Filling Prison Beds for Profit

August 06, 2011 | 1 Comment

At year-end 2010, America’s prison population topped 2.4 million, including federal and state facilities, local jails, Indian, juvenile, and military ones, US territories, and numbers held by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Posted in Politics

Adachi Pension Reform Measure Qualifies for Ballot

Adachi Pension Reform Measure Qualifies for Ballot

August 05, 2011 | 1 Comment

Voters will be asked to consider Adachi’s proposal and a “consensus” proposal sponsored by Mayor Ed Lee and backed by financier Warren Hellman, as well as police and firefighter unions. The consensus proposal includes pension and healthcare costs reforms. Adachi’s proposal is singularly focused on reforming pension contributions. The city’s largest union, SEIU Local 21, has not, to date, endorsed either proposals.

Posted in News, Politics

Candidates Weigh In On Possible Ed Lee Candidacy

Candidates Weigh In On Possible Ed Lee Candidacy

August 05, 2011 | 5 Comments

The Board of Supervisors appointed Lee to the post of interim mayor in January to complete Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom’s term as mayor on the condition and explicit understanding that an appointed “caretaker” mayor would not use the position to run for a full-term. Lee acquiesced to the Board’s proviso, publicly and privately, before being sworn into office.

Posted in News, Politics

Bock and Onek Gang Up on Gascón, Vu Trinh Makes Refreshing Debut

Bock and Onek Gang Up on Gascón,
Vu Trinh Makes Refreshing Debut

August 04, 2011 | 4 Comments

In the race for San Francisco District Attorney, Alameda County Prosectur Sharmin Bock, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, former Police Commissioner David Onek and former Orange County Public Defender Vu Trinh, squared off last eve in a candidates debate held at the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center.

Posted in Opinion, Politics

Arntz: Adachi Pension Reform Measure Qualifying With “Comfortable Margin”

Arntz: Adachi Pension Reform Measure
Qualifying With “Comfortable Margin”

August 03, 2011 | 3 Comments

Expectations are that Public Defender Jeff Adachi’s pension reform measure, dubbed “Son of Prop B,” will qualify for the November ballot. Adachi said he pre-qualified the signatures before submission to the Department of Elections for qualification.

Posted in News, Politics

Excluded From SFPOA Mayoral Forum, Tony Hall Releases Statement

Excluded From SFPOA Mayoral Forum, Tony Hall Releases Statement

August 03, 2011 | 5 Comments

Tomorrow there is to be a mayoral ‘forum’ held by the San Francisco Police Officers Association and moderated by a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. I inquired of the SFPOA’s leadership why I was not invited, and I was told specifically that it was because of my stance calling for stronger pension reform. I asked them to reconsider their position and I have not yet heard back. That is answer enough for me to issue this statement.

Posted in News, Politics

Tom Ammiano Discusses San Francisco Mayor’s Race

Tom Ammiano Discusses San Francisco Mayor’s Race

August 03, 2011 | No Comments

Never the one to shy away from a press interview, Ammiano discussed several topics of interest with FCJ, including this year’s mayor’s race.

Posted in News, Politics