been deployed in Miami due to Russian warship and nuclear-powered submarine threats!”

DW fact check: False.

Although US forces have reportedly deployed ships and drones to track and monitor the Russian fleet, the footage shown is from an older, unrelated operation. A reverse search of one of the scenes from the video leads to a video published on TikTok in May.

The footage appears to demonstrate a US Navy air show on this year’s Memorial Day in late May. Similar videos from the show are available online, captured by people present at the same location, and published shortly after the show.

https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-fake-footage-of-russian-warships-in-cuba/a-69350465

Top photo: ​​Russia and Cuba have been allies for decades, with Russian ships occasionally visiting Havana. Their recent military cooperation echoes Cold War tensions. The fleet, featuring the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan submarine — both armed with advanced weaponry — entered Havana’s harbor on Wednesday June 12, 2024.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.13.2024

Native Americans have been treated brutally by the American government which stole, occupied and waged a war of genocide as it plundered their land in the 18th and 19 centuries.

Justice and restitution has been slow in coming. The Native Americans will never be fully compensated for the horrors they underwent at the hands and guns of their oppressors.

A Decision on June 6th by the United States Supreme Court provides a small measure of justice and relief.

Excerpted from Reuters 6.7.2024

June 6 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday held that the federal government has been under-funding Native American tribes that administer their own healthcare programs for 30 years and must pay potentially hundreds of millions more going forward.

In its 5-4 ruling, the court found that federal law requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to pay the overhead costs that tribes incur when spending money from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers. The ruling is a victory for the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona and the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming, which had each sued over the funding.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by the court’s three liberals and by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, a consistent supporter of Native American rights. The ruling affirmed decisions by the 9th and 10th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Carter Phillips of Sidley Austin, who represents the San Carlos Apache tribe, called the decision “a huge win for Indian country and for the quality of health care provided on Indian reservations.”

Adam Unikowsky of Jenner & Block, who argued for the Northern Arapaho Tribe, said it “will promote tribal sovereignty and provide resources for health care in under-served communities.”

The IHS provides health care services directly to about 2.8 million Native Americans. Thursday’s decision centers on the Indian Self-Determination Act (ISDA), a 1975 law that allows Native American tribes to take over administration of their own healthcare programs under contracts with IHS.

Those contracts require IHS to provide the same amount of funding it would provide if it were running the program directly, and to cover administrative expenses incurred by the tribe.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-must-pay-more-native-american-tribes-healthcare-costs-supreme-court-rules-2024-06-06/

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.12.2024

It pains me to write this as a Progressive.

I am a long time supporter of Chesa Boudin.

The causes he espouses and fought for as San Francisco District Attorney. Before his political lynching, funded with 9M MAGA disinformation money on June 7, 2022.

Since his ouster Chesa has decamped to the UC Berkeley School of Law where he founded the Criminal Law & Justice Center. Recruiting law students to join the battle for Progressive justice in an increasingly law and order America.

To support this laudable endeavor Chesa has turned to someone whose positions on criminal justice are antithetical to the progressive justice movement.

Venture capitalist “crypto billionaire” Chris Larsen just donated 1M to the San Francisco Police Department. It will be divvied up between the City’s 10 police stations to use as they see fit.

Chris Larsen donated to the recently voter approved Prop E in March 2024 which gives SFPD cops more power while truncating the oversight authority of the Police Commission.

Chris Larsen is also a contributor to the election campaign of the current San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins. Who worked for Chesa Boudin as an assistant DA. She Quit and worked on the political coup d’etat which drove him from office. Jenkins was rewarded for her treachery by Mayor London Breed, leader of the Recall. She appointed Jenkins DA.

But, wait a minute.

This is the same Chris Larsen who donated at least 100K in opposition to Chesa’s Recall in June 2022.

This is the same Chris Larsen who is contributing to Chesa’s Criminal Law and Justice Center.

I realize politics makes for strange bedfellows. Nonetheless, I find it perplexing that Chesa Boudin, the fighter for progressive justice, is taking money from a man who espouses and funds causes and candidates antithetical to what Chesa is all about.

Top photo: Chesa Boudin on the night of the Recall – June 7, 2022 – San Francisco Chronicle

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.9.2024

The European Parliament election is a bad omen for Americans who fear a return of convicted felon Donald Trump to the White House next January.

When people are fearful they turn increasingly Conservative.

People are inherently Conservative by nature. When a feeling of economic deprivation, and two ongoing wars are leading the news Voters find the safest harbor to vent their fears.

Throw their support to Reactionary politicians who offer easy solutions without substance.

In today’s European Parliament elections the Right wing parties have reaped a harvest of votes and seats in the European legislative body.

In Germany the Green Party, a member of the current governing coalition took a beating at the polls. Projected to finish with 11.9 percent, an 8.6 percentage point drop in support compared to the 2019 European election, making the party the biggest loser of the election.

In France Emanuel Macron, devastated by the far right vote, dissolved the French legislative Assembly and called for a new election later this month.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 6.9.2024

The center-right EPP is on track to win the most seats in the European Parliament, projections show. Meanwhile, far-right parties in France, Germany and Austria have made big gains. 

https://www.dw.com/en/german-greens-suffer-major-loss-of-votes-in-eu-elections-nina-haase-reports/video-69316755

German Greens leader disappointed at EU election result

The co-leader of Germany’s environmentally friendly Green Party, Ricarda Lang, has reacted with disappointment at her party’s loss of votes in the European elections.

“This is not the standard we set ourselves when we went into this election, and we will work through this together,” Lang told public broadcaster ARD.

