A commission in charge of holding San Francisco accountable for its response to the drug and mental health crises hasn’t been able to hold a proper meeting for more than seven months as the city’s elected leaders neglect to fill its seats. 

There are currently only six active members on the 17-person Behavioral Health Commission, an oversight body with the power to draft policy and conduct reviews of programs run by the city’s Behavioral Health Department. The department has a $592 million annual budget and is responsible for providing mental health and drug treatment services. 

Because there are fewer than nine active members, the commission lacks a quorum and hasn’t been able to wield much of its power or hold meetings since February.

The term of the commission’s co-chair, Balham Vigil, expired 10 months ago, but Vigil continues to serve; the city has failed to appoint a replacement. The commission is required by state law, and 16 of its 17 members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. 

A 17th seat is reserved for a member of the Board of Supervisors. But that seat has sat empty since January 2022. Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who championed the creation of the Homelessness Oversight Commission, was the last Board of Supervisors member to fill the seat before Behavioral Health Commission members said he abruptly stopped attending. Safaí didn’t respond to a request for comment.

District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai during the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Meeting at City Hall in San Francisco on July 11. | Source: Isaac Ceja/The Standard

“The supervisors are just not appointing people,” said former commission member Geoffrey Grier. “You’ve got a lot of folks who want to be on the commission but they’ve got to wait a year? Nine months?”

Victor Young, a clerk for the Board of Supervisors, told The Standard there are eight people who have pending applications to serve on the commission. However, he said it’s difficult to find qualified members for the commission due to the types of experience needed for each seat. 

Each of the 11 supervisors gets one appointee to the commission. The six other seats are appointed by the full Board of Supervisors, including the one seat designated for a member of the Board of Supervisors.

On top of that, there are other complicated rules. At least nine of the 17 commissioners are supposed to be mental health patients or family members of mental health patients. Two commissioners are supposed to be mental health “advocates,” two seats are designated for mental health professionals, and one seat is to be held by a person “serving the public interest.” 

The commission currently has three seats occupied by mental health patients or their family members, two mental health professionals and one advocate.

The Behavioral Health Department is part of the Department of Public Health, the largest department in the city with a $3 billion budget. The Department of Public Health has at least four commissions overseeing its work. 

Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who is chair of the rules committee, which evaluates commission applicants, said he’s working on legislation that would shrink the commission from 17 members to 11. He told The Standard the commission’s stringent eligibility requirements have imposed barriers for him and other supervisors to appoint commissioners. 

Supervisor Matt Dorsey speaks at a press conference in San Francisco on June 29. | Jeremy Chen/The Standard

Do Oversight Bodies Work? Some Supervisors Are Skeptical 

In July, The Standard reported only one person working in City Hall was able to figure out how many departments, boards, commissions and advisory bodies the city has. A representative from the City Attorney’s Office eventually counted 53 departments, 56 boards and commissions, and 74 more advisory bodies, bringing the grand total to 183 different entities. 

The revelation frustrated many who said the city is plagued by too many overlapping bureaucracies. 

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who is one of five supervisors with active appointees on the Behavioral Health Commission, said the city should fill the vacant seats but was skeptical whether it would move the needle on solving city issues.

“If oversight bodies led to good government, we would have the best government in the world,” Mandelman said. 

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman listens to public comment at a board meeting at the Supervisor’s Chamber at City Hall in San Francisco in May. | Justin Katigbak for The Standard.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani called the commission into question in April 2020 when she alleged the body’s nonprofit fiscal agent may have improperly submitted invoices for administrative costs and the salaries of two staff members. The commission seat holders are unpaid and the body has since moved under the fiscal purview of the health department. 

Some commission members have taken issue with working under the health department, contending it threatens their ability to independently provide oversight. 

“We’re being overseen by the department that we’re supposed to have oversight of,” Vigil said. 

‘Lives Are at Risk’

The city is in the midst of an overdose crisis that’s claiming over two lives every day, according to preliminary data from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. Meanwhile, people with mental illness cycle through the city’s hospitals and emergency services.

The Department of Public Health referred questions about the commission vacancies to the Board of Supervisors. Board President Aaron Peskin did not reply to a request for comment.

