Sam Spade's San Francisco

The Ferry Building is clearly one of the most recognizable and famous landmarks in San Francisco. For anyone who may not already know, the Ferry Building Marketplace is located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street.

It is the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco's neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities. The marketplace is accessible by MUNI, BART and Ferry Boat. The historic trolley cars (Line F Market) stop directly in front of the Ferry Building.

Opening in 1898 on the site of the 1875 wooden Ferry House, the Ferry Building became the transportation focal point for anyone arriving by train from the East, as well as from all the East Bay and Marin residents who worked in the city. From the Gold Rush until the 1930s, arrival by ferryboat became the only way travelers and commuters—except those coming from the Peninsula—could reach the city.

Today the Ferry Building is not only a functioning ferry terminal, it is also home to the Ferry Building Farmer's Market, one of the finest in California.

Here is the most up-to-date information from CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture), which operates the Ferry Building Farmer's Market, about which sellers will and won't be attending the market as of Friday, when they provide this information. If there are no changes to a seller's status, they will not be listed. To find out which farmers regularly attend each market, click here. Please understand that there are often last minute changes--it's the nature of farming!

Please note: The Tuesday market will be OPEN on July 3rd

Calendar

Saturday, June 30

In/Returning: Bernard Ranches, The Apple Farm, Little Organic Farm, Bodega and Yerba Santa Goat Cheese
Out: Triple Delight Blueberries (for the season), Candycot Fruit Co. (for the season)

Tuesday, July 3

In/Returning: Happy Quail Farms, Ella Bella Farm, Critical Edge Knife Sharpening

Special Events

What better way to learn more about your food than to get up close and personal with the land and people that produce it? Join us for one or all of three farm tours happening this summer! All tours cost $25 and depart from the Ferry Building in comfortable buses. We thank our sponsor Coach 21 for providing a generous discount on the bus charter fee.

Sunday, July 22, 9 am to 6pm - Coastal Harvest Tour
Visit Far West Fungi and Yerena Farms >

Sunday, August 26, 9 am to 5 pm - Valley Orchard Tour
Visit Lagier Ranches and Hidden Star Orchards >

Sunday, September 16, 8:30 am to 5 pm - Milk and Honey Tour
Visit Spring Hill Jersey Cheese Co. and Marshall's Farm Natural Honey >

New reduced-rate Saturday parking option:

Our neighbors across the street at the Embarcadero Center are changing their weekend parking garage fee structure to provide better rates for Saturday shoppers. Beginning Saturday, June 30, Embarcadero Center fees will be $3/hr beginning at 7 am, with up to 4 hours free after 10 am with a minimum $5 validated purchase at any Embarcadero Center business (this does not include the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market). Find maps and specific lot locations by clicking here.

Save the date for CUESA's fifth annual Sunday Supper fundraiser!

On September 30, 2007, join us for a sumptuous five-course meal in the Ferry Building's Grand Hall. This year, we are offering reception-only tickets in addition to seats at the Supper. For more information, or to subscribe to CUESA's newsletter, please go to: www.cuesa.org

Links:

Baylink Ferries (from Vallejo)

Blue & Gold Ferries (Alameda and Oakland)

MUNI F Line Streetcars

California Street Cable Car Line

BART

Port of San Francisco

Against the backdrop of World War II, dozens of Fillmore Street Jazz clubs hosted the era’s major musical talents, including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Billie Holliday. Stars such as Joe Louis, Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood and Sammy Davis, Jr. sparkled in the audience. At the legendary Jimbo’s, Louis Armstrong went to check out Charlie Parker (the only known time they were under the same roof). Chet Baker snuck out of the Fort Mason barracks to jam all night, and John Handy played Bop City with John Coltrane.

In the 60s, Jazz historian David Rosenbaum ran the Melrose Record shop on Fillmore Street, employing high school student Maya Angelou. Zen Buddhism was first introduced to the West in the Fillmore, which became a creative home to artists including Isaac Stern, The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Mel Blanc and Alan Ginsberg.

Much changed following the devastation and wholesale community razing conducted by Justin Herman, San Francisco's worst-ever Redevelopment Agency chief. Herman called the African-American neighborhood and Japanese neighborhood along Filmore Street a "blithe" and set out to destroy them both. Yet despite Herman's effort to annihilate the jazz community along Fillmore Street, the tradition proved to be too tenacious even for Herman's bulldozers.

