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Ed Jew: The Britney Spears of Local Political Coverage
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 : In the absence of a seriously contested San Francisco Mayor’s race, the local media appears desperate to come up with “political” stories. The Chronicle has sought to fill this void with nonstop and repetitive coverage of the sad saga of Supervisor Ed Jew. Like gossip columnists dependent on the latest Britney Spears embarrassment, Matier & Ross have turned their space over to Jew’s ongoing missteps.
In both cases, each tiny new detail provides a backdrop for repeating the full range salacious allegations.
Clearly, extorting funds from prospective tapioca store operators and running for office in a city where one is not a resident, are serious charges. And when a politician is charged with both extortion and electoral fraud, this is news. But Ed Jew does not hold the balance of political power in San Francisco. His vote is only one of eleven, and has not made a difference on any important issue. And while the media focuses on Jew, it ignores stories that more directly impact San Franciscans. These include stories about why a skyline-transforming 100-story Transbay Terminal building is moving forward with little public support, how the city’s working families are coping with rising rents, or why the city’s crime wave is escalating.
Celebrity gossip is a huge business, and the public loves hearing inside scoops about politicians. But whereas Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan are followed by paparazzi and have huge followings, and Idaho’s Larry Craig is a United States Senator, excessive reportage on an otherwise obscure San Francisco Supervisor seems driven more by journalistic boredom than a desire to sell papers.Read More
Clearly, extorting funds from prospective tapioca store operators and running for office in a city where one is not a resident, are serious charges. And when a politician is charged with both extortion and electoral fraud, this is news. But Ed Jew does not hold the balance of political power in San Francisco. His vote is only one of eleven, and has not made a difference on any important issue. And while the media focuses on Jew, it ignores stories that more directly impact San Franciscans. These include stories about why a skyline-transforming 100-story Transbay Terminal building is moving forward with little public support, how the city’s working families are coping with rising rents, or why the city’s crime wave is escalating.
Celebrity gossip is a huge business, and the public loves hearing inside scoops about politicians. But whereas Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan are followed by paparazzi and have huge followings, and Idaho’s Larry Craig is a United States Senator, excessive reportage on an otherwise obscure San Francisco Supervisor seems driven more by journalistic boredom than a desire to sell papers.Read More
For more information:
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?...
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Dear Mr. Shaw,
Supervisor Ed Jew has been indicted for one count of mail fraud not extortion which is what your column implys. I do agree it's slow pickings for our local press given any real local election news with a serious challenger to our mayor. One would think, then, that the news media, would have more time to get the facts involved here straight, read the 27 page federal indictment and try, given the gravity of the charge, to present both sides of the issue to educate, not prejudice us, as citizens. As far as I know, it is still, trial by jury and not a press who seems bent on getting Ed out, at any cost.
Although I am not a lawyer, I am however a voting citizen and a resident of D4 who sees the gravity of the situation and the rush to remove Ed before his day in court all in the name of expediency. I have to say Mr. Shaw, the media has never really shown any interest in getting to know the Sunset district but the smell of scandel brought everyone running here. In the end, the rush to remove Supervisor Jew, before his day in court will mean in end, the overturning of an local election. That is serious stuff to me and not to be taken lightly. In my heart I believe in every citizen's right to a fair trail, unbiased and not tainted by a bored press and in presumed innocence until a jury proves otherwise. Ed Jew, as far as I know, is still a citizen and has that right to his day in court, to access to an unbiased jury and presumed innocence. The media, unfortunately has gotten it wrong on high profile cases in the past, where the facts and the law get buried to sell papers and prejudice.
Remember, the Wen Ho Lee Case where an innocent man spent the better part of his life in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The judge had to apologize for this gross injustice.
Thank You
Supervisor Ed Jew has been indicted for one count of mail fraud not extortion which is what your column implys. I do agree it's slow pickings for our local press given any real local election news with a serious challenger to our mayor. One would think, then, that the news media, would have more time to get the facts involved here straight, read the 27 page federal indictment and try, given the gravity of the charge, to present both sides of the issue to educate, not prejudice us, as citizens. As far as I know, it is still, trial by jury and not a press who seems bent on getting Ed out, at any cost.
