NEW D.A. PROMISES TO BE 'SMART ON CRIME'

Harris Speaks Well of Hallinan, Will Continue Some of His Policies

Kamala Harris was sworn in Thursday as the first black woman in
California history to serve as a district attorney, pledging to be
"smart on crime" as she assumes the role of San Francisco's top prosecutor.

Before a cheering, standing-room-only crowd of more than 1,000 people
at Herbst Theatre, the 39-year-old Harris placed her hand on a bound
volume of the Bill of Rights and took the oath of office from the
chief justice of California's Supreme Court, Ronald George.

"Let's put an end, right here, to the question of whether we are tough
on crime or soft on crime. Let us be smart on crime," Harris said in
a 20-minute address after being sworn in.

"By being smart on crime, we can, we will, create a district
attorney's office that is compassionate and effective, that is
progressive and professional, that is committed to justice for every
San Franciscan," Harris told the crowd.

In the audience was a virtual who's who of the state's Democratic
office holders. Many of them had just come from the inauguration of
new San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, including Newsom himself.

Harris, a career prosecutor and supervisor in the city attorney's
office, defeated her former boss Terence Hallinan last month after an
acrimonious campaign in which she portrayed the incumbent district
attorney as an incompetent prosecutor.

On Thursday, however, Harris praised Hallinan for having brought a
"progressive agenda" to the prosecutor's office.

"You served this city well," she said. Hallinan, 67, had received a
warm round of applause as he sat in the front of the auditorium.

Hallinan said he was leaving office after eight years and going into
private practice will no ill feelings, satisfied his key policies will
continue.

"I thought it went well -- I got a nice hand from the crowd,"
Hallinan said.

Harris has pledged to continue Hallinan's practice of supporting
patients receiving medical marijuana, refusing to seek the death
penalty and prosecuting three-strike offenders only for serious or
violent felonies.

"It takes much more than building prisons and locking away prisoners
to keep our city safe," Harris said.

She said she would not compromise on her resolve "to protect our loved
ones who need medical marijuana. Those who need medical marijuana, I
want you to know that I will defend your rights and vigorously oppose
any encroachment on them by outside agencies."

But Harris had words for the city's violent criminals, saying they
will "be met with the most severe consequences."

As part of her pledge to be "smart on crime," Harris promised to
review the backlog of homicide cases in the district attorney's
office, to push to create a homicide court, build a better
relationship with the Police Department and work to improve the
computer system in the prosecutor's office. She also said she would
set up better training for district attorney employees.

Harris also said she would redouble efforts to cut domestic violence,
create a unit in the district attorney's office to prosecute
perpetrators of crimes against children and to emphasize enforcement
efforts in crimes against the elderly.

Harris lamented a recent wave of violence involving young people in
the city, saying one of her top priorities would be to keep guns from
the hands of youth. She also cautioned against shrugging off such
crime, saying, "How dare we become numb to violence!"

Harris appeared on stage with her mother, whom she has credited with
inspiring her, and her sister, an attorney for the American Civil
Liberties Union, who spoke of their strong bonds of sisterhood.

The event took on a festive air, with Asian dragon dancers and a
rendition of the old Jeanette MacDonald song "San Francisco."

Assemblyman Mark Leno urged to the audience to "let our spirits soar"
to celebrate what he said would be a long and "thrilling career" in
public service.

Leno, a prominent gay leader in the city and Legislature, added that
he was "crazy in love" with Harris.

"I did mean that to raise a few eyebrows," he said.