But Ed Jew's flower shop doesn't have a water account !By Sarah Phelan
What kind of flower store owner doesn't have a water account? Ed Jew, that's who.
When Ed Jew's water consumption first became an issue at the end of May, I asked the SFPUC for records for both his house in the Sunset District and his flower shop in Chinatown. I did so, because I interviewed Jew at his flower shop shortly after he won the November 2006 District and had ended up wondering by the end of the interview, if he was more deeply connected to Chinatown, which is the district of Board Chair Aaron Peskin, than the Sunset.
But when the PUC sent the records, they showed that there is no water account for Jew's flower shop at 118 Waverly Place. This revelation came as a bit of a surprise. Don't flowers need water, unless, of course, Jew is specializing in drought-tolerant plants? But wait, Jew said his favorite flower was the albatross chrysanthemum which looks to be one heckuva greedy water-guzzler .
And didn't Jew's wife Lisa make me a cup of tea at the store, when I visited? In which case, was she using bottled water, or what? The answer to those question began to crystallize when I read Jew's claims, in today's papers, that he "often showers at his flower shop before dressing for work." How could that be possible, unless he too is using bottled water, or the neighbor's hose, perhaps.
Turns out Jew owns the building next to the flower shop, a building that contains 9 residential units, and so it's not entirely impossible that he could be drawing water from that building. But should he be paying commercial rates?Apparently not, if the majority of the building he owns next to the flower shop is being put to residential use.
Either way, the question of whether Jew actually lives in the Sunset remains unresolved. Jew claims he leaves his house on 28th Avenue very early and does not return home until very late-- a statement that does not address the question of whether he was living at the house 30 days before filing paperwork to become a D4 supervisorial candidate. With the City Attorney undecided, and the feds still mum about the legality of the $40,000 bubble store payment, Jew's fate on two legal fronts remains undecided--and interest in all his properties and activities grows.
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Comments (4)
hi, is there something missing in the part above that reads "...there is water account for Jew's flower shop at 118 Waverly Place"
Should it read "there is no water account...?"
thanks for the article. good stuff
Posted by A.M. Magothy | June 9, 2007 11:54 AM
I still like to know why no one has question his relations to Chinese Holocaust Museum on Lawton Street? According to the Sunset Becon story about 2 years ago..the article listed the organization as a non-profit but yet there is no record with Sect. of State in California. In fact, the article states Ed Jew was on the Board of Directors at least at that time not sure about now...so explain how this "museum" that is only open on Sat/Sunday is paying its bills? What goes on in the building the rest of the week? If one did a little research, you would see that the Museum was register as a Corporation but it was suspended sometime in 2000? And during the campaign Ed Jew used it as as his campaign hq. Now if its a Non-profit that is an violation in itself. To tell others that its a non profit and its not that is a State violation and possible Fraud?
Just a thought!
Posted by John | June 9, 2007 09:07 PM
I live in the neighborhood of Ed Jew. I exercise or walk on his block practically every other day and at various times of the morning, day or evening. I can not believe that he actually (or anyone) lives at his residence. When you come to live in a neighborhood, you get to know neighbors, become used to familiar faces, see familiar cars and, you just notice things by chance, due to the routine of living where you live. His house would give me the creeps everytime I passed it because it is lifeless and decrepit by lack of use. I used to think something horrible is lurking behind the drawn blinds and closed doors. Try walking by that house and see for yourself. I eagerly await his resignation and what comes of the investigation. I had voted for Ed Jew and regret it.
Posted by K.D. | June 12, 2007 05:37 PM
So, is there even a shower in the flower shop, or was that just another lie?
Posted by S.B. | June 15, 2007 10:22 PM