We've been giving you a blow-by-blow of this Occupy Wall Street West's antics through the day, as hundreds of protesters gathered in the city's Financial District, attempting to disable the banks.
They had predicted this to be the biggest street demonstration since the anti-war protests in 2003, and while they were wrong about that, it was still a semi-productive event -- at the very least, entertaining.
For those of you holed up in your office all day, here is what you missed downtown:
Even you hipsters out there who are completely ambivalent about all things football, who got your ass kicked by the jocks in high school, who would only wear a 49ers sweatshirt to a theme party, and, like our vice president, are apt to confuse the 49ers with the S.F. Giants -- even you will not be able to escape the 49er frenzy descending on the city on Sunday.
One of the major missing pieces in the domestic-violence case against newly elected Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi emerged during his arraignment on three misdemeanor counts yesterday: Text messages and e-mails, allegedly sent by his wife, that prosecutors say demonstrate her concerns that Mirkarimi was physically abusing her.
The content of those messages forms a significant piece of the evidence against Mirkarimi, along with the testimony of neighbors and videotaped statements his wife, Eliana Lopez, made to a confidante. Yet few media outlets other than SF Weekly and the San Francisco Examiner seemed to pay attention to the revelation of some of the texts and e-mails, which cast a further shadow on the embattled sheriff and former supervisor.
Giselle Esteban, the 27-year-old woman accused of killing her former classmate, Michelle Le, appeared in court today where she pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
The Union City woman, who recently gave birth to her second child while in jail, was reportedly ordered to appear in court on Feb. 17, when a date for her trial should be set. She is being held in Alameda County Jail without bail.
An Alameda County criminal Grand Jury indicted Esteban on Dec. 14, which means prosecutors could skip the discovery, or the court hearing where they must prove there's enough evidence to take the case to trial.
(Update) 3:50 p.m.: It looks like the madness is moving down Marker Street, where protesters are blocking traffic. So yeah, your commute home will suck. The Occupy Party bus has arrived, and is headed toward the Civic Center, it appears. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo is playing it smart and has boarded up all its windows, not that this demonstration has been anything like what we saw in Oakland.
(Update) 2:27 p.m. Sgt. Michael Andraychak tells us that as of 12:30 p.m., a total of 19 protesters were arrested after refusing to move away from the Wells Fargo exits. Police are still in the Financial District, but Andraychak says the demonstration seems to have calmed down for now. "It ebbs and flows," he said. SF Weekly's Browner tells us that protesters have gathered outside of the Bank of America on Montgomery, closing off the street off. Police are standing nearby in riot gear.
(Update) 1:16 p.m. Browner now tells us a group of peaceful protesters are moving to City Hall, singing bluegrass tunes of all things. Browner says she's seen a handful of protesters arrested, and confirmed with Occupy that at least seven demonstrators have been hauled to jail. However, other media outlets are reporting that number is now at 19. Police are no longer lingering at California and Kearney, but no word on where they are now.
Update: (12:23 p.m.): A police source tells SF Weekly that occupy protesters on Market Street are posing as undercover cops, arresting their fellow protesters. "
After Saturday night's No Last Call party, there's not a chance the Gold Dust Lounge is leaving the premises, at least not voluntarily. Attorneys for Handlery Hotels, Inc., owners of the property where the Gold Dust Lounge is located, have filed a claim against the Bovis brothers, who are refusing to leave the bar -- literally.
The Gold Dust Lounge was supposed to have last call on March 10 -- the day of its eviction. But instead of packing up and leaving, bar owners threw a huge day-long bash, where they kept the drinks coming.
The lawsuit, which was filed yesterday in San Francisco, is the latest scuffle in this real estate war, which has pitted people who like to drink against those who like to shop, specifically at Express, the clothing store that's supposed to move into the Union Square space. Sam Singer, spokesman for the Handlery family, says yesterday's filing is the first step to ensuring the Gold Dust Lounge has last call.
Update: (1 p.m.) Medical authorities identified the man who was shot to death last night as 30-year-old Rory Jones, an Oakland resident. Police told reporters that Jones was sitting in his car when the suspect approached him and asked him if he had any "weight" -- a street term for drugs.
When Jones said he didn't, the man shot him and ran off. Jones got out of the car and ran down the street until he collapsed. He died a half-hour later.
Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi appeared in court yesterday to defend himself against charges of spousal abuse and child endangerment. But what's the silver lining for Sheriff Mirkarimi?
SF Weekly readers probably haven't forgotten the disastrous blaze that consumed several Western Addition buildings just three days before Christmas. But you can stop wondering what happened to those unfortunate victims, and start helping them.
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church is hosting the Beyond the Blaze benefit to raise cash, all of which will go toward helping these fire victims get back on their feet. Tonight, residents are invited to come grub, win prizes, and hear Leonard Cohen tunes covered by an a cappella group. Come check out the four local bands playing -- Gaucho, Even Taylor, Conspiracy of Beards, and The Sundance Kids.
As if that wasn't good enough reason to dole out money for fire victims, there will also be a cash bar -- at church!
It's hard to be nostalgic when you don't remember anything. It's also hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything. Vernon Davis, who made what is being dubbed "The Catch III," was several years shy of being born when Dwight Clark made "The Catch."
But fans -- we remember. We remember everything.
The New York Giants are what Walter Sobchak would call "a worthy adversary." The team's nickname -- Big Blue -- fits all too well. Like another Big Blue, the Giants were, and are, a methodical, even plodding, behemoth that grinds up opponents and measures progress in victories, not style points. Watching Phil Simms hand off to Otis Anderson may not have been as aesthetically pleasing as watching Joe Montana or Steve Young thread it to Jerry Rice -- but it got the job done.
When the Giants and 49ers meet in high-stakes competition, as they will in the conference championship on Sunday, it can be good, bad, or ugly. But it's seldom not memorable.
Jan. 20, 1990. New York 15, San Francisco 13
