Facing less-than-outstanding poll numbers in the November election and being hammered by her opponents on crime, Mayor London Breed campaigned Thursday for a Republican-authored effort to redo the state’s Prop 47 sentencing law.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has three major opponents in this November’s mayoral election, all of them claiming they’d be tougher on crime than her. And Breed’s campaign is very sensitive to the crime issue, as evidenced by their massive overreaction to a local rapper’s diss track about her crime record, a tune which would have gone largely unnoticed had Breed supporters not thrown tantrums about it.

Facing terrible polling numbers, Breed is eager to burnish her ‘tough on crime' credentials. And on Thursday, she spoke at a campaign event for a ballot measure to overhaul Prop 47, California’s often-maligned 2014 law that makes property crimes under $950 a misdemeanor instead of a felony. But the odd thing here, as the Chronicle points out, is that this ballot measure campaign for the “Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act” is being run by Republicans.

“In San Francisco, we are making progress on property crimes, but the challenges we are facing related to fentanyl and organized retail theft require real change to our state laws,” Breed said at Thursday’s event, according to a release. “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act will make targeted but impactful changes to our laws around fentanyl and help us tackle the chronic retail theft that hurts our retailers, our workers, and our cities.”

The ballot measure’s campaign chair is Greg Totten, the Republican CEO of the California District Attorneys Association. Its biggest supporter holding elective office is House Rep Kevin Kiley, a Republican from eastern California who unsuccessfully tried to overturn Prop 47 in 2022 when he was still in the state Assembly.

In fairness, the measure also has the support of Democratic mayors Matt Mahan (San Jose), and Todd Gloria (San Diego).

If this measure passed, it would allow prosecutors to bring felony charges on suspects with two prior theft convictions, regardless of the value of the stolen items. It would also allow judges to send convicted drug dealers to state prison instead of county jail, and would allow for more murder charges against fentanyl dealers in cases of fatal overdoses.

But this measure is not even guaranteed to be on your November ballot. The campaign needs half a million signatures by April 23 (they claimed this week they have 214,000 currently). As the Chronicle points out, “The campaign’s top donors are Walmart, Target, Macy’s and a powerful California prison guards union, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.”

Related: State Lawmakers Once Again Going After Prop 47 Amidst Retail Theft Blowback [SFist]

Image: @LondonBreed via Twitter

The San Francisco Republican party welcomes the crackpot QAnon Georgia congressional rep for their Saturday, November 6 dinner, but her unknown vaccination status may be forcing them to hold the event outside city limits.

Georgia congressperson Marjorie Taylor Green does not sit on any House committees, has zero legislative influence, and her role in government is just to pull stunts and create shocking headlines. That makes her the perfect guest speaker for the nominally relevant San Francisco Republican Party, who it appears have booked Taylor Greene to speak at their Saturday, November 6 dinner.

This is the same representative Marjorie Taylor Green who claimed that the 2018 Camp Fire was caused by Jewish space lasers.

The above screenshot does not lend a great deal of detail, other than the date and time of the event. But it also shows the ticket prices; $175 a pop for a regular attendee, $300 for VIP seating, “Head Table Seating” for $400 a seat, and a table of 10 for $1,400.

Ominously, it notes “Location will be provided after RSVP.” So they have to see your money before they tell you the event’s location.

The Bay Area Reporter’s Matthew Bajko obtained what appears to be a separate flyer for the same event, and makes an excellent point  — since Taylor Greene will not disclose her vaccination status, she could not be admitted to an indoor event in San Francisco. The flyer Bajko obtained notes a”Northern San Mateo location to be disclosed 48 hours prior to event,” so they may be skirting the requirement by having the event outside S.F. city limits.

It could also be at a private residence, like the Ron DiSantis fundraiser hosted by Recall Chesa Boudin backer David Sacks. After all, given the choice of speaker, it likely likely that ignoring COVID-19 precautions will not only be a topic du jour, but also actively practiced by health guideline-ignoring attendees.    

And hey, it would probably be a Republican badge of honor to be able to say “I got COVID-19 from Marjorie Taylor Greene! herself!”

