SF's new DA, Kamala Harris

[Faithless]

Is now large and in charge.

http://www.kamalaharris.org/

She's San Francisco's first female DA. She's 38 and African American. She replaces fuddy-duddy Terence Hallinan.

She was swarn-in today.

What to expect from her office:

http://www.kamalaharris.org/about/issues/;jsessionid=TN2LHOHQ2TKNACQQPABCFFA

[Faithless]

She is said to be of and Indian descent, and considered to be the first official of Asian descent to hold the office, as well.

http://journalism.berkeley.edu/ngno/stories/001458.html

[moJo]

when she was running, she had an ad running on the local chinese tv channel. she spoke a few lines of horrendous cantonese to appeal to the chinese voters. it kinda looked like she was trying too hard.

she also dated willie brown in the past. he's like...70. ick.

[Chris]

I personally voted for her. As for the cantonese as least she tried. I rather have speak bad cantonese and tried than not tried at all.

[moJo]

I personally voted for her. As for the cantonese as least she tried. I rather have speak bad cantonese and tried than not tried at all.
i wasn't sure who to vote for, so I didn't vote for DA at all. i did vote for Matt Gonzalez, though. :( Ugh, I hate Newsom.

[Chris]

i wasn't sure who to vote for, so I didn't vote for DA at all. i did vote for Matt Gonzalez, though. :( Ugh, I hate Newsom.

hhahah I am a moderate so it was Newsom for me. ;)

[moJo]

hhahah I am a moderate so it was Newsom for me. ;)
it's unfortunate that we can never be friends now. :tongue: hehe.

[Chris]

it's unfortunate that we can never be friends now. :tongue: hehe.

Fine then. I will "conviently" forget you on our next Yay Area meet up. :tongue:

[Faithless]

when she was running, she had an ad running on the local chinese tv channel. she spoke a few lines of horrendous cantonese to appeal to the chinese voters. it kinda looked like she was trying too hard.

she also dated willie brown in the past. he's like...70. ick.

I thought I'd give her props, because she's a sister of sorts.

But are you saying there (*shutter*) skeletons?

[moJo]

I thought I'd give her props, because she's a sister of sorts.

But are you saying there (*shutter*) skeletons?
hmm. i usually assume that most people in politics have "skeletons". to me, it's the norm rather than the exception.

well, i'm not trying to rag on her. at least not completely. i don't know enough about her to do so. i heard she's done some shady things in her career (i can't remember what), but should i be surprised? and on the flip side, she's involved in women's issues, and combatting domestic violence, i believe. so that's a *thumbs up*. :) plus, it's *usually* good to see minorities elected to public office.

[kasia]

ew. district attorney. that's not representing.

the san francisco public defender. jeff adachi. that's representing.

http://www.sfpolitics.com/images/people/jeffadachi.jpg

http://www.sfpolitics.com/html/profiles/people_detail.cfm?txt_name_first=Jeff&txt_name_last=Adachi

[Faithless]

I guess it all depends on the case.

Adachi represents man sentenced to 17 years for manslaughter (http://www.pbs.org/kqed/presumedguilty/2.1.0_flash.html)

[kboy75]

hey that's my friend's friend. the one who works in that same office. i rememeber he helped campaign for him to get that position. i hope he gets that same position one day. he would be great.

ew. district attorney. that's not representing.

the san francisco public defender. jeff adachi. that's representing.

http://www.sfpolitics.com/images/people/jeffadachi.jpg

http://www.sfpolitics.com/html/profiles/people_detail.cfm?txt_name_first=Jeff&txt_name_last=Adachi

[Chester]

hmm. i usually assume that most people in politics have "skeletons". to me, it's the norm rather than the exception.Especially in San Francisco. We're a tolerant city. Willie has been separated from his wife for years (but not divorced) and is totally unabashed about parading around at public events with various "freinds." Today, an article on him had a picture of another former girlfriend and his illegitimate child. But nobody cares about any of this. Classic San Francisco -- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here's an interesting thing: Kamala Harris is now the boss of the new mayor's wife, Kimberly "Mauling Case" Guilfoyle-Newsom. There were rumors spread that, when Guilfoyle-Newsom was originally trying to join the SF DA's office, Harris tried to block her hiring. Which would mean that Harris and Newsom have cause for beef.

