Author: Alfredo Casuso

San Francisco Police Department’s Union Square Safe Shopper deployment resulting in dramatic drop in holiday-related retail crime

Written on December 9, 2021.

San Francisco Police Department’s Union Square Safe Shopper deployment resulting in dramatic drop in holiday-related retail crime

Beefed-up police staffing, targeted strategies in the wake of Nov. 19 brazen mass robberies are showing impressive results in reducing assaults, burglaries and larceny/theft incidents

SAN FRANCISCO (Dec. 9, 2021) — Newly implemented crime-prevention strategies and beefed-up deployments of police resources in the wake of organized gang robberies in and around Union Square on Nov. 19 have resulted in significant reductions in retail- and holiday-related crime, according to a report released by the San Francisco Police Department.

SFPD Captain Julian Ng, who commands the Central Station police district that includes Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach, presented the update to a meeting of the Union Square Alliance yesterday showing sharp drops in incidents of assault, burglary and larceny/theft for the period Nov. 20 through Dec. 6 compared to the preceding 16-day period. The report detailed the crime prevention and deterrence plan, which included a situational analysis, deployments and early results from the Union Square Safe Shopper program.

San Francisco Chief of Police William Scott noted that the statistics bear out what he has been hearing from visitors, shoppers and business owners all around the City, and what he has seen reported in local news stories. A recent San Francisco Chronicle report quoted multiple sources saying that the new deployments “make us all more comfortable and safe.
“I’m grateful to Captain Ng for his leadership in the Central District and I’m incredibly proud of our police officers, from all across the city, for how they’re responding to serve San Francisco,” said Chief Scott. “Our officers are stepping up at a very challenging time, given the many concerns we’re hearing from San Franciscans that range from neighborhood safety to our City’s economic recovery. At the San Francisco Police Department, we’re committed to doing our part to bring San Francisco back — better and safer — and we’re grateful to have the support of City leaders like Mayor London Breed and our Board of Supervisors to do our jobs effectively.”

About the San Francisco Police Department:
The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect for all. Hailed by the New York Times as a major city department “where police reform has worked,” SFPD continues to break ground with its voluntary Collaborative Reform Initiative and its work on Mayor London Breed’s ambitious Roadmap for Police Reforms. Since 2018, the department has worked in partnership with the California Department of Justice to implement 272 recommendations that aspire to make SFPD a national model of 21st Century policing. Follow our progress at https://sanfranciscopolice.org/reform.

Palm Springs Seeks Sister City Local Business Leaders to Explore “Boost to Tourism”

Written on December 7, 2021.

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Palm Springs Seeks Sister City
Local Business Leaders to Explore “Boost to Tourism”

6 December 2021 – Palm Springs, CA: With an eye towards building air bridges, economic and cultural ties and boosting tourism visibility, a group Palm Springs residents and business owners have spent the last 18 months exploring something new: A Sister City for Palm Springs. Now, with a newly l launched Facebook page and following a series of community meetings, the group is ready to move to the next step: actual selection of a Sister City.

“Palm Springs is an international destination with an international brand,” said Jeffrey Bernstein, owner of Destination PSP and a board member for the Palm Springs Hospitality Association and Visit Greater Palm Springs.“This is a perfect time to begin exploring a sister city for Palm Springs as we look for creative and practical ways to revitalize our economy in the continuing wake of COVID 19.”

Bernstein, who spearheaded the concept, first presented his idea at a meeting of the Palm Springs City Council in 2019 just before the outbreak of COVID. Soon thereafter, Bernstein drew in the participation of other local business and community leaders who have spent the last year as an all-volunteer effort, organizing the group and joining Sister Cities International, the governing body for such civic partnerships. During the last year, the group has been comprised of Lauri Kibby, David Eugene Perry, Willie Rhine, Ann Sheffer, Peggy Trott and Al Jones who co-chairs the committee with Bernstein. In the coming weeks, this organizing committee will take the form of a coordinating committee to present its findings to the City of Palm Springs as to options for the best possible match for an international Sister City and a domestic “Friendship City.”

“Now is the perfect moment to explore a sister city for Palm Springs,”said Jones, former Chair of the Palm Springs International Airport Commission, board member for Dezart Performs and former Presidential appointee to The Congressional Advisory Committee on Student Financial Aid by both George Bush and Barack Obama. “As challenging as the last almost two years have been, in 2022 we have the opportunity to expand, improve and diversify our tourism base. A sister city program is a great tool for that, especially with the recently announced new flights, both new destinations and new airlines for the Palm Springs International Airport.”

Over the next few weeks, Bernstein, Jones and Perry will speak with representatives from the Sister Cities International, the nonprofit that coordinates such relationship, to outline the process for setting up an official program. Created by President Dwight President Eisenhower during the 1956 White House conference on citizen diplomacy, the organization was envisioned as a hub of peace and prosperity by creating bonds between people from different cities around the world.

The Committee is seeking members of the public who live in Palm Springs interested in becoming volunteers with the Sister City initiative. Volunteers must be willing to commit time to the goal of developing a long-term relationship with an international and domestic city. There will be multiple opportunities to serve on committees that will be established to support the Palm Springs Sister City program, e.g., fundraising, cultural programs and exchanges, professional/technical, trade and commerce, hosting, and education and youth exchange committees. Individuals interested in participating in this initiative should send a letter of interest along with resume to allisongjones@gmail.com.

Plans for involvement of, and a presentation to the greater community will be forthcoming to ensure stakeholder participation and support.

