http://www.BeyondChron.org The Voice of the Rest en-us Nucleus CMS v3.22 ©2005 Online Newspaper http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.beyondchron.org/news/skins/beyondchron/images/topbar_right.gif http://www.beyondchron.org http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9878 80-page decision was clearly written with the U.S. Supreme Court in mind – and its heavy reliance on Romer v. Evans (1996) should be enough to get Anthony Kennedy’s vote. Many states passed anti-gay marriage initiatives, but Prop 8 was particularly offensive because it affirmatively took away a right that gay couples already had – just like Colorado did in the 1990’s with Amendment 2. While it would have been great to have the Court rule sexual orientation a “suspect class” and put Prop 8 under a strict scrutiny test, that would have made the decision far more likely to be reversed. Instead, Justice Reinhardt explains how Prop 8 had no rational basis to be constitutional – leaving the dissent to lamely argue the novel legal theory of “rational speculation.”]]> Wed, 8 Feb 2012 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9880
Maria Villareal embarked on the journey that has been her current home 14 years ago. The loan for her Naples Street home was originally owed to Wachovia, but was taken over by Wells Fargo. When Villareal's husband went on disability and the family's income stream dwindled, Wells Fargo sold the family an adjustable rate mortgage, a dangerous proposition that has become so destructive that it's illegal in parts of the country. Adjustable rate mortgages are frequently targeted at low-income populations, often groups with little formal education and/or a language barrier.]]> Wed, 8 Feb 2012 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9879
That’s why Out and Occupy, a new group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer and transgender people inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, will be celebrating an early Valentine’s Day on Feb. 11 with the hotel workers of Hyatt Andaz West Hollywood and with members of the progressive labor union Unite Here. We’ve had enough of a bad romance with corporate serial seducers, and we’re breaking up with “gay friendly” businesses that don’t respect workers of all sexual persuasions.]]> Wed, 8 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9874 claim that he’s “not concerned about the very poor” ignored a critical fact: Romney’s views reflect public policy in the United States since the 1970’s. No other industrialized nation does less for its “very poor.” America allows millions of families to live in shelters or inadequate housing, maintains an under-funded public school system that lacks the resources to effectively educate very low-income kids, has a deplorable public transit system by European standards, and, as recent studies show, offers the very poor far less chance to leave poverty than other nations. Most states offer less than subsistence welfare payments to unemployed families with children, and millions of kids go to bed hungry each night. Romney’s mistake was verbalizing what other politicians demonstrate through their actions.]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9873 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9876 Black Bloc anarchists, who have been active on the streets in Oakland and other cities, are the cancer of the Occupy movement. The presence of Black Bloc anarchists — so named because they dress in black, obscure their faces, move as a unified mass, seek physical confrontations with police and destroy property — is a gift from heaven to the security and surveillance state.

The Occupy encampments in various cities were shut down precisely because they were nonviolent. They were shut down because the state realized the potential of their broad appeal even to those within the systems of power. They were shut down because they articulated a truth about our economic and political system that cut across political and cultural lines. And they were shut down because they were places mothers and fathers with strollers felt safe.]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9875
Sachs’ film offers a cinematic middle finger to those who see gay relationships as inferior to straight relationships. Commitment issues don’t magically change because of the partners’ sexual orientation. Reasonable viewers will notice such emotional manipulations as extended disappearances and pushing the partner’s boundaries. Arthur Russell’s music, which covers folk song to avant garde instrumental, honestly captures a relationship’s moods better than more conventionally syrupy work.]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9870 Bay Citizen will soon merge with the Center for Investigative Reporting and come under the leadership of former longtime San Francisco Chronicle Executive Editor Phil Bronstein reflects the disappointing failure of a once promising media entity. Despite hiring some top-quality reporters, the Bay Citizen’s editors lacked judgment in deciding what stories to cover and never featured a columnist who attracted readers. Instead of providing an alternative that would attract the younger, more racially diverse demographic that has abandoned the Chronicle, the Bay Citizen largely echoed that declining publication. When I discussed the Bay Citizen with its founder, the late Warren Hellman, before it opened he said he did not want to be involved with the running of the paper; given his success in other endeavors, the publication would have done better if he had.]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9871
Deep suspicions of police and military collusion in the soccer stadium assault against these honored heroes of the revolution are bolstered by numerous press accounts of police standing aside for several hours before intervening.]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9872 pilot project at San Francisco's Aptos Middle School, which eventually led to the removal of soda and junk food from all of San Francisco's public school cafeterias, would never have been possible without the ability to spread information electronically. The advent of social media has provided advocates with even more powerful tools, allowing them to reach all of their followers at once, in real time. Where would flashmobs, the Occupy movement, or food trucks be without the ability to tweet?]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800