In the 1980’s, a renaissance gave rise to the next generation of the Fillmore District. Merchant associations helped launch the first Fillmore Jazz Festival in 1985, giving new expression to the storied neighborhood. In 1999, the festival came home to the newly revitalized Jazz Preservation District.

Performers who have graced Fillmore Street stages include Dr. Lonnie Smith, Denise Perrier, Lady Memphis, Kim Nalley, Pete Escovedo, Jules Broussard, Big Belly Blues Band, Brenda Boykin and Paula West.

Today, Fillmore Street once again hops with an acknowledging nod to the spirit that once filled the street. Boasting an eclectic mix of over 200 businesses: music clubs, shops and restaurants, it continues to echo the music of its birth, transcending boundaries, embracing diversity, and celebrating personal style.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

California Street Stage

10:00 - 11:30	Michael LaMacchia
12:00 - 1:30
2:00 - 3:30	Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
4:00 - 6:00	Terese Genecco

Sutter Street Stage

10:00 - 11:30	Erik Lindquist Trio
12:00 - 1:30	Ben Wanicur Quartet
2:00 - 3:30	Smith Dobson V Quartet
4:00 - 6:00	Mitch Marcus Sextet

Ellis Street Stage

10:00 - 11:30	Jaye & Friends
12:00 - 1:30	Kimbrough & Company
2:00 - 4:00	Everyday People
4:30 - 6:00	Sila and the Afrofunk Experience

Sunday, July 1, 2007

California Street Stage

10:00 - 11:30	Fazz
12:00 - 1:30	Wil Blades
2:00 - 3:30	Will Bernard
4:00 - 6:00	Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra

Sutter Street Stage

10:00 - 11:30	Rachel Lauren
12:00 - 1:30	Brass Mafia
2:00 - 3:30	Mel Martin Quartet
4:00 - 6:00	Bautista

Ellis Street Stage

10:00 - 11:30	Jazz Philosophy
12:00 - 1:30
2:00 - 4:00	Vinyl
4:30 - 6:00	Mazacote

Story Tools:

2007 Entertainment Schedule (34 k PDF)

Fillmore Jazz Festival web site

Fillmore Merchants Association web site

This just in from San Francisco Business Times:

The Presidio has shortlisted three firms to redevelop the 12-building Thornburgh complex, including one developer proposing to convert the historic complex into a Hollywood-style "backlot" for the national park's growing film and digital arts community.

The three developers, who were preparing to submit formal proposals to the Presidio Trust on June 28, are Gordon Development, Federal Development and Equity Community Builders.

Equity Community Builders and Federal Development are proposing to turn the 144,000-square-foot collection of buildings into a pedestian-friendly mixed-use enclave, with a combination of retail and office buildings.

While the phrase "only in San Francisco" is occasionally used by outsiders to denigrate the City, it has been adopted by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau and is becoming the City's promotional tagline.

With that in mind ...

Only in San Francisco are we protected by a female Chief of Police (Heather Fong, seen in the photo walking with some of her command staff in the Pride Parade), a female Fire Chief (Joanne Hayes-White) and a transgender President of the Police Commission (Theresa Sparks).

Only in San Francisco have we elected two San Franciscans who have become the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (Nancy Pelosi) and the senior U.S. Senator from California (former mayor, Diane Feinstein).

Only in San Francisco do we enjoy an annual income from our primary industry (tourism) that generates $473 million in taxes and supports 68,652 jobs with an annual payroll of $1.83 billion.

Only in San Francisco do we host 15.7 million visitors a year.

Only in San Francisco do our visitors spend $7.3 billion in local businesses.

Only in San Francisco do we enjoy an enormous boost to our economy from gay and lesbian visitors. For example, the average mean income of all visitors to the City is estimated to be $94,000 per year. The average mean income of our gay and lesbian visitors is $122,000.

Only in San Francisco do we have 32,000 hotel rooms that enjoy an average occupancy rate of 76%.

Yet, despite these rosy facts, all is not well. By far, the single biggest complaint from our visitors are the panhandlers, the panhandlers, the panhandlers and the panhandlers. They are everywhere and they irritate and pester our guests endlessly.

