​A federal appeals court ruled this morning that California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. 

New outlets are reporting that the ban will still remain in effect as the case makes its way to the Supreme Court. Both sides had vowed to appeal the ruling if the outcome wasn't in their favor.

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​San Francisco city officials indefinitely suspended the city's medical marijuana dispensary permitting program on Wednesday, according to the Department of Public Health.

Pending permits had been on hold since December, after a ruling in a state appeals court case halted similar permitting programs across California. That case was appealed to the state Supreme Court, and during the appeal, the city could resume processing permits, a spokesman for the City Attorney told SF Weekly last week.

But the city reversed its decision today. All medical cannabis dispensary permit applications are on hold indefinitely, according to Jim Soos, an assistant director of policy and planning with the S.F. Department of Public Health, until the city can "receive assurance that it is in compliance with state and federal law."

DPH staff made the decision to put all permits on hold in consultation with the City Attorney's Office, which provides legal advice to all city departments, he said.

"We're waiting for more clarity from the state on our ability to issue permits," said Soos, who added that the federal Department of Justice's recent closure of five permitted dispensaries also weighed on the city's decision. "Until the Health Department can sort out the criteria driving the [Justice Department]'s actions, it will not be issuing permits."

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Update, 4:40 p.m.: The Oldsmobile potentially totaled when tons of rocks tumbled down the side of Telegraph Hill at 8:40 this morning has been pulled free -- and it's seen better days.

SF Weekly systems administrator and scratch photographer Paul Dahlke was on the scene:

Paul Dahlke

Okay now, on three ... "My caaaaaaar!"

​
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While Ross Mirkarimi blinked, another accuser filed domestic violence charges

​It's most certainly bad news for Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi that the question "Which one?" now applies to domestic violence complaints filed against him. More >>

​A second woman who claims to have dated Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi in 2008 says he physically abused her while they were in a relationship, according to police records obtained by SF Weekly.

Christina Flores, a former San Francisco resident, filed a police report yesterday afternoon at the Northern District station. She told police that she met Mirkarimi in June 2007 at the Haight Street Fair and began dating him immediately. She stated Mirkarimi displayed a "raging pitbull aggressiveness" toward her, turning violent on at least one occasion, when he "grabbed both her upper arms, shook her and pinned her against the wall," leaving a bruise on her arm.

Read a copy of the police report on Flores' complaint here.

Read the alleged victim's comments in an interview with SF Weekly here.More >>

Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal

Eliana Lopez, Ross Mirkarimi's wife, stands with domestic violence activists calling for her husband to resign due to allegations he domestically abused her

​A hastily assembled press conference pairing members of the media with greater numbers of anti-domestic violence advocates calling for the resignation of Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi was graced by an odd visitation -- Mirkarimi's wife.

Eliana Lopez stood, literally, on the steps of City Hall with members of the domestic violence community who were calling for her husband to resign over allegations he abused Lopez on New Year's Eve. Where she stood with them figuratively is unknown -- Lopez has publicly stated she "has no complaint" against her husband and, somewhat bafflingly, said accusations of domestic violence were "taken out of context." 

Lopez, somewhat less recognizable due to her oversized sunglasses, stood behind the demonstrators for several minutes before walking into City Hall. She confirmed her identity to SF Weekly. Asked "what do you make of all this?" she replied "What do I make?" before politely continuing "I have no comment. Sorry."

Her presence certainly didn't appear to be part of the near-impromptu script. Organizer Beverly Upton, the executive director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, took pains to introduce every last member of the domestic violence community present -- a throng that equaled, or exceeded, the gathered members of the press. Lopez was not introduced.

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And gettin' broker...

​Last night, SF Weekly broke the news that the city's pension obligation could balloon based on the outcome of a retirement board meeting this morning.

Well, it has. The city's contribution to its pension plan might jump by $60 million in the next year alone, adding to San Francisco's already gaping budget deficit. And, thanks to Proposition C, "The Mayor's Pension Plan," city workers may be feeling the burn, too.

Last month, the retirement board took its actuary's advice, and lowered its anticipated investment return rate from 7.75 percent to 7.5 percent. This morning, a motion to reconsider that vote failed. As a result, the city will be mandated to greatly augment the "employer contribution" to its pension plan, as its assumed investment returns just shrank.

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How does this alter the city's financial outlook?

​Barring an unlikely reversal at a Wednesday meeting, the city's forthcoming pension contribution may swell by $60 million in the next fiscal year alone -- and the city's union workforce could also be made to contribute millions more than they'd anticipated.

At issue is whether the San Francisco Employee Retirement System will undo last month's vote to follow its actuary's advice. That advice was to lower the city's anticipated investment return rate from 7.75 percent to 7.5 percent. While this may sound insignificant, we're talking about 0.25 percent of a very large number indeed.

Here's what's at stake. Pension plans are funded via three sources -- investment returns, city contributions, and worker contributions. The city has long assumed a 7.75 percent return when tabulating yearly how much money it will have to contribute. Last month, by a slim 3-2 majority, the city's retirement board voted to lower the assumption to 7.5 percent. To put things as simply as possible, when you're assuming a lower investment return, you're mandating a higher city contribution -- $60 million is the figure currently being bandied about in City Hall.

In the past, the city would have eaten this money on its own. But, thanks to "The mayor's pension reform measure," Proposition C -- which voters passed overwhelmingly in November -- city workers could be forced to partake in this foul meal as well.

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What's missing from this picture?

​Police are scouring the East Bay, looking for an inmate who reportedly escaped from the Santa Rita Jail this afternoon.

Media outlets are reporting that at about 2 p.m., someone called the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, saying they saw an inmate walk out of the jail.

We contacted the Sheriff's Office to confirm these details and to get more information, however an administrator said nobody was available to speak with us just yet.
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It had a good run

​The Tenderloin's one-stop shop to assist homeless and low-income populations with HIV/AIDS is set to close due to financial troubles, officials just announced. 

The Board of Directors voted today to close Tenderloin Health, which recently lost $500,000 in federal funding, further crippling the agency financially.

"The major issue has always been the large amount of existing debt TLH faced when I came on board in November 2009," said clinic CEO David Fernandez. "This debt, combined with operating deficits and significant recent cuts in government funding, have made it impossible for us to keep our doors open."
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