Related: Over 56,000 People in San Francisco Voted for Trump [SFist]

PERRY, GA - SEPTEMBER 25: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) greets supporters at a rally featuring former US President Donald Trump on September 25, 2021 in Perry, Georgia. Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker, Georgia Secretary of State candidate Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), and Georgia Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Burt Jones (R-GA) also appeared as guests at the rally. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Days after two Republican congressmen from California took potshots at it, a $141 million federal gift to BART has been dropped from the $1.9 trillion stimulus package.

As we reported earlier this week, Republicans latched on to the relatively tiny piece of the stimulus package, $141 million earmarked for BART's project to extend service into downtown San Jose. Rep. Devin Nunes, while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference over the weekend, called it "a tunnel from Silicon Valley to San Francisco," and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called it "$140 million for a tunnel near Pelosi's district."

Other Republicans referred to it as "Speaker Pelosi’s pork subway project," and as the Associated Press reports, as of Wednesday, it looks to be getting nixed from the stimulus package. The reason is not that these Republicans dislike it, but the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that the BART money is for a pilot project, and therefore isn't eligible for inclusion in the bill.

Also getting nixed from the bill is an even smaller sum: $1.5 million in funding to maintain and operate a bridge in upstate New York that connects Canada and the U.S. Because this is in Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's state, this was also derided as "pork" by the Republicans.

"Now that the two projects that Republicans misled the public about in the House bill have been removed, it is unclear how Republicans will justify their opposition to the American Rescue Plan, which has strong bipartisan support among the public," says a spokesperson for Speaker Pelosi, Drew Hammill.

Besides these two bits of infrastructure funding and a $15 minimum-wage provision that the Senate Parliamentarian also suggested was ineligible for inclusion, the Senate bill is expected to largely mirror the House version.

Construction on the extension of BART tracks past North San Jose/Berryessa Station was expected to begin next year, and with BART in dire financial straits, it could end up delayed without federal funding. The money was intended to build six miles of track, including five miles that would be underground as the route extends to future stations called Downtown San Jose and Diridon. The overall project, which is Phase II of an extension project that dates back decades, is currently estimated to be complete in 2030.

Bernice Alaniz of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority tells the AP that Nunes and McCarthy had really misrepresented the project at CPAC when they referred to it being a pet project of tech "oligarchs."

"It really is an essential transit alternative for a highly congested commute corridor and it serves two large universities — San Jose State and Santa Clara University,” she said. "So I know some of the criticisms are like, ‘oh, it’s for the high-tech oligarchs.’ But we serve transit dependent workers and we serve a large percentage of students going to these colleges."

Also, as SFist pointed out, calling it a "tunnel from Silicon Valley to San Francisco" is also misleading — we already have the Transbay Tube for that, and BART trains reached North San Jose last June, and if you want to get to most of Silicon Valley from SF you still have to take Caltrain.

Previously: Devin Nunes Misrepresents BART Funding During CPAC Speech as 'Tunnel From Silicon Valley to San Francisco'

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Warning: One arguably NSFW image below.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump brought his reality-TV-and-racism roadshow to the Bay Area today, speaking to a California GOP Convention crowd of about 600 party bigwigs Friday in Burlingame. But more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside the convention’s Hyatt Regency location, and made an almost-successful attempt to prevent Trump's limousine from arriving. SFist was on hand to capture exclusive videos and pictures of the melees, confrontations and amusingly clever signage.

Not to mention the costumes. Here we see “Captain Mexico”, who gained additional notoriety for burning Trump in pinata effigy. “It’s originally a Captain America [outfit] and I just spray-painted it,” Cap told SFist (his real name is Eric Lopez and he’s from Hercules). “I love Captain America, don’t get me wrong. I’m pro-Cap. Civil War. It’s just now with the whole political thing, I thought it was the right time to bring it out. I’m not a Donald Trump supporter.”

The first crashing of the gates came at roughly 11:50 a.m., before Trump’s delayed limo had even arrived. About 50 protesters were able to infiltrate the barriers and get right right up to the hotel’s main entrance. Police blocked them from entering, and eventually push the crowd back at the 2:08 mark. Despite the audible shouts, no one was injured in the confrontation. The LA Times has video of the initial barrier crashing.

But that was nothing. A second, far more substantial gate crash at about 12:20 p.m. allowed any protester who wanted to to just waltz right on to the hotel property. SFist did just that, and got this video as hundreds mobbed the entrances of the Hyatt to engage in NSFW chants.

