Supervisor and mayoral candidate John Avalos led a convoy of low-riders through San Francisco Saturday as part of a visibility campaign in the run up to the November 8th election. Photos by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
October 9, 2011
With just one month to go before San Francisco voters decide who will be their next mayor, the campaign to elect Supervisor John Avalos fielded under clear Fleet Week blue skies yesterday a blitz of campaign activity and visibility throughout the city.
Dubbed “Everywhere for Avalos Day,” dozens of eye-catching and head-turning spectacles were simultaneously coordinated across the city in an effort to garner increased support for Avalos, a staunch progressive whose endorsements include the Democratic Party, San Francisco Tenants Union, California Nurses Association, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the largest public employee union, SEIU 1021, Coleman Action Fund, United Educators of San Francisco, American Federation of Teachers, Sierra Club and the League of Young Voters, among others.
“Everywhere for Avalos Day was a highly successfully and truly unprecedented campaign event,” said Andy Blue, a campaign volunteer and event brain child. “Nearly 50 fun and unique mini-events took place in every district in the city, all conceived, created and hosted by Avalos supporters. We think Everywhere for Avalos Day really reflected what this campaign is about and what John as a candidate is about.”
“Increasingly, candidates in this city are relying on the one-way conversation of advertisements and mail pieces to get their message out,” Blue added. “This one-way conversation is often artificial and too often funded by corporations and wealthy individuals who don’t have regular people’s interests at heart and whose values don’t reflect the values of this city. But this campaign has always been primarily about one-on-one conversations and community engagement.”
The coordinated events included kite flying on Marina Green led by showman/author Chicken John Rinaldi, a swim in Aquatic Park with former Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, a bicycle ride through the “Wiggle” and other parts of the city, a dance party in the Panhandle organized by the League of Young Voters, a colorful convoy of low-riders that paraded through the Mission, the Castro and Haight districts, as well as neighborhood-based events including lemonade and cookie stands.
Avalos supporters join Democratic Party Chair and former Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin for a swin in Aquatic Park. Photo by Olivier Bonin.
“Everywhere for Avalos was brain child of Andy Blue, an idea that was picked up by scores of people around the city in the form of lemonade stands, dances, stoop gatherings and flight contests all in the name of the Avalos campaign,” Avalos told FCJ. “Overall, we wanted to have a fun way to show our broad support and increase visibility.”
Asked what were the general reactions he received from onlookers, Avalos said, “The overall response was great. We created spectacles to draw people in and associate our campaign with the spectacle. When the candidate is waving from a 51 Chevy low-rider, it’s hard not too wave back.”
San Franciscans couldn't help but get jiggy with the commotion.
“We also wanted to showcase our campaign as a campaign of everyday people and the creative folks who breathe life into this city. We had real people doing everyday activities like yard sales, croquet, swimming – all supporting the campaign,” Avalos added. “We covered every district. I personally went through Bayview, where I attended a street revival; Bernal Heights, where I scarfed down bake sale cookies and brownies, and we rode through the Mission, Dolores Park, Castro, panhandle and lower Haight in the low-rider caravan.”
Fog City Journal enjoined the low-rider convoy at 24th and Mission streets where just about everyone in the immediate vicinity of the caravan couldn’t help but take notice. How could they not? There were colorfully adorned Lucha Libre caped and masked campaign volunteers dancing in the streets, hip-hop music blaring from a convertible cherry red Chevy Impala and bicyclists clad in orange and black Avalos campaign signage riding alongside the slow moving caravan.
And as the caravan crept along through the bustling streets, passersby waved, smiled and looked on in amazement and bemusement while campaign volunteers handed out Avalos literature to create a lasting impression and connection with residents and voters.
More Photos
Avalos poses for a photo with campaign volunteers adorned in Lucha Libre garb at Dolores Park.
Avalos does the Pogo dance at Dolores Park.
Avalos pitches his candidacy and campaign to sun lovers at Dolores Park.
Avalos turns heads in The Castro.
Scoopmeister Gerry Shih providing coverage for The Bay Citizen online newspaper.
Sharing a ride with Mission Local photographer Nilanjan Nag and Mission Local reporter Matt Sarnecki.
El Salvador-born, Jose, owns a successful trucking company. He loves Chevy Impala's so much, he has five of them, all fully restored - and has won several awards for his creations.
Gals for Avalos.
The low-rider convoy makes a pit-stop in The Castro.
A gorgeous paint job.
Avalos campaign manager, Raquel Redondiez.
Avalos joins up with a dance party in the Panhandle organized by the League of Young Voters.
Supervisor and mayoral candidate John Avalos.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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October 11, 2011 at 11:47 am
Eric – The dynamics of this election are: Ed Lee is polling over 30% first choice votes, figure another 5-10% of 2nd and 3rd choices. That gives him at least 35% last man standing votes.
Nobody else in that crowded field will crack 25% with their blended rank choices.
In theory, the candidates could unite for a 2nd choice campaign for one candidate. Have you see anything like that happening or likely to happen?
October 10, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@ George – You are not thinking about the dynamics of ranked choice voting. Lee’s opponents are not splitting anything as long as we get voters to effectively use ranked choice.
October 10, 2011 at 12:25 pm
It used to be that the city machine was the DCCC (when it was run by the Burtons, and later, Willie Brown). What georgedavis wrote is more evidence of the demise of the DCCC under Aaron Peskin. Ed Lee did indeed lie to the BOS, but I believe his current rise mirrors the growing political clout of moderate to conservative Asian voters in SF, as well as a dilution of progressive influence caused by having so many candidates vie for progressive votes. If Avalos’ best idea is a city-funded bank, he is going nowhere fast. So I guess it was appropriate that he rides in a low-rider, and isn’t in a hurry. By the way, how many events did John attend in the Sunset and Richmond?
October 10, 2011 at 9:34 am
This would have been a very exciting mayoral race if Ed Lee and the “City Machine” didn’t go back on the promises not to run in this election. Theere are just too many experienced politicians running that will split the non-Machine vote. Too bad.
October 10, 2011 at 7:45 am
This just in,
Not to steal form John’s glory cause he deserves it all but I think he and Jeff Adachi’s fates are intertwined whether they like it or not. Reminds me of Matt and Angela in the 2003 General Election. I believe Matt beat her 19% to 17% and with Newsom at 41% went on to gain 30 points (I think he wuz robbed and actually picked up around 40) …
Point is that neither of them could have been competitive unless the other was in the race. They shared a common Progressive base but from different people if you understand what I’m saying.
I think that Adachi and Avalos should endorse one another for #2 on the ticket and campaign arm in arm for the last 30 days of the campaign. They’ll both be stronger for it and the Progressive movement along with them.
This morning’s Chron candidate interview with Jeff …
boys and girls,
Heather Knight captured the soul of
Jeff Adachi in an amazing interview in this
morning’s Chron.
Here it be …
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/10/BATG1LDALK.DTL
go Niners!
October 10, 2011 at 2:29 am
Kudos to Andy Blue!
Easily the best organizer in town now. The Niners won big looking like the team of old. The Blue Angels must have been coming in higher cause they weren’t as loud. It was a day filled with joy. Progressives know how to party.
Adachi for Mayor!
Avalos for Mayor!
Baum for Mayor!
Hall for Mayor!
Miyamoto for Sheriff!
Gascon for DA!
Go Niners!
h.
October 9, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Great pics. I hope he’ll put out some info soon re this public hearing, on October 24th, re the municipal bank proposal finally on the table thanks to the backlash against the bank bailout heist.