Bay briefs

However, he won't learn until the end of the month if he'll stand trial on multiple felonies.

Grady Powless, 48, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of vandalism and one felony count of cruelty to another person's animal. Powless' hearing began with multiple witnesses sworn in and exhibits entered into evidence but testimony won't conclude until July 29, according to court records clerks.

On May 2, an intoxicated Powless allegedly threw a beer bottle at a friend's car before kicking the legless man in the groin and hitting him with a barbecue lid. The victim's caregiver Michael Monoghan, holding Mango the Brazilian parrot, tried intervening in the brawl, and Powless reportedly turned on him. Powless deliberately pulled out the feathers from Mango's tail but the 3-year-old bird is making a complete recovery, according to his owner Monoghan.

Powless tried stomping Mango to death, according to police reports. However, Monoghan said a day after the incident Powless only squeezed the animal. Prosecutors say Monoghan is now being uncooperative with their case.

The men also say Powless had been drinking since the night before the incident and had recently stopped taking his medication.

Powless remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Canceled conventions wounding earnings for SF workers, hoteliers

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's hotel labor dispute could cost the city millions of dollars in tax revenue and lost wages if major conventions move to other cities to avoid the hotel boycott, according to union and hotel representatives.

Unite Here Local 2 has led the boycott against 14 major hotels since union contracts expired last August. Once negotiations for a new contract failed, the union switched tactics to apply economic pressure in an attempt to force the hotels to settle.

John Marks, president of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the protracted dispute already has caused serious economic losses.

"The impact (of canceled hotel business) is felt by the city, the workers, the hotels and other folks who rely on hotel guests for their survival - restaurants, retail and attractions," Marks said.

Last year, the American Anthropological Association moved its convention to Atlanta to avoid having its members cross the picket line. Four other convention groups say they may pull their meetings from San Francisco or move to other hotels if the dispute is not settled.

Unite Here Local 2 calculates that hotels would lose $47.8 million in revenue as a result of the relocations. The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau calculates the cancelations could cost the hotel workers $890,721 in earnings.