As demonstrators blocked the adjacent 101, the orange-and-thin-skinned real estate mogul was forced to hop over a median wall on foot to get to his speaking engagement. “His hair was just blowing in the wind, and yes his hands are small” said Leela Najafi, an eyewitness to Trump’s pedestrian escapade.

Image: Joe Kukura

“That was not the easiest entrance,” The Donald said in his speech, according to KTVU. “I felt like I was crossing the border."

Image: Joe Kukura

Though the security perimeter was crashed twice, there was not violence on the level of Trump’s Costa Mesa appearance last night at which five police cars were damaged and 17 were arrested. There were five arrested at today’s demonstrations, and one injury was reported by CNN.

Image: Joe Kukura

The day was not free of skirmishes, though. Discovery Bay Trump supporter Adam Carry was shoved around, had his phone whacked out of his hands (and eventually returned) and his ballcap knocked off by jeering protesters. ”I was just taking pictures. Next thing I know I was mobbed,” Carry told SFist, before Fox News whisked him away for an onscreen interview.

Image: Joe Kukura

The above sign was created by 14-year-old Adrian Agnoli, “Trump’s a madman, dude," the youngster told SFist. “If he wins, we are all screwed over. I want to see if I can do something about it.”

Image: Joe Kukura

Trump’s speech did eventually go off as planned. Should you care, GOP hopeful John Kasich addresses the audience tonight at a dinner banquet, and both Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina will address the convention tomorrow. Trump’s full remarks can be seen below, beginning at the 1:09:00 mark.

Previously: Photo Du Jour: Trump Pinata Burned In Effigy
[Update] Donald Trump Arrives In Burlingame As Protesters Block Freeway

Tonight is the first Republican presidential debate, otherwise known as “the bloodbath cornucopia of the 58th quadrennial Hunger Games”. Admit it, you’re tempted to watch this thing for the sheer gonzo political porn spectacle of it all. But tonight’s 6 p.m. PDT proceedings, being broadcast live on Fox News, are not streaming live online. So which San Francisco bars and venues are broadcasting the Republican debate? Yes, we do have political bars in this town. But the debate is up against Jon Stewart’s final episode of the Daily Show so most of the dorky political bars are going with that, and so the pickings are slim.

What’s amazing to me is that some venues are charging admission for this thing. What’s even more amazing is that some of them are sold out! There are either more Republicans in the Bay Area than I thought, or else the Koch Brothers bought a shit-ton of tickets they have no intention of using.

We did find a couple San Francisco venues playing tonight’s Republican debate. Here are a few venues where you can watch tonight’s debate and chug beers like Marco Rubio chugs water on live national television.

Connecticut Yankee

“We’re doing it, but we’re not making it a big deal,” says tonight’s bartender at Connecticut Yankee. Republican debate watchers will be welcomed at the Connecticut Yankee, but will be relegated to a back room not unlike lower-tier candidates relegated to the Fox News kids’ table debate. After all, this place is Daily Show territory.
100 Connecticut St. (at 17th. St.)

SFDCCC's Republican Debate Watch Party

(Image: SF Democrats)

It’s $25 even for the cheap seats, but you’ll have Nancy Pelosi onhand to co-host the SF Democrats Republican Debate and Circus Watch Party. You do get one complimentary drink for the cheap ticket, and more drinks for the pricier tickets. Apparently this event will utilize a circus theme.
Laborers International Union of North America Afl-Cio Local 261 building, 3271 18th St, (at Shotwell St.)

SFGOP Republican Primary Debate Watch Party (SOLD OUT)

(Image: SF GOP Facebook page)

The SF Republican Party is holding their debate watching party at a private golf course and it is sold out. That said, their Facebook event page shows 1 person going. Across the greater Bay Area, the Bay Area GOP website lists several debate watching parties in Alameda, Walnut Creek and of course the Dave & Buster’s in Milipitas.
Presidio Golf Club, 8 Presidio Terrace (at West Pacific Ave.)

New Parkway Theater (SOLD OUT)

(Image: Whitney F via Yelp)

The boozy and comfortable New Parkway Theater has Angry Black Lady Chronicles’; Imani Gandy and defense lawyer Dan Roth hosting. But curiously, this Republican debate watching party in Oakland is completely sold out.
474 24th St., (at Telegraph Ave.), Oakland

Are we missing any places, Bay Area political junkies? Feel free to go over your allotted time in the comments section below.