Panhandling is an on-going problem to the City. While San Francisco has long been a "shining city on a hill" (to borrow an eloquent phrase from President Reagan) that attracts people from every corner of the world, it has also become known in recent years as a dirty town that is full of panhandlers, drug addicts and the homeless. It is a very serious issue that must be addressed if we are to continue our pattern of economic growth.

Mayor Newsom's 2008 proposed budget focuses on streets, public safety, public transit and homelessness. To read more about the mayor's proposed budget, the poll that earned San Francisco bragging rights as the top gay-lesbian destination in the country, or the poll that landed San Francisco top honors as the No. 1 tourist destination in the U.S. and No. 2 on the planet, please click on the following links to read earlier reports in this blog. Note: a new window will open with this same story as the lead. Scroll down to read the selected posting.

Mayor Newsom's Budget

Gay-Lesbian Destinations Poll

No. 1 Tourist Destination

More Choice in the Project Open Hand Grocery Center

Beginning in July 2007, Project Open Hand will institute an exciting new grocery service that will give clients in the HIV/AIDS program more choice. Instead of receiving a pre-packed bag and then choosing additional items from a menu, clients will receive a larger menu of grocery items and be able to select all the foods for their weekly groceries themselves.

Project Open Hand clients in the breast cancer program will also be eligible for additional nutrition options.

Project Open Hand began serving meals to women living with breast cancer in 2005. In January 2007, we began a pilot grocery program for 30 women enrolled in the program. Beginning in July, all breast cancer clients in San Francisco will be able to access grocery services.

For more information about Project Open Hand's nutrition services, click here.

How will you cross home plate at AT&T Park?

Register now for the first annual Project Open Hand/San Francisco Giants Plate to Plate, a 5K run/walk across home plate at AT&T Park on Sunday, August 12. In addition to the exciting opportunity to cross home plate, your registration also includes a ticket to the baseball game (vs. the Pirates) and admission to a pre-game festival with live music, food and giveaways. Raise pledges for Project Open and earn unique incentive awards!

For more information and to register, visit www.platetoplate.org or call .

June is graduation month.

Students from all over the City are shifting gears from student life to a job search mode.

Just in time to make things easier, the San Francisco Career Fair will kick-off next month.

What: The San Francisco Job Fair

When: Wednesday, July 11th from 11 AM to 2 PM

Where: , 345 Stockton St, San Francisco

Cost: Registration is free!

More Info: Call 415.398.1234

Congratulations to everyone in the medical and health community who have been fighting the tobacco companies and doing their best to bring an end to the horrible habit of cigarette smoking.

Phillip Morris USA just announced they are throwing in the towel - at least partially. They will close their 2.4 million square foot cigarette factory in North Carolina.

Cigarette companies are extremely profitable because they take an inexpensive product (raw tobacco) and sell it for a high price. However, the enormous pressure being brought against the tobacco companies by the health community, the legal community and government regulators have all taken their toll on the once powerful industry.

Mike Walden, a Nortn Carolina State University economist said, "One silver lining to this is that the tobacco industry has shrunk so much in North Carolina that this is not as severe a blow as it would have been 25 years ago."

The decision to close the massive Phillip Morris plant is part of a larger plan by the subsidiary of New York-based Altria Group Inc. to consolidate its facilities and move more cigarette production to Europe, where smoking isn't taking such a large hit as in the United States.

That's bad news for Europe, but great news for us!

Philip Morris USA brands include Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Merit, Parliament, Alpine, Basic, Cambridge, Bristol, Bucks, Chesterfield, Collector's Choice, Commander, English Ovals, Lark, L&M, Players and Saratoga.

This just in from Rescue Muni:

The State Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday on proposed changes to state law allowing photo enforcement of bus lane and parking violations. Mayor Newsom and Muni officials testified in favor.

This proposal (AB 101) has already passed the Assembly but needs Senate approval and a signature from Governor Schwarzenegger to become law.

Rescue Muni strongly supports this proposal. Write your state senator and the Governor to urge approval.

Special thanks to Livable City head Tom Radulovich and Assemblymember Fiona Ma for pushing so hard for this.

San Francisco Business Times conducted a survey of its readers.

The question was, "Do you think Chris Daly acts responsibly as a civic leader in San Francisco?"

Eight percent of the respondents answered the question this way: "Yes. He advocates legitimate points of view that the mayor doesn't happen to like."

However, a whopping 92% voted this way: "No. His views are often childish and his methods don't advance the debate."

