Anarchonda

Now wait a minute who is stirring up hate speech?

2012-02-10T15:18:00.000-08:00

http://somaleadership.org/2012/01/29/entertainment-and-hate-speech/

I am using this piece in my critical writing class as an example of thinly veiled example of point of view. It is clearly the author starting this discussion in an angry and fear inducing tone. It is very right wing propaganda writing.

Entertainment Commission

2012-01-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

Entertainment Commission

Regulate Party Buses and Save Nightlife's Dignity

2012-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

Assembly Bill 43 deals with underage drinking on party buses but not the uncontrolled drinking of "adults". It was created to memorialize a nineteen year old male who died driving home after partying on a bus all night. However underage drinking is not the only problem these buses cause. Over drinking because alcohol is unregulated on these buses is also a huge problem for our neighborhoods. Many buses travel for an hour and a half before placing visitors in our midst. Many of the problems they cause are blamed on the night clubs and has substantially ruined their reputations with neighbors. Please send Fiona Ma a message at fiona.ma@asm.ca.gov and ask her to look into regulation of alcohol on these buses and save our neighborhoods from inappropriate behavior and help restore nightlife to better place. This bill is in the State Assembly currently waiting for a hearing in Public Safety.

The West Soma Plan and Entertainment discussionafter the He Said She said blog

2011-12-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

So after sleeping on what we read in Live SoMa we feel it is needed for us to say first and foremost it is not us against Jim Meko. We are not in a battle with Jim. We are not trying to discredit Jim and actually would rather not be on the other end of any argument with him. This is about a discussion that has been ongoing in our communities. Entertainment in West SoMa is not a new idea and certainly this is not the first or last time we will open this discussion. When we talk to bar and club owners, artists in the area, people who work in bars and clubs, new bar and club owners, and the many many people who have settled in SoMa for the diverse entertainment possibilities as well as other reasons; most or many do not know anything about this West SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force nor the plan.

There are many reasons for that such as the great turn over in residents in the area, the turn over of business in the area, and poor outreach to Entertainment venues and small business. So we have been listening to these people and businesses and asking what they see as a issues and some changes they would like to see. We wanted to start an open dialogue around this with a group of people who have been investigating these issues with me before the plan is adopted by Planning. These people include members of the Harvey Milk Club, residents, club and bar owners, and continued outreach to the Queer Communities, Folsom Street Events, CMAC, and the Entertainment Commission as well as listening to the people who show up at Planning Commission Meetings to voice their concerns about these issues.

This is not a battle and not a war. This is not even such a huge ask that we have started fleshing out. The manner that it has been portrayed by Live SoMa is exactly what we did not want. It is counter productive behavior to open dialogue to sensationalize this issue and make it a He Said She Said article.

So please allow us to state the asks we have heard from the communities that have voiced an issue in this matter.

1. Protection for the clubs on 11th street. There is minimal housing on 11th street and many many clubs. In fact several have just reopened like Beat Box. As is commonly known at present clubs and housing do not mix. Why would we continue to place housing on 11th street? They don't mix and it is just asking for a head ache. When the new Entertainment Zone is slated for South of Harrison Street and this zone comes right up to 11th street why can it not include 1 block of 11th street known for entertainment venues.

Venues that events like Folsom Street are having trouble finding to fit their crowds when visiting our fair city. Folsom Street Fair is the second largest generator of tourist dollars in our city after Gay Pride. As a city we should also consider the needs and hardships that have been facing in the last 5-10 years.

One neighbor who complained over and over about Slim's almost shut down this venerable institution. Many of the complaints came on nights the club was not open but never the less the ABC came in and shut down this venue. The resident even had in their lease a provision that stated this is an Entertainment Zone with night time noise but even that didn't help prevent problems with housing and Nightlife. Also it has been told to me by Jim Meko that this Condo was not built to standards up to code that would prevent this from happening.

Solutions can come in many forms. Extend the Entertainment Zone down 11th street. Create a Special Use District for that block allowing Entertainment some needed protection. Make Entertainment a permitted use on 11th street so that existing venues have some protection against encroachment of neighbors. Make sure that Development be responsible when building next to night life venues. Allow tenants to hold these developers responsible for the work that they have done as well as the nightlife venues. Just to name a few. This is not language that should start a war but to curtail problems for future residents of SoMa. Again No war please.

2. The first ever Queer Historical District is to be created in West SoMa. This along with a Filipino Cultural District will help preserve the history of this area. Gail Rubens an amazing Queer Historian has given many presentations about SoMa and it's Queer History. She has really opened up the conversation for why Queer Culture has all but vanished and continues to struggle in SoMa today. In the 80's the bath houses were shut down and the hundreds of Gay men who poured into the neighborhood to experience a part of our culture ceased. Then with Willie Brown in the 90's we lost the ability for new Entertainment Permits in the area and this legislation also curtailed improvements like soundproofing and significant improvements to existing bars and clubs in the West SoMa area. This legislation crippled the industry even further and has continued during this time of economic down turn. Another part of this issue is that once a bar or club has been dormant for 2 to 3 (I am unsure of the length of time exactly) years the Entertainment license disappears. Since there are no new Entertainment Permits permitted in this area we have lost many venues never to return. We have strangled many corner stone businesses right out of existence and created a vacuum that is causing problems for any business to survive.

Some solutions that have been suggested are that we allow these businesses; who for one reason or another; retain their Entertainment Licenses for a 5 to 6 year period or indefinitely so that during times of economic strife we do not continue to loose such businesses. Allow Entertainment to be a permitted use along Folsom and to extend the LGBT Historical District onto Folsom to help continue to allow for Queer Heritage to be a living one and not just a memory designated by plaques and the like. I agree that large clubs in housing areas is not the best idea but not all nightlife is megga watt entertainment. The Powerhouse, Hole In The Wall and KOK bar have all been good neighbors and struggle to keep Queer Culture alive in SoMa. If we recognize that they are part of the community fabric and other small businesses could do the same if permitted. Folsom is going to be the main street or High street in British terms and slated for a commercial use zone. It has been voiced that perhaps this could include bars and small entertainment venues. I have even heard that along 9th and 10th that these permits would also be welcome because these areas are not going to be zoned as residential. Again this is not Entertainment everywhere but on commercial corridors that are in need of invigoration and corner stone businesses. Let the new Large clubs open past Harrison in the SALI area. Allowing Entertainment to be a permitted use on commercial corridors is not in our eyes such a great ask. In fact it goes along with residents and entertainment on top of one another is a bad idea. So is it bad to have entertainment on commercial corridors?

Queer nightlife and space has been disappearing rapidly. Queer culture sees it's entertainment venues to be places to strengthen communities and serve members of it's communities that need help in many areas. An example is the loss of the Eagle; for whatever reasons; has many not for profits scrambling to make up monies lost. One such organization Tenderloin Tessies who feed AIDS sufferers and shut ins has lost 2K a year just by the closing of the Eagle. We as a city can't mandate that a venue stay open but we can see this issue and realize that Entertainment can and is a benefit to communities and in particular Queer Communities. To continue to limit these venues limits the ability for the Queer communities to rally and aid those in need that for whatever reason rely on Not For Profits for survival.

However let me for warn us all. Many of the issues attributed to Nightlife are not Club related. Party Busses are a great cause of disturbance in these neighborhoods. Party Buses allow all out uncensored drinking and then dump between 30-60 very inebriated people onto the streets of our city. Loss of space concentrates more and more the people who come to our world class city into fewer and fewer spaces and thus overcrowding causes even more issues around nightlife. When Diane Feinstein removed the ability for restaurants to stay open late we lost a very useful tool for controlling noise after clubs close by offering patrons places to go and sober up before going home. Perhaps we can learn from these mistakes and try to work toward a better understanding of how to work with our Entertainment and include them in the planning process that lay ahead and find creative positive solutions for our neighborhoods.

I also hear about "needles in bushes" as a problem of nightlife. Drug addiction is not a nightlife issue it is a health issue. People who use drugs have the largest recidivism rate in our city. That is because we do not view this as a health issue but as a criminal act. If we want fewer "needles in our bushes" we must treat the health issues and mental issues of homeless peoples, drug users, and those in need. Safe Use Sights, better funding for needle exchange and mental health are certainly more constructive than wasteful and costly incarceration.

In truth these very small asks have been met with such venomous replies and words of "war" we feel it is our duty to point out that really these asks are not so large that they undermine the whole of the Western SoMa Plan. Instead they are ways to try and strike a balance. With almost 50% of new housing vacant in SoMa it is very hard to see the need for 11th street to be taken over when it is the cultural nightlife seat in West SoMa.

None of this was really discussed in the Live Soma article not to mention the long term residents who make their living in these venues.

We must be open to find ways to integrate our cultural legacy and not rely so heavily on the Development cash that has helped to destroy the vibrancy of our neighborhoods for a quick fix. The ability to see problems created in the past and how to avoid them in the future is good planning and although some solutions have been offered many have yet to be discussed with the Task Force.

Again this is not a war. War is costly and destructive and preserving culture is not either of those. It is instead forward thinking and needed to preserve culture and vibrant neighborhoods. This is the type of conversation I wished to have not a he said she said fight in the press. However the unwillingness of those in charge of the West SoMa Task force to even entertain these ideas has caused quite a rift in the planning group with some being heard and others not. I hope we can welcome al;l concerns to the table in the future and come up with a historic and community minded plan that looks at the fabric of our neighborhoods, uses new technology to mitigate problems, and more involvement from nightlife and resident concerns to see what the middle ground is. We all live here together and it is best when all investors are given equal voice so that we can avoid even the whisper that this need be a war.

He Said, (S)he Said: The Battle for Western SOMA Nightlife.

2011-12-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

He Said, (S)he Said: The Battle for Western SOMA Nightlife.

Entertainment Commission

2011-12-14T11:07:00.000-08:00

Entertainment Commission

Plans for entertainment in the West SoMa

Ice Queens Heat Up Rink In San Fran « CBS Minnesota

2011-12-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Ice Queens Heat Up Rink In San Fran « CBS Minnesota

Our Weekly Picks: December 7-13 | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2011-12-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

Our Weekly Picks: December 7-13 | San Francisco Bay Guardian

The Turkey Lurkey a Thanksgiving Tradition!

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

http://youtu.be/auZc1s_nGrU

On crowd size during the Occupy Oakland General Strike | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2011-11-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

On crowd size during the Occupy Oakland General Strike | San Francisco Bay Guardian

A Mayoral Candidate's Uphill Fight

2011-10-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

A Mayoral Candidate's Uphill Fight

Entertainment and it's value in West SoMa

2011-10-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

PLEASE FORWARD

************************

SoMa Leadership Council

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

6:00 PM in the community room of the Folsom/Dore Apartments

1346 Folsom Street (between 9th and 10th Streets)

"... to ensure that South of Market remains a

compassionate, diverse, vibrant and complete neighborhood."

*************************************************************************

Revisiting entertainment: new nightclubs, okay ... new housing, not?

At this afternoon's Planning Commission presentation of the Western SoMa Community Plan, it was suggested during public comment that the light industrial zoning south of Harrison Street be extended into the 11th Street area because, under that new zoning category, entertainment would become a permitted use. The Task Force liberalized the zoning because new housing in the SALI (Service, Arts and Light Industrial) district would not be allowed.

That would be an interesting switcheroo. Housing, currently as-of-right, would suddenly find itself a non-permitted use and entertainment, grandfathered in as a legal, nonconforming use, would become a fully permitted use. The Planning Commissioners, often sympathetic to fun sounding notions -- particularly if they are not personally impacted -- might very well consider making the swap.

Why stop at 11th Street? South of Market already contains almost half the Place of Entertainment permits in the city. Does Folsom Street needs more too? What about other areas that have a high concentration of entertainment venues?

Of course, outlawing housing would be a pretty extreme step and the nonconforming status imposed on existing housing would wreak havoc with property values. The city might consider instead simply making new nightclubs a fully permitted use alongside the existing housing, although every application promises to be a pitched battle. That explains why there isn't a long line of applicants agitating to open new nightclubs in an area that's rapidly becoming much more residential.

Of course, if entertainment zoning is back on the table, stricter limits on the industry are also worth considering. Good planning is supposed to avoid creating any more conflict between incompatible uses. The SALI zoning introduces the concept of buffer zones to protect a few Residential Enclave Districts south of Harrison Street. In other areas, such as near senior housing, entertainment has proven to be completely inappropriate. The conflicts between housing and nighttime entertainment run deep in some parts of SoMa. Are you ready for another neighbor/nightclub war?

Many of you participated in the public process which helped to create the Western SoMa Community Plan. You attended many meetings of the Arts and Entertainment Focus Group, which met for more than a year. Others spoke up at the three town hall meetings we held at Bessie CarmichaelSchool. That's where the rough outlines of the current recommendations came from. You might have thought that this issue was settled.

Besides the three town halls, the Task Force listened and discussed this as an agenda item 41 times at various committee meetings and voted on changes to the existing controls at 22 meetings of the full Task Force. It's not as if we haven't given this lots of attention. The Task Force ultimately decided to recommend that we (1) leave entertainment as a legal, non-conforming use in the mixed-use neighborhoods north of Harrison Street, (2) change the zoning south of Harrison Street to make all forms of Place of Entertainment a fully permitted use, (3) allow the non-conforming status that every existing venue holds to remain with the property for a reasonable length of time following demolition of the building so that it could be built into new construction, and (4) create an accessory entertainment permit that would be allowed in the Folsom Street Neighborhood Commercial District. This seemed to be a reasonable compromise.

"Revisiting entertainment" will be the theme at next week's SoMa Leadership Council. If you care strongly about the subject, one way or another, don't miss this meeting.

Skate park under freeway undergoes environmental review

The long awaited skate park under the Central Freeway touch-down ramp is one step closer to reality. The Planning Department recently issued a “Notification of Project Receiving Environmental Review” for the proposal, which includes the skate park and a mini-park, with basketball courts, play areas, a dog run, lighting, plantings and a pedestrian walkway.

READ MORE

Neighborhood notification required for “limited live performances”

You have the right to request notification of all applications for the new Limited Live Performance permit within your neighborhood. The stated purpose of the legislation is to allow principally permitted uses such as cafes and restaurants to supplement their current business model with accessory entertainment. Supervisor Mark Farrell amended the ordinance to require that the Entertainment Commission “provide a copy of all Limited Live Performance Permit applications and the corresponding public hearing notices within a specified geographic area to any Person who, in writing or by email, requests such and identifies the area.

READ MORE

The SoMa Leadership Council meets on the third Wednesday of every month in the community room of the Folsom/Dore Apartments The public is always welcome. For more information, visit our web site at ...

www.somaleadership.org

The Hangover: Oct. 7-9 | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2011-10-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Hangover: Oct. 7-9 | San Francisco Bay Guardian

Politics is a drag for Bevan Dufty!

