From Asian Law Caucus

September 2, 2010

A broad coalition of civil rights groups today applaud Sheriff Michael Hennessey for sending another letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the California Department of Justice to request that San Francisco be allowed to out of a dangerous finger printing program known as S-Comm (i.e., Secure Communities).

S-Comm is a program that automatically shares with ICE any fingerprints taken by local law enforcement right after any individuals are arrested, no matter how minimal the charge or whether the individual is eventually found to be innocent of alleged charges, thereby resulting in increased deportations and the tearing apart of families. In the past six months, ICE has tripled the number of jurisdictions operating S-Comm, and it is now in 494 jurisdictions in 27 states.[1]

Continue reading ICE Confirms S-Comm is a Voluntary Program

1 Comment »

 Email This Article        Print This Article

Filed under: Immigration, Law

By Luke Thomas

September 1, 2010

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom today swore in Cheryl Brinkman to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors during a swearing in ceremony at City Hall.

The former Board President for Livable City, a non-profit organization that promotes mass-transit and bicycle/walking-friendly neighborhoods, was appointed by Newsom to the seven-member Board because she is qualified and capable, Newsom said.

“I don’t know why anyone would want to serve on the MTA, but I don’t think there’s a better choice for someone to serve on the MTA than Cheryl,” Newsom said. “She’s just simply qualified and capable and she deserves this position and she’s going to do a great job and I’m absolutely confidant of that.”

In 2008, Brinkman and Livable City teamed up with the Mayor’s office to spearhead the implementation of Sunday Streets, a program that closes off streets to auto traffic in revolving, select neighborhoods to promote safe environments for recreational activities, as well as to promote a sense of community for residents. The highly regarded program is based on a similar program in Bogota, Colombia.

Continue reading Newsom Swears In Brinkman to SFMTA Board

1 Comment »

 Email This Article        Print This Article

Filed under: News, Politics, Transportation

From the Office of City Attorney Dennis Herrera

September 1, 2010

The California Supreme Court today denied without comment Sup. Michela Alioto-Pier’s petition for review and stay of a unanimous appellate court ruling that last week restored the legal effect of the “rounding-up rule” for term limits for members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The rule provides that if an appointed incumbent serves more than two years of a term, it counts as a full four-year term for purposes of term limits.

In rejecting the appeal, the high court has effectively affirmed the legal opinion of City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s office, which advised Alioto-Pier in February 2008 that she was ineligible to seek another term on the board in 2010 under the City Charter’s term limits provisions.

“Michela Alioto-Pier is someone I’ve regarded as an ally on important issues, from protecting public safety to fighting to shut down the Mirant Power Plant,” said Herrera. “While we obviously disagreed on the interpretation of the City’s term limits law, I have always respected her right to pursue this dispute in the courts. I know most San Franciscans join me in thanking her for her service to our City, and I hope there will be other opportunities for us to benefit from her leadership in the future.”

The case is Arntz v. Superior Court, California Supreme Court Case No. S105808. Additional documentation is available on the City Attorney’s Web site at http://www.sfcityattorney.org/.

3 Comments »

 Email This Article        Print This Article

Filed under: News, Politics

By Luke Thomas

August 30, 2010

A legal challenge to force the withdrawal of a controversial pension and healthcare reform measure from the November ballot has failed.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn today approved Proposition B for the November ballot but stripped a “poison pill” provision from the measure, a provision Kahn ruled unconstitutional.

“This is a pretty big sledgehammer,” Judge Kahn said of the poison pill language. “This violates the First Amendment.”

Continue reading Court Approves Amended Pension/Healthcare Reform Measure for Ballot

9 Comments »

 Email This Article        Print This Article

Filed under: Economy, Labor, Law, News, Politics