San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO -- Never say that when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom sees an idea he likes that he doesn't go after it -- whether or not it might be viewed as just a tad "out there."

On Thursday Newsom presided over the ribbon cutting of a bus shelter near the soon-to-be opened California Academy of Sciences complex. But it wasn't your normal bus shelter.

It is alive, so to speak.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signaled Tuesday that he wants to take a go-slow approach to erecting what could be a $50 million suicide barrier system on the famed Golden Gate Bridge.

Newsom asked city Planning Director John Rahaim to review the Golden Gate Bridge District's proposed designs for a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge.

A couple friends thinking of a way to "memorialize" the Bush presidency have taken a whacky, beer-soaked concept from mere idea to political reality this week.

On Thursday the San Francisco Department of Elections officially certified a city ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, will rename a sewer plant in the soon-to-be ex-president's honor.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom accepted the resignation of Chief of Staff Phil Ginsburg Thursday and named city Human Services Agency chief Trent Rhorer to replace him.

Ginsburg was tapped by Newsom to take the job in January 2007, praising him for his lack of a conventional political resume, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

But it was that lack of political experience that at times pitted Ginsburg against other administration insiders looking to boost the mayor's political credentials, and rumors about his pending resignation have been swirling around City Hall for months, the Chronicle reported Thursday.

A spokesman for Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial exploratory committee said Wednesday that should the 40-year-old political wunderkind run for California's top electoral post, he will do so implementing an issues-based campaign and will avoid wading into the muck of personality politics.

Eric Jaye, an influential San Francisco-based Democratic strategist and a spokesman for the exploratory committee, said that Newsom is very aware of the deeo field of Democratic candidates he may face in the effort to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010.

Some of those folks -- a virtual pantheon of who's who in California Democratic politics -- include Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, Controller Steve Westly, state Supt. of Instruction Jack O'Connell, Treasurer Bill Lockyer and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Should Newsom run he will also likely face down potential GOP candidates such as Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former eBay Inc. President Meg Whitman.

"He will focus any campaign on his positions and principles," Jaye told PolitickerCA.com. "This has always been his approach and that's not going to change now."

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom: Getty Images PhotoLess than 24 hours after the U.S. Supreme Court largely gutted Washington, D.C.'s ban on handguns, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he will be implementing new anti-gun programs in a continuing effort to reduce gun violence in the city.

Newsom made the announcement flanked by Police Chief Heather Fong and District Attorney Kamala Harris. These new initiatives are in addition to legislation Mayor Newsom forwarded in summer 2007 to reduce gun violence in San Francisco.

"We don't need to anticipate the location of future offenses to reduce gun violence," Newsom said in a statement. "We need to get illegal firearms off the streets now and these efforts will help us do just that."

It’s primary day in California.

Voters in the state are choosing general election candidates in several hotly contested congressional races. Also on the ballot are the dueling eminent domain measures 98 and 99. Voters in San Francisco and Marin will make their selection in a state Senate race. And Sacramento and San Diego have mayoral contests.

Polls opened across the state at 7:00 AM. They will close at 8:00 PM.

Stay tuned to PolitickerCA.com for results and up-to-the-minute news.