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=7577 can’t spend another dime of non-appropriated funds, and we expect a $500 million deficit by the end of the fiscal year. Meanwhile, Downtown commercial landlords – who shouldn’t be benefiting from Prop 13 anyway – are filing for tax breaks to pay less than what Prop 13 already grants them. The General Fund is currently $53 million in the red, with most of that coming from a hit in property tax revenue. It’s one thing if it was homeowners who bought at the wrong time (and are now seeking tax relief), but the City already gave rebates to most of these folks. No, the money San Francisco stands to lose largely comes from corporations who bought office buildings at inflated prices during the bubble – and now, as the City stands on life support, want a downward adjustment in their property tax bill. And without changing the state constitution, there’s little we can do to stop them legally.]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7574
Last week, following rave reviews garnered at the recent SF Asian Film Festival and venues around the globe, the Asian Pacific Democratic Club held a screening at Dolby's state-of-the-art theater in Potrero. No one has captured the life and times of the man known first as Goro Suzuki perhaps as well as Adachi. From Suziki's humble beginnings in the East Bay; his family's internment at the Japanese camps at Tanforan during World War II; his escape in Ohio and the origin of his new moniker, "Jack Soo", Adachi takes us on Soo's most improbable journey. A journey that would in fact, pave the way for many Asian Americans in the world of film and entertainment today.]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7576 BEAUTIFUL THING IS PASSIONATE

This coming of age story is SOMBER, WITTY, TOUCHING and GRITTY! Two young teenage boys are feeling their way into new ways to fall in love. Their romance is totally believable as the two actors Ben Carver and Brant Rotnem really make us believe in the characters. They are perfectly cast. Carver plays a young Boy that is confused about his sexuality. The acting is brilliant. Carver brings out emotional nuances that eventually explode to the surface. Brant Rotnem, Carter’s love interest -- is a rock. He loves sports – and his emotions are teetering on the edge. Yep, Rotnem has plenty of male pheromones that would make anyone wilt in his presence. His performance is both heartwarming, and heartbreaking. Hollywood may just discover this guy.]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:03:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7575 wrote a column pointing out that many groups have holiday parties, including fund-raising pitches, at inaccessible spots and that these groups can be influential enough to warrant attendance by various public officials -- elected and appointed.

Let's take a look at one such venue -- the Forest Hill Clubhouse, at 381 Magellan. Not only is it not accessible, but it is not even transit-accessible, according to MUNI distance standards.]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7573 Ed. Note: Local 2's vigil in support of the national campaign for Boston housekeepers fired by Hyatt is tonight at 4:30 pm at the Grand Hyatt, Sutter and Stockton Streets.

The name St. Francis generally invokes serene images of the devout canonized Catholic aesthetic who is a favorite even among the non-religious because of his professed humility and sincerity. Not so in San Francisco.

The name St. Francis brings howls of anger and disapproval, sometimes amplified with a bullhorn. Each one of Local 2, UNITE-HERE’s six hundred and fifty members at the Westin St. Francis Hotel walked off the job on Wednesday, November 18, and began a loud, moving picket line surrounding the hotel.]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7572 nasty turn. Right-wing operative Dave Wilson has mailed out a hit-piece attacking Parker, asking if a lesbian Mayor is the “image Houston wants to portray.” Wilson has a history of waging such attacks, but the question is whether he’s getting tacit support from Parker’s opponent (and fellow Democrat) in the run-off – former City Attorney Gene Locke. Locke had disavowed earlier anti-gay smears against Parker, but is also courting support from the same right-wing forces. Republicans are the swing vote in the run-off election, so future hit-pieces like this could prove effective. Moreover, Locke’s base is in the African-American community - and he will need a high turnout there to defeat Parker. With the right-wing eager to form an unholy alliance with black ministers against the LGBT community, will Locke succumb to letting homophobia fuel turnout to help him win the election – or will Houston prove that it’s moved beyond this hateful rhetoric?]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7569 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:03:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7570
The Vatican made the proclamation after a recent, five-day astrobiology conference, held to mark 2009 as the Year of Astronomy. With scientists from around the world in attendance, the gathering looked at the possibility of life on other worlds, among other topics.]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7568 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:21:54 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=7565
The parties last week emerged from a furious round of further secret negotiations to issue a revised settlement that they hope will spur quick new approval. Google Books Settlement 1.0 was cut-and-pasted, sliced, diced, pureed, processed – and, above all, triangulated in an effort to meet concerns articulated formally by hundreds of domestic creators, access and privacy advocates, and potential Google competitors, and less formally by foreign governments and constituents.]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:06:00 -0800