SAN FRANCISCO: Jeff Adachi persona non grata at funeral

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/12/11 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

Noticeably missing from San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's lengthy introduction of the city's "official family" at Friday's funeral of two firefighters was public defender and pension reform advocate Jeff Adachi.

That's because Adachi, who had been standing with other dignitaries at the memorial outside of St. Mary's Cathedral, was asked to leave before the service started.

According to witnesses, a large firefighter in uniform came up to Adachi and asked him to leave, at the request of a member of the fallen firefighter's family.

When asked about the incident, Adachi confirmed that he had been asked to leave. "I had gone to pay my respects. I was asked to leave by a captain, I think."

Adachi said "thank you," but stayed put.

According to witnesses, after a couple of minutes the same officer came back and told him, "We don't want to have any problems" and again asked Adachi to leave.

So he did.

When asked if the request had come from one of the families, Adachi said, "I don't recall the request being that specific."

It's no secret that Adachi's efforts to force city workers into contributing more to their pension and health care benefits has made him persona non grata - especially among police and firefighters.

[exDemMom]

It's no secret that Adachi's efforts to force city workers into contributing more to their pension and health care benefits has made him persona non grata - especially among police and firefighters.

Oh, the horror of having to actually provide for one's own retirement and healthcare.

The way I look at it, if something is important to you, you will find a way to pay for it. I guess healthcare and pensions aren't as important to union members as they claim, since they don't want to pay for those themselves?

[Clock King]

There is no way to fix this level of stupidity and tribal behavior. I’ve said for a while, the only thing to do is let the system run smack into reality at supersonic speed. When these fools wake up one day and find they have no pensions, no paycheck, no food on the shelves, and no gas, then they will cry and scream. And that will only make it worse. Then they can cry some more and and shut up when a true thug takes over their lives and enslaves them.

[Polynikes]

That funeral was heavily televised. It would be be interesting to see if there some video footage somewhere that showed Adachi being approached by a firefighter.

I am not saying it did not happen, it could very well have happened as stated, but this is SF and all is not always as it seems. Remember Pelosi’s walk past the Tea party demonstrators. The unions and the public defenders office both have a taste for political theater.