CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Police Clear Plaza of 100 Transients

Under a deadline imposed by San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos, more than two dozen police officers rousted 100 transients out of their illegal encampment across from City Hall. Some of the homeless had lived under the trees in the plaza for years. Agnos, who was under heavy pressure to restore the plaza to general public use, vowed months ago to find housing for the homeless whether they liked it or not. One man was carried away in his sleeping bag. Homeless advocate Keith McHenry of the Food Not Bombs group was arrested and booked on a charge of interfering with police. Other charges included misdemeanor counts of illegal lodging and illegal distribution of food, police said.