Senator Arlen Specter, the 29-year Senate veteran from Pennsylvania, announced today that he was changing his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. In a statement, he said, "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans." One motivating reason: Specter is lagging behind a challenger in the Republican primary. President Obama told Specter, "You have my full support. [We're] thrilled to have you," and now the Democrats have a near-filibuster-proof majority—they'll have it, if Al Franken is ever seated in Minnesota. The GOP, reportedly caught off-guard, is calling an emergency meeting. SFGate points out that Specter's "legacy as former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee was seating [the] two conservative Supreme Court justices...Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito."

Now, why the heck would all these Republicans go Democrat? This is part of "The Plot." Instigated by Rush Limbaugh, the theory is that Hillary Clinton would be easier for Republican fave, John McCain, to beat at election time. By having Republicans voting for Hils in the primary instead of Barack Obama, this will help ensure that McCain will be the victorious one in the White House. Supposedly.

While you're not (technically) allowed to change party affiliations day of the primary -- protocol calls for one to sign a pledge card promising to support that party in the future -- the article reports that "dozens and dozens of Republicans scribbled addendums onto their pledges as new Democrats: 'For one day only.' 'I don't believe in abortion,'" and were rarely challenged by poll workers on their party change.

This certainly throws a twist into why Hillary won Ohio, doesn't it?

Picture of Ohio by Natalie Dee.

Ralph Nader announced yesterday that he will take yet another tireless stab at the Oval Office, this time running as an Independent in the 2008 presidential election. Oh joy. Prattling on endlessly about how the Democratic and Republican candidates aren't addressing the issues, and blah blah, who cares, this will be his fifth attempt at snatching the title President of the United States of American.

What with a black man, Barack Obama, in the running, don't expect to hear a peep of support or praise for Nader coming from local, fetishizing progressives.

FILM: In Being Michael Madsen, the titular star "turns the tables on notorious paparazzo, Billy Dant, by hiring a trio of documentary filmmakers to chronicle Dant's life, loves, and troubles." Crafty! The film also stars David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, and Virginia Madsen. Screens at The Roxie.

READING: Michael Layne Heath and William Taylor Jr. read in honor of Abraham Lincoln's birthday (and of being our first gay Republican president!) at Dog Eared Books.

* MUSIC: Put on your favorite black t-shit and whitest face powder. The queen has returned. Lead singer of Siouxsie & the Banshees and the Creatures, Siouxsie Sioux has influenced countless goth bands, punk outfits, girl groups, and trannies. Now, after a disastrous performance at the Warfield several years ago, she returns (this time to the Fillmore) for a two-night stay. Her "Mantaray & More Tour" opens with Rasputina.

CLUB: Before Trannyshack bids us adieu , check out the return of former Trannyshacker and current Scissor Sister Ana Matronic for "Ladies Choice" night. For those of you not in the know, the show starts a midnight at The Stud in SOMA.

The listed events were chosen by the editors of SFist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.

Republican (it goes without saying) Assemblyman Guy Houston of San Ramon wants to slice off more than $3 million in state funding from Berkeley for their stance against Marine recruiting. He will introduce legislation to "withhold state transportation money until Berkeley rescinds its 'war on the U.S. Marine Corps.'"

Jesus.

In a move that will ideally hurt his political career -- since it's a waste of time, a symbolic prick move, and has little to zero chance of ever passing -- the flame-haired Houston's move parallels other Republican Congressmen. A few others on the right have also whined about financially destroying the city of Berkeley after the twee and annoying anti-war group Code Pink picketed downtown Marine recruitment center, prompting the city council to approve a measure that urged the Marine recruiters to leave their downtown office.

Next week, according to CBS 5, "Berkeley council members will consider rescinding the Marines' declaration to defuse the controversy." Way to stay strong.

We had about 50% turnout (though we can't tell if the Board of Elections is still counting or not), with 75% turnout for registered Democrats (which we think includes all the Decline To States).

On the presidential side, Barack Obama won SF -- but with only 52% of the vote. We really did think that would be much higher! (There's a big however here, though, which is that this count does not include provisionals or absentee ballots turned in on the day of the election.)

More musings on numbers, the SF Republican vote, and the rest of the propositions after the jump.