“They come out, dictate to us and leave,” commission member Liza Murawski said of the health department. “There’s no accountability.”

Murawski said she’s been awaiting data on the number of case managers in city-funded programs for several years, spending countless hours pleading with the department to no avail. She wants to know if the city has enough case managers to meet client demands and connect them with lifesaving services.

The commission is supposed to monitor contracts and outcomes of the city’s mental health services and report their findings to the Board of Supervisors and the state. However, commission members said the city’s reliance on nonprofit contractors has created a firewall that makes it impossible to obtain the data needed to evaluate the services. 

In April, former commission member Terezie Bohrer resigned in an email to the clerk, explaining she thought she could be a better advocate “on the ‘outside’ with less governmental constraints.”

Others have accused the health department of being purposefully unhelpful in helping them obtain information necessary to do their jobs. 

“They’ve been pretty much keeping us in the dark,” Vigil said. “People’s lives are at risk.”

The post San Francisco Drug Disaster Panel Hasn’t Met in Months appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Good Thursday morning!

American Democratic Majority, the super PAC tied closely to George Norcross, spent $6.4 million in the 2021 elections. At this point two years ago, it had just started up and raised $1.25 million from the NJEA’s super PAC.

Now, all 120 seats in the Legislature are up again and competitive races in two South Jersey districts — 3 and 4 — will be crucial in the battle for control of the Legislature . The first quarter 2023 fundraising numbers are in, and American Democratic Majority raised a whopping $0.

The New Jersey press corps has written quite a bit about the diminishment — it’s way too early to say downfall — of the South Jersey Democratic machine. But this is somewhat puzzling. Norcross retains the ability to easily raise millions of dollars. So maybe there will be a later infusion, or perhaps he’ll begin another project. When I asked, Norcross answered solely with a joke that you’ll see below. You’ll also find below some other news that’s got to be unwelcome to Norcross.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at [email protected].

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m working with Connor Roy.” — George Norcross, referring to the “Succession” character who is polling at about 1 percent in his presidential campaign, which to be fair is better than most polls have been for former Gov. Chris Christie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Cory Booker

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule.

CAMDEN RISING PILE OF SUBPOENAS — “N.J. corruption probe focuses on Camden, ties to South Jersey powerbroker, sources say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “The city of Camden and a major nonprofit group working on revitalization efforts have been hit with a flurry of subpoenas in recent weeks in what appears to be part of a corruption investigation into lucrative development deals involving millions in tax incentives, according to four sources with knowledge of the inquiry. The specific focus of the investigation was unclear and officials declined comment. But NJ Advance Media learned many of the records sought by the subpoenas are related to companies, individuals and transactions that have been publicly tied to South Jersey Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross III, who wields great influence in Camden. … Some of the subpoenas described by the sources requested documents connected to the awarding of state-funded economic development incentives that were the subject of a special governor’s task force four years ago. … In response to questions, a spokesman for Norcross said the awarding of Economic Opportunity Act incentives in Camden “has been repeatedly and exhaustively reviewed, including by a special task force, the state, the Economic Development Authority” and the media.”

SCARLET STRIKES — “Both sides in Rutgers faculty talks hopeful on a contract deal within days,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “Union leaders representing 9,000 Rutgers University faculty members said Wednesday that a final deal on a new contract could be possible by the end of the week — but only if the university administration negotiators keep up momentum and show urgency to close a few issues that remain on the table. Three faculty unions have tried to ramp-up the pace of negotiations with the university since April 15 when they secured key victories that paused a one-week strike and resumed classes. Now, as the end of the semester looms with final exams starting on May 4, faculty members under increasing pressure to sign a contract have shifted some of that pressure onto Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway by floating the possibility of a no-confidence vote in him.”

UNDER THE BOARDWALKS THEY’LL BE HAVING SOME FUNDS — “Here’s what Murphy wants to do with NJ’s leftover pandemic aid,” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “Gov. Phil Murphy is proposing more than a dozen ways New Jersey should spend its remaining federal pandemic aid, with funding for Jersey Shore boardwalks and aid for local governments facing rising employee health care costs among his requests. Murphy’s latest plans for deploying the last of New Jersey’s direct COVID-19 aid were included in a proposed state budget currently being reviewed by the Legislature. In all, Murphy has identified nearly $500 million in new spending that would be backed by money the state received in 2021 through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, according to budget documents. … More than $1 billion of the state’s original $6.2 billion allocation has yet to be appropriated, according to the latest official accounting. That means lawmakers will also likely have their own ideas about ways the remaining federal aid should be used as they draft an annual spending bill in the run-up to July 1.”

