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Letters to the Editor
Egypt Protests ...
Feb. 07‚ 2012
To the Editor:
Excellent article about Egypt. I wonder whether demonstration fatigue has set in among the general populace. Egyptians supported the initial demonstrations calling for the ouster of President Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak, but once that was accomplished, perhaps most of the general populace just wants to get on with every day living. In fact, to many the presence of the military is seen as a stabilizing force in the transition from Mubarak's rule to something else.
The irony, of course, is that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Al-Nour Party will rule Parliament while the secular and liberal forces who were the main element behind the uprising against Mubarak are being left in the dust. Now we will have to see the results of the presidential elections. Will the military interfere in the presidential elections? Will the military attempt to control the writing of a new constitution? In fact, I understand the U.S. is pressing the military to maintain special powers and rights over any future government including a declaration that the country’s recent parliamentary elections will have no bearing on the makeup of Egypt’s future executives.
Why the U.S. interest? Because of the Muslim Brotherhood’s deep hostility to Israel — which reflects majority public opinion in Egypt — would pose difficulties for American policy. And its conservative views on the rights of women and intolerance of religious minorities are offensive by Western standards.Ultimately, we will probably see a power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ralph E. Stone
San Francisco
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Dealing with Occupy Oakland; California Millionaire's Tax ...
Feb. 02‚ 2012
To the Editor:
This article about Occupy Oakland is absolutely right. Anarchists must be brought into the fold and somehow prevented from ruining the work and hard-won reputation of Occupy.
Lela Cooper
Stone Ridge, NY
To the Editor:
Mayor Jean Quan estimates the cost to Oakland related to the Occupy protests since October at about $5 million at a time when the city is facing a budget deficit. But consider that Oakland's budget deficit is indirectly related to the subprime housing crisis, predatory lending practices, lack of government regulation, and billions in government bailouts to those largely responsible for the crisis. This corporate greed led to vast layoffs of workers and home foreclosures.
The $5 million cost to Oakland pales against the human cost suffered by unemployed workers, many of whom lost their homes to foreclosure, and the cost to taxpayers for these bailouts. While I decry the violence and destruction of property in the latest Occupy Oakland demonstration, until government and Wall Street listen and act, we need the Occupy Movement to continue its protest against corporate greed symbolized by Wall Street and the vast income disparity in the U.S. Hopefully, Occupy Oakland has not lost the true spirit and determination of the original Occupy Wall Street.
Ralph E. Stone
San Francisco
To the Editor:
I want to help collect signatures for the Millionaire's Tax. In LA, our LAUSD superintendent wants the property owners to pay a property tax to pay for the students' education. It will be a lot easier to push for this taxation of the wealthy businesses that keep polluting and destroying our environment all over the world.
Give me 50 petitions. I am sure I can get a team of people to get the 50 sheets signed especially when we are up against taxation of the poor. The choice is easy. Enough is enough. I am glad I read this article today.
Pedro Reyes
Los Angeles
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Gingrich vs. Romney; More Praise for Original Joe's ...
Feb. 01‚ 2012
To the Editor:
I think Gingrich has just as much a chance as Romney or Obama because it is a fair fight. I also don't see how Obama could get re-elected he has ruined our nation. Our job is not to go placing bets on who is going to win and who is going to lose it is our job to go and make sure that we listen to each election with open ear, think carefully, be wise, and not let our personal feelings get in the way and vote for the best candidate, This should be the time where we should all ccome together and do what is right for America. This after all is our home and we need to do whatever it taakes to make it a better place.
Sarah Cowell
New York City
To the Editor:
I am a 3rd generation San Franciscon, and 1/2 pure Sicilian. Original Joe's Minestrone soup is exactly like my Italian Nana served. Hearty full of all the good things you need, but tastes out of this world. The Chicken Cacciatore was the best I've had anywhere. God Bless their family for bringing class and style to basic Italian food!
Michael Cheney
San Francisco
To the Editor:
Original Joe's reopening is another fine reason to make a visit back home to San Francisco!
Jim Thompson
Santo Domingo de Heredia
Costa Rica
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Original Joe's Reopens; More on Ranked Choice Voting; Media Coverage of Ross Mirkarimi ...
Jan. 30‚ 2012
To the Editor:
We have been anxiously awaiting the return of our favorite restaurant in San Francisco. How many times have we sat on stools and been entertained by the waiters and cooks as they bantered and cussed at each other as we observed as every guest's food was prepared. We were married in 1967 and for many years Polo's was "our place," until someone took it over and "improved" it to death. We simply moved ourselves a few blocks to Original Joe's, which was almost identical in every way. When it burned, we grieved, but watched and waited as a reopening had been promised publicly by the Duggans. Yippee!
