Machinations Over Newsom’s Departure Much Ado About Nothing
by Randy Shaw‚
Mar. 18‚ 2010
After weeks of politically clueless musings about post-Newsom San Francisco, the media finally figured out the obvious: a special election makes no economic sense, and the new Board of Supervisors is almost certain to be more progressive than the current group. Downtown interests particularly embarrassed themselves in the weeks prior to Gavin Newsom’s decision. Corporate San Francisco was silent when Newsom’s gubernatorial candidacy created the same prospect of an early departure, and its claims that the city would be lost without the Mayor ring rather hollow when they constantly criticize Newsom for not returning phone calls. The bottom line is that Newsom’s departure does not change this unalterable fact: the candidate elected Mayor in November 2011 will be the politically strongest in the potential field, regardless of who is appointed next January.
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Did Obama Kill the Public Option in July?
by Paul Hogarth‚
Mar. 18‚ 2010
Congress will pass health care reform any day now, and it probably won’t have a public option to hold private insurance accountable. Even though a version passed the House last November, and 51 Senators are on record saying they would vote for it. And while Democrats are at this point “damned if they do” and “damned if they don’t” on passing a very unpopular bill, the public option consistently has strong support. But Majority Whip Dick Durbin said the Senate won’t even vote on a public option unless the House puts it in the final legislation, and a few hours later Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that could not happen. President Obama has been justifiably slammed for not pushing hard enough for a public option, but the truth may be even worse than that. We know the White House cut a deal with hospitals and insurance companies last July on prescription drugs – but as a New York Times reporter said this week, they also killed the public option. And given the public option’s inexplicable fate, I have to believe the story.
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School Beat: SFUSD’s New Student Assignment Plan and New Budget Realities
by Lisa Schiff‚
Mar. 18‚ 2010
After more years and community advisory committees than anyone would like to remember, San Francisco finally has a new policy for how students are assigned to its public schools. Last week the Board of Education (BOE) of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) unanimously adopted the new strategy. Designed to support a set of ten important but challenging goals from increasing diversity, to expanding access to academic opportunities, to being simple, transparent, predictable and supporting choice, only time will tell how well the plan will encourage progress towards meeting these aims.
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A Chip Off the Old Blockhead
by Tommi Avicolli-Mecca‚
Mar. 18‚ 2010
It’s a classic case of “like mother, like son.” Andy Schlafly, the offspring of rabidly anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly, is the fruit(cake) that has not fallen far from the tree. Andy is engaged in what is being called the “Conservative Bible Project,” an attempt to reclaim the so-called good book from the (gasp! horror!) “bleeding heart” liberals who have been trying to make it gender inclusive and non-homophobic. If Andy has his way, God can again be a man, and a proud male chauvinist pig at that. “He” can be the preferred pronoun for every human being who’s not busy (as they should be) bearing kids, and of course Sodom and Gomorrah can be just desserts for attempting to engage in homosexual acts with heavenly messengers.
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Dufty Compromise Moves Measure Protecting Tenants
by Paul Hogarth‚
Mar. 17‚ 2010
Supervisor David Chiu’s ordinance to curb Ellis Act evictions in North Beach by regulating parking garages is headed for passage – after his office brokered a compromise with Bevan Dufty. Rather than mandate conditional use for all garage applications, the ordinance will call for a “311 notification” on buildings that have 3 units or less – and mandatory discretionary review for properties with 4 or more units. Moreover, the necessary findings will look at just two criteria – (a) whether there was a no-fault eviction on the property, and (b) if the garage would cause a reduction of residential space. Most Ellis evictions in North Beach have been in larger properties, and mandatory discretionary review still requires a hearing at the Planning Commission – so it’s an acceptable compromise. The legislation now goes back to the Land Use Committee, and should pass next week by a veto-proof majority.
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In SEIU Suit Against NUHW Leaders, Union Democracy On Trial
by Carl Finamore‚
Mar. 17‚ 2010
Going to Court as a defendant can make anyone nervous. A defendant in civil court can’t be thrown in jail, but there are no public defenders, so all expenses are borne by the accused. I think about this as I prepare to attend the opening of a civil trial on March 22 in San Francisco federal court where SEIU, one of the oldest and largest unions in America, is suing individual leaders of NUHW, one of the nation’s youngest unions. According to critics, the 1.8 million-member SEIU has already spent an estimated $10 million to sue 26 individuals who are former officers, organizers and staffers of SEIU’s third largest chapter, the California-based United Healthcare Workers West (UHW).
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Reforming City College
by Steve Ngo, Milton Marks & John Rizzo‚
Mar. 17‚ 2010
Each year, 100,000 students go to City College of San Francisco to earn university credits, get first-rate vocational training, master English as their second language, and enrich their lives in many different ways. This is mostly due to a talented faculty and staff, dedicated to student success.
But the Community College District has been through some troubled times. The District Attorney charged three former administrators, including the former chancellor. Bond-funded construction projects promised to voters were years late and significantly over budget, resulting in the temporary shelving of several needed projects.
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Money for Healthcare, Jobs, Education, Public Services - NOT WAR
by Marc Norton‚
Mar. 17‚ 2010
It is long past time for the antiwar movement to get back into the streets in a big way. It is also long past time for us to see the links between our permanent war economy -- regardless of the party or President in office -- and the growing economic, political and social crisis that we confront daily. The massive March 4 demonstrations around the country against education cuts and fee hikes are a clear manifestation of a serious break, especially among youth, with the business-as-usual political elite that constantly strives to contain and diminish our righteous anger. It is time to take the fightback to the next level.
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Why Republicans Should Regret Scott Brown’s “Massachusetts Miracle”
by Randy Shaw‚
Mar. 16‚ 2010
It’s been two months since Scott Brown’s surprising Massachusetts Senate victory, and Republicans might be regretting an outcome that they once saw as a turning point. Prior to Brown’s win, national Democrats were adrift, the base was deeply demoralized, and a path to finally passing health care reform was unclear. But Brown’s win changed this, providing a desperately needed wake-up call to national Democrats and the Obama Administration. President Obama is now more publicly critical of Republicans than at any time since his election, and is in a campaign mode that he would likely have delayed to the fall but for Brown’s win. Health care reform is set to be passed, the President is trying to mollify immigrant rights groups, and a series of events -- Texas’ new conservative textbooks that completely distort history, Clarence Thomas’ wife forming a group aligned with the Tea Party, Chief Justice Roberts’ public criticism of the President -- could well drive disenchanted Democrats to the polls in November not by their hopes, but out of fear.
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Will South Make Newsom the Angelides of 2010?
by Paul Hogarth‚
Mar. 16‚ 2010
March 18, 2010