LORETTA VS. BERETTA — “Retired N.J. lawmaker just led fellow senior-living residents in rally for tougher gun laws,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson: “The group of older New Jerseyans — both grandparents and great-grandparents, ranging in age from 86 to 100 — gathered in front of a senior-living facility Tuesday, clutching not only walkers but protest signs calling for tougher gun laws in America. And standing in front, gripping a megaphone, was an influential retired state lawmaker who now lives in the building. A year after moving in, former state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg organized a rally with her fellow residents at the Arbor Terrace retirement community in her native Teaneck to urge Congress to pass federal legislation with stronger firearm restrictions.”

— “NJ’s landmark affordable housing law helped at least 50,000 residents since 2015, report says”

—N.J. public worker pension fund has gained nearly $4B on investments so far this year”

—“Bayonne assemblyman plans to return to crane worker position when state pulls out of Waterfront Commission”

—“NJ spends $467K on prisoner sex-change operations, gender care so far this year”

—“NJ council sets first regional curbs on warehouses”

—“Women’s political representation edges up at local level, but gains meager, study finds”

—Greenstein: “An investment in water is an investment in New Jersey”

—“NJEA makes early endorsements in some legislative races, setting up early money”

LEAKING ON A MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GLOUCESTER — “Plan to build N.J. terminal for trains that carry combustible gases hits federal roadblock,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nyah Marshall: “A developer’s plan to transport combustible gases by rail from Pennsylvania to a terminal in New Jersey has been blocked on the federal level after years of community organizing to stop the project. The U.S. Department of Transportation denied a special permit on Monday sought by Energy Transport Solutions, a subsidiary of New Fortress Energy, to transport liquefied natural gas by rail to a port on the Delaware River in Gibbstown in Gloucester County, according to the Federal Register. State and national environmental groups are celebrating the denial because it may block the proposed project that critics say would send polluting, combustible ‘bomb trains’ across dozens of South Jersey and Pennsylvania towns daily.”

HAIR TODAY GONE YESTERDAY — “Joe Biden’s plans just sidelined these NJ Democrats,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “We’ll see if Biden gets a bounce in the polls — and in fundraising — from his Tuesday announcement. But it is undoubtedly a sad day for Murphy’s hairstylist, who was no doubt paid handsomely for cultivating a robust hair bloom on the desert of a middle-aged dome. The makeover, which also included the hip, red-framed glasses, should no longer be a priority. (Murphy will probably still do his share of Biden surrogate work as things heat up, so he may need to maintain the bangs.) It also means an end to all the other obvious, just-in-case candidacy moves. The governor will no longer need to lob potshots at Ron DeSantis”

—“Rapper Pras, of N.J.-formed the Fugees, found guilty of political conspiracy”

NEITHER RED NOR BLUE BANK —“Two slates duke it out in Red Bank’s first nonpartisan local election,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “When it comes to political drama per square mile, Red Bank has long been one of New Jersey’s most effective municipalities. For years, Democrats in the Monmouth County borough of 13,000 have been locked in a brutal internecine fight, with two competing factions engaged in a constant tug-of-war over local control. This year’s May 9 elections represent a continuation of that battle, but with a new twist: they’ll be the first elections held under Red Bank’s new nonpartisan form of government approved by voters last year. Leading one ticket is incumbent Mayor Billy Portman, who won his first term off-the-line just last year; the borough’s new charter reset all terms, with all offices up this year regardless of when they were last elected. Portman’s opponent is Tim Hogan, a first-time candidate and the president of Riverview Medical Center, a major hospital in Red Bank.”