But Harris has publicly denied the rumor and I think the Newsoms have kept quiet about it. It would be interesting if the two divas had an intra-office catfight, but I imagine that their Children of Willie lineage will keep shit together between them.

[younggiftedandblack]

Puyblic defenders don't get to pick who they represent, correct???

I think I would rather be a DA if I was a lawyer. I couldn't stomach having to defend someone I felt really was guilty.

[Faithless]

Where is it said that a DA is a BS job?

If their task is to send criminals to prison, that's "all good" to me.

Kamala says she'll be "smart on crime" (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/08/EDG9Q44RDQ1.DTL)
The dialogue about public safety in San Francisco and across the country is usually dominated by one simplistic question -- are you "tough" on crime, or are you "soft" on crime? As we start a new era in the district attorney's office today, it's time to put an end to that false choice. Let's start today by being smart on crime.

By being smart on crime, we will build a district attorney's office that is compassionate and effective; progressive and professional. My crime- fighting philosophy starts with the belief that we must protect our citizens from violent crime without doing violence to our constitutional freedoms.

This belief is not new in San Francisco. Exactly 60 years ago this month, Edmund G. "Pat" Brown took office as San Francisco's district attorney. At the time, the D.A.'s office and Police Department were in terrible shape, and the public had lost faith in the integrity of their criminal justice system. Brown ran on a reform platform, and succeeded, as Earl Warren had done as Alameda County's district attorney, in professionalizing the office and reshaping the city's legal system.

Brown was also a vigilant protector of civil liberties. He wrote to President Roosevelt challenging the deportation of labor leader Harry Bridges. He strongly opposed the evacuation and internment of Japanese American citizens and established special local measures to protect them from racist attacks when they returned to San Francisco.

To be smart on crime, we need to begin, as Brown did, by restoring professional management to the D.A.'s office. I have the highest respect for the attorneys who work there. My aim is to give them a world-class office where they can do their best work.

We also need to reject simplistic, reactive public policies. It takes more than building prisons and locking away prisoners to keep our city safe. As district attorney, I will not use three-strikes enhancements unless the third strike is a violent or serious felony; nor will I ever ask for the death penalty.

At the same time, let me be unmistakably clear that anyone who commits a rape, molests a child, commits murder or any other violent act will be met with the most severe consequences and be removed from this community so that they can do no more harm.

Nowhere is my commitment against violence stronger than when it comes to children. We are faced with an epidemic of violence against children in this city, especially gun violence. Can it really be true that the news of a child being shot in San Francisco has become routine? One of my first priorities will be to fight gun violence and get guns out of the hands of kids. I will strictly enforce laws that provide longer prison sentences for crimes committed with guns and vigorously prosecute adults who sell guns to children. My office will also launch new gun-violence prevention initiatives in San Francisco's middle and high schools.

To further protect our children, I will create a new unit within the D.A. 's office, the Child Sexual Assault Unit, to investigate and prosecute every sex crime committed against a child. A city that is smart on crime also knows that youthful offenders need more than just being cycled through the system until they end up right back on the street corner.

As a community, we need to stand together for an ideal of justice that helps individuals overcome poverty and addiction, finds them safe places to sleep and provides the opportunity to build productive lives of dignity and respect.

I ask every citizen to help me in this quest. We can succeed when we harness the collective wisdom of the people throughout this city. I look forward to working with you.

[SunWuKong]

ew. district attorney. that's not representing.

the san francisco public defender. jeff adachi. that's representing.

http://www.sfpolitics.com/images/people/jeffadachi.jpg

http://www.sfpolitics.com/html/profiles/people_detail.cfm?txt_name_first=Jeff&txt_name_last=Adachi

i saw a documentary about SF public defenders and he was in it.

[Chester]

It would be interesting if the two divas had an intra-office catfight...
It shall not be. According to Matier and Ross (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/11/BAGF447TD81.DTL), Guilfoyle-Newsom is leaving the DA's office to start a weekday legal affairs show on Court TV, with filming in NYC.

[raacluse]

ew. district attorney. that's not representing.

the san francisco public defender. jeff adachi. that's representing.

http://www.sfpolitics.com/images/people/jeffadachi.jpg

http://www.sfpolitics.com/html/profiles/people_detail.cfm?txt_name_first=Jeff&txt_name_last=Adachi

I think, somewhere, I have a couple self-published novellas or short fiction booklets that Adachi put out years ago. Somebody had given 'em to me.