The readers were also eager to add comments - and boy oh boy - you ought to read some of the steamy comments.

You can do so by following this link and click on the "check out reader comments" button.

and walk with

Assemblyman Mark Leno
in the 2007 LGBT Pride Parade Celebration

Join Assemblyman Mark Leno on Sunday, June 24th, 2007 in a march down Market Street to Civic Center and enjoy this festive occasion.

Our contingent is early in the line-up, so you can enjoy everything the day has to offer!

For questions and to RSVP, please call Reese at or e-mail .

OK, Chris, now that you have shot-off your mouth again before engaging your brain (which is all too common for you), it is time for you to put up some evidence, or shut up.

You are a loud-mouthed disrespectful, arrogant, uncouth jackass.

Think I'm wrong? Want to prove it? Go public with evidence that Mayor Newsom is, as you accuse, using cocaine.

You, Chris Daly, are becoming strangely similar to Ed Jew. Jew is a two-bit crook and now that he's been caught, he has nothing to say. He's clammed-up. Zippo.

I'm willing to bet that in the days, weeks and months to come, you'll clam-up too and start back-peddling and struggling to put a good spin on your absolutely inexcusable behavior. I have every expectation that you will publicly prove yourself to be nothing more than a human boombox - just a loud, irritating public disturbance.

You are an embarrassment to the City and County of San Francisco and you are a disgrace to the Board of Supervisors.

Last night's local television broadcast news reported yet another traffic accident at the corner of Octavia and Market. In 2003 they began building an on-ramp to US 101 and eastbound US 80 at that location.

in the photo: the Octavia and Market Street on-ramp under construction

The folks in that neighborhood along with the bicycle lobby raised hell at City Hall until the plans were changed and signs were erected that prohibit motorists from turning right off Market Street onto the on-ramp. Politicians made this design change to accommodate the bicycle lobby who wanted a protected bike lane.

So, today there is a neatly painted white line going right across the intersection for the bike lane and there are red and black no-right-turn signs clearly posted. Did that solve the problem?

Of course not!

How in the world does anybody expect to keep motorists from turning right onto a freeway on-ramp from Market Street? No amount of signage or "dedicated bike lane" painted strips are going to keep people from using a freeway on-ramp.

The reason why bikes and motorists continue to be clipped and run over at this intersection is obvious to the whole world, but not to the politicians who are responsible for this mess. It's a goddam freeway on-ramp for God's sake! You can't design a bike lane to cross a freeway on-ramp and not expect frequent injuries and occasional fatalities. It's a stupid design.

The solution is self-evident to anyone with an IQ above the speed limit. Call in the professional traffic planners and engineers and ask them to re-design the intersection FREE of public interference. The bicycle people won't like that decision, of course, but to date they have not yet demonstrated that they have the collective intellectual capacity to understand even basic traffic laws and regulations.

This is what happens when we amateurs like to be actively involved in the traffic planning process, but lack sufficient knowledge and training to be effective. Let's leave traffic planning to the professional engineers.

The rest of us should BUTT OUT!

This just in from American Business Journal:

The Small Business Administration on June 13 kicked off the Patriot Express loan program, which allows veterans, their spouses and surviving spouses to borrow up to $500,000 with an SBA guarantee of up to 85 percent.

The pilot initiative targets veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty members eligible for the military's transition assistance program, reservists and National Guard members.

It's also open to current spouses and widows/widowers of those who died during service or of a service-related disability.

"These individuals served their nation with honor. Now it's our turn to honor them," said Frank Sciortino, director of the Buffalo District SBA office. "Before, we always tried to make as many loans as we could to veterans, but in this case, it's specifically for veterans," Sciortino said.

Last year, area lenders approved 97 loans for $11.3 million through the 7(a) loan program, and another two loans for $600,000 through its 504 loan program to individuals who identified themselves as being veterans.

Since this fiscal year began Oct. 1, lenders have approved another 27 loans for $1.7 million through the 7(a) program and two more for $1.3 million through the 504 program.

Sciortino anticipates that number will rise. "We're anticipating the number and percentage will go up," he said. "We're always proud of what we've done in veterans loans, but we can do more."

The program goes beyond just offering loan guarantees: Veterans will receive a package of financial, procurement and technical assistance programs that includes help in writing business plans, managing a business and expanding their existing business.