2011-10-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

http://youtu.be/aRtsEROrTkM

Linda Simpson - “EVERY NIGHT IN DRAG”

2011-10-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

Linda Simpson - “EVERY NIGHT IN DRAG”

October 1st and 2nd is off the HOOK IN SF ENTERTAINMENT

2011-09-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

Voter Registration Drive with HARD FRENCH.

The only party that I am ever envious of not throwing myself throws a VOTER REGISTRATION Funk Fest 2-8 at El Rio! Details at www.hardfrench.com and www.facebook.com/hardfrench. Chock full of celebrities, trannies, mannies and elected officals! This is co sponsored by the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic club details http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harvey-Milk-LGBT-Democratic-Club/117532891655126 or http://www.milkclub.org/. Either way this is the place to be Saturday before heading to.....

Homo Homecoming the homecoming themed fundraiser for Mayoral Candidate John Avalos and masterminded by Lil Miss HotMess! More Information: http://avalosformayor.org/2011/09/saturday-october-1st-homo-homecoming/ or: https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/Event.aspx?Y=FrZ0S4jyDpXualvcqBdIOIsBriSs7ZAWGXiVQ17v4DR2BF4mPntvVg%3d%3d.

There will be..

Dancing with DJs:

- Bus Station John (Tubesteak Connection)

- Pink Lightning (Stay Gold)

Pep Rally Performances By:

- Ambrosia Salad

- Anita Whitemann

- Brock Cocker

- Fauxnique

- Glamamore

- Rotissary Ethnicity Jackson-Houston Ross

- Tommi Avicolli Mecca

And More School Spirit:

+ Date Auction – win a date with a big queer on campus!

+ Homecoming Photos by Shot In The City

+ Sound by QT Sound System

Dress Code:

Brat Pack dress code strongly encouraged: nerds, jocks, princesses, outcasts, burnouts!

Buy tickets (only $10) in advance to win free drink tickets & other prizes!

IN BETWEEN THERE IS SAVIOR SOUL AND IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE.

Savior Soul is at the Powerhouse and is a monthly Fundraiser 6-10 benefiting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. More info http://www.facebook.com/groups/170358779675372/ or http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235038543213511

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere is at the Stud and it's reliving the 90's with Dean Disaster. More info http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198412203561335

See you all at the Castro Street Fair where Charlie Horse celebrates it's 6th Anniversary of joining The WORLD OF WONDERMENT interactive section of the street fair. We will be the hoard of Fortunetellers! More information http://www.castrostreetfair.org/pages/barnabys_world.html

See everyone I know this weekend obviously! Yeah Summer!

Anna

Anarchonda

2011-09-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

http://hardfrench.com/2011/09/28/hard-french-funks-the-vote/

7x7.com: SF's First Mayoral Candidates Forum at The Fillmore Fights For The Rights of Small Venues

2011-09-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

7x7.com: SF's First Mayoral Candidates Forum at The Fillmore Fights For The Rights of Small Venues

Tonight the Muni Diaries

2011-09-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

http://street.sfstation.com/2011/09/27/muni-diaries/

Anna Conda turns 44 September !* at the MIX! bar

2011-09-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 18 · 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Location	SF Mix 4086 18th Street San Francisco, CA

Created By	Anna Glendon Conda Hyde, Alex Smith, Brett HelmsShow all (7)

More Info	Anna is turning 44 and she is helping the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club raise funds to continue their outstanding work! Come to the MIX Bar and help her celebrate! Bring a number!!!! Drag show so please bring a number, 50/50 raffle, and BEER! Ceremonial Guide for the Day- Mutha Chucka!

Take the Coal in Your Life Quiz

2011-07-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

Take the Coal in Your Life Quiz

Being sworn in as Entertainment Commissioner

2011-07-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

http://youtu.be/iK-_hrGpaD4

Ginsburgh's "Howl" reading at the Cartoon Art Museum!

2011-07-11T07:55:00.001-07:00

Time	Thursday, July 14 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location	Cartoon Art Museum 655 Mission Street San Francisco, CA

Created By	Anna Glendon Conda Hyde, Kegel Kater, Dam Matt Dyke CottrillShow all (7)

More Info	Join the Cartoon Art Museum for an unusual reading of Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl, hosted by Anna Conda featuring local celebrities Supervisor Eric Mar, Dana Morrigan, James Tracy, Sunny Angulo, Dean Disaster, Carol Stewart, Dam Dyke, David Elliot Lewis, Shanice Walcott, Kegel Kater, and Marc Solomon. This is not your average poetry reading though, prepare yourselves for an inspired presentation of excerpts from Allen Ginsberg’s ground-breaking poem. Local artists Justin Hall (Glamazonia, True Travel Tales) and Jon Macy (Teleny and Camille, Fearful Hunter) will attend this event courtesy of Northwest Press and Prism Comics. Plus the talents of Carl With Records singing to your hearts content his very own beat style song styling! PLUS Crafting with Some THINGS very own Haute Glue! Tickets to the event range from $5 to $100. $5 – General Admission $20 – Admission plus a copy of Howl: A Graphic Novel $35 – Admission plus an Individual level membership to the Cartoon Art Museum $55 – Admission, Individual level membership to the Cartoon Art Museum, a copy of Howl: A Graphic Novel $75 – Admission, Family level membership to the Cartoon Art Museum $100 – Admission, Family level membership to the Cartoon Art Museum, Howl: A Graphic Novel signed by Eric Drooker Tickets can be purchased online at: http://guestli.st/61995 Online ticket sales for the Cartoon Art Museum are sponsored by Guestlistapp.com <http://Guestlistapp.com/> About the exhibition: The Art of Howl May 14 – September 11, 2011 San Francisco, CA: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's film, Howl, produced by Werc Werk Works, opened the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Featuring James Franco as the beat poet Allen Ginsberg, the film took an experimental approach to documenting the creation and performance of Ginsberg's revolutionary poem, "Howl"– as well as the obscenity trial that followed when, after undercover policemen purchased copies of Howl and Other Poems from City Lights Bookstore, the state tried to suppress its publication. The film blends glimpses of Ginsberg's personal life, recreations of the obscenity trial, and animated sequences that accompany Franco's performance of the poem, riffing on its ideas and images. The Art of Howl gives a revealing look behind the scenes at the creative process of turning poetry into animation. The film directors enlisted Eric Drooker to design the animation; Drooker, a graphic novelist and painter, was friends with Ginsberg and had collaborated with him on the book Illuminated Poems. John Hays, a San Francisco-based animation veteran, directed the sequences, which were animated by The Monk Studios in Thailand. Translating Ginsberg's incendiary, oracular, stream-of-consciousness language into moving images was a unique challenge. The animation, like the poem, conjures a world of outcasts, "deviants," outlaws, poets and prophets digging for scraps of connection and enlightenment under the shadow of "Moloch" – the overpowering industrial cityscape that demands submission, conformity, and ultimately annihilation. This multimedia exhibit includes character design drawings, animation keyframes & concept art, photos by Allen Ginsberg, storyboards, animatics, and images from Drooker's graphic novel version of the poem. The Cartoon Art Museum is pleased to present this animated interpretation of a piece of literary history – just a couple miles from City Lights Bookstore, the launching-pad for Ginsberg's poetic career, and through their victory at the "Howl" trial, a historic ground zero for freedom of expression. Curated by Andrew Farago, Eric Drooker and Chris Lanier

CPMC raises great concerns in the Community

2011-07-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Community and labor groups blast CPMC’s “offer” as a smoke and mirrors exercise. CPMC fails to address the important issues raised by the Mayor and community.

San Francisco, CA, July 6, 2011 – California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) has once again portrayed itself as the aggrieved victim of unfair demands from the Mayor and community groups over its proposed new mega-hospital at Van Ness and Geary, the latest volley in its public relations campaign and a slap in the face to the Mayor, community stakeholders, and residents of San Francisco.

CPMC’s counter-proposal to the City of San Francisco does not include a commitment to providing health care services to low-income people at a level consistent with other hospitals. It also does not offer any guarantees that jobs in proposed rebuilt facilities will remain with its current employees or even with San Franciscans.

Sutter Health, CPMC’s parent company, values the counter-proposal at $1.1 billion over 50 years, undercutting Mayor Lee’s already limited requests. What they fail to mention is that nearly 90% of what Mayor Lee has asked is to provide health care to people with Medi-Cal and charity care at a level consistent with other hospitals.

Its charity care, for example, would grow from its current 1.1% to 2.36%, the average percentage San Francisco non-profit hospitals give as charity care.

The new proposal also promises less than half of Mayor Lee’s requested commitment to build affordable housing, a land use requirement of any development being built in the Van Ness Area, and is meant to maintain the neighborhood’s residential character.

Sutter/CPMC also refuses to take a stance on jobs at the proposed Cathedral Hill hospital, and has not committed to allowing nurses, technicians, janitors, and other employees at downsized Sutter/CPMC campuses to keep their jobs when transferring to the new hospital. Keeping its experienced and hard-working nurses and other employees wouldn’t cost Sutter/CPMC a dime.

Sutter/CPMC’s vague proposal for a new “health center” in the Tenderloin is purely smoke and mirrors, given that they could easily support one of many existing Tenderloin-based clinics, already struggling to stay afloat.

CPMC's proposal contains virtually nothing more, and in many instances even less than the commitments it made through the Blue Ribbon Panel to Save St. Luke's. Push back from community groups stopped Sutter Health from closing inpatient care at St. Luke’s in 2005, the last private hospital south of Market Street to serve the City’s southeast sector. Community groups again hope their voices will be heard by stopping Sutter Health from cutting two-thirds of the beds from St. Luke’s. These drastic cuts would overburden an already strained SF General Hospital and endanger the residents of the Mission, Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Bayview/Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley and other neighborhoods that rely on St. Luke’s.

All of this is hard to swallow, considering the tens of millions of “non-profit” tax benefits, hundreds of millions of dollars in public financing, and over a hundred million dollars in revenue profits alone for Sutter/CPMC, which control over 40% of the City’s hospital beds and plays a major role in the rising costs of healthcare coverage in San Francisco.

As a non-profit, Sutter/CPMC has a responsibility to provide generous care, good jobs, and new infrastructure for its new development. Sutter/CPMC should work with community groups to find what works best for Sutter/CPMC employees, patients, neighbors, and ALL San Franciscans.

http://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/reports/studiesdata/charitycare/CharityCareRpt2006/CharityCareRpt2006.pdf

July 7 Help Anna Conda @ Rules Committee hearing for Entertainment Commission

2011-06-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

The time has come to testify on my behalf at the Rules Committee hearing in City Hall on July 7th at 1:30.
I applied to this seat to be a community representative. There has been much push back sighting the fact that I have worked in clubs and there for can not be a community leader.
I think this is an example of what happens when you are a Drag Queen quite frankly. People look at you and believe that you can not be taken seriously or that perhaps I will not be able to make decisions that will be fair.
I will really need your help on the 7th to testify to the Rules Committee that I am....
1. Community Oriented and that clubs are often the place that queers find their voice and become leaders. As a person who escaped to NY I had one way to make a living and serve my community. Drag. Drag was my only job in NY.
In San Francisco however I became a hairdresser and made my living as such. I did drag as a way to continue my storytelling and art. I have continued to work for the community around planning issues that I later was Sainted by the Sisters for. I have worked around Prop 8 and other anti queer legislation. But it is not just "I" who have done it but we have together. Out of the bars and into the streets as Harvey Milk said.

2. Last year I ran for Supervisor of District 6 and came in 6th out of 15. I struggled to gain recognition in a crowded field and to make my platform heard. A platform based on community solutions for some of our toughest problems. I continue to work around Safe Use Sights and Homeless issues while using my drag to fundraise for many grass roots and not for profit organizations. I have also done an exemplary job with the Harvey Milk Club as their Outreach Co-Ordinator and even won the Simeon White Volunteer of the Year award this year.

3. I have to try three times as hard as anyone else. When people see you as a drag queen it is very hard to be taken seriously. I know that and proudly bring my culture with me anyway. I find the strength to do this because of the support my community offers. I have not quit but continued to work harder so as to not stop the forward momentum we have experienced together.
We must continue to maintain that voice together. We do have a vested interest in community building and creating opportunities for the community to grow as a whole. (Or to steal Pippi Lovestocking's line "I like to serve the community as a whole")

4. Since my run for Supervisor I have be recruited by many not for profits to sit on their governing boards. I have chosen The United Playaz and the Shi Yu-Lang YMCA because they deal with Youth. I have started learning land use this month by joining the Western SOMA Citizens Task Force because I understand the importance of Planning in our city and creating vibrant communities that work.

5. I have volunteered or fundraised for hundreds of organizations. I participate in the Castro and Folsom fairs because I find it an honor to be a part of our rich cultural heritage. I do it with my friends because we believe in giving back to our city and our community. I want neighborhood parties not to overwhelm the community. Our city needs to help organize around large events like Street Fairs and Pride to maximize local talent and handle the crowds by offering an array of events throughout the city.

I care deeply about San Francisco and our communities so much so that I will proudly face the disparaging remarks made by others so that we continue to find a voice and representation in City Hall. Please join me in this fight.

Please come out and help me represent on July 7th. Without you talking about my community efforts I will not get this seat.
Thanks
Anna Conda/ Glendon Hyde

PLEASE
EMAIL

Jane.Kim@sfgov.org

Sean Elsbernd@sfgov.org

Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org

Your emails are greatly appreciated and a needed part of this process so please email and talk about how you see me as a Community Organizer and Leader.

Entertainment Commission Letter about Anna Conda and my replies

2011-06-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

So this letter has gone out concerning people about my intentions for the Entertainment Commission. I thought I would share this so that we could all look at what it is like to go out and try to prove yourself on a Political stage. It's hard especially when narrow views of queer society; even by other queer people; try's to judge a person for what they are but not who they are. I ask you to combat this degradation of my character buy also sending emails to the supervisors stating my qualities and community building efforts.

Thanks

Anna Conda

Dear friends,

This is a second message regarding my request for help to retain the neighborhood seat on the Entertainment Commission. In a separate email, I sent out a sample letter, but more personal comments by influential neighborhood activists such as yourselves will always have more of an impact. Here are some talking points.

Take into account who your message is going to. The Progressives need to know that they're touching a 3rd rail if they remove the institutional knowledge of a proven neighborhood advocate in favor of someone who clearly makes his living off the entertainment industry. The Moderate Supes may need a simple run down of why there's no need to change horses. (so obviously whom ever wrote this letter does not understand that Drag Queen pay is HARDLY a living especially when most of your work has been to raise money for Not For Profits the last 3 years.)

* .........helped then-Supervisor Mark Leno write the legislation that created the Entertainment Commission and was responsible for all the references to "good neighbor policies."

* Entertainment is a for-profit industry that should not have government-subsidized cheerleaders regulating it. (So because I have been using my position to do community outreach and create change I am ONLY a cheerleader? I thought that I was a hard worker who had to prove against all odds that I was serious about my positions and the work thats ahead because people make fun of drag queens. I have had to work twice as hard to prove myself and that still hasn't scared me off.)