A TINY PORTION OF THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN — “Mayor-backed slate sweeps race for 3 Newark school board seats,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Strunsky: “With 94% of districts reporting, a mayoral-backed slate of three Newark Board of Education candidates swept Tuesday’s election by a nearly 3-1 margin, with voters overwhelmingly approving a local tax levy projected to cut the average homeowner’s bill by $15 for the coming school year. The ‘Moving Newark Schools Forward’ slate backed by Mayor Ras Baraka included two incumbents, Josephine Garcia and Hasani Council, and Allison James-Frison, who ran unsuccessfully against the mayor’s slate last year. … Turnout in the state’s largest school district was low on Tuesday — about the same as last year’s 3% mark.”

—“Should Baraka be worried that Newark voters don’t vote?” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “When Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson ran for governor in 1981, he came out of Newark with 21,967 votes. That enabled him to carry Essex by a 40%-13% margin over Jim Florio, and helped propel him to a third-place statewide – just 3,448 votes out of second. But that was more than 40 years ago, and circumstances have changed for another Newark mayor, Ras Baraka, as he considers a bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2025. Baraka has struggled to turn out votes in the state’s largest city in recent elections. When he ran for re-election in the May 2022 non-partisan municipal election, just 10 % of Newark voters turned out to vote. Despite his 83% landslide, 92% of voters in Baraka’s hometown didn’t vote for him. … The latest data point came on Tuesday when voter turnout in a contested race for the Newark Board of Education was roughly 3.7%, just slightly better than the 2.9% turnout in April 2022.”

A PLIGHT IN THE ROXBURY — ”‘Pornography’ on the shelves at Roxbury High? Librarian sues residents for defamation,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “Roxbury’s High School librarian has sued a group of township residents, saying they’ve made her the target of ‘a civil conspiracy to defame her character’ with allegations online and in public that she’s allowed pornography in the library. The alleged campaign centers on the graphic novel ‘Gender Queer: A Memoir,’ and other books in the library that critics have called sexually explicit but which also have been approved by the state as part of its sex education and gender-identity curriculums. The lawsuit, filed last month by librarian Roxana Russo Caivano, said the residents have labeled her a ‘child predator’ and accused her of ‘luring children with pornography.’”

TOO HOT OFF THE PRESSES — “A newspaper was planning its last edition. Then the press caught fire,” by The New York Times’ Corey Kilgannon: “In 2017, a tech executive and his wife from New Jersey with a spare fortune to invest in local news and nostalgia started a weekly print newspaper covering their beloved Montclair, an affluent commuter town some 30 minutes from Manhattan. As other regional and community papers were fading, Montclair Local popped up with a subscription price: $12 a year. It added a website and weekly email newsletters, and for seven years, it defied the odds. The press run grew to 3,500. … But print circulation costs were eating 40 percent of the budget, so last week, the Local’s board announced it would go online-only and merge with another online outlet, Baristanet. Its last print edition would come out the following Thursday, April 27. … But on Monday morning, Ms. Baranauckas received an email with some troubling news: There had been a fire at the printing plant in Rockaway, N.J. Suddenly, the Local’s last edition was in jeopardy.”

—“Sires-endorsed slate cruises to victory in West New York school board elections”

—“Ex-Ocean Township manager getting $110,000 in lawsuit deal after firing”

—“Paterson educator claims he was discriminated against — because he’s white”

—“Ramapo Indian Hills school board’s legal fees overshadow budget talks as accusations fly”

—“Paramus weed dispensary’s future remains hazy, as CEO calls questions ‘political’”

YOU KNEW IT WOULD BE 22 — “New Jersey’s 25 worst highways, ranked by how much we hate them,” by NJ Advance Media’s Bobby Olivier and Jeremy Schneider: “1. Route 22 Why we hate it: If New Jersey’s highway system is indeed a manifestation of man’s sin and folly, then Route 22 must be the devil himself. It is a commuter’s eternal damnation, a gauntlet of car wrecks, road rage and drivers touting death wishes. The moment you pull onto 22 you become the worst version of yourself, involuntarily giving people the finger as you slalom through Hillside.”

DESTROY YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR FINANCES — “Pork roll vs. Taylor ham debate celebrated in new scratch-off lottery ticket,” by The Record’s Sarah Griesemer: “The New Jersey Lottery is getting in on the fun with a scratch-off ticket called ‘The Jersey Debate.’ The ticket, which features a traditional match-the-numbers game, costs $5 and has a top prize of $200,000. ‘What we’re really trying to do is embrace the fun of the New Jersey-ness of this debate and just how unique it is,’ said Missy Gillespie, chief communications officer for the New Jersey Lottery.”

