San Francisco must pay raided journalist

I can't understand why the "liberal" San Francisco Bay Area has so many Tea Party public officials and policies in an era in which similar policies have been rejected in places like Cincinnati. San Francisco was even a Ronnie-come-early to right-wing talk radio, with KSFO touting its stance in 1994.

Last year, a freelance journalist in San Francisco named Bryan Carmody found his home and office raided by police wielding a sledgehammer. Cops were looking for the confidential source of a leaked report into the death of that city's former public defender Jeff Adachi. Adachi had been known as a watchdog against police misconduct, and there was speculation that people in high places tried to smear him for it.

Mayor London Breed did of course defend the illegal searches. Five city judges authorized these searches - even though a state law protects journalists from searches like this. Police seized computers, cameras, and phones.

Later, Carmody filed a claim against the city. Now the city has to pay him $369,000. In San Francisco, that will probably cover rent for the next 2 weeks, because of the city's serial refusal to rein in high housing costs.