* The seat he holds is specifically set aside by law to "represent the interests of City neighborhood associations or groups." (So then who am I representing coming in 6th out of 15 in D6 Elections if not the neighborhood interests. My platform and continued work is around youth, homeless rights, and drug policy change. Is that not community based solution solving in the interests of City neighborhood associations or groups? Oh and thank you for saying I hold the seat but I have only applied like you. Sounds like a good sign though.)

* Glendon "Anna Conda" Hyde, who is also interested in a position on the Commission, would be a fine candidate for the seat representing "the interests of entertainment associations or groups." The Mayor's appointment to that seat is open right now. ( I agree to this as well. Thats why I'm a perfect fit for communities as well but as stated before it's easy to pick on the drag queen for comical humor.)

* There is supposed to be EQUAL representation between the neighborhoods and entertainment industry on the Commission.

* The entertainment industry would never stand for any political hijinks that would diminish THEIR influence. ( I question as above why this is hijinks?)

* .......... is the 2010 recipient of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services' NEN Lifetime Achievement Award. (2011 Simean White Volunteer of the Year Award, You make a Difference Award 2010, Sainted Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 2009.... I could go on but you get the point.)

*
He authored the Good Neighbor Policy, Mediation Principles for staff and a Pre-Application Process that's meant to identify problems before new venues even open for business. (I would love to pick up where this left off and work with planning to circumvent future problems to small anchor businesses here in San Francisco. This person also calls the Eagle a Tweeker bar and is partly responsible for the 19K debt the Eagle sank into. By putting such strict regulations on the new bar home, after being removed from an old home because of condo noise complaints, the debt was so great the Eagle suffered and now is lost.)

* .......... has been keeping peace between neighbors and the nightclubs for more than fifteen years, first as vice-president of the SoMa Residents Associationand now as chair of the SoMa Leadership Council. ( Board of YMCA, United Playaz, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club. People want to work with me. I have worked with many many groups in the area and they call me. I am easy to work with and very dedicated. Just ask Tenants Together if you don't believe me or any other group I have worked with.)

* He understands the relationship between land use and entertainment issues. (Working on it by joining the Western SOMA Task Force because when I learned how important they were I set out immediately to learn as much as I could.)

* Has worked with Supervisor Mirkarimi to moderate his "Live Performance" entertainment permit legislation (? Really sounded like he was against it at the meeting.)

* In 2010 ........ had a 100% perfect attendance record.

* When the "appointing authorities" made careless appointments in the past, the Commission became so out of balance that the Mayor and President of the Board of Supervisors threatened to abolish it. (Careless. I resent the assumption that this is a careless decision. I think quite frankly I prove myself over and over again. With wit, smarts, an open mind, a solution based platform, and by showing up even when people keep trying to exploit what I am instead of who I am.)

* "This is an ethical minefield." Jim Meko in the SF Weekly, July 8, 2009
http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-07-08/news/for-entertainment-purposes-only/

The entertainment industry has a lot of clout. Jane Kim appears ready to support Glendon "Anna Conda" Hyde for the Neighborhood seat. That would give the industry a clear majority on the Commission. Here are the email addresses for all the Supervisors (and their key aides). Make your feelings known to those members who best understand neighborhood sensibilities by copying them on your message to the Rules Committee. But first, please be sure to contact all three members of the Rules Committee:

Jane.Kim@sfgov.org
april.veneracion@sfgov.org
Matthias.Mormino@sfgov.org
viva.mogi@sfgov.org

Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org
Catherine.Stefani@sfgov.org
Margaux.Kelly@sfgov.org

Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org
Alexander.Volberding@sfgov.org
Olivia.Scanlon@sfgov.org

Also, be sure to cc any other Board members who have supported your localneighborhood associations too:

David.Chiu@sfgov.org
Judson.True@sfgov.org

Carmen.Chu@sfgov.org
Katy.Tang@sfgov.org
Cammy.Blackstone@sfgov.org

Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org
Adam.Taylor@sfgov.org

Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org
Jon.Lau@sfgov.org

John.Avalos@sfgov.org
Raquel.Redondiez@sfgov.org

David.Campos@sfgov.org
Hillary.Ronen@sfgov.org

Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org
Myrna.Melgar@sfgov.org

Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org
Robert.Selna@sfgov.org

Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org

Percifield Runs with Board of Supes Candidate | SF360

2011-06-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

Percifield Runs with Board of Supes Candidate | SF360

Help Get Limited Live Performance in SOMA

2011-06-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to a meeting about getting Conditional Use Permits for Entertainment. This would allow live music and other forms of entertainment in businesses like art galleries and restaurants till 10 pm with the ability to extend them to 12 if all goes well. This DOES NOT include DJ's sighting that "DJ's tend to have incidents of violence attached to them." It is my belief that if it is only till 10 pm and not a CLUB that violence will not be a problem. Please send your supervisor a note to tell them YES we want these special permits to be offered city wide and SOMA should be included. If you live in D6 please contact Jane Kim's office and let them know you support this legislation. If you think DJ's should be permitted up till 10 pm please tell Ross Mirkarimi and your supervisor that as well. Be well and Happy pride month

PS SOMA is being with held from this new Live Limited Performance so if you are a SOMA resident please contact Jane Kim's Office! They are very open to helping the businesses in SOMA thrive and hoping to hear from you if these permits seem like a good idea.

Thanks, Anna

Discussion of the Limited Live Performance Ordinance

Monday, June 20th from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Hosted by Rancho Parnassus - 132 Sixth Street

SOty1BAinvites you to join us for a discussion on the Limited Live Performance Ordinance. The

pending legislation will expand opportunities for businesses in many neighborhoods to obtain

permits for live performance art. The Limited Live Performance Ordinance currentlyexcludes most

of the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood. SoMa's absence from the current legislation will

Iprohibit neighborhood businesses from benefiting from the new permits.

Come discuss the possible expansion of the legislation to create cultural and economic

opportunities in SoMa. Bring your thoughts and questions for presenter Regina Dick-Endrizzi,

Executive Director, Office of Small Business, and guests Robert Selna, Legislative Assistant to

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi (sponsor of the legislation), Viva Mogi, Legislative Aide to District 6

Supervisor Jane Kim, and Jocelyn Kane, Executive Director of San Francisco Entertainment

Commission.

2011-06-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

It is very hard to put yourself out on the greater stage and hold your head strong and high. Ethical Compass. Heading North has rocky roads and fancy cars but the South is frying to death.

League Of Pissed Of Voters Radio Interview tonight!

2011-06-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=206250769419207&id=158301350901

District Attorney Debate For San Francisco

2011-06-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

Mayoral and DA Endorsements

2011-06-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

1. John Avalos - He gets number 1 because he cares about housing, harm reduction, and I almost always agree with his vote. Progressive for Mayor all the way.

2. Dufty and Chiu

a. I love Bevan as a person but housing is an issue and there for did not get my number 1 even though I considered it whole heartedly. He looks at issues and makes his own decision and owns it and I like that. Great supporter of harm reduction and youth services as well as Gay issues

b. Chiu gets a bad rap. He really looks at both sides and is often OVER criminalized for his decisions. He is a bit developer friendly but has stood with housing almost 100% the way. Park Merceed has the Progressive community at his throat but I understand where he is coming from with his decision. Not that I agree but his arguments make sense to me. Also he has the hardest night life district in the city. Safety and reducing violence is a hard thing to do especially in D3 and David has made it safer (although some of the legislation is a bit heavy for my taste). But He is a thinker and has done a great amount of out reach in the community and I really appreciate that. And he's a green kinda guy on his bike and stopping the litter caused by phonebooks. I like that.

3. Leland Yee - I like Leland and his Needle Access Bill is an amazing piece of legislation! His past is checkered but I do believe that his experience has taught him many new ways to handle and approach issues and I think he has changed his ways to a more progressive stand today.

I did seriously consider Herera but I work for the United Playaz and harm reduction groups like Alliance to Save Lives and Gang injunctions and crack pipe sale criminalization just will not let me support him. Sorry Denis I like you a ton but I just can't get past those 2 items.

I know that the "rules" are to endorse 1,2,3 or just one but thats why I'm an independent. I like to decide for myself how I feel. I know my prog friends are going to be angry about some of my choices but that was the same with my choices in D6 race. I plan on sticking to my guns though.

For DA I am going with David Onek. He was AMAZING at the debate last night and I am proudly supporting him as my only endorsement for DA.

Anna Conda

David Onek fundraiser with Olyimpia Dukakis!

2011-06-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/notes/anna-glendon-conda-hyde/david-onek-for-district-attorney-fundraiser-with-olympia-dukakis/10150282625436131

Buy your tickets today!

Heroes and hoedowns | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2011-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Heroes and hoedowns | San Francisco Bay Guardian

Thank You Jane Kim for this honor. I can't wait to get to work

2011-06-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations. Supervisor Kim's office has informed me that you have been appointed to the Western SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force. I'll have the Planning Department staff add you to the roster. Would you like your email to be addressed to this address (charliehorsecinch@yahoo.com) or is there another one we should use?

You will notice that we have two subcommittees. They are the Complete Neighborhood Fabric Committee and the Business and Land Use Committee. They meet on the second and third Thursdays of the month. The full Task Force meets on the fourth Wednesday. Be sure to check for official meeting announcements because our schedule has become less predictable as final adoption approaches. Attendance at full TF meetings is required. If you have three unexcused absences, according to the bylaws, you are deemed to have resigned.

Welcome aboard. If I can answer any question for you, don't hesitate to ask.

Jim Meko, chair

Western SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force

Take Action

2011-05-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Take Action

What if loosing the Eagle was an inside job!

2011-04-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

So this is just a made up story or is it?

You own two bars in SOMA and you are a heavy drinker and poor business person. One bar called the Hole in the Wall is your baby and it just cost you a great deal of money to relocate it in the SOMA neighborhood. You want this bar to continue and can't afford the second bar called the Eagle. You decide to sell the Eagle but during that time there is rampant problems created by this owner like inventory problems, rent not being paid for months and you decide it would be better to sell to a straight owner to cut down on competition for your bar the Hole in the Wall. In fact you have willingly made a deal to sell to the owners of the Skylark bar.

Well what would happen then if some drag queen and a young faerie hold a "Save the Eagle" rally and garner national attention around the closing of this institution and due to public pressure ruin the sale before it goes through?

Well one you would stand in front of these people and say there is no hope of saving the Eagle. You would say in the media there is no five year lease. You probably would not mention that there have been problems in your paying rent and thats why the owner of the land wants you out. You probably would not say that you received an eviction notice or two along the way and ignored them so that when the notice to appear in court around said eviction it comes as a shock to the people who are trying to save the Eagle. You would probably yell at your manager that this is his fault. Finally you would hold the liquor license hostage from potential buyers like say the owner of the Dallas Eagle; who has a great reputation as a community and AIDS activist. You might also go into the Eagle and start removing art work and memorabilia and stop liquor deliveries. Yep if your names were John and Joe and you currently just want out at any cost you would do this.... and to your own community.

While talking to a lawyer for the property owner all this might come out and become knowledge for the community. This lawyer would tell you things like, "Of corse we want a 30 year business to stay in the property that is just good business sense." Or "If it were not for all the problems with the current lease holder the entire process would have been easier," Or even "Keep it the Eagle but we can't get you the liquor license because John and Joe own that and they don't want to sell it."

It sounds like fiction but actually it's just about as true as can be. Hoodwinked by members of our own community.

Thanks a lot John and Joe. That was real nice to find out yesterday as you dismantled a place so many called home. Hope the Hole in the Wall serves you well but I will say that I will never step foot into one of your establishments again. I am very saddened to find all this out and would never ever give you another cent of queer monies after what you have put us through this last month. Utterly disturbing!

X-Ray Specs "Identity" by Anna Conda @ Charlie Horse

2011-04-26T08:20:00.001-07:00

Monistat "Oh Bondage Up Yours" X-Ray Specs

2011-04-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Save the Eagle Tavern- Truth be told

2011-04-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Ok so, I never said that there was a 5 year lease. I was told and had discussions with many about a five year lease being held by Joe and John the Eagle bar owners. I am not a lawyer or a real estate person so I am just finding ways to help with the Eagles non-closure. This was a conversation that was presented to me as a way to save or bargain to save the Eagle Tavern. So I would like to say that I never said... "They have a five year lease and they are 1 year into it." I was told that and asked if it were true and would that have bearing on this situation? However from the discussions I have had with people throughout the community this may still be true as well but Joe from the Eagle says it is not so there you have all I know. John and Joe Eagle owners and Joe the land owner were incommunicado and they were anti this action because they would rather this all just went away.

The bar owners wanted to sell. People wanted to buy the Eagle and during the sale Joe in Santa Rosa inherited the land in a trust. Negotiations broke down and a new buyer was found. The Skylark due to public pressure backed out. Negotiations broke down and an eviction hearing notice was issued. In the mean while several Supervisors (Kim, Wiener, Compos) former Supervisor Dufty and Senator Leno were interested in helping us save this historic queer space; that has raised over 3 million for charities in its 30 years and was a first responder to the AIDS epidemic of the 80's and 90's.

However yesterday in Scott Wiener's office I was told that the Eagle owners, Joe P the land owner, and the owner of the Dallas Eagle are in talks as of yesterday.

Also in case you hear that our protests with Skylark were violent and heated offering threatening language that is categorically false. They were very peaceful and more out reach than violent protests. Any language used that was threatening on the internet is not my personal responsibility and certainly not the way I would have acted. It's easy to mouth off anonymously on the internet. What we did was called direct action around a situation that gathered almost 300 on a monday night at the Eagle Tavern. We created a coalition or community around the destruction of what many consider sacred Queer ground. We did not react in violent or threatening manners and those who used the internet to bully have only themselves to answer to and those they hurt with their childish behavior. The Skylark surely got some hate mail and that in no way was what Save the Eagle was about. It was about drawing a line in the sand around the loss of Queer space and the easy destruction of Queer culture as irrelevant.

People fight for things all the time. I stand by our actions and am proud of the work we did as a community. Even though sand is not the most permanent place to draw a line it feels good as a city, nation and international community to have come together around something that we as a culture hold dear. Argentina, Amsterdam, Canada, Mexico, France, England and all across the US from Seattle and Portland to NY and Massachusetts we have heard from people hoping this institution would continue.

Maybe to some its just a bar or even a place that they dislike, but for many around the world its a destination and for those of us in SF a home where everyone is invited to the table.

Long live the Eagle and the spirit that it instills.

