Book Sale

It’s hard to say something when you don’t have much to talk about. The last few weeks have been pretty uneventful or maybe I am just not paying enough attention. Oh there was one tiny, slightly interesting thing. Maybe.

I jerk up the parking break on Washington Street, right near the Oakland Police Department and look through the passenger window. There it is, a book called “San Francisco: A City for all Seasons” with an introduction by Steve Young sitting in the front window.

I remember the phone call. Elise Hochstadt said I should submit photos for a book project on San Francisco. I was excited and nervous at the same time In the end I managed to get an image in the book. I never got paid from the publishing company and I gave up trying. I somehow managed to squeeze a copy of the book out of them and now there is another copy for sale in this used book store.

Thankless Job

The 37th annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade starts right on time with a deafening collective roar of Harleys as the “Dykes on Bikes” gun their way up Market Street. In their wake a much quieter and smog free contingent of “Mikes on Bikes” peddle and squeak by.

Thousands of spectators line the streets watching as politicians including City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Mayor Gavin Newsom, District Attorney Kamala Harris and Public Defender Jeff Adachi cruise up the parade route waving and smiling.

The public defender wears a shirt that says, “Getting you OFF since 1921.” As his float passes me, Deputy Public Defender Tal Klement grabs the mic and in a pull you closer at a bar kind of way says, “Let’s give it up for the Public Defender.” I can actually see a collective puzzlement sweep across the crowd as people struggle to grasp the concept. Then gentle, polite clapping, much like when the school know-it-all wins yet another award.

There’s a theory that law school grads go into private sector legal work to pay back large school loans and then later venture off to the PD’s or DA’s office to pay back a different kind of loan. Most people will never think of ever needing a public defender, but Edith Delgado will probably never forget hers.

She was labeled a speeding out of control youth, a barely passing continuation high school student with a penchant for reckless driving. The day she pinged a Ford Explorer carrying the Tonga royals, causing them to rollover and kill everyone on board was the beginning of her end. Delgado was vilified by the press, but forgiven by the Tongan family. Her trial lasted a year and in the end to everyone’s surprise she was found only guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

She was apologetic, remorseful, grief stricken and genuine. Probably the best defense a PD can give. Randy Moore her lawyer truthfully put his client out there and got her OFF.

I stalk and chase a couple down Market Street trying to get a picture of them holding hands. They keep waving and dropping their grip. Finally I get it.