[Faithless]

If the D.A. Is of Half-Asian Descent, Why Does the Press Label Her 'Black'? (http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=60710&sid=5)
When Kamala Harris was elected as San Francisco's district attorney in December, local press accounts made special mention that she was the "first black woman" to win that high office.

It is common journalistic practice to note pioneering facts about prominent public figures — the first woman this, the first black that, the first Latino whatever, the first openly gay something or other. It's either a sign of social progress or "political correctness."

But how accurate and how relevant are such ethnic and gender labels? In Harris' case, not totally accurate and somewhat relevant.

A minority of the stories I read about Harris leading up to her election provided information about her mixed ethnic background. Her father is black; her mother is of South Asian descent. I even recall reading that Harris is proud of her partial Asian heritage.

But most stories, when they used an ethnic label, limited her to being a "black woman." Why was that? Doesn't that simplistic — and misleading — label deny part of who she is? And why is any kind of ethnic labeling needed, in the first place?
...

I've wondered that my self. I'm thinking that it is because she looks more black than Asian.

[lethal]

If the D.A. Is of Half-Asian Descent, Why Does the Press Label Her 'Black'? (http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=60710&sid=5)

I've wondered that my self. I'm thinking that it is because she looks more black than Asian.

Possibly for the same reasons that Tiger Woods is described by others as Black even though he is of mixed heritage.

The again, Tiger's actions have belied his words that he is proud of his Asian background. Yes, he wears the red sweaters, but he's been given many awards by several different ethnic organizations. He's only ever accepted the black ones in person, never the Asian ones.

Harris, similarly, may not emphasize her Asian heratage. If she refered to herself as Asian Indian, I would think the press would pick up on that.

Also, backlash may be an issue. If a Hapa celebrity says he or she is black, whatever, he or she may be called out by the Asian community (but that backlash is negligible) while some may embrace that person's Asian heritage. If he or she calls himself Asian, then the other side's community may call him or her a sellout (and that community is much larger). Which side to alienate? The smaller one, of course.

[Faithless]

Also, backlash may be an issue. If a Hapa celebrity says he or she is black, whatever, he or she may be called out by the Asian community (but that backlash is negligible) while some may embrace that person's Asian heritage. If he or she calls himself Asian, then the other side's community may call him or her a sellout (and that community is much larger). Which side to alienate? The smaller one, of course.
Yeesh, I hope not in Kamala's case.

She should have enough sense to not take a backlash.

Tiger possibly, since his probably not as strong, mentally, not in a smarts way, but in a tough-minded sort of way.

Alright YW, who wants to ask her what she feels about her Asian heritage?

[Faithless]

The sister verses the San Francisco Police Officers Union.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/042204n_harris

Gay marriage is to Gavin Newsome what the death penalty is to sister Kamala.

[yoMAMA]

I read in newsweek that the DA is of south asian descent.....

whatever...who cares?

[Chester]

Alright YW, who wants to ask her what she feels about her Asian heritage?No need to ask. She's spoken about it publicly.

Here's an L.A. Chung article in the Merc that addresses the whole hapa issue...

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7474959.htm

User: ywreader@yellowworld.org
Pass: ywreader

The key quote, with regard to this thread:
``Political and racial identification is still very unsophisticated,'' said Harris whose mother, Shyamala, is a endocrinologist and breast cancer scientist originally from Madras and father an economist from Jamaica. ``My Indian heritage is just as strong as my African-American heritage. One does not exclude the other.''

[Faithless]

Oh. I'm so over that issue.

I was focusing on her recent scrap with the SF Police Officers Union, which seems to be forcing their political beliefs where it don't belong.

But I do like her comment: "My Indian heritage is just as strong as my African-American heritage. One does not exclude the other."

[Chester]

Oh. I'm so over that issue.

I was focusing on her recent scrap with the SF Police Officers Union, which seems to be forcing their political beliefs where it don't belong.Today's Matier & Ross has some juicy stuff on the issue...Feinstein apparently threw down the gauntlet in public, calling for the death penalty...