YOU MAY NEED SOME PLUMBERS — “President Nixon’s North Jersey home hits the market for $1.2 million. Take a look inside,” by The Record’s David M. Zimmer: “Put up for sale at the end of March, 23 Sherwood Downs was the final home of former President Richard M. Nixon and his wife, Pat. The asking price is $1.2 million, twice what the couple paid in March 1991. Located deep within the gated Bears Nest community, the three-bedroom, five-bathroom home was the second Bergen County residence for the Nixons. The pair lived in a 15-room home on 4 acres in Saddle River for nine years before they sold it in November 1990. They moved to 23 Sherwood the following April.”

HOW IT THIS POSSIBLE IF EVERYONE’S LEAVING? — “‘Everyone’s fighting over crumbs’: New Jersey housing markets slip right back into the Pandemic Housing Boom,” by Fortune’s Alena Botros: “New Jersey’s average home value is up 5.9% over the past year. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s average home value is down 11.8% over the same period. It’s clear that the housing market correction, mostly fueled by last year’s mortgage rate shock and currently losing steam, is milder in the East and sharper out West. But New Jersey housing markets, in particular, are getting surprisingly hot again.”

—“Report: 37% of working families in NJ struggled to make ends meet during COVID pandemic”

—“Killer of Press photographer gets life plus 35 years for ‘cruelty in its purest form’”

—“Cooper and Cape Regional reach definitive agreement to merge”

—“7,100 square-foot esports gaming venue set to open near [Rowan] campus”

—“Memorial service for P-Funk co-founder Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins set for Plainfield”

—“FDU names its 9th president. Here’s how he differs from his predecessors”

The post The Norcross machine hasn’t turned on but appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — A range of economic indicators for San Francisco points to good news and a strong recovery from the effects of the omicron variant of COVID-19, according to a monthly report by the city controller’s office.

Good news came in the form of data from March on job creation, tourism, housing, office attendance and among other indicators, new business formation.

READ MORE: Coastside Volunteers Make, Sell Tamales to Help Ukraine

But San Francisco’s chief economist Ted Egan was real about the state of the economy.

“I don’t think the good economic news in our March report changes the fact that San Francisco still has a long way to go in its economic recovery. Our job creation, tourism, and housing are all moving in the right direction. But they are still well below where we were before the pandemic, and far behind where comparable cities are.”

The San Francisco metro area added 12,300 jobs in February, more than half of which was in the leisure and hospitality sector, a sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment was at 3 percent, the lowest rate for the pandemic era.

The number of housing units permitted jumped again. San Francisco permitted about 325 units in January, up from fewer than 200 in October and fewer than 50 in November 2020.

READ MORE: Judge Rules Landmark California Corporate Diversity Law Unconstitutional

A few new businesses opened at the beginning of the year in the neighborhood services classification, which includes equipment repair, dry cleaning, and among many other things, pet care services.

Local travel is recovering but residents are still cautious about getting out, according to the controller’s office. Weekly hotel occupancy topped 50 percent in mid-March in San Francisco, only the second time that’s happened since the pandemic began.

But the city is still behind other leading destinations when it comes to hotel revenue recovery.

Office attendance continues to recover sharply since the beginning of the year and from April 2020 when it was below 10 percent.

MORE NEWS: Mountain View Police Investigate Death of Los Altos High Student as Possible Fentanyl Overdose

© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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A 141 year old Victorian house was picked up and moved six blocks from Franklin Street to Fulton Street.

“It’s phenomenal to see this huge seven-bedroom house move into,” said Wanda Ramos, who lives near the home’s original location.

Gary Carter lives near the new location and was repeating the same thoughts. “That’s pretty big, pretty amazing,” said Carter.

Sebastian Luke was one of many who watched the entire procession and only said, “It’s a beautiful building.”

And this beautiful historic building quickly took San Francisco and the internet by storm. Every nook and cranny was captured by hundreds of San Franciscans, many of whom compared it to the Pixar animated film Up, in which a house was moved by balloons.

