Ed Jew, Brute? Part Five: KTHXBAI

Constant Readers,

I have not written about Eddie-boy in a while because once it was clear that he is drrrrty, writing about the inevitable fall was just not as fun.

Today, the funitude returned.

Today we learned that Ed Jew is fixin' to resign effective tomorrow (Jan. 11). As a big wet sloppy "Thank you for not making us spend any more resources to deal with you," the City will drop the ethics charges (brought by Mistermayor) and the lawsuit brought by City Attorney Dennis Herrera. Actually, its not really an "exchange" because the goal of the ethics charges and the lawsuit is to get Ed offa the Board and now that he's leaving, its just a case of "You're Fired"- "I Quit." (Here are the actual docs involved: the City Attorney's press release, Ed's letter of resignation, the settlement agreement, and the docs dropping the ethics charges and civil lawsuit.)

So, what do you need to know?

1) Remember that the Feds are still prosecuting Jew for bribery, mail fraud and extortion related to Tapioca-Gate, and D.A. Kamala Harris is still prosecuting Jew for perjury because he fibbed about his residency on his application to run for Supervisor. These cases are not part of the settlement. (Though I predict that the D.A. will drop/settle her case, too.)

2) Since Carmen Chu was only appointed to the Board to fill Ed's seat while Ed was suspended pending the ethics investigation, Mistermayor can now appoint someone new to her seat or let her stay in the seat until January 2009 when whomever gets elected to D4 this November will take over. (Charter Sec. 13.101.5(c)(2).) Chris Daly has my favorite theory about what will happen. (Though it perhaps gives Mistermayor too much credit.) UPDATE: After what was described as an "outpouring of support from District 4 residents," on Jan. 11, Mistermayor swore in Carmen Chu as Jew's official replacement on the Board. I think this was a good move. Since she was appointed as Jew's temporary replacement on September 25, Chu has quietly been trying to learn the ropes, doesn't ask dumb questions and generally has not embarrassed herself. Which, on this Board, makes her truly exceptional.

3) According to the terms of the settlement agreement, Embattled Ed will not be able to run for office in SF for 5 years. Which, incidentally, is what the punishment would have been if the Ethics Commission and Board of Supes had removed him for "official misconduct." (Charter Sec. 15.105(d)(B).)

4) Don't forget that back in September, Edmund rejected a plea deal that would have required him to resign his seat. It looks like his new lawyer understands that smugly declaring one's "intent" to live somewhere doesn't make it so.

Hey, Ed: Thanks for making us spend all that time and money to get you off the Board. You know, there's a Congressional race going on in your real district. Don't let the door hit you on the ass...

--Melissa

BONUS: Jew's official statement to the media, pages one and two.

Comments

[sfwillie]

Thanks for the summary. So GN's appointee stays through 2010--yikes!

There was some mention that if Ed hed resigned by such&such a date there would have been a spec election to replace.

I urge again: Amend the Charter--no appointed incumbancy!

--sfWillie, as always, you are totally right. I corrected the mistake - the Mayor's appointee only serves until January 8 of 2009. Thank you so much for pointing it out! --Melissa

[sfwillie]

or incumbency. either one. I mean neither one.-)

[Jamie]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Carmen Chu to stick around .... she seems to be catching on quickly and listening to her constituents needs. I don't envy anyone who goes through a political contest, but she seems to have her heart in the right place and her finance background is MUCH needed on this Board right now (understanding of costs and consequences).

[Greg]

Carmen Chu is great because she has this idea that her job is to represent the Sunset District, not use the job to steal from people or to use it as a platform for another office, or parrot the agenda of one side or another.

Plus she wasn't afraid to stand up to our allegedly Moderate Mayor when he pushed all the homeless out to the westside and some exchange student got stabbed. Good for her.

[el Greco]

If Ed had only learned to steal the honorable way (you know, using legislation like Chris Daly), it would have been so different. Now he's going to end up in the floral department at Lompoc, making valentine's arrangements for the inmates.

[vansmack]

I can't believe you got me to read Daly's blog...