MAYOR LONDON BREED ON THE PASSING OF CHARLOTTE SHULTZ

Written on December 4, 2021.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, December 3, 2021

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

*** STATEMENT ***

MAYOR LONDON BREED ON THE PASSING OF CHARLOTTE SHULTZ

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Charlotte Mailliard Shultz.

“Charlotte Shultz was a woman of unparalleled grace and generosity who loved San Francisco like no other. In her decades of work as Chief of Protocol she did more than connect our City with the Consular Corps and the countries they represent — she showed the rest of the world what an incredible place San Francisco is and can be. She served as our host to diplomats, heads of state, and international leaders, and she outshone them all. I am deeply saddened by the loss of such an incredible woman and friend, and my heart goes out to her family and friends. We have lost our Grande Dame. The bright lights of San Francisco are forever diminished with the loss of Charlotte, but her impact, legacy, and love will live with us for generations.”

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Purple Room Employee Attacked by Anti Vaxxer

Written on December 3, 2021.

media contact: DP&A, Inc/ David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Purple Room Employee Attacked by Anti Vaxxer

Alleged Assailant is Still at Large.
Public’s Help is Requested in Identifying Individual

2 December 2021 – Palm Springs, CA: On Tuesday, November 30, 2020, an employee at Palm Springs’ iconic Purple Room Supper Club was physically attacked and verbally abused by a patron who refused to show proof of vaccination, a requirement for entry to the Club in addition to all in-door dining establishments within the City. After jumping the employee, the individual attempted to push his way into the club while delivering an anti-vax diatribe screaming “I’m tired of you f**cking liberals. I’m going in the room.” After the attack, the individual was forced to leave and is still at large and unidentified. A video in the club recorded the incident and a photo of the alleged assailant. Both have been turned over to the Palm Springs Police Department who are investigating.

“This is not about politics. This is about public health,” said Purple Room spokesman David Perry who said that the employee’s name is not being revealed to protect their privacy, although the victim will be pressing charges. “It’s unconscionable and unacceptable that someone would not only endanger the health and welfare of others by not revealing their vaccination status, much less escalating to violence. The health and safety of our employees and all our guests is our first and foremost priority. We will pursue arrest and prosecution of the individual in question.’

According to Perry, there have been other incidents in which unvaccinated guests attempted entry to the Club and were verbally abusive when they were turned away. However, this was the first physical altercation.

The iconic Purple Room is widely recognized as one of the country’s premier supper clubs. Tucked away in the Club Trinidad Hotel, The Purple Room is where “the Rat Pack” — Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and their pals – first performed their act in the 1960s. In 2015, the club was bought by performer and producer Michael Holmes who completely renovated it in high mid-century modern style. Closed during the worst of COVID, the Purple Room reopened in August 2021 and instituted the first “proof of full vaccination” protocol for any restaurant in Palm Springs, quickly followed suit by others throughout the Coachella Valley. When the Purple Room first announced its proof-of-vaccination policy, it was subject to several anti-vaccination social media posts and negative reaction, although the vast majority of response has been, and continues to be, supportive. The Purple Room requires proof of full vaccination for all guests and employees. Additionally, masks will also be required to enter and move about the club but may be removed at table while eating and drinking.

Acclaimed Palm Springs Theatre Expands Network with Actress and Cultural Leader

Written on December 2, 2021.

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Acclaimed Palm Springs Theatre Expands Network with Actress and Cultural Leader

Nancy Bleiweiss-Nevil Named to Board for Nonprofit Dezart Performs
www.dezartperforms.org

1 December 2021 – Palm Springs, CA: Nancy Bleiweiss-Nevil of Rancho Mirage has been named to the board of directors for the nonprofit Dezart Performs theatre company of Palm Springs (www.dezartperforms.org) continuing its 14^th season – and first post-COVID productions – in January with the Olivier Award winning exploration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s final day The Mountaintop.

“Nancy has long been one of our biggest supporters, as well as a dear friend,” said Clark Dugger, Board President for Dezart Performs. “Her enthusiasm and love for theatre will be a definite asset to the board and the company.”

“I am truly looking forward to being a part of this wonderful group of people bringing high quality theatre to our valley,” said Bleiweiss-Nevil who moved to the area in 2005.

Bleiweiss-Nevil started her career in her hometown of San Francisco where she was the co-creator and original star of the hit show Beach Blanket Babylon that closed in 2019 after 45 years, making it the longest-running musical revue in United States history. From there, she moved to Los Angeles and was a cast member of the remake of the TV show Laugh In. She also had the honor of performing with the San Francisco Opera in The Merry Widow with Dame Joan Sutherland. From theatre and opera she moved onto the travel business where she ran a successful agency for 20 years. When she moved to the Coachella Valley, she looked for ways to get involved with creative outlets in her new community. She became a board member of Coyote Stage Works and also The Muses of the McCallum Theatre. Her true passion is bringing back arts into the schools. She and two other like-minded ladies started a support group for the existing charity, Tools for Tomorrow and formed a fundraising arm called The Visionaries of Tools for Tomorrow. She served on the board for several years and participated in its growth and success. She and her late husband Charles (also a former actor) got involved with several of the theatre companies in the valley and tried to support as many as possible.

“Charles and I always had a special place in our hearts for Dezart Performs and have supported them for years,” said Bleiweiss-Nevil. “We always loved their passion and love for what they do, as well as the caliber of the plays they chose to produce.”

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.