Free Republic

The Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 this afternoon to reject Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposed ordinance that would make it illegal to sit or lie on public sidewalks during certain hours. ''The case for this legislation simply has not been made,'' said Supervisor David Campos. Defeat was expected, and the mayor already has said that he would use his executive power to put his measure before voters in November. The idea sprang from frustrated residents and merchants in the Haight-Ashbury who are fed up with people congregating in front of their homes and businesses, menacing passersby. Critics, including homeless advocates and...

A group of San Francisco first-graders took an unusual field trip to City Hall on Friday to toss rose petals on their just-married lesbian teacher - putting the public school children at the center of a fierce election battle over the fate of same-sex marriage. The 18 Creative Arts Charter School students took a Muni bus and walked a block at noon to toss rose petals and blow bubbles on their just-married teacher Erin Carder and her wife Kerri McCoy, giggling and squealing as they mobbed their teacher with hugs. Mayor Gavin Newsom, a friend of a friend, officiated. A...