Why isn't New Orleans Mother's Day parade shooting a 'national tragedy'?
by David Dennis‚
May. 17‚ 2013
The media seems to forget about New Orleans and any place that the middle class can't easily relate to
On 3 September 2005 – less than a week after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast – I began to understand that America cared little about what was happening in New Orleans. I was an undergraduate at Davidson College in North Carolina at the time, worried out of my mind because my family in Mississippi was still without electricity and friends and family in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast were still missing. The images of families stranded on rooftops were trickling in via news outlets, but it was obvious that the response from the government would be slow. But it really hit me on 3 September. I was driving around and noticed all the American flags at half-mast. Because Supreme court chief justice William Rehnquist died.
At the time, the Gulf Coast death toll was rumored to be in the thousands with nobody knowing for sure. But flags stayed at full mast until a chief justice died. To me, this was a slap in the face to what was going on in New Orleans and a sign that the city just didn't matter to the overall fabric of the country.
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SRO Tenants Push CPUC for Improved Lifeline Phone Service
by Karin Drucker‚
May. 17‚ 2013
On May 15, California Public Utilities Commissioner Catherine Sandoval heard testimony from clients of the low-cost phone service Lifeline and from individuals who are invested in its improvement. Beyond Chron reported on the issue a few days ago, and the hearing was a success. Sandoval held the hearing as part of the process of updating the California Lifeline program, which until now has been for land lines only. (The Federal Lifeline program allows for either a wireless or landline service.) The Central City SRO Collaborative, which helps individuals to sign up for Lifeline services, turned out many of its members and Lifeline clients to speak about the importance of this program and to advocate for reforms. [more]->
The Orange Peels Come to Cafe Du Nord
by E. "Doc" Smith‚
May. 17‚ 2013
This Friday night, The Orange Peels return to Cafe Du Nord for 2 shows, (10:00 pm is sold out), to celebrate the release of their latest album, "Sun Moon". Led by the Sunnyvale pop-smith Allen Clapp, and his partner-in-crime, bassist Jill Pries, this new album also features longtime member John Moremen on guitar, and drummer Gabriel Coen, "Sun Moon" is the band's first collaborative effort. Clapp and his cohorts have kept true to their wonderful sound on this new material, plus they've also added a few songs only heard at their live performances, like the rollicking "Aether Tide", a crowd favorite. The Peels website provides a bit of insight into the making of Sun Moon, stating that, "Sometimes plans can be overrated. Sure they can help focus a group toward a common goal, but overdo it and you can end up with an album that sounds and feels more like a corporate quarterly report than art…"
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DEVILISHLY CLEVER SMUIN AND HIS VISION
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 17‚ 2013
I HAVE SEEN MANY SMUIN BALLETS -- AND THIS ONE AT THE YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS THE MOST AUDACIOUS AND ORIGINAL BALLET MOVES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS.
The production at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco is an event of divine madness and full of comedy, opera and romance. If you want to see Thrills, chills and excitement then you will want to enjoy this glittering evening. You know you want to go. It's the perfect place for magic.
The program is Sensual, funny and outlandish at times. The direction has it -- and the performers have it all. Talent is all over the place. Believe me - this Smuin Dance Series at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts keeps Smuin's talent alive with "Bouquet", "Chants d' Auvergne" and "Jazzin". [more]->
FEMA Plans Clear-Cutting of 85,000 Berkeley and Oakland Trees
by Randy Shaw‚
May. 16‚ 2013
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is moving to chop down 22,000 trees in Berkeley’s historic Strawberry and Claremont Canyons and over 60,000 more in Oakland. This destructive plan is rapidly moving forward with little publicity, and FEMA cleverly scheduled its three public meetings for mid and late May while UC Berkeley students were in finals or gone for the summer. UC Berkeley has applied for the grant to destroy the bucolic Strawberry and Claremont Canyon areas, claiming that trees pose a fire hazard. The school has no plans to replant, and instead will cover 20% of the area in wood chips two feet deep. And it will pour between 700 and 1400 gallons of herbicide to prevent resprouting, Including the highly toxic herbicide, Roundup. People are mobilizing against this outrageous proposal, which UC Berkeley has done its best tokeep secret.
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School Beat: Cultural Proficiency is at the Core of Transforming Public Education
by Lisa Schiff‚
May. 16‚ 2013
One of the most significant challenges to public education comes not from lack of funding or the relentless expansion of high-stakes testing, but can be found squarely within our schools themselves--the cultural gaps that exist throughout our entire public education system. Those gaps result in huge and harmful disconnects among members of our community that in turn fracture our classrooms and schools, ultimately resulting in tremendously uneven and inequitable educational experiences or our children. There is no doubt that the external threats to public education require continued action, but the work we need to do among ourselves—educators, administrators, students and parents all--is equally important. [more]->
'Summer Heat': Our Bodies vs Industry's Money, Says Climate Movement
by Jon Queally‚
May. 16‚ 2013
'We need some of you to risk going to jail, and all of you to show up and speak out.'
As the approaching months bring warmer weather, the climate movement is planning a mass mobilization across North America this summer with a simple message to those in power: "We're ready to fight."
Designed to increase the size of their movement and up the pressure on politicians and the fossil fuel industry that has laid seige to Washington and Ottawa decision-making, activists in the US and Canada say they are willing to put their bodies on the line to fight the power of big industry. Calling their seasonal campaign "Summer Heat," a letter sent to 350.org supporters on Tuesday night by movement leaders Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, Winona LaDuke, Sandra Steingraber, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood staked out a call for a movement whose moment has arrived for an important next phase.
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Do San Francisco Police Live in the Tenderloin?
by Randy Shaw‚
May. 15‚ 2013
Do any San Francisco Police Department officers live in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood? I ask because the Tenderloin station’s recently departed Captain Joe Garrity sent out a departing email message to a District 6 yahoo group last week saying “I always tell people everywhere I go the Tenderloin is the best community in San Francisco, California.” Given Garrity’s assessment, one would think that SFPD officers would be flocking to live in San Francisco’s “best” neighborhood. But I doubt that’s the case. I also doubt Garrity really believes that a community where residents must wade through public drug dealing on sidewalks is the city’s “best.” Garrity’s comments reflect a broader police strategy that has captains building relationships in the Tenderloin and talking a good game as a poor substitute for providing the officers necessary to make the community safe. This strategy has worked in recent years, but Tenderloin residents and workers are no longer buying it.
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“I HEARD THAT:” A SALUTE TO JAZZ HERO SONNY BUXTON...
by Rochelle Metcalfe‚
May. 15‚ 2013
MOTHER was literally out of her mind Sunday - screaming, jumping up and down, frantically cheering for the Golden State Warriors, down by one game, to survive San Antonio Spurs threat to put the lights out on Head Coach Mark Jackson and his young team - what a thriller win for the Warriors! Sunday, tied 2-2! Back to San Antonio; hopefully bring the game back to Oakland and Oracle Arena to win in front of hometown crowds!
Switched the TV dial back and forth to the GIANTS game to observe pitcher Tim Lincecum and a team win! AND GOLF! AH, TIGER WOODS won the Players Championship in Florida, and FIRST big Tournament win for him in 5 years! GO TIGER!
EXHAUSTED, ended my day at the 7 Mile House over on old Bayshore and Geneva Avenue, listening to swinging Jams put down by drummer Vince Lateano Trio, featuring saxophonist ANDREW SPAETZ. A good hang! [more]->
CPUC Hearing on New Lifeline Phone Programs
by Priya Sawhney‚
May. 15‚ 2013
May 18, 2013
