On its way from ancient Olympia to Beijing, the Olympic torch will touch down just once in North America, in a city that's one third Chinese American—and where city officials are sharply divided between welcome and protest. Mayor Gavin Newsome says San Francisco has scrapped plans for the torch to ride a cable car, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and visit Alcatraz Island. It will be carried from Fisherman's Wharf to the Ferry Building in about 90 minutes. Newsome opposed a resolution, passed 8-to-3 by the Board of Supervisors, resolving to greet the torch with "alarm and protest" over Tibet, Darfur, and human rights in China. John Glionna is San Francisco Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times.
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