SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 1.10.2024

San Francisco has been swept by law and order paranoia.

Mayor London Breed’s leadership in the political lynching of progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin in June 2022 is the most blatant event to date in her push to accommodate the cops and feed the citizen’s paranoia.

Now comes something worse. Proposition E on the March 2024 ballot. It would hamstring the one oversight body keeping the cops in check. The Police Commission. It would also loosen the reins on how the cops perform their work. It would reduce police accountability.

The American Civil Liberties Union has just published a statement which cuts to the chase on the true impact of Proposition E on the citizens of San Francisco.

It must be defeated.

American Civil Liberties Union 1.10.2024

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California opposes Proposition E, a measure on the March 2024 San Francisco ballot.  

Proposition E is a dangerous and misleading proposal that knocks down three pillars of police reform: oversight, accountability, and transparency. The policies it targets are hard-won, community-supported initiatives that directly address SFPD’s ongoing pattern of violence, misconduct, and discrimination against communities of color.  

Proposition E would let the San Francisco Police Department hide officer violence by reducing the information police collect when reporting use-of-force incidents. A review of SFPD data found that in the last quarter of 2022, the department was 25 times more likely to use force on Black people than on white people. 

Proposition E also dramatically increases secret surveillance by allowing the police to track and monitor San Francisco residents without safety policies, public input, or oversight to protect our rights. It eliminates guardrails and lets police use highly invasive surveillance technology – even face-scanning drones, according to the City Attorney. 

And Proposition E takes power away from the independent police commission and hands it to the mayor’s appointed police chief — an obvious power grab by Mayor London Breed that puts her short-term political interests over good governance and public safety. 

San Franciscans deserve better than this cynical proposition. To improve community safety, we urge San Francisco’s leaders to commit to and follow through on evidence-based solutions such as affordable housing, mental health care, and substance use treatment. Proposition E will only create more problems for a city that desperately needs serious answers.

https://www.aclunc.org/news/san-francisco-vote-no-proposition-e

Following is a link to Proposition E which will appear on the March 5, 2024 ballot in San Francisco.

https://www.sf.gov/information/proposition-e-police-department-policies-and-procedures?

SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL

Lee Heidhues 1.9.2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 7419 miles from Gaza City, have added its voice to legislative bodies partaking in foreign affairs.

Weighing in on the Israeli three month long murderous assault on Gaza.

Over 22,000 children, women and men have perished by Israeli firepower. Most of it supplied by America.

The ongoing Israeli military reaction.

Which the Israelis have no intention of slowing down or stopping.

Furious reprisal for the murderous Hamas attack on Israel last October 7 during which over 1200 children, women and men were slaughtered.

Excerpted from The Jewish Weekly 1.9.2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a shortened version of a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war that represented a compromise among board members.

The resolution urges the Biden administration to do the same, denounces antisemitism and Islamophobia and condemns the “Netanyahu government’s attacks resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.”

Aaron Peskin, who is Jewish and whose mother was born in Tel Aviv during the British Mandate period, said he was up at 3 a.m. Tuesday thinking about the measure. Preston and Ronen are also Jewish, as are Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Rafael Mandelman.

Citing angry public meetings and frequent disruptions leading up to Tuesday’s vote, Peskin said he was “saddened” that in San Francisco, “we have not succeeded — arguably we have failed — to use this as an opportunity to bring our people on both sides of this divide together.”

The contentious resolution was introduced in December by Supervisor Dean Preston and co-sponsored by Supervisor Hillary Ronen. Despite last-minute revisions, the measure failed to gain unanimous support and passed 8-3.

Several cities across the Bay Area have taken up measures calling for a cease-fire since the war began on Oct. 7, often leading to heartfelt pleas for an end to the violence, alongside vitriolic accusations against Israel and bizarre conspiracy theories during public comment periods. Oakland, Richmond and now San Francisco have passed cease-fire calls.

Top photo: Supervisor Dean Preston, co-sponsor of the cease-fire resolution with supporters.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee and Liz Heidhues 1.8.2024

It was four years ago today that progressive Chesa Boudin was sworn in by Mayor London Breed as San Francisco District Attorney. In a joyous ceremony at Herbst Auditorium across the street from City Hall. Little did we realize that even as Chesa was being sworn in, the knives were being sharpened to bring him down. In a vicious political lynching funded with over 7M in reactionary venture capital money 29 months later.

Mayor London Breed, who smiled her way through the evening of January 8, 2020, was already scheming on how to rid herself of this dedicated intellectual justice reformer. One of the chief myrmidons in this political coup d’etat is the powerful and well funded San Francisco Police Officers Association.