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/21/BAGH568DVM1.DTL

[Faithless]

That's nice.

But seeing as the majority of San Franciscans don't support the death penalty, supposedly (I hear from the news), then the cops and Di-Fi can scream all they want. Seems to me.

[Chester]

But seeing as the majority of San Franciscans don't support the death penalty, supposedly (I hear from the news), then the cops and Di-Fi can scream all they want. Seems to me.To some extent, yes, but making enemies out of the police and Dianne Feinstein isn't good for Harris's career and may create big difficulties in her job, which might lead to voter disapproval aside from the death penalty issue.

Remember what happened to Hallinan when he decided to directly butt heads with the PD.

And, from what Matier & Ross are saying about Fong clearing her statements with Newsom, it seems that the mayor isn't going to intervene on either side, so he's going to just let Harris take all the flak that she might attract over the issue.

This isn't that much of a surprise since Newsom and Harris -- despite being Brown protegées -- aren't all that close and Newsom's wife was rumored to have had a feud with Harris.

[Faithless]

To some extent, yes, but making enemies out of the police and Dianne Feinstein isn't good for Harris's career and may create big difficulties in her job, which might lead to voter disapproval aside from the death penalty issue.

Remember what happened to Hallinan when he decided to directly butt heads with the PD.

And, from what Matier & Ross are saying about Fong clearing her statements with Newsom, it seems that the mayor isn't going to intervene on either side, so he's going to just let Harris take all the flak that she might attract over the issue.

This isn't that much of a surprise since Newsom and Harris -- despite being Brown protegées -- aren't all that close and Newsom's wife was rumored to have had a feud with Harris.
Di-Fi's insertion into this situation sucks.

Somewhere somebody in the Police Officers Union made a call to ask her voice her thoughts (my opinion based on how City politics can play out). She probably was looking at future political blow-back for support from the Police officers Union.

D-Fi is a little full of crap too with regards to not knowing Harris was against the DP. It was an issue during the DA race. Di-Fi probably didn't bet on the DP becoming an issue.

Chief Fong has to back her officers. That's the price for leading the boys in blue.

Newsom sucks too. He's waivering because he can't get political backing from his other projects with the Police if he doesn't support them, here.

The SF Police Officers Union needs to back off.

[Chester]

Somewhere somebody in the Police Officers Union made a call to ask her voice her thoughtsThat would be my imagination. She's a long-term supporter of the death penalty, but that public sandbagging reeks of basic politicking.
D-Fi is a little full of crap too with regards to not knowing Harris was against the DP. It was an issue during the DA race.Yup. And Harris made zero attempt to make clear her position on the DP.
Chief Fong has to back her officers. That's the price for leading the boys in blue.I can't blame her. First, I imagine she actually personally wants the DP pushed in this case. Secondly, even if she didn't, she's in no position to steer the SFPD into a different directions.
Newsom sucks too. He's waivering because he can't get political backing from his other projects with the Police if he doesn't support them, here.In general, I think he's already gone out on too many limbs to crusade for something that brings him little or no political return. And I don't even know what his DP stance is...

[Faithless]

Poll finds that 70% of San Franciscan's support D.A. Harris' decision to seek life over death for accused killer of Officer Isaac Espinoza.

SF Chronicle article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/19/BAG8C6O8G91.DTL)
Despite loud criticism from police and powerful politicians, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris has the city's voters overwhelmingly behind her when it comes to not seeking death for the alleged killer of Officer Isaac Espinoza.

That's the finding of a poll of 600 city voters by David Binder Research, taken in the past week. It found that 70 percent of respondents backed Harris' decision to seek life in prison without parole for defendant David Hill, to just 22 percent opposed to her no-death-penalty call. Eight percent were undecided.

From the looks of things, Harris' stand hasn't hurt her popularity, either. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed gave the new D.A. favorable marks, compared with 16 percent unfavorable.

Although some of her critics have accused Harris of making a knee-jerk call based on her oft-stated opposition to the death penalty, Binder says she's scoring points with the public for consistency.

"Voters are saying that campaign promises should mean something,'' Binder said Tuesday.

The poll was paid for by SFSOS, the business-friendly advocacy group founded with the help of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Ironically, it was her call for the death penalty at Espinoza's memorial service last month that stoked the anti-Harris fires in the first place.
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