KEEP MOVING ON COMMUTER CRIME

LESS than a week after The Examiner's in-depth probe of high drug
crime along the BART corridor in The City, Supervisor Gavin Newsom
has taken a first step toward cleaning it up.

Newsom's resolution calls for the chief judge of the Municipal Court
to convene a judge's bail committee to see if we can set bail
guidelines that come closer to those of other Bay Area counties. The
sooner, the better.

Our bail schedule for drug-related crimes is so far out of line with
neighboring counties' that their drug dealers come here because they
know they'll pay less -- and serve less time -- if they get caught
here. This costs us in jail time, court time, and quality time on
Market Street, Mission Street and other main drags.

The resolution awaits action by the neighborhood services committee,
composed of Supervisors Newsom, Mark Leno and Jake McGoldrick. It
should fly out of there and onto the full board's plate with all
deliberate speed.

Our smelly, drug-infested streets won't wait.

THE last time the bail schedule was adjusted was 1998, when then-
Supervisor Jose Medina called for a review after an earlier Examiner
report. Bails were raised, but were still less than those of other
counties. The City's bail rate for people accused of having 1 oz. of
crack and intending to sell it jumped from $2,500 per count to
$10,000 per count, but was still less than Alameda's $20,000 and
Contra Costa's $30,000.

And while most neighboring counties have raised their bail schedules,
ours has remained stagnant. Contra Costa county sets its rate for the
same crime at $100,000 now; San Mateo's rate is $50,000. So if you're
a small-time dealer, where would you rather get arrested: The City or
San Mateo? Duh.

Fair is fair. Potential penalties for crimes shouldn't differ so
radically depending on which side of the Cow Palace the crack seller
happens to be standing.

Let's catch up to our smarter sister counties. They'll just have to
find some other way to export their rotten element onto our streets.