Chinatown Power Players Behind Ed Jew Smokescreen, Source Says

But the Peskin recall crew hasn't given up. It filed another notice of intention later in the summer and has been again circulating recall petitions. Still, a Department of Elections staff member says the soonest the issue could be on the ballot is in February 2008 — less than a year before Peskin is termed out of office, in January 2009. In order to be considered for the February ballot, the recall committee would have had to submit its paperwork by Monday, which did not happen, according to elections staff members. To qualify the recall for the ballot, the group must collect signatures from about 3,300 people, or 10 percent of the district's 32,895 registered voters.

It's not about Ed Jew, according to recall committee member Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow (a longtime Chinatown gang leader who was profiled in the SF Weekly article "Enter the Dragon Head," Aug. 1, 2007). Chow says the focus of the recall is on standing up against Peskin, not earning a salary. "I don't get money to do it," Chow says. "I just do what I feel is right." Chow now suspects Reginald was more worried about making money than with the recall effort.

Reginald insists that this is now about "principle" rather than money and filed the lawsuit against Pius Lee alleging breach of contract in small claims court. He's asking for $7,500 — the maximum amount allowed in small claims. That case is one of 11 that Reginald has filed in small claims court since May 2006, a review of court records show.

Reginald had also filed a separate lawsuit against Supervisor Ed Jew, claiming he was also behind the Peskin recall campaign, but says he has since "decided against it" because Jew already has enough legal problems.