Attorneys for Ross Mirkarimi, who now include local attorney David Waggoner and Shepard Kopp from L.A., filed a petition today to get City Attorney Dennis Herrera disqualified from Mirkarimi's upcoming hearing regarding his official misconduct charges. Mirkarimi and his lawyers are going to be arguing before a judge on April 20 that his suspension by Mayor Lee should be overturned, but the day before, April 19, a judge will now be hearing arguments about whether Herrera has a conflict of interest in the case.
Mirkarimi Trying To Get Herrera Off His Case
City Attorney Sues Tenderloin Markets For Drug Sales, Fencing Stolen Goods
Two civil lawsuits were filed today on behalf of the City of San Francisco against two Tenderloin businesses that are considered "host businesses" for drug sales and the fencing of stolen property. The businesses are Barah's Market at the corner of Leavenworth and Turk, and Razan Deli & Grocery nearby at 391 Ellis Street. City Attorney Dennis Herrera says these lawsuits were needed to help kids and seniors and to "create an environment where people can thrive and be the best we can be."
City Attorney's Office Sizes Up Proposed Circumcision Ban
New developments today as the proposed circumcision ban inches its way towards popping up on the November ballot: After religious groups whipped out a lawsuit last week, calling the proposed ban an attack on their First Amendment rights, the City Attorney's office put on their legal briefs to weigh in.
City Attorney Sues Two Companies For Alleged Illegal Dumping In Bayview
New High Protection Roofing Co. and Salvador Trucking Service are the two alleged jerks allegedly behind the illegal dumping of over 100 tons of roofing materials and other debris in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood over the past five months. City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking maximum civil penalties and damages.
Rebuffed at San Francisco City Hall on Valentine's Day
These two would-be brides were all dressed up with no place to go at San Francisco City Hall yesterday.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Reportedly Resigning
That's a picture taken by reader Angela of a counter-protest sign at the June 07 Ed Jew rally that says "RESIGN" in Chinese. Well, Angela -- that day is nigh: City Attorney Dennis Herrera takes a break from infuriating the ACLU, the NRA, and Mark Geragos to announce that he's holding a press conference at 1 p.m. where Ed Jew is expected to resign from the Board of Supes.
Tiger Beat: Dennis Herrera vs. Mark Geragos -- It's On!
What's on the cell phones of those who survived the recent tiger attack?
Health Care Program for the Uninsured Dealt Blow
After a federal judge blocked "a key provision of a new city program providing basic health care to uninsured residents, City Attorney Dennis Herrera is scheduled to petition the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today for an emergency stay pending appeal to help SF maintain the "Healthy San Francisco" program. The program, which would help uninsured San Franciscans receive health care, was scheduled to begin on January 2, 2008. According to CBS 5:
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Straight Hardball
Goodbye, Ed Jew's attorney Steven Gruel! The revolving door that is beleaguered former District 4 Supervisor Ed Jew's legal team spins once again, depositing the pugnacious Mr. Gruel on the street and leaving the team's latest addition Stuart Hanlon (hired to replace Bill Fazio in the state criminal case) in charge of all of Ed's legal matters. Gruel, as you may recall, was handling Ed's case on the city ethics charges and the federal racketeering claims, but now Hanlon will have all of Ed's cases. Busy man, Stuart Hanlon.
Call Off Your Old Tired Eth-- Oh, For A Golden Shower I Charge $250, Baby
Seeing as how San Francisco spends $11.4 million enforcing prostitution, Supe Jake McGoldrick, according to the Examiner, "asked the city attorney to draft legislation directing San Francisco police to make prostitution one of its lowest enforcement priorities." Making the oldest profession in the world a lower priority would possibly "help curb trafficking and exploitation in the sex industry." Just dandy, right? Well, not for Newsom.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Lungless Salamander
Today's Chron Bay Area section takes a break from covering the plight of lungless salamanders in Korea ( is this in the Bay Area section? Yes, yes, we know, it's because Cal researchers are researching them -- we're asking the question in a more philosophical sense.) to report that: oh no! Ed Jew's state criminal trial has been postponed again, to at least April 08.
Bernal Heights Burrowing Owl In Danger?