The Eagle SF's last days

2011-04-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

As Eagle-Eyed Readers Know (And Stanley Saitowitz Rendered) at SocketSite™

Cornel West and the fight against injustice - Riz Khan - Al Jazeera English

2011-04-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Cornel West and the fight against injustice - Riz Khan - Al Jazeera English

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% Society: vanityfair.com

2011-04-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% Society: vanityfair.com

Tenants of San Francisco's embattled CitiApartments face utility shutoffs | Katie Worth | Local | San Francisco Examiner

2011-04-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

Tenants of San Francisco's embattled CitiApartments face utility shutoffs | Katie Worth | Local | San Francisco Examiner

TFTE: The Land of Milk and Honey

2011-04-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

TFTE: The Land of Milk and Honey

Share This Page

2011-03-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

Share This Page

Stop Killing San Francisco Nightlife!

2011-03-22T10:41:00.001-07:00

http://www.amoeba.com/blog/2011/03/jamoeblog/slim-s-sf-shut-down-temporarily-by-abc-due-to-complaining-neighbor.html

Problems ate the DCCC

2011-01-27T08:17:00.001-08:00

As many of you know by now the DCCC is the steering committee for the Democratic party here in SF. They produce the slate cards that litter every corner of the city during elections, produce the robo calls for the party and find ways to promote the Democratic message here in San Francisco. They are the group that decides what tactics are used to win elections.

The Alice B. Toklas Democratic club had an issue with the fact that the DCCC used monies donated by Democrats to run other Democrats down in the last election. On the other hand a Republican Developer who dumped 200 Thousand into District elections and also tried to destroy rent control in the state of California backing Weiner, Sparks and others in the election.

I agree that negative campaigning is a bad way for the DCCC to spend their monies but I also think it is fair to call people who accepted these IE (Independant Expenditures) should be called out. Why was a Republican spending all that money to elect a Supervisor in San Francisco's Districts 2, 6, 8, and 10?

I am dubious at best about the current DCCC and as a newly elected Harvey Milk Club Board Member feel like there are some things that should be said.

1. Alice I do not believe your club was acting out of generosity for the good of Democrats every where but do agree that smear tactic campaigning should not be payed for by this body. I think your behavior is similar to that of the DCCC who put out the emails and the mailing in question. It is exactly the same bad sportsmanship that you have called out and your letter was inflammatory just like the ones you hope to rail against.

2. DCCC your tactics are in need of review as you all agreed upon last night. Democratic monies should not be spent berating other Democrats and wording is essential to keep this from happening again. I know that emotions run high in a race but you are the governing Democratic body and I am glad you will look into how this money was spent and how future races will be handled. Just because no out right lies were told in the mailing the language was the problem and it did offend many voters and I truly believe it is why Scott Weiner won district 8. It made the other campaign look dishonest and desperate and the DCCC should own that responsibility.

Having said this I would like to highlight just how this behavior could happen. Just last night the newly elected President of the Young Democrats was stopped mid sentence by Carol Migdin as she complained that "I came all the way down here for Sacramento and I have to go back can we just get on with the meeting and hear public comment after the other issues so I can get home at a decent hour?" Um Hello Carol what were you thinking. You are sitting in a meeting that is discussing unbecoming Democratic behavior and how to unify the Democratic message and you shoot your mouth off at a newly elected President of a Democratic Club? Ok but I think that it just points out the very position that was being discussed. It was not a move that was unifying for the party and I was offended to see this young man treated so horribly by a senior Democrat.

Blame and bickering are a part of politics and life yet we must learn to be cautious as to how we word our opposition to others. Also to say that Sparks and Weiner and other beneficiaries of Mr. Coats had their hands tied and could only sit back and let Coats dump monies into their campaigns and could do nothing about it is a bold faced lie. If the politicians are not able to tell a greedy developer with destruction of rent control and an agenda on his plate; "No please do not send any money twords my campaign I am pro rent control and your behaviors are not in keeping with my platform but Thank You very much"; who can?

Lets face it everyone is a bit wrong here and blame and bickering is best left to the children on the playground and not for adults who are meant to lead us. It's the "You without sin cast the first stone" idea .

Secondly the voters who elect official to the DCCC should look deeper than name recognition in the future. The fact that the same person who insulted me in my pitch at the DCCC in the fall could go on a tirade and insult members of this governing board last night makes me wonder why anyone would vote to keep Mr Goldstein on the DCCC. Whenever I ask about Michael people always say "Oh thats just Michael." Well guess what he is not helping the situation and his erratic and condescending behavior is part of the problem.

So I say lets get it together or even create an official Liberal party and break from the moderate Democratic movement that is trying to please everyone all the time and get down to the business of housing, the environment, jobs, budget and all the things we need to focus on asap. To say that NO ONE can be elected in San Francisco unless they are a democratic choice is just stroking your own egos. I have Matt Gonzales as an example!

So in closing I would like to add that I am very glad that you as the DCCC are working on a unifying strategy that will stop the use of DCCC funds from being used in smear like campaigns against other Democrats and that you have decided to fight to keep the Recycling center open in the Haight. Both worthy causes. Well except Scott Weiner who voted against the recycling center remaining open. That I am still reeling from. Really Scott? Then if that is how you will vote I expect that perhaps you will take a different route and use all recycled materials and soy ink in your next campaign as should all Candidates from now on. Greening the earth surely is something we can all agree on no matter what side of the fence we sit.

On the edge | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2010-10-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

On the edge | San Francisco Bay Guardian

Republican who wants to overturn rent control pumps $200,000 into district elections | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2010-10-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

Republican who wants to overturn rent control pumps $200,000 into district elections | San Francisco Bay Guardian

Anna Conda

2010-10-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hilarious TRUE campaign posters

2010-10-22T13:06:00.001-07:00

http://thetenderblog.com/2010/10/22/the-real-district-6-campaign-posters/

Glendon "Anna Conda" Hyde

2010-10-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

VOTE Anna Conda for District 6 Supervisor!

2010-10-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

VOTE Anna Conda for District 6 Supervisor!

Endorsement interviews: Glendon "Anna Conda" Hyde | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2010-10-15T16:35:00.000-07:00

Endorsement interviews: Glendon "Anna Conda" Hyde | San Francisco Bay Guardian

World Homeless Day: San Francisco’s Leslie Hotel takeover

2010-10-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

World Homeless Day: San Francisco’s Leslie Hotel takeover

Golden Gate [X]press : District 6 canidates take different stances on sit/lie

2010-10-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

Golden Gate [X]press : District 6 canidates take different stances on sit/lie

With 19 Days to go

2010-10-15T08:42:00.001-07:00

I think it would be very hard not to say that no matter what we have won. The team has always said the idea is to win but our goal is to fight, and we have fought as hard as any little lady could. We have taken on Big Time politics and risen to the top of the heap and garnered respect and stayed dignified in the process. It is with undying gratitude to Jessica Berardi, Tyler Hosack, John Ferreria, Jason Smart and Adam Britt who have stayed with me since a year ago today on one of the toughest experiences that we could have together. Dean Disaster, Matt Contrill, Joe Kowalke, Jeff Javits, and Alic Shook who got us off to a flying start and have contributed as much as they could over the year and helped keep the campaign going even as they found jobs and struggled to pay rents in this economy. I am forever grateful to Orlon, Steven, Gene and David Lewis for going above and beyond the call of duty and really taking to the streets for the cause. Also the many many many of you that spared anywhere from 5 to 500 dollars to support our campaign because to have raised 20K (including in kind donations) is a great accomplishment and has allowed us to be a contender for this Nov 2 election. Also to my club friends and new friends that I have met along the way your efforts at out reach in the TL and fundraising efforts at your parties help solidify our chances and prove that there is a voice to be heard that is not in a condo or part of the main stream but still a voice that demands being heard!

We are proud that all our materials are from recycled stock and are printed with soy based ink and will not harm the environment. We can also be proud that our message did not cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to get out there. Instead our foot work and out reach has all been community based. We feel that it is time to really look at what elections are and how we abuse and confuse the voters into believing that it is necessary to buy elections or spend ungodly amounts of money to influence your vote.

We started this campaign to prove that YOU can make a difference in politicks and we have. To be the drag queen candidate, who came out of no where and ended up being endorsed by some of the leading media, organizations, and voter groups has proven that we can make a difference and that we should take the time to do so.

As exhausting as this has been I have never felt better or more alive. It has truly connected myself and my team to what is going on at a level that none of us expected. The fight is not over an we can always use your help in the last days for out reach and especially on Nov 2! Mostly though I want to share my gratitude to YOU, the people who created a force to be reckoned with against all odds. My friends we are the voice of change against the over gentrification and selling out of our city. Our fight is not over but thats alright! We know now that we can do it and on November 2nd we are going to see some very surprised faces when they see just what we have achieved together.

Finally to those who wrote us off and to my parents who told me being gay and female identified would lead to a life of misery and rejection.... You were wrong. As a survivor and a fighter I am very proud to say that. Instead of a statistic we have become innovators. Thanks for not giving up because we have already enacted change and will continue to do so in the years ahead.

Thanks for the support and continued effort till the votes are counted. Never give up because as Queen said in our team theme song this year "We are the Champions my friends, and we'll keep on fighting till the end."

Humbly,

Anna Conda

Poll: Who (if anyone) are YOU voting for in the D6 Supervisor Race?

2010-10-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Poll: Who (if anyone) are YOU voting for in the D6 Supervisor Race?

7-23-10_GlendaHyde_Opening.MOV

2010-10-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

9-12-10GlendonHyde_Mid_Market.MOV

2010-10-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

2010 Candidate Statements - Glendon Hyde, SF D2 Supervisor

2010-10-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

"A DRAG QUEEN CAN'T BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.'"-- Theresa Sparks, candidate for District 6 City Supervisor.

2010-10-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

"A DRAG QUEEN CAN'T BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.'"-- Theresa Sparks, candidate for District 6 City Supervisor.

If this were the only way that candidate Theresa Sparks insults the queer community, that would be bad enough. But while claiming that her position as Director of the Human Rights Commission shows her commitment to human rights, Sparks's actions prove otherwise:

+In an anti-democratic move, she has pressured store owners not to hang the signs of other candidates.

+As a police commissioner, Sparks has supported the police policy that says trans women carrying more than 1 condom on their person can be [detained/arrested?] as prostitutes.

+Sparks actively endorses the proposed sit-lie law that criminalizes the homeless--many of whom have ended up living on the street as the direct result of being trans or queer. (This also contradicts Spark's claim that she is a fiscal conservative: Not only will passage of this unconstitutional law immediately embroil the city in an expensive lawsuit, but three days of jail time for a homeless person costs the same [more?] than providing them housing and social services for an entire month.)

I'm proud of my history as a drag queen, and that's why I include my drag name in my campaign. I'm asking for your vote, however, based not on my (admittedly fabulous) outfits, but on my progressive policies and my commitment to the district that has been my home for 14 years. As Supervisor of D6, I promise:

I will [fight] for more affordable housing for all.

I'll [push] to extend rent control to small businesses.

I'll collaborate on revamping Muni so that it really works--without punishing the Muni workers who keep it running..

I will sponsor a tax non-medical cannabis

I will fight to make sure San Francisco's funds are spent

housing people rather than jailing them

creating jobs instead of providing billionaires tax breaks/cutting sweetheart deals with corporations

repairing, cleaning, and greening the streets and sidewalks rather than attacking San Franciscans sitting on those sidewalks.

[ital/bold]Can drag queens be taken seriously? Damn right we can![end ital] VOTE FOR ANNA CONDA aka GLENDON HYDE ON NOVEMBER 2nd.

League of Pissed Off Voters Endorse Anna

2010-10-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the League's endorsements for November. Our full voter guide that explains why we're voting this way will be posted on theballot.org soon.

State Candidates:

Governor: Jerry Brown

Lt Governor: No endorsement (Gavin came up one vote short of getting our endorsement!)

US Senator: Barbara Boxer

Sec of State: Debra Bowen

Controller: John Chiang

Treasurer Bill Lockyer

Attorney General: Kamala Harris

Insurance Commissioner: Dave Jones

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Larry Aceves

State Board of Equalization: Betty Yee

State Assembly District 12: No endorsement

State Assembly District 13: Tom Ammiano

State Senate District 18: No endorsement

Supreme Court Justices: Cantil-Sakauye, No; Chin, No; Moreno, Yes

State Props:

19: Yes - Legalize!

20: No - Expands undemocratic redistricting commission to cover congress

21: Yes - $18 vehicle fee to pay for state parks

22: No - Complicated & suspicious way to prevent state borrowing from local agencies

23: Hell No - Cold-cocks CA’s landmark anti-global-warming bill

24: Hell Yes - Repeal corporate tax breaks

25: Hell Yes - Restore majority rule for the state budget!

26: Hell No - Cripple CA’s ability to pay for services via fees

27: Yes - Eliminate that sketchy redistricting commission (see 20)

Local Props:

AA: Yes - $10 vehicle fee for roads, transit, and pedestrians

A: Yes - $46m bond to seismically retrofit affordable housing

B: No - Increase city employees pension contributions & take away health care

C: Yes - Question Time with the Mayor . . . Round 3

D: Hell Yes - Allow non-citizen public school parents to vote for school board

E: Hell Yes - Election Day voter registration for SF-only elections!

F: No - Suspicious consolidation of random Health Services Board Elections

G: No - Standardize Muni drivers’ pay formula, but add anti-worker language

H: No - Bar some SF elected officials from political party committees

I: Yes - Donation-funded Saturday voting pilot program for 2011

J: Hell Yes - Raise the hotel tax to save City services

K: Hell No - Poison pill against raising the hotel tax

L: No - Make it illegal to sit on the sidewalk anywhere in SF

M: Yes - Require police foot patrols & block Prop L

N: Hell Yes - Raise the tax on properties sold for more than $5 million

Local Candidates:

Board of Supervisors

District 2: Janet Reilly

District 4: No endorsement

District 6: 1- Jane Kim; 2- Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde; 3- Debra Walker

District 8: Rafael Mandelman

District 10: 1- Chris Jackson; 2- Tony Kelly; 3- Ed Donaldson

BART Board: Bert Hill

Assessor: Phil Ting

Board of Education: Hydra Mendoza, Bill Barnes, Kim-Shree Maufus

Community College Board: John Rizzo

Public Defender: Jeff Adachi

Judge: Michael Nava

United Playaz Fundraiser this Saturday October 2

2010-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

ime	Saturday, October 2 · 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Location	Powerhouse Bar 1347 Folsom Street San Francisco, CA

Created By	Anna Conda "Glendon Hyde" for District 6 Supervisor 2010

More Info	During my run for Supervisor of District 6 I met a group that touched my heart more than any other and that is United Playaz! There Mission is: United Playaz is...a violence prevention and youth leadership organization that works with San Francisco's hardest to reach youth through street outreach, case management, in-school services, recreational activities, and support to incarcerated youth. United Playaz has committed more than 15 years to improving the lives of young people surviving in vulnerable environments and show high incidence of truancy and low academic performance, or have been involved in the juvenile justice system through direct service and community collaboration. United Playaz believes that "it takes the hood to save the hood" They are currently trying to buy their Building at 1038 Howard street after being "excused" from the local Community Center. The dedicated and wonderful staff need our help. Please come to the Powerhouse for a Drag Show Fundraiser to help this amazing group! I'm even going to do a Hip Hop number for my very first time! Raffle, door donations and jello shots make up a great way to help people helping themselves! Team Anna Conda

Glendon "Anna Conda" Hyde for District 6 Supervisor 2010

2010-09-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

"Anna Conda" Glendon Hyde - Candidate District 6 - Central City Democrats

2010-09-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

UCSF District 6 Supervisor Candidate Forum Videos

2010-09-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

UCSF District 6 Supervisor Candidate Forum Videos

Anna Conda Wants YOU to Stand Against Sit/Lie

2010-09-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

Anna Conda Wants YOU to Stand Against Sit/Lie

Neighbors Poised to Spar Over Dolores Park Tonight â€“ Mission Loc@l -- San Francisco Mission District's News, Food, Art and Events

2010-09-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

Neighbors Poised to Spar Over Dolores Park Tonight â€“ Mission Loc@l -- San Francisco Mission District's News, Food, Art and Events

Stop Marginalizing Anna Conda 2010

2010-08-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

ONE SUPPORTER SAYs........."I call bullshit on the Bay Guardian for leaving you out of their DCCC questionnaire recap and I think all of your supporters should call and email Tim Redmond- tr@sfbg.com."