We fast forward to January 2024 and the POA is now engaging in THE BIG LIE. The same POA which spent over 700K in 2019 attacking, vilifying and smearing then candidate Boudin.

“After being quiet for years, and sitting out a high-profile recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin in 2022, San Francisco’s police union is back on the political stage.”

That is the statement published in Michael Moritz’ San Francisco Standard earlier today in an article titled, “Police Union Wades Back Into San Francisco Politics After Years of Sitting on the Sidelines.” 

The whole notion that the SF POA sat out the political lynching of Chesa Boudin is absurd on its face. It is common knowledge on the street that the SFPD engaged in a work slowdown when Chesa was in office. By failing to pursue wrong-doers, the SFPD, whose members bankroll the POA, led the false narrative that crime was running rampant in San Francisco.

The truth is the SF POA has never exited the political stage.

Moritz is a well known venture capitalist who opposed Chesa Boudin’s policies and is outspoken in his law and order rhetoric. Rhetoric which he backs up politically with his deep pockets. Supporting law and order candidates and ballot measures.

The SF POA never sat out Chesa’s Recall. The SF POA was a prime instigator and participant in Chesa’s political demise. An obscene act of political evil which was promoted and led by Mayor London Breed.

The SF POA has been handsomely rewarded for its treachery. The current DA Brooke Jenkins, named Chesa’s successor by Mayor Breed, has effectively ceased all prosecutions of dirty cops and is effectively doing their bidding.

Top photo: DA Chesa Boudin greets a crush of his enthusiastic supporters the evening of his inaugural at Herbst Theater in San Francisco – January 8, 2020.

DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 1.5.2024

I spent several hours in downtown San Francisco capturing the street life which I wouldn’t necessarily describe as vibrant. Struggling is a more apt description.

The City is definitely having a tough time recovering from the Pandemic. There were a large number of tourists waiting to ride the iconic cable cars at Powell and Market streets.

There are a large number of unoccupied business sites. Even some of the still open business sites are boarded up which certainly isn’t conducive to customer traffic.

Top photo: Empty storefronts on Market Street.

SAN FRANCISCO – CITY HALL

Lee Heidhues 1.4.2024

Wednesday afternoon I traveled to City Hall on the 5R-Fulton line, again. For yet another go around with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force (SOTF).

The reason I went for the fourth time since last July is to have SOTF waive the privilege and make public a Privileged and Confidential Memorandum written by the City Attorney in 2021. Which dissects the inner workings of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and its two non-profit entities joined at the proverbial hip.

Political power broker Dede Wilsey is on the governing Board of all three entities involved with the FAMSF

The request to make the Memorandum public was approved on an 8-2 vote.

But. Nothing is ever finished in San Francisco.

The discussion between the 10 members of the Task Force droned on for nearly 90 minutes. While I stood at the speaker’s podium in room 428 and was afforded the opportunity to speak several times. I was the person who sought to have the Privileged and Confidential Memorandum made public.

I reached this point after prevailing in my Complaint against the FAMSF. I filed the Complaint in May 2022 to force this politically connected and wealthy organization to release its communication regarding its attempt to destroy JFK Promenade, a 1.5 mile car free sanctuary in Golden Gate Park.

At the Board of Supervisors, the ballot box in November 2022 and through the courts. The FAMSF lost in all three venues.

I presumably prevailed last summer. The Task Force ordered that the documents be released. But the FAMSF argued it does not have to produce many documents because its two non-profit entities are exempt from public records disclosure requirements.

Regrettably the SOTF lacks subpoena power.

The Memorandum I want made public goes into detail about FAMSF and its two non-profits.

The meeting on Wednesday night got to the point of absurdity. At the beginning the Deputy City Attorney told the Task Force his office, led by City Attorney David Chiu, had no problem with making the document public. But, when it became apparent the Task Force was going make the document public the Deputy City Attorney did a complete 180 degree turn.

He amazingly told the group he thought it was not going to be voted upon at the meeting. And his office needs more time to review it before saying “Yes. Make it public.” The Deputy City Attorney was arguably the only one in the room with that opinion.

Nonetheless, the Task Force accommodated the City Attorney even though several panelists pushed back on his assertion. What will happen next is either the 2021 Memorandum will be ok’ed for release in a few days or it will be on the Agenda, again, in February. And I will make another trip to City Hall.

Given one last opportunity to speak I told the group I was frustrated with the manner my request to have this Memorandum be made public is being handled. It is very disrespectful. It proves to me, once again, that the powerful monied interests at San Francisco City Hall will only exhibit some transparency kicking and screaming at every step in the process.

