ED JEW

'Edmund "Ed" Jew' (; pinyin: Zhào Yuèmíng, born 1960 in San Francisco, California) is a third generation San Franciscan and a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 4, which comprises most of the Sunset District.
His grandfather emigrated from China around the turn of the century. By 1927, his grandfather James Jew had established the well known Canton Flower Shop in Chinatown and became a distinguished leader in the Chinese community.

Contents

Personal life

Political career

Controversies

FBI raid and extortion allegations

Residency requirements violation

References

External links

Personal life

Edmund Jew was born and raised in San Francisco. He graduated from McAteer High School, followed by a degree in economics from San Francisco State University. In 1984, he earned an MBA degree from Golden Gate University. In addition to his academic achievements, Jew bought his first real estate at the age of 21 in San Francisco and as of 2002 had a real estate portfolio worth as much as $5 million.
Before entering politics, Jew ran his family flower shop with his wife, Lorene Jew, who is also known as Lisa. He also owned Howard Mock Jew, Inc., a local taxi company.^[1]
Jew currently claims residence in the Sunset District, while his wife and daughter continues to live in Burlingame, California.

Political career

Jew was former District 4 supervisor Leland Yee's volunteer community liaison in 1996. He also served on numerous community organizations, namely the Advisory Council of the Office of Aging, the board of the Northeast Community Federal Credit Union, the board of the Chinese Holocaust Museum, the vice president of the Sunset Residents Association, and member of the Sunset Parkside Education and Action Committee. In November 2006, Jew was elected supervisor of District 4, succeeding Fiona Ma who was at the same time elected to the California State Assembly, representing the Sunset District.

Controversies

FBI raid and extortion allegations

On May 18, 2007, the FBI searched Jew's office at City Hall, as well as his two houses and his Chinatown flower shop in connection with what they termed "potentially federal criminal allegations". Jew reportedly referred the owners of a tapioca drink shop, Quickly, to a man named Robert Chan, from the Bridgeway Consulting company to resolve their permit issues. After several weeks, the owners paid the $40,000 owed not to the consultant, but to Ed Jew himself. He claims that he has turned over the money to the consultant and asked half to be donated to the Friends of Sunset Playground, a local organization set-up to raise money for the renovation of a playground located at 28th Avenue and Lawton Street. The $10,000 donation, which was made to the group nearly a month after Jew received the money, and after the FBI raid, was rejected by the group's fiscal agency. Jew said the raid has to do with the merchants in his district that are feuding, "so I got entangled in between them." ^[2][3]
On June 10, 2007, the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' reported that the Quickly's business owners never handed over their own cash to Ed Jew, but did hand over cash that was supplied to them by the FBI. In fact a law enforcement official close to the investigation leaked that the FBI used one of their own undercover agents to meet with Jew to hand over the money. The Quickly's business reps also said that it was Jew who approached them about the money issue, contrary to what Jew said to the press when the story first broke.^[4]

Residency requirements violation

The San Francisco City attorney is currently investigating whether or not Ed Jew meets the residency requirements needed to hold his city supervisor position. Public Utilities Commission records show that water service was not started at his father's Sunset District home at 2450 28th Avenue (where Ed Jew claimed residency) until after the filing deadline, and usage decreased dramatically shortly before the election, suggesting no one lives in the home. Additionally, nearby residents have stated that they use the house's driveway for parking because they rarely see anyone living in the house.^[5][6]
On June 12, 2007, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris issued a warrant for the arrest of Supervisor Ed Jew. The nine counts of felony charges against Jew include four counts of perjury, three election code violations, voter fraud, and providing false documents when he claimed in candidacy papers that he was a resident of the Sunset district.^[7] Supervisor Ed Jew turned himself in to be booked at the Burlingame Police Department on the evening of June 12, 2007 with bail set at $135,000. He retained the services of former Assistant District Attorney Bill Fazio and attorney Steven Gruel to represent him in this criminal proceeding.
Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier has called for calm from the rest of the SF Board of Supervisors who have called on Supervisor Ed Jew to resign. Interestingly supervisor Alioto's grandfather Mayor Joseph Alioto had made sure former San Mateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin not be charged when he ran for San Francisco Sheriff while living in Daly City.
On June 18, 2007, City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced that he will seek the approval of California Attorney General Jerry Brown to file a lawsuit to remove Ed Jew from office. Citing records that showed little uses of utilities and interviews of 32 neighbors, he declared that Jew's claim of residing in the Sunset District is false and that the supervisor has violated the residency requirements of the City Charter. ^[8][9] San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who expressed concern about Jew continuing to cast votes while the legitimacy of his claim of residency is in question, urged Jew to explained himself. He also said he is now reviewing city law to find out what power he has to remove Jew from office.^[10]
On July 4, 2007, Jew's attorneys issued a 138-paged response for Herrara's petition arguing that even if Jew had not lived full time in his home in District 4, his election has not violated any election laws. They also accused Herrara of biases and politically motivated toward Jew.^[11] Ten days later, City Attorney Dennis Herrera responded to the accusation, calling it a desperate act and denied of being both biased and politically motivated toward Jew. ^[12]
On July 17, 2007, Jew pleaded not guilty on the nine counts of perjury and other crimes. His attorney asked Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn to repeal his $135,000 bail saying that he is not a flight risk. He also surprised everyone for not waiving his right for a speedy trial. Judge Kahn agreed to void the bail after Jew agreed to surrender his passport.^[13]
During the four days preliminary hearing, began on July 27, 2007, prosecutors presented testimonies from Jew's neighbors at both of his home, indicated that Jew has never lived in his 28th Ave home and spent most of his time in Burlingame. Testimony from a U.S. Postal Service inspector also indicates that his fist-class mail goes to Burlingame while junk mails goes to his San Francisco home. Finally, prosecutors cite records including his water bills, and gas bills showing low usage of utilities at his 28th Ave home, as well as loan applications that indicates he lives at Burlingame. In defense, Jew's attorney presented a jury duty summon to indicate his address in San Francisco. He also questioned that there are possible bias in witness testimonies.^[14]
On August 2, 2007, Judge Kahn ruled there was sufficient evidence to compel Jew to stand trial. If convicted on any one of the charges, Jew would be forced from office.^[15]

References

1. Biography of Ed Jew on his website. Retrieved June 16, 2007
2. FBI questions S.F. supervisor, searches office
3. Caught on Tape: FBI Raids SF Supervisors' Office
4. FBI's cash paid Ed Jew, source says
5. S.F. supervisor is investigated over question of city residency
6. Details of case against Ed Jew
7. Jew's lawyer rips local probe as 'politically driven'. ''San Francisco Examiner'' (June 19, 2007). Retrieved on June 19, 2007.
8. City Attorney moves to remove Ed Jew from office. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (June 18, 2007). Retrieved on June 18, 2007.
9. City attorney looks to file lawsuit to oust embattled supervisor. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (June 18, 2007). Retrieved on June 18, 2007.
10. MAYOR TO ED JEW: 'PROVE IT'. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (June 20, 2007). Retrieved on June 20, 2007.
11. Ed Jew's lawyers reply to charges. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (July 11, 2007). Retrieved on July 11, 2007.
12. City attorney toughens case against Ed Jew. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (July 14, 2007). Retrieved on July 14, 2007.
13. ED JEW SURPRISES D.A., PUSHES FOR QUICK TRIAL. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (July 17, 2007). Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
14. Witnesses, loan application undermine Ed Jew's claims. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (July 31, 2007). Retrieved on August 3, 2007.
15. Felony perjury trial set for Ed Jew. ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (August 2, 2007). Retrieved on August 3, 2007.

External links

★ SF board of Supervisors page