By now everybody knows:

City Attorney Dennis Hererra is asking Attorney General Jerry Brown to step in and help the City and County of San Francisco throw Ed Jew off the Board of Supervisors.

Click here to read the City Attorney's press release issued at 10 AM this morning. The link will open a .pdf page containing the full release.

Here is a chronology of stories filed with the San Francisco Chronicle about the Ed Jew criminal investigation:

City Attorney moves to remove Ed Jew from office (6/18)

M&R: Why Ed Jew's fate may rest with state AG (6/18)

M&R: Ed Jew and Kamala Harris were once allies (6/17)

Ed Jew lets deadline pass (6/16)

Backers say he's a victim of racism (6/16)

Ed Jew is talk of the Sunset (6/15)

Supe begins meeting with apology (6/15)

Building the case against Ed Jew (6/14)

Newsom urged to consider ousting Ed Jew (6/14)

Ed Jew surrenders in Burlingame (6/13)

Some supe colleagues call for resignation (6/13)

M&R: How D.A. Harris built case (6/13)

Ed Jew fails to satisfy city on residence (6/12)

Letter from city attorney (PDF) (6/12)

M&R: FBI's cash paid Ed Jew, source says (6/10)

M&R: Ed Jew's $10K playground money returned (6/6)

Ed Jew says he won't quit (6/5)

City attorney wants proof of residency (5/24)

Ed Jew heads to China (5/23)

Firm's employee says Ed Jew offered to help -- for a fee (5/23)

M&R: Ethics Commission is probing super over campaign funds (5/23)

Some supes -- including Ed Jew -- talk about his troubles (5/23)

Ed Jew investigated on city residency (5/23)

Ed Jew hires ex-federal prosecutor (5/21)

M&R: On trail of Sunset District supervisor (5/21)

Questions mount for Sunset supervisor (5/20)

FBI questions supervisor, searches office (5/19)

FBI searches SF supervisor's office (5/18)

Congratulations to San Francisco's chef and restaurateur Traci de Jardins and her magnificent sous chefs Robbie Lewis and Peter Armellino!

Their remarkable performance on the Food Network's Iron Chef America won for them the show's top honor. Iron Chef America is based on a popular Japanese television program that each week pits a challenger against one of the show's stable of distinguished chefs.

In the episode featuring Traci de Jardins she challenged Iron Chef Mario Batale. Batale, who is not only one of America's most consistently excellent chefs, is owner of B&B Ristorante in Las Vegas, Babbo Ristorante in New York City, Bar Jamon in New York City, Casa Mono in New York, Del Posto in New York, Enotoca San Marco in Las Vegas, Esca in New York City, Italian Wine Merchants in New York City, Lupa in New York City, Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, Otto Enoteca Mozza in LosAngeles.

Traci is executive chef and co-owner with Pat Kuleto of Jardiniere Restaurant in San Francisco.

Star Chefs, the magazine for culinary insiders, has this to say about Traci de Jardins:

Traci des Jardins exudes the grace and peace of someone at the top of her game, who has come full circle in her career. She has long mastered French techniques, and knows how to successfully "push the culinary envelope," and create show-stopping dishes.

"I think it must be the same way with other types of artists," des Jardins said, "you enter into any creative field because you have specific ideas and something to offer. But first, you must learn the discipline. For me that part was so critical, but the discipline and techniques only took me so far; as I've grown personally and professionally something has shifted in my cooking. I used to feel the need to make a bold statement with my cooking; now I'm just creating the food I love."

Lucky for Bay Area diners in San Francisco, then, that Jardiniere is des Jardins' canvas. She has made a consistent creative splash since she arrived in 1991, and her cooking, as well as the restaurant's design, have garnered a tremendous amount of national recognition.

In 1995 des Jardins was named "Rising Star Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation, and in the same year was named one of Food & Wine Magazine's "Best New Chefs." She was recently chosen Chef of the Year by San Francisco Magazine's critics' panel.

For two consecutive years she was named one of the top three chefs in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1997 Jardiniere was nominated as "Best New Restaurant of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation, and has been named one of the "100 Top Restaurants in the Bay Area" by the San Francisco Chronicle two years in a row.

And now she has appeared on a major network television show and was the victor in a combat cooking contest with one of America's top chefs.

Robin Olds was legendary to many of us old enough to have been around during the Vietnam War. He was a hero to many of us at a time when we needed larger-than-life real heroes. Retired Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, died June 14 from congestive heart failure one month short of his 85th birthday.