Top Photo: Dede Wilsey and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco CEO Thomas Campbell

SAN FRANCISCO – MASONIC and GEARY BOULEVARD

Lee Heidhues 1.2.2024

Leaving Trader Joe’s on my way to the bus stop I witnessed the following distressing sight.

San Francisco city workers rousting the unhoused and tossing their meagre belongings into trucks. 

I thought there is a Federal Court injunction in place which puts some guidelines in place.

What I witnessed appears to be nothing more than a brazen flouting of the Federal injunction.

https://www.aclunc.org/news/san-francisco-continues-defy-injunction-fails-train-workers-charged-clearing-homeless – ACLU press release – 10.6.2023

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 1.1.2024

Bibi Netanyahu is paying the price for his corruption and war crimes against the The People of Gaza. The Israeli Supreme Court has smacked down his attempt to delegate more power to himself and his extremist ruling coalition.

Even while the Israeli continues to lay waste to Gaza the judiciary has sent a message. Enough of your abuse of power. While this ruling will not stop the IDF assault on Gaza it certainly sends a message to Bibi Netanyahu. Your days in power are numbered.

Excerpted from The New York Times 1.1.2024

In a momentous ruling that could ignite a constitutional crisis, Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday struck down a law passed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government that was meant to limit the court’s own powers, by a majority of eight judges to seven.

The decision is likely to rekindle the grave domestic crisis that began a year ago over the right-wing government’s judicial overhaul plan — which sparked mass protests that brought the country to a near standstill at times — even as Israel is at war in Gaza.

The court, sitting with a full panel of all 15 of its justices for the first time in its history, rejected a law passed by Parliament in July. The law barred judges from using a particular legal standard to overrule decisions made by government ministers.

The court’s decision heralds a potential showdown between the top judicial authority and the ruling coalition, and could fundamentally reshape Israeli democracy, pitting the power of the government against that of the court.

Mr. Netanyahu’s governing coalition, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in Israel’s history, has argued that the Supreme Court has overreached its authority and subverted the will of the voters and the function of the elected government.

They argue that the legal concept of “reasonableness” — which the court used a year ago to strike down Mr. Netanyahu’s appointment as finance minister of a political ally who had been convicted of tax fraud — is ill defined and subjective.

But in a country that has one house of Parliament, no formal written constitution and a largely ceremonial president, many defenders of Israel’s liberal democracy view the Supreme Court as the only bulwark against government power, and the standard of reasonableness to be one of the primary tools at the judges’ disposal.

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.31.2023

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/drug-market-tenderloin-soma-18579159.php

The final day of frankly miserable 2023 found the San Francisco Chronicle graphically displaying what this year, when all is said and done, was all about.

Misery. Whether it be the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Hamas terror attack against Israel. The Israeli murderous response, bordering on war crimes, against the People of Gaza.

Locally the failed war on drugs in San Francisco which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 800 people from overdoses.

Kudos to the Chronicle for giving its Sunday morning hard copy readers something to think about when they see the front page photo and read the detailed reporting (see link above) as they sip their coffee.

Photos: San Francisco Chronicle

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.30.2023

I was shaken to learn that film star Tom Wilkinson has died. Suddenly at age 75.

The reporting on his life emphasizes his role in “The Full Monty.” I think there are other films in which Tom Wilkinson stood out as a top notch performer.

I watched him in several films. The most compelling of which is his role in the 2007 film Michael Clayton. Wilkinson portrayed Arthur Edens who is the lead counsel in corporate defense. His job. Defending a chemical company in a massive lawsuit. There is not one courtroom scene in the film. The story. The story is a portrayal of moral and ethical dilemmas in the world of law.

Tom Wilkinson. George Clooney. Tilda Swinton, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress, lead the cast.

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

I also watched Tom Wilkinson perform in “In the Name of the Father” and “The Ghost Writer”. He was marvelous in both films.

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

Top photo: Tom Wilkinson and George Clooney meet in jail in “Michael Clayton.”

SAN FRANCISCO

Lee Heidhues 12.28.2023

I just finished watching the 85 minute Frontline documentary, “Netanyahu, America and the Road to War in Gaza.”

I can’t help but feeling while watching this riveting, disturbing contemporary history lesson, that the spin is too much the American/Israeli perspective.

Still, the documentary is something which deserves careful viewing. It is illuminating as a snapshot of history happening in the moment.

The history of the past 30 years in the volatile middle east, as interpreted by PBS in the documentary, provided me with a certain degree of historical context. As long as I kept reminding myself this is an American/Israeli perspective I maintained an open mind throughout the 85 minutes.

The interviews and the historical footage kept me glued to the screen.

Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza

Top photo: Destruction by Israeli military has resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 Palestinian children, women and men since October 7, 2023.