SAN FRANCISCO: Killing puts mayor, D.A. in deep freeze

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/10/6 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

The fallout from the slaying of a 22-year-old murder witness who had been under San Francisco prosecutors' protection highlights what insiders noticed some time back -- that up-and-coming Mayor Gavin Newsom and up-and-coming District Attorney Kamala Harris are barely on speaking terms.

Sure, the two meet regularly in the mayor's office to discuss policy -- but as one participant said, "The temperature is so cold between them, you could freeze a six-pack in two minutes."

Some track the chill back to the behind-the-scenes rivalry between Harris and Newsom's ex-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, when the two worked as prosecutors for former District Attorney Terence Hallinan.

Others say the animosity stems from a fear in the Newsom camp that Harris might decide to take a run at the mayor's job in 2007 if Newsom stumbles.

Still others say the rift is the by-product of the finger-pointing between the cops and the district attorney over the city's failure to put more killers behind bars and stem an epidemic of street homicides.

Whatever the case, Newsom's camp sees Harris as insufferable and self-centered -- and the Harris folks see Newsom as endlessly self-promoting and imperial.

And that was before Terrell Rollins -- the murder witness in the D.A. protection program -- was shot to death outside an auto repair shop in the Bayview. Rollins was supposed to be under armed escort whenever he came into the city, but on Thursday he decided to drive in on his own.

It was a fatal mistake on Rollins' part -- but it was also an embarrassing reminder that despite Newsom's very public efforts, the city's homicide rate is still running at a 10-year high.

The day after the shooting, reporters were all over the mayor. He argued that "this is not the first time this has happened,"

[leaky acres mac]

EGGH Im moving to wyoming,

[Pukin Dog]

She is a former Victoria Secret model. I think her looks are somewhat scary. Like the Sucubus from South Park fame.

[fish hawk]

I guess someone out is San Francisco gives a damn but I can't imagine who.

[geezerwheezer]

Or...even why? heh,heh,heh...

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

You wrote: Selfish, nasty people.

What do you expect??? They're libs!:-)

[samantha]

My first thoughts when I saw her were she is all mouth and teeth and Jaws, and she is breathing into the Camera with her mouth wide open like Susan Estrich used to. Kinda grossed me out,but she has got lots of experience in the Prosecution area.