General Olds, rated a triple ace for having shot down a total of 16 enemy aircraft during World War II and the Vietnam War, served his country in assignments to England, Germany, Libya, Thailand and the United States, in positions of squadron, base, group and wing commander, and assignments to Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Triple-ace Robin Olds' legendary leadership and heroic service to the cause of freedom have been an inspiration to our nation and our Air Force," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "He is one of our 'great captains' and a pioneer of air power.

"He became an ace with 12 aerial victories during World War II, flying P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs, and later shot down 4 MiGs in Vietnam to bring his total to 16. He also led the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing -- the famed "Wolfpack" -- to a record 24 aerial victories, a total unsurpassed by any other wing during the war in Southeast Asia," the general said.

"Throughout his career, he was a staunch advocate for better fighters, better pilot training and new tactics, culminating in the war-winning air-to-air tactics and doctrine of surgical precision bombing we use today. Brigadier General Olds' courageous life stands as a timeless example of the power of faith and the strength of the human spirit.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his devoted family as they mourn his loss, a loss we feel as well. America and our Air Force are eternally grateful for his leadership and accomplishments, and will remember him always," General Moseley said.

General Olds was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 14, 1922, the son of Maj. Gen. Robert and Mrs. Eloise Olds. He spent his younger years in Hampton, Va., and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was an All-American tackle. He graduated in 1943 as a second lieutenant.

Following graduation from pilot training in 1943, General Olds was assigned to the European Theater at the end of World War II, where he flew 107 combat missions. During the Vietnam War, he flew 152 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom as the wing commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Air Base, Thailand.

General Olds' exploits as the creator and mission commander of Operation Bolo, the most successful aerial battle of the Vietnam War, has been documented in the recent History Channel Dogfights Special series "Air Ambush."

He was assigned to the first jet P-80 squadron in 1946; was a member of the first jet Aerial Acrobatic Demonstration Team; won second place in the Thompson Trophy Race, jet division, in Cleveland, in 1946; and participated in the first dawn-to-dusk transcontinental round trip flight. He was a squadron commander of Royal Air Force No.1 Fighter Squadron, Sussex, England, during an exchange tour in 1948.

General Olds' military decorations include the Air Force Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with three oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 39 oak leaf clusters, British Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix de Guerre, Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order, Vietnam Air Gallantry Medal with gold wings, and Vietnam Air Service Medal.

After his duty in Vietnam, General Olds was named commandant of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1967 to 1971. His last assignment before retiring from the Air Force in 1973 was as director of safety for the Air Force.

Up to a few months prior to his illness he was frequently called upon as guest speaker and lecturer for his inspirational and motivational talks. He was married to Ella Raines, who died in 1988, and then to Morgan Olds.

General Olds is survived by two daughters, Christina Olds of Vail, Colo., and Susan Scott-Risner of North Bend, Wash.; one granddaughter, Jennifer Newman of Santa Monica, Calif., and half-brother, Fred Olds of Virginia. He died peacefully at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colo., in the company of family and friends.

Thank you for your service, sir. You will be remembered.

Ed Jew's attorneys are doing what defense attorneys are supposed to do in such situations: grab at straws and attack anything that moves. Jew's attorneys are trying their best to make their client look like a victim.

In the photo: Ed Jew attends his first City Hall meeting after being charged. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers

They can't, of course, because between the District Attorney, the City Attorney, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney, they have more evidence against Ed Jew that George Bush ever had against Saddam Hussein.

Ed Jew is through.

Matt Dorsey of the City Attorney's office explained it politely: "We certainly understand that Supervisor Jew's attorneys have a duty to defend their client in a criminal matter," said Dorsey. "But the city attorney has no less of a duty to San Franciscans to defend the legitimacy of their local government."

The rights of San Franciscans don't stop there. We have a right to expect our Board of Supervisors to be able to function normally. The Board is, after all, our city's highest legislative body and we need full functionality.

Additionally, the citizens living in the Sunset, where Ed Jew's district is located, are entitled by City Charter to full and equal representation. There is little doubt in anyone's mind that those people today have zero effective representation on the Board of Supervisors. They have no effective voice in their government. Their federally-assured civil rights are being violated.