Shelley Griffin
Martinez, CA
To the Editor:
It is no longer "Original" Joe's. I will not be hoofing it to North Beach, as often as I did to Taylor Street!
Terrrie Frye
Tenderloin Resident
San Francisco
To the Editor:
Interesting comment by supporter of Ranked Choice Voting; I am sorry I was unaware of the hearing. I would have loved to been able to speak out against RCV. What the supporters stated, especially from Steve Hill, is just not accurate. What do voters want from their voting system? RCV does not do what its supporters state; I know Judy Cox and she is wrong.
RCV is really nothing more than a plurality system; if so, why not just go to a plurality counting method and forget RCV. RCV is more expensive than plurality and so communities that use RCV can save money by just going to plurality process. If voters want a majority winner, than runoff is only way to achieve this end. Bottom line is RCV is confusing, does not result in majority winner and is too expensive to use. Get real folks. END RCV NOW!
Tony Santos
San Leandro, CA
To the Editor:
I disagree. Coverage on the Mirkarimi case has not been excessive. It has lacked depth and critical analysis and reads more like gossip. This is probably because the case is still unraveling. Domestic violence is a social problem just as serious as racism and homophobia. Please do not minimize violence against women.
As a child survivor of domestic violence I watched cops coming to my house and letting my father off the hook with a pat on the shoulder. Meanwhile my morher's injuries were ignored. These cops wee biased. Statistically police officers have a higher rate of domestic violence in their personal relationships that any other profession.
We cannot as a community or a society allow a perpetrator of domestic violence act as a sheriff! That would be like allowing a rapist to oversee rape cases.
Nsomeka Gomes
San Francisco
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Ross Mirkarimi; California Schools Budget; SEIU-UHW Three Years Later ...
Jan. 27‚ 2012
To the Editor:
I think Ross Mirkarimi should step down. If the charges are a domestic issue only, then one can say that in O.J. Simpson case his wife should not have complained about abuse. Look what happened to her. Mirkarimi's defense that his behavior is strictly domestic is indicative of his disregard for women and the law. If he has any decency he should step down while pending his trial. Instead he is flaunting the law.
Margie Hom-Brown
San Francisco
To the Editor:
Thanks for summarizing this for us from a public school perspective. I think I may use this to forward to voting family members from other areas of California to get them to see the light on the need to support Gov. Brown's measures in November -- if nothing else, for the sake of the kids in their own family!
Lorraine Woodruff-Long
San Francisco
To the Editor:
This is soooo boring! Who cares! The labor movement is under attack‑ Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana -- the economy is in shambles -- we are coming up to the election of our lifetime. This inter union squabble is so small and irrelevant. Nobody cares except you! Find something to obsess about that matters!
Charles Graham
Hayward, CA
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
WB Coyle's Ponzi Scheme; Gingrich's Racist Appeals; Gingrich Attacks Romney; Jerry Brown's Tax Alternative ...
Jan. 25‚ 2012
To the Editor:
Thank you for posting this article. WB Coyle's Ponzi Scheme is coming to an end very shortly. Somone needs to author an article on Paul Utrecht. He is just as culpable as Coyle for defrauding not just investors but homeowners. Those who opted to purchase TICs as their dwellings.
Anonymous
San Francisco
To the Editor:
Oh, Paul, I do hope you are correct! This article is as valuable for the media analysis as the political one. It's true that Democrats attacking "vulture capitalists" simply is not as interesting to the media as it is when the attacks come from the Far Right. Perhaps the "man bites dog" story is more attractive.
Frank Noto
San Francisco
To the Editor,
RE. "Gingrich'€™s Racist Appeals Spark Revival" by Randy Shaw€š (BeyondChron, Jan. 24š 2012):
I attended a national conference near Charleston, South Carolina in the late 1990's. My lodging was in nearby Beaufort, a town which was utilized as a campaign stop for one of the Republican candidates recently.
During my visit, an African American security guard at the motel told us at that time that in Beaufort, on the weekends some Ku Klux Klan members would drive back and forth along the main street of town in their pick up trucks and cars while wearing their white sheets.
I found the people I met in South Carolina to be gracious and very hospitable - truly reflecting of the "Southern hospitality."
However, it was sobering to hear and learn that a remnant of the Ku Klux Klan was still active and rearing its ugly head in white sheets and cone hats during that time.
Anh Le
San Francisco
To the Editor:
FACT: Federal civil rights laws, would NOT have passed without Republicans passing it... inspite of Southern Democrats that voted against them. So you lie to the reader of this article. I think we will continue to be divided as long as you write they way YOU do in this article. I doubt you are old enough to know your history but it is easy for you to fear "Codes" that do not exist ... you seem to be clueless about the real world. Sadly your print will be published and I will continue to hire only conservatives for my companies; because of articles like yours. At this point ... I would love another "civil war" so we could end this divide... and rid our country of socialists and liberals. Oh well, keep writing‑keep dividing.