Although I am not a lawyer, I am however a voting citizen and a resident of D4 who sees the gravity of the situation and the rush to remove Ed before his day in court all in the name of expediency. I have to say Mr. Shaw, the media has never really shown any interest in getting to know the Sunset district but the smell of scandel brought everyone running here. In the end, the rush to remove Supervisor Jew, before his day in court will mean in end, the overturning of an local election. That is serious stuff to me and not to be taken lightly. In my heart I believe in every citizen's right to a fair trail, unbiased and not tainted by a bored press and in presumed innocence until a jury proves otherwise. Ed Jew, as far as I know, is still a citizen and has that right to his day in court, to access to an unbiased jury and presumed innocence. The media, unfortunately has gotten it wrong on high profile cases in the past, where the facts and the law get buried to sell papers and prejudice.
Remember, the Wen Ho Lee Case where an innocent man spent the better part of his life in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The judge had to apologize for this gross injustice.
Thank You
Gavin Newsom and several members of the Board of Supervisors have relentlessly pressured Ed Jew to step down.
Are they really upset that he lived in Burlingame? Certainly not, since many of their allies, including John Burton and Carole Migden were known not to live in their districts. In addition, the Supreme Court has held many times that the legal "domicile" of an official does not need to be his primary residence. All that is necessary is some connection to the domicile -- in this case, his father owns the building; and an intent to return -- which is difficult to prove, and would be very difficult to disprove, since he and his family have moved in.
If they believe the latest charge charge relating to Quickly Tapioca, do they really believe that Newsom is trying to clean up The City of corruption? There is so much corruption in this city, most of it tied to Newsom and his allies.
I believe the only reason that Ed Jew has been the target of this campaign is because they dislike his politics. Newsom wants to control as many Supervisors as possible, and does not want any more independents. He has enough problems dealing with Chris Daly. He doesn't want a similar problem on the right. He will appoint a replacement that will to the machine line.
Lest you think I am a political ally, I will write here I am a Green party member, on the left, and I disagree with most of his votes. But I disagree more with hounding out of office someone who was duly elected.
Are they really upset that he lived in Burlingame? Certainly not, since many of their allies, including John Burton and Carole Migden were known not to live in their districts. In addition, the Supreme Court has held many times that the legal "domicile" of an official does not need to be his primary residence. All that is necessary is some connection to the domicile -- in this case, his father owns the building; and an intent to return -- which is difficult to prove, and would be very difficult to disprove, since he and his family have moved in.
If they believe the latest charge charge relating to Quickly Tapioca, do they really believe that Newsom is trying to clean up The City of corruption? There is so much corruption in this city, most of it tied to Newsom and his allies.
I believe the only reason that Ed Jew has been the target of this campaign is because they dislike his politics. Newsom wants to control as many Supervisors as possible, and does not want any more independents. He has enough problems dealing with Chris Daly. He doesn't want a similar problem on the right. He will appoint a replacement that will to the machine line.
Lest you think I am a political ally, I will write here I am a Green party member, on the left, and I disagree with most of his votes. But I disagree more with hounding out of office someone who was duly elected.
Randy, when a city of 800,000 is governed by 11 people, it's important when one of them is accused of being a crook. I don't know if he's guilty or not, nor do I really care; but he can not do his job while all this is going on. Newsom was correct in suspending him so the city can move on while Jew gets his day in court.
As to the Transbay tower, I really do think you and a small minority of old 70s San Francisco are tilting at windmills that have long since vanished. SF is big city, it's not a village. Cities have tall buildings, and most of us like them. What always amazes me about "progressives" here is that while you think you are "progressive", you are actually the most reactionary people in town. All change is bad. All growth is bad. Successful people are bad. "The Homeless" can do no wrong and have no responsibility for their actions and their conditions. Only the poor are deserving of attention. It's tired, Randy, and has been for a long time.
As to the Transbay tower, I really do think you and a small minority of old 70s San Francisco are tilting at windmills that have long since vanished. SF is big city, it's not a village. Cities have tall buildings, and most of us like them. What always amazes me about "progressives" here is that while you think you are "progressive", you are actually the most reactionary people in town. All change is bad. All growth is bad. Successful people are bad. "The Homeless" can do no wrong and have no responsibility for their actions and their conditions. Only the poor are deserving of attention. It's tired, Randy, and has been for a long time.
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