8 Asians

We’ve followed former San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew’s political saga who pleaded guilty to all federal charges against him, including mail fraud, extortion and soliciting a bribe last fall. Today, Jew was sentenced to prison:

Disgraced former San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew was sentenced to more than five years in prison today after earlier pleading guilty to federal bribery and corruption charges … “I don’t think this was just a lapse in judgment or a poor decision,” Judge Susan Illston said in handing down a 64-month prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. “This was a corrupt act that was undertaken.”

Jew was the only Asian American supervisor in San Francisco at the time, so his indictment was certainly high profile where Asian Americans make up over 35% of the city’s residents. Carmen Chu was then appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom to replace Jew after he stepped down. Since November 2008, San Franciscans have elected two additional Asian American supervisors, including Eric Mar and David Chiu (who was subsequently also elected to be President of the Board of Supervisors). I’m sick of the “corrupt” Asian American politician or fundraiser stereotype that Ed Jew and Norman Hsu help perpetuate.  Good riddance, Ed Jew!

Photo source:  San Francisco Chronicle