Dr. Trent Saxton
Portola, CA
To the Editor:
Those who think that Jerry Brown's tax initiative is a friendly alternative haven't seen the proposed initiative. Section 6 of the referendum states that if it receives a majority of the votes, all other tax measures "shall be null and void." This clause is very revealing because it confirms what many of us suspect, that the purpose of Brown's initiative, which includes a sales tax,is to defeat any attempt to impose higher taxes on those whose annual earnings exceed a million dollars. Incidentally,Brown said that he included a sales tax "because I thought we ought to have a balanced program."
Harry Brill
El Cerrito, CA
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Newt Gingrich & South Carolina ...
Jan. 24‚ 2012
To the Editor:
RE: "Why Progressives Should Be Thrilled Newt Won South Carolina," Paul Hogarth mentions that South Carolina is a bellwether Republican state. It hasn't voted for a Democratic Presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976, and before that John F. Kennedy in 1960.
Now here is a link to an article showing Obama defeating either Gingrich or Romney in both South Carolina and Florida, and it's even worse for the Republicans if their candidate is Gingrich. Mentioned is that if this is true, then Obama will carry several other states that McCain carried in 2008 and the whole Republican ticket will be hurt. Click here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/13/michael-tomasky-could-obama-be-headed-for-a-landslide.html
Walter Ballin
Chico, CA
To the Editor:
Your assertions that Romney is greedy are not correct. He is committed to saving more than he spends, and in being in charge of his own money, not handing it to the government to decide who gets it. He IS releasing his tax returns (you lied) and when they are released, stack them up against your own. He gives more to charity than anyone else who has ever run for the high office, and he will continue to do so whether he has tax advantages or not.
Some will scoff at how he gives too much to "that Mormon cult" well, guess what? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints has one of the best records of any charity in getting the money where it needs to go. Virtually no overhead, as everything is volunteer. Their preachers aren't even paid. Nor are their teachers, deacons, babysitters, soloists pianists ... you name it. Romney is used to volunteering; he's done it all his life. Name ONE PERSON who doesn't try to save his money, as he feels he can spend it better than anyone else. See?
Kris Hansen
San Bernardino, CA
To the Editor:
I, like a lot of conservatives, am having a difficult time with this election. We conservatives don't have a clear choice. However, I don't think it's instructive to perpetuate the myth that Newt divorced his first wife while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer. As a talk show host I have been guilty of repeating that rumor but it is a myth. It never happened. That's not to defend Newt's personal life but we need to deal in facts and not Internet legends.
Phil Valentine
Nashville, TN
Ed. Note: While Newt Gingrich has disputed details of what happened, he did visit his wife when she was recovering from cancer surgery with a legal pad to discuss the terms of their divorce -- as first reported in 1985 by Mother Jones Magazine.
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
San Francisco Redistricting ...
Jan. 23‚ 2012
To the Editor:
Appreciated some of the common sense observations and solutions you proposed in your article about San Francisco Redistricting. You were confused, however, in your discussion of District 11.
While it is true that District 10 needs to lose population, the same applies to District 11, only more so. Currently, its population is 8.64% above the mean (73,203 people). To be in compliance with the City Charter regarding equal population, it must lose at least a net of 3.64% or more likely a net of 7.64% of its population. Thus, rather than adding any of the Portola to the District, it may need to add a few blocks near the blue water tower to the Portola, plus tweaking along the edges of the district to come within compliance. The only addition being advocated by D11 advocates and others, is Precinct 2008 in D10 which if added to D11 would make the Crocker Amazon whole.
Contrary to your final paragraph, the current visualization should not be fine-tuned, but scrapped. There was a saying in Sacramento (when I worked for the State Senate in from 1983-1986) that a bad bill should not be amended, but killed.
There are three options to solving the City's redistricting puzzle, and as David Pilpel said (although I disagree with his choice) center around unifying the Portola District and moving it so that all of the neighborhood is in either District 11, 9, or 10. Pilpel supports the movement into D11, but that creates an adverse ripple effect that would transfer the OMI to D7, and parts of D7 into D8 and D4.
Moving the remaining 40% of the Portola into D9 would make D9 less progressive, and thwart the unification of the North Inner Mission with the Inner Mission. The line could be moved back to the 1995 boundary of 17th, though. The political consequence in D10, though, is that the district would be less Asian and more dominated by Potrero Hill, so that Supervisor Cohen would have more difficulty in being reelected in 2014, or any African American elected in 2018 when she is termed out, and it would likely be represented by a white progressive from Potrero Hill. So much for diversity.