I think this is a great idea! we have proven over and over that we are a strong clear focused campaign and yet main stream media and organizations such as the DCCC continue to marginalize us. Please send an email or write on the SFBG Blog about your feelings! Thanks and lets go get that idae that if you ignore us we don't exist. This is the exact reason I have chosen to run. I will not allow myself, my friends and my community be ignored. You can't arrest people for sitting and lying on the sidewalk because they are poor. You can't keep destroying DJ equipment and hurting bar patrons in raids, You can't kill San Francisco and make it a playground for Yuppies, You can't just close all the gay night spots and performance venues BECAUSE WE WILL NOT LET YOU!. We don't ALL want to live in the Marina! We will not stand for marginalization! Thanks, Anna Conda

http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2010/08/10/what-dccc-questionnaires-reveal-about-adachi-reform-sit-lie-and-marijuana

Response from a supporter...

You have run a serious and issue-based campaign, you have received good reviews from your debate and other public appearances, and you deserve to have your effort treated and covered seriously and with respect. I won't let up on calling out unfair treatment by the media, especially the so-called progressive media. It is not okay just to cover you and your campaign as part of a Pride issue - in fact, it is the worst marginalization of a serious queer candidate that I can think of.

Classy to slutty in 5 easy days

2010-08-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

The new War on Fun | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2010-08-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

The new War on Fun | San Francisco Bay Guardian

Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde

2010-08-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde

Anna takes the oath

2010-08-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

Endorsement from TAC PAC

2010-08-03T15:51:00.001-07:00

Dear Glendan Hyde:

Please refer to the enclosed letter of endorsement when announcing our support for your campaign. We appreciate your timely response to our candidate questionnaire.

If you have any questions about our endorsement please refer to the contact information in our attached letter.

TACPAC "Tenant Associations Coalition Political Action Committee" endorsement slate for District 6 Supervisor is as follows:

1) James Keys

2) Jane Kim

3) Glendon Hyde

TAC PAC

P.O. Box 420846

San Francisco, CA 94142-0846

(415) 289-2024

FPPC #1241868

Since 1/02

http://tacpac.blogspot.com

Lost Classic: The Woodentops * Giant (Rough Trade/Columbia, 1986)

2010-08-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Lost Classic: The Woodentops * Giant (Rough Trade/Columbia, 1986)

sit lie discussion

2010-07-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

As a new condo owner in the Mid Market area, I support the Sit and Lie Law. Something has to be done to stop the problems business and property owners have with the homeless. They block the entrance to our buildings, trash the sidewalks in front of our homes, urinate and defecate anywhere they please.

2 hours ago · Comment · · Report

- Anna Glendon Conda Hyde
  How much do you donate to housing every year? Housing is often blocked by attitudes just like this but when you house someone and give them a toilet the problem is solved. It is our selfish spending and lack of compassion that allows this epidemic to continue. If it is not our problem then who's problem is it? Why should the homeless be put in jail? It costs 1 months worth of housing to incarcerate someone for 3 nights. Until we all take an active part in creating change and expecting others to do the work for us we will continue to have problems. Sit?Lie is about calling attention to a problem and then saying that the homeless are criminals and this is NOT a solution. It is a bastardization of our governmental process and should never have even been created. By the way it was an idea germinated here in SF to throw gays in jail instead of having them hanging out in the Castro. Should we just keep using laws like this till were all in jail!

First Endorsement for Anna Conda 2010.com

2010-07-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Glendon Hyde AKA ANNA CONDA campaign:

Manor Advocates wishes to inform you that we have

decided to formally endorse your bid for Supervisor in

District 6 for the year 2010. We have reviewed your

distinguished history as a community activist on

behalf residents in the North of Market area as well

as the City and County of San Francisco. We are deeply

impressed by your commitment in advocating for those

living in San Francisco’s substandard SRO buildings.

We also note your community leadership achievements

and efforts improving the quality of life for some the

most struggling populations of San Francisco.

In 1997 Manor Advocates was formed to preserve

affordable housing for all current and future elderly

and disabled low-income households in buildings such

the Antonia Manor, Marlton Manor, Marie Manor, and The

Alexander Residence. Manor Advocates also co-authored

District 6 Candidate Platform in 2000.

We are asking other community-based groups that we are

affiliated to also endorse your candidacy.

Our Slate for District 6 Candidates is as follows:

1. James Keys

2. Jane Kim

3. Glendon Hyde

Manor Advocates

P.O. Box 846

San Francisco, CA 94102-0846

manoradvocates@yahoo.com

I would like to thank Manor Advocates because I believe in their mission of making sure there is DIGNITY for all San Franciscans. When it comes from a group that is involved in work that my team and I feel so strongly about it is an honor to receive our first endorsement and we are very proud to be chosen.

Anna Conda and Team Anna Conda 2010

OUR 2010 HOT PINK LIST | San Francisco Bay Guardian

2010-06-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

OUR 2010 HOT PINK LIST | San Francisco Bay Guardian

Anna Conda - "Your drag queen candidate".m4v

2010-05-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

On Gold Coast, a Legacy of Low Taxes - The Bay Citizen

2010-05-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

On Gold Coast, a Legacy of Low Taxes - The Bay Citizen

Chris Daly Primary for District 6

2010-05-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

We will not be participating in this primary. This does not fit into our campaigns plans and we are not fully supportive of Daly's plans for this Progressive Primary Elections. Our team has worked hard to become involved in the community, eschew the traditional mudslinging tactics and we wish to continue on with our plans. We have met all the requirements but feel that this is a divisive measure in many ways and are glad to be part of a district race that has so many involved and capable people running. We feel the more people involved in the political process the more likely we are to see the concerns of the D6 Community arise and take precedence in this race. The very fact that so many people want to be involved we feel is a great sign that the apathy towards the disenfranchised in our district will soon be a thing of the past.
And now the actual letter..........

Dear Candidate for District 6 Supervisor, On Saturday, July 17th, the District 6 Progressive Primary will be held at the San Francisco War Memorial, 401 Van Ness Avenue, between 10AM and 2PM. The Primary is open to all District 6 residents who are registered to vote. District 6 residents who register to vote on the day of the event will also be able to participate. As a declared candidate for District 6 Supervisor, you are invited to compete in the Progressive Primary. In order to qualify your name for the Progressive Primary ballot, you are required to: 1) Become certified as eligible to receive public funds by the SF Ethics Commission and agree to comply with the City’s Individual Expenditure Ceiling; 2) Sign the Progressive Pledge; and 3) Agree to endorse the winner of the Progressive Primary as your first, second, or third choice for the November election for District 6 Supervisor. The filing deadline for qualifying your name for the Progressive Primary ballot is 12:00pm on Thursday, June 17th. In addition to the above requirements, you will be required to declare your legal name, name in Chinese characters, and a ballot designation as they would appear on November’s ballot. You may also submit a candidate statement of no more than 200 words. For more information on these requirements, please reference the Department of Elections’ Candidate Guide for Local Elective Offices for the November 2010 election. The order in which candidate names will appear on the ballot will be determined by a “random alphabet” drawing, which will be held at 12:00pm on Thursday, June 17th, outside of the Department on Elections in the basement of City Hall. This random alphabet applies to the surname, or last name, of the candidate. If two candidates have surnames beginning with the same letter, their order on the ballot will depend on the order in which the next distinctive letters in their names were drawn in the randomized alphabet drawing.Candidates who are unable to qualify their name for the ballot by June 17th may file a statement of write-in candidacy by 12:00pm on Tuesday, July 13th. The Progressive Primary will use the City’s ranked-choice voting (RCV) system to determine the winner of the Primary. District 6 voters participating in the Progressive Primary will be able to select a first-choice candidate in the first column on the ballot, and different second and third-choice candidates in the second and third columns on the ballot. The counting of the ballots will proceed similarly to the City’s November election. To start, every first-choice vote is counted. Any candidate who receives a majority (more than 50%) of the first-choice votes is declared the winner. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, a process of eliminating candidates and transferring votes begins. First, the candidate who received the fewest number of first-choice votes is eliminated from the race. Second, voters who selected the eliminated candidate as their first choice will have their vote transferred to their second choice. Third, all the votes are recounted. Once the votes are recounted, if any candidate has received more than 50% of the votes, he or she is declared the winner. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, the process of eliminating candidates and transferring votes is repeated until one candidate has a winning majority. All participating candidates will be allowed to have one designated observer present during the counting of the ballots. Please complete all the enclosed forms and return to: Progressive PrimaryPO Box 410686San Francisco, CA 94141-0686 Alternately, you can submit your paperwork to me before the alphabet drawing at 12:00pm on June 17th. Feel free to email me back at this address or call or text me on my cell phone. 415-244-7419. Thank you, Chris Daly

Waffle waffle but don't sit or lie.

2010-05-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a candidate for an elected position about our tactics and I learned a lot.

The topic was Sit/Lie. there was some talk about how I opposed it and that we hoped that David Chiu wouldn't be lame enough to push for it as a ballot measure. Laws like this is where we really see what Prop 8 did to us. Now we can criminalize marginalized populations by popular vote. Bigotry en mass. Any way we were talking about Sit/Lie laws.

I began recounting the great experience that I had opposing the Sit/Lie ordinance. My team and I had a little lemon aid /cookie stand in the tenderloin. We signed people up to Stand Against Sit/Lie. My new pal Andy Blue, who also hosts League of Pissed Off Voters on Pirate Cat Radio, helps organize these city wide protests and also works for the amazing 2 year old Tenants Together was there. Andy really got into it; as he is a guy full of really great energy; and we had cameras and lemon aid and homeless and drag queens right out in public! Deborah Walker and her enormous cardboard head were there. It was a who's who right on the side walk. Say it like in Female Trouble "Anna Conda's having a lemon aid stand right out in class!"

The day was awesome and we dealt with lots of folks who call the streets their home. They were very nice in general and certainly no one has bullied us. We had about 85% people who supported and we listened to the reasons people gave for "not wanting to step over "that" every day." "That" by the way is a he or she incase you might not have noticed as you scorned them as the lie suffering under your feet. But I digress.

So I'm chatting about how I think San francisco should remain open to the ideals that make it a shelter and a bastion of uber liberal ideals and I say...

"It was such a great experience you should do it to I think its a great way to state your position and just meet people."

Reply "Well i think its better for me to stand back and talk about it from a political angle than to get involved. Plus it's risky my district might go for this or support sit/lie laws."

What? Ok I get it we ALL want to be elected. I know about the whole "it's a game" mentality. But this is exactly the disconnect that government has from the people. The idea that as a leader you would not get involved in civic matters at a very basic level is where the problems are happening. Would this person change their position to get elected? This is everyones choice to make and I know but the very story that we tell should be who we are. It is like the Born Again Christian Ministers who buy rent boys after calling for the death of fags. If you hate yourself so much that you would compromise your moral fortitude who cares what you say. It is only by being counted and standing up that a voice can be of use. All social change came with a fight. Without the fight poor, ethnic, gay, trans, ect... get bulldozed under in society.

It is not time to hide behind popularity and desire to win. There is always a bit of compromise but involvement early on is key to keeping the freedoms granted us by the universe are ours. Again look at Prop 8 and what it has done and we are so apathetic that we can't get it together to actually do anything about it. we are waiting for the courts to decide. You know what BIGOTRY as LAW is worth standing against. Thats what Prop 8 is thats what Sit/Lie is. By the way this is all brought to you by a Mayor who uses MUNI as a slush fund causing it to be deeply in debt, allows corrupt shelter systems to carry the burden of SF's homeless population while cutting their funding, and yet calls himself a humanitarian for fighting for gay rights. Yes a making the city so full of developers that fill your own personal agenda while bullshitting your way into the next office available.

This hypocrisy is not what is going to create solution. Accountable and sustainable should be our motto. We need to slow growth enough to become sustainable as we are. We must house the families, the teens, the junkies and all the disenfranchised before moving on. That is what our government is in place for. Not a stepping stone to salaries beyond reason.

We only have ourselves to blame when the rhetoric of "Only in my best interest" is acceptable as a way into elected office. How is that attitude actually going to stand up for our rights instead of their own best interests? They will not because they didn't getting elected. This is the down fall of the Democratic party in my view. No fortitude to take a stand and defend it.

So to end our conversation I said, "I just hope to help keep San Francisco a place that is magic and a retreat from the often abusive world."

They replied, "After living here a while you forget that about the city."

I hope we never never forget.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-04-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Compassionate Criminalization of Smokers

2010-04-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

am an asthma sufferer. I do not like cigarette smoke in my lungs, on my clothing, or in my wig for sure! That plastic just reeks after a smoke filled venue! I'm glad we no longer smoke in bars. It’s very difficult to look at cigarette smoking in public as something that should be protected by law. However, I absolutely do not support a ban on smoking patios that ignores the root cause of high rates of smoking among minority populations, places additional financial burdens on small businesses, and exploits children as a means to an end.

I recently attended the hearings to banning smoking patios in San Francisco. When I spoke up in defense of smoking patios, I was told by one man that I “didn’t care about the GLBT community” because I do not support a ban on smoking in the city of San Francisco. He argued that smoking on a smoking patio was the same as walking into a bar and spraying DDT all over the place. “Would you support that?” I was asked. Another woman who rents a unit to a smoker spoke out saying that she wanted the freedom to evict her tenant simply because she “hates smokers and smoking”. Where do we draw the line?

The Anti-Smoking Coalition – who is behind these proposed bans – is a rabid bunch that will do just about anything to disallow smoking in public. At the hearings, children were paraded shamelessly (dare I say “exploitatively”?) in front of the Board of Supervisors and other attendees. The children were there to speak about asthma and were used by the Anti-Smoking Coalition to tug at our heartstrings. What are children doing on smoking patios anyway? Fact is that the two highest causes of asthma are high-density housing and car exhaust – not second hand smoke. If the Anti-Smoking Coalition is as concerned about children’s health as it makes itself out to be, why are they not calling for some sort of referendum regarding the two highest causes of asthma, both of which are particularly relevant in an urban environment like San Francisco? Maybe we should all get out of our cars and take MUNI! They certainly could use the cash!

