This column was not produced with artificial intelligence, or, quite possibly, any other kind.
About our experiment a couple of weeks ago in which ChatGPT produced a column, a recent study by the Poynter Institute, the leading research entity on the news media, shows nearly half of Americans want the news to be free of generative artificial intelligence; 20% said publishers should not use AI at all. The study was produced in partnership with the University of Minnesota and passed along by Dave Vossbrink, the legendary and former spokesperson for multiple public agencies. Here is another surprising wrinkle: Nearly half of those aged 18-29 years have not used or heard of AI tools such as ChatGPT. Oh, but they will.
On the other hand, I could support an AI program that took the blame for my mistakes. … One friend said he knew right away that I did not write the AI column: No sarcasm.
CORPUS DELICTI: I am hard-pressed to choose between two theme songs for embattled San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, courtesy of Elton John: “I’m Still Standing,” or “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”
When a political figure is embroiled in a sustained controversy of their own creation, there really are only two strategic paths forward — a public relations initiative or a legal initiative.
Corpus clearly has chosen the legal fight and cast aside all thoughts of winning our hearts and minds.
No further evidence is needed than her recent reinstatement of the good doctor, Victor Aenlle, to a “volunteer” position assisting with Concealed Carry Weapons permits. This is rich. Even, it could be said, perfect. CCW permits long have been the object of cronyism, abuse and corruption in countless sheriff’s offices.
Why do we still elect sheriffs?
Anyway, a number of voters are mystified that Corpus remains in office. Many thought the Measure A vote in March was to bounce her. In fact, voters approved — by 84% — a county charter amendment that authorized the Board of Supervisors to conduct a process by which they could oust her. Read that sentence again and it gives you a pretty clear picture of the mess the county is in. Barring a board vote or a recall, her current term in office runs until 2028.
The board and county staff are laboring to create the mandated process by which they will address the question of Corpus’ ouster. The challenge is creating a method that will withstand the expected onslaught from Corpus’ legal team — funded, by the way, by us.
We can speculate, and probably will, on how all this “process” will unfold. But the most pertinent question could be whether the board will continue to act in concert, as it has so far. Much is being made, perhaps too much, of Supervisor Jackie Speier’s uncommitted position on the ouster of Corpus; the other four supes are on record saying the sheriff has to go. It will take four votes to fire Corpus, but a break in the board’s united front could color the process, and may expose even deeper fissures.
Insiders say that collegiality at the board has declined. With the advent of district elections, supervisors are more inclined to tend to their own districts — and their own self-interests — with an accompanying loss of unity and cross-cooperation. There is petty bickering about events, appearances and who is excluding whom.
Against that backdrop, the decision about the sheriff looms as a test of the board’s ability to make a tough, unified decision.
IN OTHER NEWS: Supervisor Ray Mueller, up for reelection next year, already is running hard, touting endorsements from, among others, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom. … As for Newsom, it appears Sophia Paige Brink, a legislative aide to Supervisor David Canepa, is revving up to run for governor next year. Brink would not comment, but her postings on social media have begun calling for “leadership that puts people over politics” at the state level. One posting reads, “As governor, I would,” followed by a list of governmental priorities. The list is pretty generic — “direct funding toward real solutions” — but everyone has to start somewhere. … As for Canepa, he is hosting, with the San Mateo County History Museum, an event in two weeks celebrating the 169th anniversary of the county’s establishment. Why 169? Why not 170 next year? Well, Canepa will not be president of the board next year. … Canepa also is hosting a meet-and-greet in June in San Carlos, which is not in his district. Canepa is said to be running for county assessor-clerk-recorder, a job that includes overseeing county elections, and currently is held by Mark Church.
NOTE TO READERS: This story has been changed to reflect that Aenlle will be assisting with concealed carry weapons permits, not overseeing.
(1) comment
Thanks, Mr. Simon, for an update on “As the Sheriff’s World Turns” and the slow walking of Corpus’s fate. Unfortunately, I no longer have confidence that our so-called San Mateo leaders can or will do anything until Corpus’s reign ends. We get the government, and the sheriff, we deserve. Trump 2028 but not Corpus 2028.
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