Watching City Hall #319, (9-28-04) “Laughing at inappropriate moments.” (Trait of the ‘Severely Disturbed’) Are you sometimes the only one laughing in a crowded room? … Find yourself wondering why everyone doesn’t see the richly textured hypocrisy and irony that permeate everyday existence? Maybe you’re ahead of the curve, huh? … Or, maybe, you’re just fucking nuts. … These thoughts were going through my head when I read the morning papers today and noted that 150 or more heavily armed police were planning to invade a public hearing tomorrow to demand an apology from a Police Commissioner who thought the cops over-reacted when they sent 150 heavily armed officers to a disturbance at a high school. It gets better The cops never admit a mistake, you know. Oh, yeah … absolutely true. Their motto, honestly is: “Lie til you die!” They do too. So, they blamed any law enforcement misconduct at the Thurgood Marshall riot on the Sheriff’s deputies who came in to help. And now? Follow this amazing thread. Now, the cops are invading a building protected by the same Sheriff’s deputies they’ve demonized. … What’s gonna happen? “Bend over and spread your cheeks, Chief.” I don’t see any reason whatsoever why Heather Fong shouldn’t be stripped naked and thrown into a cold cell overnight. … I mean, that’s what they did to Sister Bernie Galvin and a host of other harmless protestors. How can we be certain the chief doesn’t have drugs or a shiv stuck up her kazoo? … Don’t worry chief, only female deputies will strip you down and probe your most private parts and they’re trained to be gentle. Of course, since you’ve just been accusing them of improper conduct at the Marshall riot, things could get a little rough. … Whatever, just be sure to wear clean underwear. Guardian Angels win D9 Cop contract “We concur that the job of policing the 9th district can be done more cheaply by an independent contractor.” (City Accountant) It can be done a hell of a lot better too. That will certainly be a consideration when the City votes to return to the community policing system. One of my cat sitting gigs for the last few weeks has been in Bernal Heights. Every day I take a bus down Mission and back and I always look for the difference in police and gang presence. Fact is that for the first couple of weeks after Captain John Goldberg took over as head of Mission station, there were cops visible everywhere. They popped on the bus to ride a block or two. They walked down Mission street in the toughest neighborhoods. … Not anymore. Nope, there’s nothing but gang presence at 16th & Mission and at 24th and Mission again. Same on the buses. Business as usual. The cops didn’t know how to walk a beat, anyway. Always 2 cops and always walking together down the center of the sidewalk talking only to each other. What happened to the cops who knew every merchant and bartender and bus driver and trash crew on their beat? You old dogs remember. When I was a kid, the cops had contests to see who was the best with their night stick. They could twirl them with the best cheerleaders and bounce them off the sidewalk and catch them behind their backs while everyone laughed and applauded. Suspicious strangers That’s what cops are to neighborhood people. Generally too, they’re a different color and don’t speak the language. A couple of days ago they announced that they’re gonna increase censorship on all records requested by the public or press. They already keep two sets of records which is blatantly illegal. There are more of them, making more money than ever and they’re doing a worse job than ever. Threats, lies, censorship, insubordination & political muscle. They’re little better than a legal street gang. “Bill Lee called me.” Lee buried his head in his hands when this guy stood up and said that at a meeting of the Board’s, Land Use Committee yesterday. You see, the guy was there to support the privatization of the City’s, Bill Graham auditorium. The man was young and dumb and didn’t realize that Lee’s calling him in January (as Gavin took office) and requesting a bid on rebuilding a privatized Bill Graham hall constituted a policy decision (McGoldrick picked it up instantly) … it was a power that Lee doesn’t possess. Bill’s been a busy boy Last month Lee raised a stink in the press when a group he’d steered a contract to in Chinatown found an empty til. Bill threatened lawsuits and defamation if he didn’t get the funds back. And, just last week at Planning Lee threatened to quit if his fellow commissioners didn’t take action on naming a new permanent director. What’s all this tell you? You got me by the ass, but it sure is interesting. Bill is the City Administrator, whatever that means. Til Gonzalez and Tony Hall rewrote the law, Lee ran the Department of Elections too. He’s the man to call if your trash isn’t picked up (handles contracts with Scavenger & Golden Gate). If I were a real reporter, I’d snoop around and see just what all the boy can do. I know that he has a 10 year contract with the City that Willie gave him (same for Controller, Ed Harrington) … a contract that has 6 years to run and gives him some degree of independence. But, quitting the Planning Commission? That’s a plum assignment that keeps developer money going to you and your friends and your friends’ friends and their cousin, Ernie. Bill’s carrying water for the mayor on all 3 issues. Gavin Corleone? One of the papers reported that Newsom called Planning Commission President, Shelly Bradford-Bell into his office and threatened her with various negative repercussions if she didn’t side with him on dumping Willie’s Director, Gerald Green. Then, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and sent her out. Now, … why would he do that? Has Angela been teaching him Sicilian politics? I’m thinking it has to do with who gets the money from the developers. Is it going to be Gavin’s friends … or, is it going to be Willie’s friends? (Mostly, the same people.) Thing is, Gerald Green, supported by a majority of the Planning Commission is continuing to work to remove protection from small businesses in industrial zones and from small home owners in the neighborhoods. All, in favor of more market rate housing cause that’s the item on which builders make the most. So, Gavin is faced with a Planning Department and commission still controlled by Willie. He’s got a Department of Building Inspections still controlled by Willie’s buddy, Joe O’Donoghue. He’s got a police force that thinks they’re an independent nation and a fire department full of Neanderthal flag wavers who don’t play well with others. Ahhhh, the City. The City. The City. … It does many things to you but it does not do the one thing that would be unforgivable. It does not bore you. Mirkarimi in 5: