Franklin Zimring Blames Rise in San Francisco’s Homicides on Chronic Urban Problems

San Francisco Chronicle, January 2, 2009 by Demian Bulwa
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/02/MNEN1515TC.DTL&type=printable

“What you’re seeing here is an outgrowth of chronic problems,” Zimring said. “We never solved the problems—chronic unemployment, gun availability, community disorganization. It is much more likely that what we’re seeing here is a slightly more concentrated edition of the chronic problems we’ve been having for decades in these cities, rather than something new,” Zimring said.

Goodwin Liu Questions Brown’s Reversal on Prop 8

Los Angeles Times, Dec. 20, 2008 by Maura Dolan and Jessica Garrison
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/12/20/news/me-gay-marriage20

Goodwin Liu, associate dean and professor of law … said it was “extraordinary for the chief law enforcement officer of the state to decline to enforce a law—even on the grounds that it is unconstitutional…. The chief law enforcement officer of the state is charged with enforcing laws, even laws with which he disagrees,” Liu said. “Whether or not it will carry the day,” he added, “I have no idea.”

Jesse Choper Analyzes Brown’s Decision to Scrap Prop 8

-Associated Press, Dec. 19, 2008 by Lisa Leff
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_11275324

“It is not an easy argument, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to win,” Choper said.

-Reuters, Dec. 19, 2008 by Peter Henderson
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4BJ0CH20081220

“They’ve just amended the constitution, and the logic would be if this is what the constitution means, then it can’t be unconstitutional,” he said. He added that if Brown showed previous court interpretations to back his case, it could win. “Constitutional interpretation is not all logic, that’s for sure,” he said.

-Los Angeles Times, Dec. 24, 2008 by Victoria Kim and Jack Leonard
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-brown24-2008dec24,0,5751108.story

“Strategically, I think it’s a clever move,” said Jesse H. Choper, a professor of law at UC Berkeley. “It gives the California Supreme Court another way to invalidate Prop. 8.”