According to exit polls, the Greens are on track to receive around 12% of the vote.

In 2019, they achieved their best result ever in a European election with 20.5%.

https://www.dw.com/en/despite-scandals-afd-makes-significant-gains-in-votes-matthew-moore-reports/video-69316834

AfD (Alternative for Deutschland) makes gains in Germany

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-elections-far-right-makes-gains-in-germany-france/live-69312194

Excerpted from Politico 6.9.2024

Alternative for Germany beats Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, who had their worst result in a national election in the party’s history.

The conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union finished first in Sunday’s European election in Germany, winning 30.2 percent of the vote according to a projection for German public television.

While the conservative victory was expected, the real race in Germany was for runner-up.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was projected to finish second with 16 percent, a gain of 5 percentage points compared to the 2019 EU election.

If the result holds, it will be seen as a big success for a party that has been beset by scandals in recent months.

The party’s top two candidates for EU election were implicated in a series of sensational allegations of misconduct involving suspected espionage and potential Russian influence. Most recently, the party’s lead candidate, Maximilian Krah, was forced to stop campaigning after he defended members of Hitler’s Waffen-SS as not “automatically” criminals.

One of the party’s national leaders, Tino Chrupalla, called it a “historic result.” Across Europe, far-right, nationalist and populist parties are projected to make sizeable gains.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is projected to finish third with 13.9 percent, its worst result in a national election since the party was founded well over a century ago.

The Greens, who rule in a federal coalition with the SPD and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), are projected to finish with 11.9 percent, an 8.6 percentage point drop in support compared to the 2019 European election, making the party the biggest loser of the election.

https://www.politico.eu/article/conservatives-finish-first-germany-eu-election-early-projection-cdu-csu/

De Young Museum – Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Liz Heidhues 6.7.2024

Pass through the doors of the De Young Museum during its annual flower show, “Bouquets to Art”, https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/bouquets-to-art-2024 You enter an enchanting garden of fantastic creations, fashioned from freshly cut flowers, tantalizing to the eye, and pleasing to the olfactory senses.

At a time when we are causing much harm to our natural environment through our actions, the exhibit brings our attention to the fragility of our planet. The floral arrangements stress sustainability. The use of cacti, succulents, and native plants heightens our awareness of the need to conserve and preserve.

The pleasures of the garden beckon from every floor, gallery, nook and cranny. Chrysanthemums hover like small spaceships. Statuesque birds of paradise stab the air. Waxy red anthuriums show off erotically long stamens. And coquettish roses and orchids drape the displays taking hold of your imagination and making you think wild thoughts.

Your mood will be lightened by all the riotous colors.

Flowers are very seductive. They seduce us through attraction, not coercion. Their intense colors, delightful fragrances, and associations with happiness or joy trigger good vibrations.

At the “Bouquets to Art” exhibit, you will find a special place to muse. Conversation starters which may have you turning to other museum goers asking them, “What’s THAT?” It is how I met the Hat Lady who once owned the chic boutique “Hats on Post” on trendy Post Street in downtown San Francisco.

“Bouquets to Art” is a show about the creativity of the florist and the gifts of nature. You may linger longer here than planned because it is so beautiful.    

Top photo: Flowers awaiting your amorous gaze

Editorial assistance provided by Lee Heidhues

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 6.5.2024

Convicted felon Donald Trump will be greeted by the three story Trump Chicken, now adorned in appropriate prison garb, when he dines at the mansion of billionaire David Sacks (2845 Broadway) in the uber wealthy San Francisco Pacific Heights neighborhood on June 6, 2024.

The large crowd which protested VP Kamala Harris during her visit to San Francisco on Wednesday need to turn their attention on Trump. The political soulmate of war criminal Bibi Netanyahu. Anyone who thinks for a second that Trump is a friend of the Palestinian people is engaging in complete self delusion.

Excerpted from SFist 6.5.2024

Yes, the three-story-tall inflatable Trump chicken has been dusted off and will be re-inflated Thursday in San Francisco, wearing a black-and-white prison uniform, in an act of protest of Trump appearing in SF to collect some money from some Silicon Valley billionaires who have lost the thread of reality.

Local writer Danelle Morton didn’t think she’d ever have to haul out her 33-foot-tall Trump-as-chicken balloon again when she laid it to rest in a mock funeral in 2021. But haul it out she will today, and the sublimely hideous balloon will take a sail on the Bay to protest the fundraising event tonight at the home of amoral billionaire David Sacks.

The lookalike balloon was a $450 purchase Morton made off the internet in 2017, originally manufactured in China around the time of Trump’s inauguration and Lunar New Year celebrations that year (it was the Year of the Rooster, and a Chinese balloon maker seized on the similarities with an existing rooster balloon they had). She later added a black-and-white-striped prison shirt — for a 2018 cruise across the Bay to Alcatraz, six years before Trump was actually convicted of 34 felonies.

Now, a group of millionaires and billionaires who either don’t remember or don’t care that Trump tried to destroy the country for his own ego three short years ago are gathering in Pacific Heights to pay $50,000 per person to greet the man, and help fund his attempt to return to the White House. Why? Because they are rich and trying to protect their riches, and anything else they say about it is gaslighting.

The fundraiser is being co-hosted by Sacks and his wife, Jacqueline Sacks, and Sacks’s co-host on the “All-In” podcast, Chamath Palihapitiya.

https://sfist.com/2024/06/05/inflatable-trump-chicken-comes-out-of-storage-to-protest-fundraiser-in-sf/

Cartoon of Trump and David Sacks – SF Standard