There’s nothing to see here, just a historic San Francisco Victorian house coming down the street! Today it moves 6 blocks for more than $ 400,000. The old location near Turk and Franklin will soon accommodate more than 60 apartments. @ abc7newsbayarea
Courtesy: Lehoa Nguyen pic.twitter.com/3ztOAtaVRU

– JR Stone (@jrstonelive) February 21, 2021

This house, known as Englander House, was towed six blocks. Six blocks in about six hours.

“There were a few mishaps along the way. Trees getting in the way, stop signs, lights and signs and what not,” said Lana Costantini of the San Francisco Historical Society

“They met a light pole right there on the corner of Golden Gate and Franklin, and also some trees,” said Eddie Ramos, who was watching the movement closely.

But don’t worry, there were loggers, roads were closed and the police were there to show the way, even if it didn’t always look so perfect and even into the night.

“I was scared when they tried to turn into Golden Gate Street. I was surprised, I thought there was no way, but they made it,” said Saron Eyob, who lives nearby.

Historical Society says this is the first time since 1974 that a Victorian house like this has been relocated in San Francisco.

Huge dollys carry it at about a mile an hour and it cost $ 400,000. More than a dozen city agencies approved the relocation.

The Englander house is converted into single-family houses. A former morgue next door and the old property will also be converted into residential buildings. As a result of the move, between 50 and 60 new units will ultimately be available and of course the historic house will be restored and saved.

RELATED: Historic San Francisco Victorian Home Ready To Be Converted To Apartments Blocks Away

“I was up on the 11th floor at the time, looking down and I just couldn’t believe what was happening. I thought this was one for the history books,” said Eddie Ramos.

Moving was not an easy task. Power lines, parking meters and street lights were removed for the move. and Muni had to reroute some bus routes

The six bedroom, three bathroom house still has the original wood and 19th century “anchor bolts”.

The moving worker says houses like this are worth preserving instead of tearing them down.

Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

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It’s the Mary Poppins Effect! Dick van Dyke hasn’t aged in 56 years as he looks remarkably similar to his character from the 1964 film

• Dick Van Dyke played Chimney Sweep Bert and Mr Dawes Snr in Mary Poppins
• Star – 39 years old at the time – hid under makeup and silver hair for the cameo
• Van Dyke, 94, seen in LA after the performance of Sting’s musical The Last Ship

Foreign service by post

Released: 5:07 pm EDT, Feb 16, 2020 | Updated: 7:50 PM EDT, Feb 16, 2020

Fortunately, unless you’re a bit of a Mary Poppins anorak, you probably didn’t know that Dick van Dyke had two roles in the film of the same name.

The star played a world apart from the cheerful chimney sweep Bert and played the belligerent banker Mr. Dawes Sr., who chose poor George Banks, the employer of Julie Andrews’ practically perfect nanny.

The then 39-year-old star hid under makeup and silver hair for the sneaky cameo and was referred to as Navckid Keyd, an anagram of his name, in the 1964 film.

Now: Dick Van Dyke backstage after a performance of The Last Ship at the age of 94 (left). 1964: Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Sr. in Mary Poppins (right)

Fifty-six years later, there is no hiding from the fact that now in real life he appears to be taking the form of the character with the required white beard. Van Dyke, now 94, showed off his new look in a glowing snap with Sting posted on the singer’s Instagram page.

The couple went backstage at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles after a performance of Sting’s musical The Last Ship.

Van Dyke was back in the makeup chair for a cameo as Mr. Dawes Jr., son of the tyrannical banker, in Mary Poppins Returns, the long-awaited 2018 sequel that starred Emily Blunt.

Dick van Dyke had two roles in the film of the same name, Mary Poppins, in which he played Bert and Mr Dawes Sr.

He revealed, ‘When they invented me as the old man in [the original movie]I had to go to Walt Disney and ask him about the part, he didn’t give it to me.

I said, “I won’t do it for anything.” I actually had to give him $ 4,000. I had to pay him to do the part. “And I would do it again.” The money went to the California Institute of the Arts, the visual and performing arts school founded by Disney in 1961.

“This is the first time I’ve bought a part. This time I got paid, ”added Van Dyke.

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