We got word today from an anonymous source that two residents of Bernal Heights -- including a former President of Golden Gate Audubon Society -- spotted a burrowing owl a block from their house on the southeastern side of the hill. The (sub?)species was confirmed by another Audubon-er.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Forever in the Spotlight
The supernatural forces behind the Ed Jew storyline are not pleased with Halloween and earthquakes hogging all of the attention. As of today, Ed Jew officially has his fourth legal suit brought up against him. After asking Jerry Brown if he could get all litigious on Jew a few months ago, today SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera finally filed the lawsuit we've all been waiting for -- or not -- that he didn't live where he was supposed to live when he ran in 2006 and took office in early 2007.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Sue Me, Sue Me, What Can You Do Me
State Attorney General Jerry Edmund G. Brown gave the OK for SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera to sue Ed Jew today. A civil lawsuit like this would permanently remove Jew from office.
UPDATE: Butt Biter Behind Plan to Split State's Electoral Votes
Charles Hurth, city attorney for the tiny town of New Haven, Mo., is one of the main men behind the push to make California Electoral College votes more Republican-y, a confusing ploy that would split the votes by congressional districts. But Hurth also has another claim to fame:
We Read The Weeklies
Last week's winner, the SF Weekly: Someone's angry with the Bouncer. Local progressive Adam Werbach is a Walmart sellout. Why won't anyone endorse the mayor? Cover article: the back story about the Haight neighborhood activist killed in an S/M session gone wrong. These drawings illustrating the piece are pretty rad, though (see left) -- did Matt Smith do 'em? A Hank Williams Birthday Karaoke Sing-Off???? There's a tear in our beer too! The anti-war Berkeley Rep Play is uneven. Meredith hits her second good review for SFist Ced. And Let's Get Killed screens some rare rock movies.
Tenderloin Housing Clinic Update: Things Still Kind of Awkward and Uncomfortable
Firings! Lies! Non-lies! It's so fucking exciting!
We Read The Weeklies
Last week's winner, the East Bay Express. Dream cartoonist: Fascist zombies versus Marxist ones. So hard to tell the difference sometimes! The situation with the Oakland Trib union. Internal disputes at an East Bay lesbian bar. Cover article: should you store your baby's umbilical cord blood or donate it? Hand-churned ice cream in Fruitvale. Hey, we didn't know I Like Eating is a teacher! We would totally be in I Like Eating's homeroom class! Yoshi's on their new SF expansion. And the Crowded House reunion tour.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Conrad Black
SFist Nick forwarded along an unintentionally-hilarious article by professional provocateur Christopher Hitchens from earlier this week in Slate. In this article, Hitchens mostly complains about Conrad Black, the Canadian press tycoon recently convicted of corporate fraud, but check out this kicker at the end!
Oh No, Ed Jew!: Plea
E to the Dizzo, J to the Ew-wo -- not guilty, we gots to feel him! Ed Jew, in an American flag tie, appeared in state criminal court today and pled not guilty to the charges of lying about his residency, but not before waving at and hugging members of a 100-deep cheering crowd outside the courthouse.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: "Increasingly Preposterous"
The City Attorney's Office has filed a reply to Ed Jew's response to the State AG from last week that if you don't think he lives in the city, you're a racist.
Oh No Ed Jew!: Slumber Party
The Chron has the goods on Mr. Jew's lawyers' 138-page response to City Attorney Dennis Herrera's initiation of proceedings to remove Mr. Jew from his board of supes post. In a nutshell, Tapioca Ed's team is claiming that he kept part-time residence in his Sunset house, and slept there with "increasing frequency."
No More Drama (The SF Budget)
Sorry we're late on this one! Not much to report, just that Board of Supes president Aaron Peskin has named himself the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee after firing Chris Daly from the position, and proclaimed his intent to make it a "no-drama" budget approval process this time around.
Gangs Are Over (If You Want It)
City Attorney Dennis Herrera took a break from harassing that nice Ed Jew today, introducing a lawsuit against three gangs. Our knowledge of streetgang etiquette is pretty much zero, but we can't imagine the "Knock Out Posse" will be giving him the courtesy of an RSVP. At any rate, the plan is to use an injunction to impose stiffer penalties for gang activity in certain areas. In the past, this technique worked against the Oakdale Mob, Dennis' office says, so hopefully it'll work again now. Now all's we need is some spiffy police work to back the injunction up.
Oh No, Ed Jew!: "Prove It"
Mayor Gavvy-Gav's finally gotten through the City Attorney's report about Ed Jew, and he's none too happy about it! This is cutting into Jennifer Siebel cuddle time!