Previous smoking bans were put in place to keep smoke contained to one area and away from non-smokers. Many bars – especially Castro neighborhood businesses – opened smoking patios in order to keep smoke outside and comply with city codes. Many of these bars and restaurants have spent thousands of dollars creating smoking patios. The new law – sponsored by Supervisor Eric Mar – would ban smoking patios, costing bars and restaurants even more money. After pressure from bar and restaurant owners, Mar has suggested that a grandfather clause be added to the new ruling to allow previously-existing patios to stay open with no smoking 10 feet from the door. Also the new ban sends smokers into the street to be 15 feet away from the front entrance of a business or building. That means smokers in the street littering the gutters with butts instead of ash trays. More litter in the bay is better than smoking?

From where I see it, this is not about smoking patios. This is a freedom of choice issue. In an economic downturn, placing added financial hardship on small businesses – in the way of lost opportunity for business – is not a solution. And certainly, criminalizing personal behaviors and pushing smokers out of sight is not a solution either.

Besides being told that I “didn’t care about the GLBT community” I learned at the hearings that there are far fewer smokers in San Francisco than just a few years ago! Harm reduction strategies are working. We have already created a dialogue and citywide plan that is reducing the number of people who smoke. Why change what’s already working?

Perhaps we should put our time and effort into lobbying tobacco companies. After all, tobacco companies are responsible for creating and selling a product that is unhealthy and addictive. I say go for the real criminals! Why not hold hearings in favor of more funding for educational campaigns and quit-smoking programs for smokers? Why not allocate prevention funding specifically to youth and other marginalized populations at most risk of smoking?

Urban environments are by nature a melting pot of ideas, choices, and freedoms. San Franciscans have the freedom to choose what businesses they frequent and if those businesses have smoking patios or not. Similarly, we have the choice to drive cars or to utilize public transportation. We decide where our money goes and whether it goes into education and prevention versus the criminalization of personal choices.

I dislike the smell, the taste, and the slew of health problems – and healthcare costs! – that come along with cigarette smoking as much as the next person. What I dislike even more, however, is criminalizing personal choices. Criminalizing adult behavior removes some of the freedoms and foundations on which this "liberal" city is built. Criminalization is never a solution. Imposing bans on smoking patios under the guise of “Save the Children” propaganda is both exploitative and factually unfounded.

We must be vigilant that good intentions do not create laws that disenfranchise the disenfranchised. Smoking surely is a health concern but the way to solve health concerns is education not criminalization. We have in place safety measures that work by reducing the number of smokers and the inhalation of second hand smoke and these extra measures are far too strict.We all want to enjoy nightlife and many of us don't want to breath second hand smoke and there are many choices of venue to go to that don't allow smoking. Finally to the person who wrote to me saying; "I pass out, my throat closes; and I must be rushed to the hospital every time I breath in a hint of smoke"; I worry that an urban environment is far too dangerous for you. I don't want to see you die so make the right choice and please stay away from the smoking patios and be very careful walking down the street. I do care about your issues so I worry what choices you are making to live in an urban and uncontrolled environment. For the rest of us I say make a wise choice and be glad you can; even if your a smoker.

In solidarity with the people facing bigotry in Hawaii. Wear Black arm bands

2010-02-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Van Law February 4 at 10:30am Reply

Aloha,

On Friday, February 5, 2010 we will be mourning the death of Democracy at the Hawaii State Capitol.

It will be one week to the day since the House Leadership (Say and Magaoay) did everything they could do to ensure that HB 444 (through an anonymous voice vote) would not pass this session. This is NOT just a gay issue – if they can do this to the Civil Unions bill when the entire State is watching, what will they do when not everyone is paying attention!

Starting at 3:00 PM (State Capitol)

HAND DELIVER “Thank You” notes to the Representatives for speaking up on our behalf. (We are looking for people to do this with their mouths duct taped a la "NO H8" campaign)

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (State Capitol)
SIGN WAVING: in support of Civil Unions especially given that Lambda Legal and ACLU Hawaii will be filing a lawsuit against the State of Hawaii for Civil Unions.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (State Capitol)

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DEMOCRACY

We ask everyone to wear black or at least a black armband and a rainbow lei and bring a flash light.
There will be speakers from the different groups supporting the event talking about what democracy meant to them and their organization.

We will also announce the launch of the 20*10 Campaign.

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (State Capitol to Chinatown)

SILENT MARCH to Chinatown to hand out fliers calling on Say and Magaoay to revive democracy at the State Capitol and let HB 444 have its vote. Ending the march at the park next to the Hawaii Theatre (behind Indigo)

We hope that you can make all or even part of this action to keep Civil Unions issue alive in the realm of public opinion and letting the House "leadership" know we are not going away!

Mahalo!

Sponsors of the event:
PFLAG-Oahu
Pride Alliance Hawaii

Community response

2010-02-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

For me the reality of the awesome task ahead has hit and I'm ready. There are no words that can describe the palitable momentum that I feel. I am buzzing with sheer joy at what is at hand. I live for a "Land Use and Economic Growth" meetings these days. I believe that this is one of the most far reaching Committees as far as impact to the feel and taste of San Francisco. Budget is good but there is something very wonderful at play in Land Use. Plus you get the added bonus of San Franciscans who come to the Board meetings to sing songs with little recorded devices. Amazing. Or to watch the venerable Sophie Maxwell yield power with such grace and precision. This is the most awe inspiring stuff ever. Quite frankly its like a night at Charlie Horse with everyone and everything happening at once but no vomit and much more reading.... the book kind darlings!

Yet the other side of "wielding power or saying that you want to be an elected official" is the hard part of dealing with the public and their expectations. (Again that was the hard part of Charlie Horse as well but thank goodness I excell at that!) Everyone wants theirs and they want it yesterday. People trying to protect their home values, businesses, intrests, kids and with every right to do so. The general public is angry already and that starts the conversation off in a way that often prevents both sides coming to an agreeable solution. This fear is based in the idea that government is one thing and the working class and lower are separated from this "government thing". That is not true at all. Just ask my new hero Jazzie Collins what you can do, I bet she can name 100 in a minute flat! Maybe everyone should spend some time running for office of some sort; I know I certainly have a lot less time to bitch and moan. In fact its not so complicated at all to get up to speed. I belive history and precidents are the things one must learn that take longer, but as I learned at the Dynamic Adaptability Conferance emotion and passion supply the drive and thoughts to create answers and make solutions possible.

This decision to care on a whole hearted level and without anything to loose has been the best decision ever. I am taking myself out of my comfort zone. WAY out. I used to believe that strength had something to do with where you came from; but now I know it's where we are going. In this journey I have found that we knew the solution all along. I like to think of myself as part of a community. I often hear that communities have no idea how to change things that they don't like or are causing discorse. Usually there is another force involved or in opposition. Both sides are equally right to have an opinion. Both do not have the right to believe the solution is going to be black or white or yes and no decisions that make up the final solution. It will probably be somewhere in the middle and if it is a good resolution should require that the community be an ongoing part of the solution. Bi partisan politics and refusals to bend lead to the inabilty to actually solve problems. Does our Government want us to go without health care and become bankrupt? Sure looks like it. Is over 7,000 homeless not a alarming tragety that we can't open our minds and be part of a solution? Sure looks like it. I was recently fuming over the Haiti relief benefits being held EVERYWHERE. Not that I think Hatian people should suffer or that people should give their money else where by any means. But.... and its's a big one.... What about the 7,000 plus refugees living in our city causing so much anger and resentment; that we decide if they can sit on the side walk or not by law. Why are we criminalizing the people who need help most this is insane!

Yet the solution does not lie only on the coffers of the city. It relys on the community getting in volved. We should demand that the SRO's be run in a more respectable fashion. For example we all know that if you live in a 6th street SRO you have crack and prostitution and petty crime galore. Now add cronic filth, bed bugs, rats, roaches and on and on. Third world living conditions in our city. We are responsible for these conditions; maybe not quite as much as say;.....the managment, but as much as the city and state government for allowing people to be treated this way. Yet with all our money spent on corporation bail outs and keeping the city a float where is the money to fix these problems? Where is the money for the after school programs that are being cut going to come from. It is time for us as a community to ban together and find it. We must get more involved in the solution. We are not owed a solution. They are something that is earned before its owned. If in one month I can raise enough to qualify for public funding for my campaign, in one show raise almost $1300 for a homeless organization then I believe the solution is at hand and its easier than we think.

Community must stop relying on others to do this for them. SRO's are NOT the problem. The Managment or Mismanagment is the problem. We need to enforce that people be treated with dignity by the people providing the care or remove the managment. This care must be more strictly regulated. We must stop letting giant corporate investors and large institution from buying all the affordable housing. Without affordable housing and rent controll across the board we will never end homelessness because it will continue to be perpetuated by special intrest and developers. This cycle must end. Small business must jump through so many hoops that they can hardly open without having to wait far too long to pass inspections and comply to the miriad of rules. We need friendly and user friendly services for all kinds of people. Communities must use their voices not to criminalize but to bind and create success. a sucessful SRO or restaurant or business is going to help the community not just part.

Our personal intrests really are based in healthy communities. We must keep it based there and hold the government accountable for helping in this struggle. If we don't want Walgreens on every corner we are going to have to help in the solution. We must fight for just laws. We must utilize businesses that are thriving and not penalize them to encourage more growth. We must not criminalize the people who need help but take to task the people who exploit their misery. Mostly we must find ways in our communities to raise funds to help the schools, the people, and each other. We are not just part of the solutions that we seek, we are those very solutions.

Europe’s ‘Capital Of Boredom’ in Crisis

2010-01-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

Europe’s ‘Capital Of Boredom’ in Crisis

St. Luke's. Land and Hookers, Shame Shame Shame....

2010-01-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

St Luke's hospital in the mission has been closing for years. Honestly it was the worst run hospital I have even been to. My friend Jason and I were left to rot till I went over to General and the wait was actually shorter. Now I think I understand why. The plan was to let this hospital; that is one of 2 South of Market hospitals; rot into the ground and build a new one in the TL. The same TL that is having problems with the gluttonous land absorbsion and alleged near slum lord tendencies of the AAU. So I ask you when 150 SRO's are taken out of the Tenderloin and now Sutter Health is vacating 11 more where are these people going? Where do we imagine they go. To another SRO? Exactly where is that SRO going to be since we have lost 160 or more recently; and as far as I know land developers are not exactly jumping at the chance to build a home for poor or elderly poor, or any other low income folk. So are we saying they have less rights than people who can afford to live here? With affordable housing driven out of the TL where are my friends to live?

Having lived for 2 years in an SRO after arriving to San Francisco perhaps people don't quite understand what it is like. For $450 a month in the late 90's dot com boom era I got a room on California Street with a shower. It was awesome. I had no cooking facilities so I got a hot plate from a friend and ate a lot of ramen noodles and fresh produce from Project Open Hands pantry. See I was also going to Beauty School at Miss Marty's school of Beauty. I wasn't working, my GA was all the money I had and that was $400 a month. Catholic Cheraties had to take my case on and pay my rent and subsidize my income, so I was left with $200 a month to live on. In San Francisco. During the Dot Com Boom. It was only by the help I received from community organizations at that time that kept me alive and healthy and able to make something out of myself. They are the reasons I could succeed in life.

What I learned while living in this SRO is that there are many people who need help in the most desperate ways. People who can't bathe themselves and think for themselves but there is no place to go for them. One time in line at general I saw a man covered in his own feces who had very obvious mental disorders and the staff person told me terminal cancer. This is what is out there and the fact that by closing St Luke's the city gets rid of beds for these people. Plus there are no care facilities with bed to help the mentally ilL who are unable to care for them selves! Downsizing St Luke's removes over 70 acute bed care options as well as eliminating 81 psychiatric beds. Just what the Mission and SF General need in that area. Imagine what we get to see our next visit to General or on a street near you. This is not how housing and care should be dealt with in our city. Land development needs to consider the people who are already living in a community and what their needs are first.

While I was at City hall the other day I was listening to the Native Americans talk about how this was their land and they are not recognized. I thought it just happens over and over again. The people with enough money to silence and discriminate so often reap the rewards. This is still happening at such a quick rate in San Francisco frightens me. I am afraid because so many people seem asleep at the wheel. Grass roots organizing was changing and is changing things but without effort by the communities themselves our cares go without voice. There have been many mayors in this city in a row that run things as they wished and favored business and gentrification. It has changed our beautiful liberal city into a Manhatten Jr. I don't want our city to be owned by Disney with pretty fake atmosphere and botiques only. I want the trannies and the freaks to stay in this city if they want and to be able to find housing. This city should work to become the producer of more success stories like myself. Only through dignity and offering care where it is really needed can we keep this city vibrant for all people.

It's not just land use either. The Polk Street Merchant organizations with Police Chief Gascone and Kamala Harris have decided the Polk is unsafe. They state that the THOUSANDS of trannie hookers, male hookers and a "new influx of hookers from out of town" are making it unsafe to live on Polk. Poor little Johnny is getting stabbed by needles on his way to school and pimps are killing each other every day. First off these are lies. Lies to cover the mass gentrification ideas that the city has for the polk. The Polk is 300 times more white washed and suburban that when I first arrived in San Francisco. You know what is gone from the Polk? Gays. The gay businesses have been snuffed out on purpose because of the beliefe that we are degenerates and ruin the neighborhood. Gay businesses have been blackballed from re opening. In fact one Polk Merchants Association leader thanked the ABC and Entertainment Commission for coming to the aid of a condo owner who lived next to a noist bar and looks forward to working with them again in future such cases.

Gascone and the Merchants association believe shame is the best way to do this. First keep you camera ready because they are asking YOU to take pictures of suspicious characters and turn those pictures into the police. Thats right BIG Brother is here to clean up the Polk. Also pictures of men who use prostitutes will be plastered about the city to shame them into not partaking in the night time trade.

As a gay man I have been shamed, photographed and put in a hospital for the mental disorder called being gay. None of these have worked. I am a very rebellious and angry citizen because of it. I am living proof that shame does not work. Instead of shame shouldn't we give these people, because they are people after all lets not forget; a place to live that they can afford so that like myself they can become another success story for our city. Stop the shame and stop the destruction of affordable housing! There are 2 ways to make the city livable for everyone. To the lady on the Polk Merchants association who said its a women's issue because god knows what these men bring home after tricking; I say this; where is your heart and compassion. Until we offer dignity to the "undesirable" you desirables will not be able to find it for yourself. Personally Kamala, Gascone and the Polk Merchants I don't know how you can sleep at night. That bed of shame money must be pretty darn soft.

