AltWeeklies Wire
How San Francisco's Sanctuary Sellout Hurts Undocumented Teensnew
Before: The city coddled undocumented teen criminals. After: The city punishes undocumented teens who commit crimes (and some who don't, too).
SF Weekly |
Lauren Smiley |
11-18-2009 |
Immigration
Hey Obama, Where's the Justice in the Current Economic Crisis?new

Despite the president's promises of change, corporate crooks are still going unpunished for their roles in the financial collapse.
Meet Theresa Sparks, San Fran's Transgender Trailblazernew

In 2004, she became the city's first transgender police commissioner, and is now among the country's first openly transgender department heads. But Sparks is pondering a move that would be the biggest of all: becoming San Francisco's first openly transgender city supervisor.
Are Sea Lions Too Cute to Shoot?new
As the number of sea lions in San Francisco explodes, the creatures have bitten and bumped swimmers, poached fishermen's catches, sunk boats, and damaged docks. Many would like to see the nuisance creatures banished, but the potential for a public relations disaster is high.
SF Weekly |
Ashley Harrell |
10-07-2009 |
Animal Issues
SFPD Still Uses Unreliable Polygraph to Screen Recruitsnew
Polygraph examinations have constituted a routine part of checks conducted on potential recruits for as long as the SFPD's current background examination supervisor can remember. And it seems as if people are still fooling the machine.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
08-12-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Christopher Muhammad, the Man Who Cried Dustnew
Muhammad's fight with Lennar over toxic dust has resulted in a restraining order against him, an accusation that he's a shakedown artist, and grudging respect from his rivals.
SF Weekly |
Lauren Smiley |
07-02-2009 |
Environment
Have San Francisco's Service Animal Laws Gone to the Dogs?new

In San Francisco, snakes, lizards, pit bulls, chickens, pigeons, and rodents have all been declared service animals, hauled onto public transportation, housed legally in city apartments, and, essentially, given the full run of the city.
SF Weekly |
Joe Eskenazi |
06-17-2009 |
Animal Issues
Stephen Gray's Beautiful Risknew
Tired of hiding the truth, she transitioned into a male sex worker. He's been in a struggle with societal norms -- and himself -- ever since.
Marriage Equality Can Be Achieved by Separating Church and Statenew
While many have denounced the Proposition 8 decision as sanctioning discrimination, few have asked why the state is in the marriage business in the first place. But there is an under-the radar movement to take the fight for gay equality in an unexpected direction.
Bike Hater Rob Anderson Advances the Cause of Cycling in S.F.new
During the past four years, San Francisco has been prevented from installing amenities for cyclists thanks to the legal efforts of a local gadfly. But local policy wonks say bicyclists' rights have progressed more thanks to his efforts than they would have without them.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
05-27-2009 |
Transportation
Emily the Strange Creators Assert Their Character's Lack of Originality in Courtnew
The creators of Emily the Strange — the international goth icon who proclaims that there's nothing more boring to her than copying everyone else — are on a mission to prove she is, indeed, just like every other goth girl in history in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
SF Weekly |
Lauren Smiley |
05-27-2009 |
Business & Labor
Haggag Mohsin's Trial by Firenew
A jury considers whether a San Francisco store clerk acted in cold blood or in self-defense when he shot a woman he accused of shoplifting.
SF Weekly |
Lauren Smiley |
05-27-2009 |
Crime & Justice
When a Mother Is Tried for Murder: The Case of Linda Woonew
Linda Woo's bizarre, Fatal Attraction–like act was sparked by a confluence of individual circumstances many can understand, which included depression, extreme motherly attachment, heartbreak, and a delusional attempt at a solution.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
04-30-2009 |
Crime & Justice
The Case of the Pretty Bad Girlsnew
Without parental guidance, they lived wild and free at an early age, but murder will keep them locked up for years.
SF Weekly |
Ashley Harrell |
04-30-2009 |
Crime & Justice
JROTC Is Under Fire in S.F. Schoolsnew

It has been a quintessential only-in-San Francisco battle -- the military ambassadors playing the rogues, and the lefty progressives as the establishment -- and one that will not die.