Under the charter, the mayor has the power to suspend Jew and then press for his removal through the city Ethics Commission and full Board of Supervisors. To do so, the mayor would have to present written charges to the commission. If, after a hearing, the commission recommended removal, the case would move to the supervisors. Eight of the 11 members of the board would need to vote in favor of removal to oust the supervisor.

That's where it stands today. In order for the City to fulfill it's mandate to assure San Franciscans of fair, equal and effective representation, Ed Jew must be removed from office.

I can well understand why Mayor Newsom wants to remain in a neutral corner, but when the rights of the citizens of San Francisco are being denied, then it is incumbent upon the mayor to act. It is his sworn responsibility under the City Charter.

It is also, of course, prudent to be sure one is absolutely right before taking such serious and drastic measures. I am sure this is also weighing heavily the Mayor's mind. Perhaps the best course of action is to wait just a little to be absolutely certain these accusations against Jew are not going away. Then, at that time, it would be right and proper for the Mayor to intervene on behalf of the people of San Francisco.

So, how long will the Mayor wait? Well, I guess that will be determined by just how large and how bold the handwriting on the wall really is. From my point of view it already looks like a full-scale billboard.

You can read all the details in a well-written story by Robert Selna and Wyatt Buchanan that appears in today's San Francisco Chroncile.

In a joint legislative session on Thursday, lawmakers in Massachusetts rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples by a vote of 45–151. The vote secures marriage by eliminating any chance that the amendment would get on the 2008 ballot. At least 50 votes were needed to advance the measure.

“Today’s victory illustrates the incredible leadership of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, MassEquality, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, legislative leaders and scores of lawmakers who all diligently fought for fairness and dignity for gay and lesbian couples and the entire LGBT community in Massachusetts,” said Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Since he took office, Gov. Patrick made the compelling and necessary case that minority rights should never be put up for a popular vote.

Today, let's call on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to demonstrate the same kind of leadership in recognizing that the ballot process should never be used to take away or preclude basic rights and freedoms.”

Contact the Governor:

By now all of North America knows that Ed Jew was arrested and booked last night on nine felony charges.

I guess I don't have to urge him to resign anymore. If convicted of any of the felonies, he will be kicked-off the Board of Supervisors automatically.

On the evening news last night one of our other Supervisors commented, "this is not a good day for San Francisco".

I can well understand why that comment was made - seeing a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors arrested and charged with multiple felonies, all of which involve extremely serious violations of public trust. However, I disagree.

Yesterday was and today is a very good day for San Francisco. Just take a look at some of the crooks who have held vice-like grips on American cities, particularly during much of the twentieth-century. Actually, we can use the White House as an even better and more current example. Forget about Scooter Libby. We all know deep down inside that Dick Cheney is more crooked than Lombard Street, yet he is still in office (shame, shame on us).

Yet, here in San Francisco a courageous City Attorney, Dennis Hererra, was the first to sense a problem. His thorough and penetrating investigation lead up to the demand Ed Jew prove his residency. Later, Jew's own response sealed his fate. The case went to Kamala Harris who called for the arrest warrants. The system worked here in San Francisco.

Ed Jew, in the final analysis, just wasn't smart enough to pull the wool over our eyes. Our city attorney and district attorney were on the job! This is, indeed, a very good day for San Francisco!

Jew's defense lawyer, Bill Fazio, who unsuccessfully ran against Kamala Harris for District Attorney, told the Chronicle, "It's not like he's a flight risk, he's a supervisor,'' Fazio said. "You think they would at least give Supervisor Jew that consideration.''

So what Ed Jew is a Supervisor? That does not mean that we in San Francisco have two sets of standards - one for people who are the nobility and the other set of standards for people who are commoners. No, no, Bill Fazio, you are dead wrong! We have one set of standards for all people who violate our laws. No wonder Bill Fazio didn't win that election. Let's all pray to God that he never does!

This warm and sunny Wednesday morning, I am very proud to be a San Franciscan and I am very proud to have Dennis Herrera and Kamala Harris serving us in public office. I'm equally grateful we will soon no longer have Ed Jew in public office, and, based on his recent comments, I am also pleased Bill Fazio is still just a paddy wagon chaser.

It's a beautiful day in the City by the Bay and all is well.

Ed Jew may be innocent. He is entitled to be seen as innocent until he is proven guilty. Of course, so is Dick Cheney entitled to be seen as being as innocent as a little lamb until proven otherwise. Still, most of us would rather see Cheney and his puppet buffoon boss out of office and living far, far away from Washington.