Academy of Art and the Good Neighbor argument

2010-01-12T05:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at the Land Use and Economic Development meeting I saw what was the start of an investigation into the housing practices of the AAU. Last week the Chronicle talked about how this business was really in the business of slum lord ship and in violation of several building codes. I believe the outstanding code violations number 34. Several of these 34 codes are what are known as life codes; or codes that endanger human life. The other problem this giant land owner has that in a disproportionate amount of the buildings being used as dorms are actually rent controlled buildings or former SROs.

Lets start with the SRO buildings. The impact on one hundred and fifty units of SRO housing have been taken off the market by a company that grosses somewhere just over a billion a year. Many advocate groups lobbied David Chiu, Eric Mar, and Sophie Maxwell about the huge impact the loss of that many SRO units were lost. When a company buys a residence hotel and displaces the poorest environs in a city where do they go. Most likely onto the street and into shelters. The shelters are not a guarantee because nationally over 50 percent of homeless can not qualify for sheltered housing or benefits. To qualify for GA one must have a bank account and to have said account one must have money. Although care not cash is headed in the right direction it has run into snags along the way as well. This impact of 150 rooms gone makes the burden fall on not for profits and tax payers to house these new homeless. There are not enough rooms in SRO and the legislation allotting people to pay 15 to 30 % of their income in new construction just fuels the existing problems.

The academy of art also buys up many of the rent controlled buildings. In a city with so little affordable housing again the impact on the community is great. The AAU has 9 dorms, 17 properties used as dwellings and group housings. The AAU and Larry Badner call single kitchen single living space a dwelling. A single kitchen multiple living spaces a Group living space and then no kitchen dorm rooms. So they are taking rent controlled buildings and sticking 4 people in every room possible and sharing a kitchen and call it group housing for mostly wealthy foreign students. The code violations occur when too many people are forced in to small a living space and effectively turn a property into a dorm. Having lived at Bush and Post there are several such building and they are not pleasant to live around. Loud behavior, smoking on the cigarette butt strewn side walk, alcohol use and consumption on the sidewalk. I went to college so I'm not surprised at the student behavior but to impact a community in this way and then say that it is for the love of San Francisco is crazy.

Another issue brought up is that the AAU does not own these properties out right so they are still rent controlled buildings making huge profits by over charging and over crowding. When a property does not change ownership it remains at a 2% yearly property tax increase. So not only is the revenue going directly to the school but there is a loss of tax revenue for the city by skirting the issue of ownership change.

So lets see what else. The AAU kept reiterating that they are doing the city a service by creating a love by foreign students that go home and talk up San Francisco. Brad Paul pointed out that this may be true but many such students stay for jobs in Sf and where are they supposed to live? He also proposed measures to create some public funding fees to be placed in the hands of this university to offset this displacement and impact on the community. Personally I think all land purchasing should stop till all the EIR reports are filled and completed, building violations are brought up to code, and a fare back payment on environmental impact is made. This is exactly the accountability we need from large companies gobbling up land and power in this city. As Jeff Kotsitsky of the CHP stated, "If our buildings were under this many code violations then we would have real trouble from a committee such as this."

So why has the AAU gotten away with this? Where was representation from district 6? Why are the EIR reports not made a priority and pushed through legislation? It's time to find out and get answers and restitution from one of the biggest slum lords, taking advantage of over seas students, and enforce strict laws and adherence to all outstanding code violations.

kick off

2010-01-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

Well here we go. I remember the day after I filed the papers stating my intention to run for Supervisor of District 6 thinking I am putting myself on the chopping block and I feel amazing. Yesterday while preparing with my team I felt that same elation. I couldn't wait to be here with you. I have always said that there is no reason that I should be here and not you or someone else. I am here for the same reasons you would be. I have lived for 14 years in this city and in District 6 almost all of that time. If I was not in the district I was right on its borders. This district is where I could afford to live. It is where my friends live, work and created. It is the heart of the entertainment industry as well as home to some of the poorest in this city. It is the center for visitors from foreign lands and multi national corporations. I'm finding out what its all about when a person takes their political activism and become a politician. This has been a steep learnig curve for me and I expect it to get steeper. I expect this to be the most challenging time of my life. I expect it to be but I am going to do it anyway. Well what I hope to say is that WE are going to do this anyway, and we are gonna start making the difference.

We are the ones who call this district and city home. We are the ones who walk the streets instead of driving through them looking for parking. I know that personally without this community I wouldn't be here today. What has happened to our city based on community? The Cockette's, Finochio's, the Barbary Coast, Grace Slick and Janice Joplin, Small and large artists and collectives that have raised this city's profile to national acclaim. Where are those voices that have made this town great and opened the world to counter culture? Well they have been sold out to special interests and developers who care nothing of the people but only about the cash. It is time this behavior by our leaders be stopped; and its time we stopped it. Our apathy has kept us down long enough and we will stand up and demand that our city take care of it's environs before special interests.

When a hotel is paying 2 % increase of its property tax assessment of 1978 market value because it is owned by the same company; especially when the same hotel was an SRO in 1978 and is now a Hotel, Nightclub and restaurant; and their taxs have not been reassessed since 1978..... something is wrong. When there for a meet and greet with the new Tenderloin Police Chief the new proprietors talked about how they really cleaned up the block. Did they clean it up by creating new housing or by offering their toilets to those in need? When we can't find money for ADAP spending or homeless solutions, there is no excuse not to hold multi national or even local corporations responsible for helping to fund our city's infrastructure. Their ability to make and invest money has gotten them special privildeges and wealth. So it's only natural to believe that they should be made to share that wealth with those who have no wealth. Yes it's socialism but for all of you educated here in America there are far worse isms to be. There must be more accountability by our leaders in industry, public service, and public office. When an organization like the Community Housing Partnership has a 98% success rate why is it that they face their funding being cut? It certainly makes more sense to support the organizations that are creating dignity for this city than the ones creating cash only. Now is the time for fresh ideas and aggressive grass roots organizing. It's time to put the "we" back into po"we"r with no more excuses.

We must start saying and hearing yes. Yes there are solutions and yes there is money out there. Yes there will be change and it will be change that is wise and decent. Not hollow promises handed over for a quick buck for a very few, or people who own interest in our city but live elsewhere. When condo owners can shut down a bar that existed before the condo was slapped together, we see an imbalance of power. When a Mayor wants to do away with condo lotteries we see an even more unbalanced power structure emerging for the future. All because of greed and a power hungry ego. My friend Dudley once said he would rather vote for someone who didn't want to hold office because at least they wouldn't have an agenda. It is time for that kind of leader now. It is time to remove the corruption in our government and it's spending to free up the money needed to solve the problems of this city.

We must become more active. There is a steep learning curve ahead but we don't care about the struggle because that is what creates community. We have what we need right in our own community to create change and to protect those who are falling through the cracks. Not just the homeless but immigrants and families who can no longer afford to be part of the city that is San Francisco. We must unite to remind those in power that our city and our dignity are not for sale. Our city's government must be accountable. Why do we have an entertainment committee that is not encouraging the proliferation of entertainment? We already have the ABC and the Police to keep these entertainment venues in line. Its like a film commission that says "Stay away don't shoot or show films here". We need to create an environment and a liaison that serves the community and finds solutions instead for spreading fear and deceit. Not just in entertainment but in all areas. I just chose entertainment because it's what I know. It makes no sense to destroy an industry that is already working and supplying revenue.

We need new ideas and strong advocates for change. People who will not dumb themselves down to the middle to appease wealthy interests, labor, or to protect their job. We need fighters for justice or justice will keep getting bastardized. No one is going to do it for us and in the last year we have seen how we can loose rights; that were already granted to us; and let bigotry become law. We can not let these fascist tendencies go unchallenged. By raising our voices for what we know is right is the way to a brighter future. Not just for us but for the people who have neglected to recognize this truth for themselves. When given dignity and given a place to live a little gay named Glendon Hyde could put himself through beauty school, win Miss Trannyshack as the dark horse, run a very successful club, become an leading activist, and find his/her true spirit. Proof that dignity and community can create success and there is no need to own shame, oppression and fear any longer. That I would even consider standing before you tonight asking for contributions when you have already given me so much seems strange. I must remember however, that I am not asking for me, but for us. What this community has given us is a gift and not a gift that we should ever forget. We left the suburbs to find solice with like minds and to share our gifts where we wouldn't be shunned or killed for doing so. This is our city as much as it is anyones, and our city has been the voice calling others to share and create this magic. This magic, our community, these legends, are ours and we will not let them be sold. Not for any price.

To the guy who after a political meeting said "Oh so your the "drag queen"". I say yeah thats right buddy and don't you forget it; because Drag Queens have taken bigger games than this to the mat; and won.

Helping my friends at Tiara Sensation as they move to a new night

2010-01-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Royalty and Commoners alike,

Princess TIARA SENSATION requests your presence at SOME THING. SOME THING happens Friday nights at the Stud, commencing with our opening gala on Friday, the Fifteenth night of January in the year of our Lady-Lord, Two Thousand and Ten.

We are proud to proclamate and set to celebrate Tiara Sensation’s monumental transition from manic Mondays to freaky Fridays. After a year and a half of doing everything wrong that we could possibly think of, we realized, we hadn’t yet tried SOME THING.

“Tiara Sensation was established to provide a free, creative party for people who want to ‘live the dream’ thru art and performance. And I'm ‘dreaming’ of a jager shot right now! ,” says VivvyAnne Forevermore, the hot heir apparent to the Tiara riches.

SOME THING is upping the auntie with not one, but two drag shows each night:

-"SOME THING" (a Gem in the Rough) at 11 p.m.

Glamamore’s "SOME THING MORE" (the Drool in the Crown) at midnight.

-SOME THING will make you DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! with sexy foreigners and the local gentry alike. Featuring all your favorite disk jockeys and DJ down-E.

-Make SOME THING at the craft table with Hot Gloo all night long.

According to Glamamamore, her royal dowager Empressness, “If you want to have fun in San Francisco, this is it. There is no thing like SOME THING!”

“We want people to experience joy, have fun, and remember that living is creativity explored,” says DJ down-E, esteemed jester, preferred above all others.

Failure to adhere to weekly thematic attire and spirit, though not required, is highly frowned upon, and therefore subject to the wrath of the queen (this does not, however, include "misunderstanding the assignment," even severely).

Yours humbly,

The Queen

Its a great group so please support! Anna Conda

Oxymoron.

2009-12-22T08:14:00.000-08:00

The richest country in the world has About 3.5 million US residents (about 1% of the population) , ...Statistics for homeless families are even graver -- 52% were turned down by homeless shelters. Change means stepping up a war and paying more money to Huge Insurance Corporations so that the rich can get richer. Moderate means Right Leaning. Right is using fascist scare tactics to pass unconstitutional laws in favor of bigotry and hate and having very little resistance from the liberal media. Nor any opposition from politicians who are hired by the people to take care of the people. More people know who Kim Kardashian is than who the Vice President is and we can't find funding for schools. Texas; since they buy the most books for schools; gets to help right history for our countries public school system.No wonder we are all as fucking stupid as George Bush!

Wake up! Put down your soda and open your eyes. We can not fear change because what we have is not working. We are killing the planet. Killing ourselves. Killing each other. Not only in the US, but all over this world. Not in the name of democracy but in the name of capitalism. Our country is being held hostage by corporations that are paying the government to ignore the people in their interests! Hillary Clinton in the 80's and now Obama have been shut down by special interests. The current health "reform" has us putting MORE money in the pockets of Insurance Conglomerates! We have been taken over and they are running the government and its all our fault. If we do not stand up for ourselves we are going to be taken advantage of! That is NOT what we deserve and we know it! Tell Pelosi to stop selling out! We want abortion covered because who the fuck are we to tell a woman what she can or can not do with her body. That is her decision to make. Nobody has abortions for fun so get the fuck over it!

Where is the anger and marching in the streets by true liberals? The idea that if we stand up for ourselves is going to do our cause damage is ludicrous! Those Tea Baggers got exactly what they went down there and protested for! The morons have taken away the ability for progressive thinkers to make policy and create a better US because they are being fed fear. They are consuming the fear and they are using it to "their" advantage! Yet because they are being educated by the televisions they have no idea what they are saying. Yet neither do we!

There is only rhetoric out there right now. So many people are so afraid that they are going "moderate" in their lives so as to please the most people. Our government is being squashed of all purpose just because there is no actual liberal power. Liberal power is not to be feared. Anger is not to be feared. Just because there is a confrontation created with the right? This confrontation has to be started in ernest again. Our apathetic view of what grass roots can do must change. Look at what the right's grass roots campaign has done. It has changed our country to a hate filled barbaric trash bin for Jesus and lets poor people die, kills fags and non believers, and is single handedly the most selfish self absorbed country on the planet.

It is because WE are not doing any thing! It is because we would rather not or are too "busy". Just because you are on a cell phone you are still ALONE! No one is actually there with you. The person that is there with you is the person who you just stepped over in disgust. You are inside an SUV and can't see us, but We still exist. Its time to let people know we exist!

This city is becoming a gentrified playground of mediocrity and we should not stand for it. Newsom wants us all to own a condo or leave. There can be 200 condo conversions a year and it is decided by lottery. Imagine if anyone could convert to condos! That would be the most horrible thing to happen to this once proud city. That is exactly what is happening in Newsom's fevered brain right now. Just so Newsom can reward his rich friends who helped a spoiled little boy get into office. We are being governed by selfish voices who care nothing about the people. I personally find it infuriating! Just think what would happen to all the bars that are too loud, night clubs, trannies, freaks, and the people who make this city great! We had to leave suburbia and we don't want to go back!

Why is the government not taking care of ALL the people? Why is the entertainment commission taking away the reason young people come to this city? Why must our city be like a suburb? Why can't creative people and families find affordable housing? We are the ones who gave Paris Hilton all that money and now we are paying for it. We are spoiled and rotten and so selfish as a culture that people hate us. I mean do you like the "Marinaization" of this city? Of the state? Of the US? We don't want to live in a city of mini skirts and orange tans and bleached hair? We also don't want to live in a city of codo's! We don't want more homeless on the streets because they used to live in a high priced "new" condo. We don't want to have our well being left in the hands of corporate bosses! It's like Dickens era England right now in the US! Why are we not asking more questions? Where is the accountability? Lets show those bastards what a REAL Teabagger can do! It is time to get active because this current situation is so not working for us!

1 State, 2 State, Red State, Blue State.

2009-12-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

I keep reading about how we are really a Blue Country but are being blind sided into believing we are red. What with the lack of back bone from the truly liberal movement and apathy at an all time high I might believe it. I know better though. It's not red and blue; noting ever is this or that. Mix some red and blue and you get the brown area. Yep we are in the shit and its all our fault. We have been asleep and uninvolved and we deserve the brown that we are currently wading through. Everyone keeps saying where is the money going to come from that is needed to fix where we are? You know the answer..... YOU.