The third alternative of moving the Portola to D10 makes a lot of sense. 75% of the Portola was in D10 when the 1995 lines were drawn, and currently 40% of the neighborhood is in D10. The Visitacion Valley, Silver Terrace, and Portola Terrace neighborhoods in D10 are already heavily Asian, and there is a community of interest between the Asian community east of the Excelsior/Portola boundary along San Bruno Avenue and 3rd Street more so than there is with D11. This would create a ripple effect, which would cause the transfer of Potrero Hill and Dog Patch into D6, and the North Inner Mission to the Inner Mission.
To balance for population in District 6, Treasure Island, Yerba Buena Island and Rincon Hill/Transbay Terminal should be transferred to D3, the western boundary shifted from Gough or Laguna to Van Ness (as under Visualization 7), and making the tweaks that you proposed in your article north of the Central Freeway. The other salutory effect is that six districts other than tweaking for equal population and making neighborhoods intact which were divided in
1995 or particularly in 2002, can be kept largely intact.
Sincerely,
Christopher L. Bowman
San Francisco
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Ranked Choice Voting Debate ...
Jan. 20‚ 2012
To the Editor:
To judge from Jonathan Nathan's account of last Tuesday's debate on ranked choice voting, held at the offices of the San Francisco Planning and Research Association (SPUR), the argument proceeded on fairly narrow grounds. For a broader (and deeper) discussion, check out the hard-hitting exchange between Tuesday's moderator, USF professor Corey Cook, and SFSU Professor Emeritus Rich DeLeon, posted on SPUR's website (the links to DeLeon's rebuttal and Cook's reply appear at the bottom of Cook's piece).
Zelda Bronstein
Berkeley, CA
To the Editor:
Reading this report suggests I have been right in opposing IRV/RCV elections. The process does none of the things Steve Hill suggests; as Steve stated: "there is not perfect system," and so we can all agree that neither is IRV a perfect system and discard this method of counting. As Mr. Elsbend stated: "IRV does not result in a majority winner and it doesn't." IRV fails because 1 -- it does not result in a majority winner, 2 -- is confusing to miniority voters, 3 -- does not result in reducing negative capaigning. If people want a majority winner, the only way to go is through a runoff.
Tony Santos
San Leandro, CA
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
USDA's Marketing ...
Jan. 19‚ 2012
To the Editor:
I agree that the USDA needs to spend some $$ on advertising. As a school food service director, we are expected to initiate changes in our cafeterias without the educational support that goes along with them. Schools have many requirements to meet and nutrition education is not one of them. In order to compete with the junk food marketers, we have to hit kids (and parents!)where they live in the modern world.
Play 60 is a great program aimed at students taking charge of their own health and activity, but it is difficult for food service personnel to get buy‑in from other school staff. It also needs to be promoted outside the school venue. There are industries with interest in the healthier school meals program that do have large marketing budgets that could be tapped for that purpose. The USDA just needs to think out of their concrete boxes and move into modern media channels.
Pat McGee
Fruitport, MI
To the Editor:
I eagerly clicked on the MyPlate video link after reading this article only to be hugely disappointed. The article is great in that it talks about the issue of reaching low income children and their parents with messages about healthy eating.Yet the video shouts middle class white. I wonder how it would fair in a test market of the underserved population -- the groups that need the most help in including fruits and vegetables in their diet.I definitely appreciate your comments on the food marketing issue and other columns of yours I have read. But frankly, I think the video is great but it would just be nice to have had it target those audiences you described in this article.Thanks for continuing to work on this issue and be a voice for positive change.
Judy Schure
Thornton, CO
Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)
Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.
Feb. 02, 2012 -- Dealing with Occupy Oakland; California Millionaire's Tax ...
Feb. 01, 2012 -- Occupy Oakland Takes Wrong Turn
Feb. 01, 2012 -- Question 1 the Movie Premieres in Sacramento Tonight
Feb. 01, 2012 -- “I Heard That:” February Celebrates Black History Month; Welcome Back, Original Joe’s! ...
Feb. 01, 2012 -- Dispatch from Sundance / Slamdance 2012 (Part 2)
Feb. 01, 2012 -- Gingrich vs. Romney; More Praise for Original Joe's ...
Jan. 31, 2012 -- Ending San Francisco Condo Lottery Is Jobs Killer
Jan. 31, 2012 -- Herrera, Suhr Join Forces Against Illegal Businesses in SF's Tenderloin
Jan. 31, 2012 -- AFSCME, Others Endorse Millionaire's Tax
Jan. 30, 2012 -- Gingrich vs. Romney: Who Should Progressives Root For?
Jan. 30, 2012 -- Generals Still in Charge: Tough Days Ahead in Egypt
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February 7, 2012
