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San Francisco too lenient on crime

San Francisco is too lenient on crime according to Deputy Police Chief Morris Tabak. Tabak made the remarks at last night's Police Commission meeting. (File photo 5/4/6)
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

January 10, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A top San Francisco Police Department official placed the bulk of the city's crime problems on a "historically lenient approach to crime" at a police commission presentation Wednesday night.

According to Deputy Chief Morris Tabak, San Francisco courts are letting criminals out on bail at alarming rates and police officers are forced to arrest the same offenders again and again.

Full story, click here.

Supervisors reject salary funding
for Airport Commissioner

International Economic and Tourism Development Director Bill Lee.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Luke Thomas

January 11, 2007

Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to reject funding for International Economic and Tourism Development Director Bill Lee who serves on the Airport Commission.

Full story, click here.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
announces plans for first fuel cell project

All fuel cells contain two electrodes - one positively and one negatively charged - with a substance that conducts electricity (electrolyte) sandwiched between them.
Illustration courtesy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Bay City News Service

January 11, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission announced Wednesday it has approved a new agreement to design, permit and build San Francisco's first fuel cell project by the end of this year.

The project, which would be built at the SFPUC's Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant, would use a 600-kilowatt fuel cell to convert gases that are naturally emitted from the wastewater treatment process into electricity to be used to help run the plant.

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In defense of anonymity

By Francis Somsel

January 10, 2007

"Protections for anonymous speech are vital to democratic discourse. Allowing dissenters to shield their identities frees them to express critical, minority views. Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation at the hand of an intolerant society."
- Supreme Court - McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission

There has been some talk about the alleged identities of several posters on local internet chat boards. I thought that the issue was dead and buried, but a recent conversation changed my opinion on the matter. So, as a former moderator on both The Wall and The Junto, I thought it my responsibility to comment.

Full story, click here.