I know why we are pissed by that answer also. Major corporations have stolen our money and blown it at the race track in get rich quick schemes and we are handed pails to clean up their brown. Health Care has been bleeding Americans dry for ever and now when we see the problem we still get only the slightest improvement. (An improvement if your an insurance company). Bigotry and hatred have combined to create fascist laws against gays in many "liberal" states. The state can't pay for ADAP and yet there seems to be room to pay for lots of press secretaries and still not raise taxes on the rich. Yep Its been a year of change and this is what post Bush has left us with. Ineffectual government that still cares noting about the people and only about the bottom line and we have to pay for their gross spending and back room deals. However if people are the government then we are just as responsible for what has happened to our city, our state and our country.

We as environs in San Francisco have watched as our city has become a playground for trust funds and condo owners while squashing the creative and underground scene. "What about the children?"; we hear it all the time. Myself; and most of my friends; were thrown out of your suburban safety nets and sought refuge and community here in this city. It became a refuge where we could gather and create and find family. We are not leaving without an fight and were not going to let an entertainment commission, drunk on it's own power, destroy the world we have worked to create. We am not going to stand silent while our places are taken from us by selfish condo owners who move next to bars and whine until they get their way! That person who moved next to the Cinch and started complaining was only there for one year or less and the Cinch has been a bar SINCE ITS INCEPTION! Anyone who has seen the place in the day knows how old it is! Yet one selfish person can complain and because she has money and isn't a degenerate gay dictates the actions taken. If I wasn't a lady I would have some very choice words for people like that!

So hey policy makers if you are looking for income I have a few suggestions.

1. Decriminalize pot - A projected 1.6 Billion in tax revenue. Not to mention if we let no violent offenders out of jail, pardon them and wipe the slate clean, we could save millions there. Plus we would have more people out of jail serving as farmers helping to stimulate our economy even more.

2. House the homeless - It costs 2 times as much to keep a person on the street. Police, Fire, Sanitation all work over time due to our lack of compassion. The argument that you would "not want one or several of them living by you or your bar (Marlene's)" makes no sense! I hear that people are afraid there will be excrement and needles in their bushes. Who poops on the street when they have a toilet? Would you shoot up in an alley if you had a home? These problems exist because we allow the dignity to be stripped from our fellow man and believe if we shared the wealth there would be less for us. ABSURD! Wake up there isn't any for you unless your an insurance executive and you steal it.

3. Charge Large Car Owners MORE! - More to cross the bridge more to park more for healthcare more for insurance more! we could call it the selfish and heartless tax. The I'm so selfish I have a giant car tax. The I do what I want and I don't care give me some McDonalds so I can throw the containers out the window later because I'm so ignorant tax. The Me Me Me tax. A tax for America.

4. Charge a fee for every menu and club promotional card that litters the street. Make it so people can collect these cards, turn them in and the clubs and restaurants can help the local ecology and community. These invites and menus are not recyclable because they are covered in plastic. This is left all over the sidewalk after a busy night, or in the case of menus wind and rain, and end up in our sewers and the bay and the ocean. We can help people, build community, and help the ecology in 1 foul swoop.

5. Property taxes on Commercial real estate must be raised and the state policy changed. There is a Prop 13 from 1978 that has stripped foreign investors of their responsibility to our community and they used little old ladies to do it. When you house or property is Assessed it is given a fair market value and you pay taxes based on that assessment. In Ca the property taxes were actually going up so fast that elderly did loose housing. Yet here is the down side. The Gate Residence Hotel has had the same owners, investors, who have owned the property since 1978. They pay 2% increase annually since 1978. The rate of inflation is usually 3.5 or higher. Cheep property taxes for prime down town location. The Hotel goes out of the business of being a residency hotel and many poor are out of housing that many have been in as long as the hotel has been around. Now the Hotel is owned by the same people but a new Leaser is found to open a Commercial Hotel, the Infusion Lounge, and a Chinese restaurant. All booming and doing very well. Still owned by the same people. Still only a 2% increase each year for a property assessed as a residence hotel. Get the picture. What do you think the Fairmont pays in property taxes as compared to a new home owner in the city? So why do young couples and singles and the poor not have an easy time staying here and yet foreign investment gets breaks for holding on to property?

6. Tax the Churches. Listen they are making policy, owning vast tracks of land, doing business from their offices, and paying to advertise their views on propositions. Tax them and start treating them like the lobbying groups that they are. The Christian Right and Mormon's have put their hand in deciding law and influencing votes on a national level, why not treat them like any other business. Unfair policies for bigots doesn't wash and neither do the laws that they pay for.

With all that said I would like to remind us that we can change these unjust laws and we can do it soon. The trick is to be responsible and take part and do it. Grass roots still works. Vote, read a paper, get involved and hold people accountable. Hold yourself accountable. That way we can have some other color that brown. We can have a government that works for us not special interest. Wouldn't it be better if we turned off the TV for a second, got off our cell phone, stopped texting on our blackberry and remembered we are part of a world that was happening right here and now? I mean look what's happened since we've been away.

Something Coming

2009-12-13T11:38:00.001-08:00

The very best part of this Holiday is that I am seeing lots of people who I have not seen in some time. I have really been feeling the loss of Charlie Horse because the part that was absolutely the best was seeing the people I loved almost every week. The people of the city that inspired me came out and played and I got to play with them. This Holiday I miss that. Now is the time when we look back on the year and think about what it is that has happened to us and how we have changed. For many of us it was a galvanizing year and one that saw an end to the apathy and an awakening of our spirits. Until last year my drag had mostly been in the clubs; but with the passing of Prop 8 it is in the streets and it's angry and it's not giving up. I have taken what I learned in those bars and started to make it a reality every day. It's the people around me that help me remain free of the shame. It is the spirit of the Compton Riots and Harvey Milk that live in SF that reminds me that We have the power. It is the tranny magic that my sisters share with me, and it has set me free.

This year really owning my voice is a personal triumph. As I have discussed before my parents are ardent anti gay right wing christians. All my life they told me they loved me and that is why they were working so hard to try and understand and save me. They prayed for me. When I released myself from accepting their shame I blossomed. I had been working towards it all my life but this year I know it to be true. I think we as a community have cast off a lot of shame that we have had placed on us by years of conservative oppression and our own apathy. We feel our voices rising again.

I am not really speaking to the general we I am talking about the so called "rebels". The political organizations that I am often fortunate to work with or meet at protests are not doing enough. When I hear people say "we have been working on being a part of society for a hundred or so years and we must have patience", I want to pull my hair out! How can a lesbian woman talk about only 100 years when we have been around for EVER and we have only truly been oppressed as a cross cultural plague in the last 100 years! Has she never heard of Sappho? It is mind boggling to see how gay culture has been so oppressed that even our leaders are fooled by the lies and plead for understanding and patience as people get used to us. Really? Lets be patient while bigotry is voted on state by state and we are held helpless by the courts to "Find a way to get our rights". Is that really what we are being asked? You have got to be shi**ing me. Pardon my french. Besides lets make it real and admit its bigotry not marriage that is the issue. Bigotry is wrong not law! Lets get real!

It is this voice that I am hearing now. This voice that like mine can't quite figure out what the heck is up with this government. A governor who can't find funding for ADAP and hasn't paid a bunch of his own taxes ? It is the voice of the people who are starting to see what oppression by the governing states can be like when they hold our health care ransom so that they can continue to line their pockets on our money. The Health Care issue is the most infuriating issue ever. We the people know that rights should include healthcare and gays and poor people and marijuana users and well everybody. We know this to be the truth. Yet because of special interest and hollow promises by our leaders, we end up with something that is not even for the people any more. It is now to satisfy the "most people"; those most people are actually large corporations run by some of the most selfish self invested people on the face of the planet. War Poverty and Bigotry so that the rich are happy? They want us to be afraid of socialist ideas that may just save our country because they would loose billions. We already use socialist ideas like PUBLIC SCHOOLS! Not that that is a shinning example because for some reason we can't find money for them either. Our collective lives are being flushed down the toilet because of their greed. We also know this isn't right. Now we also know that this is something we can do something about.

I was reading that at the Climate talks in Copenhagen that the US and China hope to reduce emissions like 20% by 2050. Wow. I mean come on. What exactly are we supposed to say to that? "Sorry our country is to selfish to stand up and be counted but we may do something by 2050." No wonder other countries hate us. I think at this rate if we all live to 2050 it would be a miracle.

Or how about a president who was supposed to bring about change. The world believed him so much they gave him an award in his first year that many people who are proven great leaders never get. Yep a hero. A hero who steps up war and says it is just. I don't want to wage war. I don't want a war on drugs. I don't want a war on terror. War is TERROR. I want a government for the people and to stop all the lying and manipulating just to continue in the way we are going. What is so great with the way we are going? The direction must change and very soon. 2050, the thought is frightening! By then we could walk to Australia on all the plastic in the ocean. I think that we realize that this is wrong and our wasteful life style is killing us, giving us cancer, destroying the wildlife and so forth. I think we know that. So why are we fighting a war to gain control of oil and opium in Afghanistan? (Well I get the opium but the oil I'm at a complete loss). Shouldn't we be becoming independent and finding ways to use solar and wind more efficiently? Oh yeah right we are protecting big business interests. How silly of me.

The difference this year is we are starting to ask for accountability. We are seeing the direct correlation of our obsession with the Kardashian's and the fact that our government has been getting away with murder for too long. We are not wearing blinders any longer. Its out there and we are talking about it. Personally I can't believe that the voices of the people who are not tea baggers; nice name dip shits; are not taking over the streets. I remember the day before the war broke out and the city exploded. It just exploded. That day I saw how many people were angry about how things were going. I know that voice is out there and I think this past year we have started to hear it louder and louder. We must use this voice because that is how change is created. There needs to be support for this genesis. The year that we have lived has been; well less that stellar. There have been disappointments in droves; but the good news is we see it and we don't feel helpless any more. I am hopeful for the year ahead. I am plugging into my Ravonettes CD, casting off shame, and moving into 2010 determined as hell! Last year I had Charlie Horse stolen from me so this year its out of the bar into.......

Cannabis

2009-12-11T08:28:00.001-08:00

This past night my eyes were opened by a group of people who spoke of charity and compassion and really meant it. I know they meant it because they were actually doing something about creating this compassion. It was different from the meet and greets that I had experience so fat in my 2 weeks on the campaign trail. Although the stunning revelation that the people with the least to loss and the most to gain has always been apparent in politics. Suffragist, people of color, gay and lesbians, immigrants all groups fighting to find a place in society where their voices can be heard. I thought I knew what these well scrubbed voices looked like but I am coming to find that I do not know what they look like and I had no idea who was really doing the work behind the machine.

Every meet and greet that I go to are the legions of unscrubbed, unhoused, unsung heros of the street that are placing their lives in the hands of the powers that be so they can advocate for their lives. It is not the beautiful perfect smiles of faces warmed in large homes or even the young in college that I see in these meetings. Sure there are some of those faces scattered amongst the crowds; but it the limbless and those without teeth or a place to live that are out there every day making the world a better place for you and I to be a part of. These people with nothing are finding within themselves the great compassion to put themselves last when they are the ones who suffer the most. Thank you Elise Conners for opening my eyes to the organization Compassion Behind Bars. Imagine the rehabilitation of repeat offenders if all our efforts were created and carried our with compassion instead of hate and fear and apathy for the men and women incarcerated in our institutions. I think the outcome would be different. I think we could have greater success returning these misunderstood people to society. I do not advocate giving everyone in jail cannabis but from someone who has recovered from having 11 t cells and being on the brink of death how medical cannabis help regain my appetite, eased my pain and anxiety, and gave me rest when there was no chance of these things before its use. It allowed me to stand the harsh regiment of antibiotics and pills by keeping my stomach at ease as I made my recovery. This was only 7 or 8 short years ago and look at me now. Healthy and vital.

At the Harvey Milk Cannabis Town Meeting I met a black woman who is shy and withdrawn to meet nut has created an entire program that takes medical cannabis to 10 non violent offenders behind bars in San Quentin. This heavy set woman with a number of disabilities herself battled the legal system time and time again to take these non violent offenders who could not eat or sleep due to the ravages of HIV medicinal cannabis so that their lives would be better. A woman who appears on the outside as frail and encumbered by her own hardships in life has found the passion and compassion to step up and speak out and make a change.

Last night at the Harvey Milk Cannabis Town Meeting the stories that Dr Mike Aldridge and his wife who talked about the connection between gat rights and cannabis rights. In 1972 the first bill was placed on the table stating " No person over the age of 18 should be arrested for growing, selling, or possessing marijuana." It was in 1972 that this law was put on a ballot measure. It lost 33 to 65 but it had gained a new and soon to be powerful mans attention. Harvey Milk took up the call for legalizing cannabis and was very close to putting it up for a vote with Mayor Moscone and other powerful SF politicians; in the forms of Prop W and Prop 215, when both men were shot and killed. Dianne Feinstein who became mayor after their deaths killed these initiatives and scrapped along with it many other forward thinking measures like need exchange and compassionate care. It some or all of those measures had passed I wonder now how many fewer people would have contracted HIV due to dirty needles, ability to eat on harsh medicine, and get the rest so needed when it was needed and in a natural holistic way.

The continued struggle to show people who suffer from chronic pain, HIV, and many many other debilitating diseases, is being led by AXIS of Love, Champs,Lynn's Compassionate Co-Op ( Started by Elmar Lynn and his partner who would die of HIV and Hep C complications but before they did started compassionately sharing their home grown medicine with members of their hospice helping us all to realize the benefit of medicinal cannabis),WAMM, MediCann, and many other such organizations is beautiful to see. Its not about getting high and recreational use, instead about compassion for those who suffer.

For many in this day of politics toady the bottom line is what is most important. The figures of CA State deficit are looking at over 10 Billion in shortages. These shortages could cause more people to go homeless as jobs become more scarce and the price of housing continues to rise. More and more people with HIV and other catastrophic health concerns will go without medicine and proper care. Hospitals will be forced to close and may not have access to medicines for the people in their care. The middle class will be whipped out and forced to scrounge to keep their families a float. In San Francisco and Oakland through tireless courage and compassion regulated marijuana has created hope and revenue. AB390 will regulate its sale state wide. This is needed because there are places like LA and San Diego that without regulations create grey areas that undermine the work of advocates and growers across the country. Tom Ammiano has been championing this cause and here in SF we are seeing that regulation can and does work.

This bill, AB390 is coming up for a vote and two women in the bay area have the power to help it pass. Please contact the offices of Fiona Ma and Nancy Skinner to help get AB390 through the State Assembly . This bill will regulate the sale, growth and possession of marijuana in the state of California. Also this bill is thought to raise at least 1.3 billion dollars for the state coffers. Where is the state going to find some of its money to balance the budget from some of the most compassionate people on the planet, marijuana growers, distributers and the doctors who believe in its medicinal use. Cannabis can save lives, ease pain and create revenue for our already troubled state. Pot may very well be the miracle needed to save more lives than just its users.