The dripping, juicy crab served to fishing industry dignitaries, politicians and other celebrators Friday in San Francisco may have served as a salve for those suffering from the late opening of the commercial Dungeness season, but it didn’t ease the belly pains caused by money troubles.
“This has been a disaster,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, who joined San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and state senators Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, in a crab feast at Fisherman’s Wharf honoring the crab season’s opening this week.
Huffman seemed to catch himself and adjust his tone as he glimpsed the melted butter, fresh crab meat, sourdough bread and wine piled high on tables set up on the pier outside Seamen’s Memorial Chapel.
“While I am thrilled we are still going to get a little out of this season,” Huffman said, as some of the bearded, beer-sipping characters at the tables in front of him cracked shells and fished with their fingers for meat, “it has been extremely tough.”