Likewise, we would like to see Ed Jew resign from office and go back home (wherever in hell that may really be).

Rose Pak is the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the Chinese Community in San Francisco. When Rose speaks, just about everybody listens and this is what Rose Pak had to tell the Chronicle:

"This story won't die until he quits," said Rose Pak, a leader of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, who did not endorse Jew when he ran for office last year. "I wish he would just resign so it doesn't drag on and on."

City Attorney Dennis Hererra wasn't born yesterday and he's not deaf, dumb and blind, so, not surprisingly he didn't buy into Ed Jew's bullshit story about living in his house in the Sunset. That's the house with the brand-new paint, no pictures on the wall, no coffee tables, no sign of having been lived-in, no dining table, no children's toys and neighbors who all are telling the same story that the house has been empty for years.

Dennis Herrera is not Ed Jew's only problem. Allegedly, the FBI set up a sting operation and provided $40,000 to the Quickly company, which in turn paid it to Jew, who is now stumbling around trying desperately to stay out of handcuffs.

Come on, Ed Jew, if you really have any sense of responsibility for the City and County of San Francisco, if you care anything at all about the people of San Francisco, then for God's sake, PLEASE, do the right thing:

RESIGN and go find a place where people are as stupid as you think we must be.

The San Francisco Police Department is asking for your assistance in locating the following outstanding criminal suspects. If you have seen any of these individuals, please call 911, your local police station or call the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line: . Do NOT attempt to apprehend or detain any of these individuals by yourself.

Tony A. Luong	Denver Chan
Vitaliy Nikolayevich Spichak	Delmar Saballos Jr.
Robert Tseng	Richard Antolin
Francisco Villalta	Jonte Jaquan Amerson
Parrish Broughton	John Pratt

Mayor Gavin Newsom has announced the City's new 2008 budget. Throughout most of the document it is simply a matter of continuing funding as appropriate. The four areas that represent major improvements over last year are Streets, Public Safety, MUNI and Homelessness.

These are four areas that have been in dire need to improvement and expansion. Keeping our City streets in good repair, beefing up the SFPD, improving MUNI and doubling the funding we spend to address homelessness in the City are all commitments that will result in fewer panhandlers and fewer shopping cart campers plus happier and safer citizens. These quality of life issues are key to keeping San Francisco's visitors and tourists returning.

Those tourists will bring bigger bucks, some of which will go into the general fund and enable the City to do even more next year.

Mayor Newsom's budget is a solid step in the right direction, but not everybody thinks the Mayor has created a good budget proposal. Supervisor Chris Daly is not only of the dissenting voices, he's out in front leading the loyal opposition. You can read Chris Daly's thoughts on the matter on his daily blog here and on Fog City Journal's latest blog posting here.

Here are some brief details of the Mayor's budget:

Streets

Mayor Newsom’s budget invests $5.4 million more for street repaving over last year, for a total of $36.4 million. This investment, for the first time, meets the city’s repaving needs. Hooray! No more potholes ruining my suspension and throwing the front wheels out of align.

Public Safety

Newsom’s budget improves public safety by adding 250 new police officers, augmenting the 354 new officers that have been added since 2004, and moving toward a goal of 750 officers by 2009. The budget also includes 12 new park patrol officers in Golden Gate Park. Terrific! SFPD Chief Heather Fong has needed this kind of upgrade for a long time.

Now, I'd like to see the City's various merchants associations to pool their funds and hire San Francisco Patrol Special Police officers to do beat foot patrols in their respective business neighborhoods.

Muni

Newsom’s budget will fill 135 Muni operator positions and add 18 street managers. The Muni fleet will be improved with 86 new hybrid buses, and a $2.5 million upgrade will be made to the light rail vehicle fleet. The budget invests $10 million in customer service improvements such as NextMuni, enabling commuters to get information on arrival times via the Internet, cell phone and bus shelter signs.

MUNI will also benefit tremendously if Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin's ballot measure succeeds. Read about it here.

Homelessness

Newsom’s budget doubles the number of Homeless Outreach Team members and invests $700,000 to create a Community Justice Center. The Center will address low-level offenses like panhandling, littering, and graffiti, and provide an array of services to rehabilitate offenders.

More information is available from the office of the City's Budget Analyst.