Letters are selected representative of a viewpoint.
Fog City Journal will publish no more than two point-counter points
on the same issue from the same writers.

Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.
Please include the city and state where you live.

Email letters to: editor@fogcityjournal.com

Naming the sewage plant

Dear Editor,

A sewage plant, when properly sited, built, equipped, crewed and maintained, cleans foul material. Contrast this with industrial practices that have rendered our air, water and soil less hospitable — foul deeds permitted, even encouraged, by the policies of the Cheney-Bush administration. For that reason, naming a planned sewage plant after George W. Bush, as is proposed in a measure to go before San Francisco voters in November, is a bad idea.

Gino Rembetes
Northern California
July 13, 2008

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PTSD article - Letter of Correction

Dear Editor,

We appreciated your piece “Anti-PTSD Email and Senate Testimony Accepted in VCS v. Nicholson and the anti-PTSD Email” in Lawyers for Warriors (June 14) but wanted to note an incorrect attribution about suicide numbers to RAND.

Our study did not report those numbers. Our report (on PTSD and depression) was released around the same time in April that there was a lot of media attention around internal tracking of suicide attempts by the VA.

We would appreciate if you might publish a correction.

Many thanks,

Jessica Goldings, Media Relations Coordinator
The RAND Corporation
Arlington, VA
June 30, 2008

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Health Care

Editor,

Thousands will demonstrate for Single Payer Healthcare at noon today, June 19, at the insurance companies’ national convention at San Francisco’s Moscone West, 4th and Howard Streets. I will not be there, but you should be.

I am just home again after open heart surgery. After discharge, a Home Health nurse visited, checked me, my many medicines, and my living arrangements. In so doing, he caught a serious leg infection and a possible stroke risk. I was lucky. Yet thousands of SF Health Department patients risk loss of home health services because of the mayor’s budget cuts.

We need EQUAL healthcare for all. This is only achievable through Single Payer healthcare: equal, comprehensive, accessible, low-cost healthcare for all. It would be delivered by today’s doctors, clinics, and hospitals, but paid for through a single, publicly-accountable, State agency, saving billions each year by eliminating insurance companies. It’s SB 840 in California and HR 676 nationally.

Michael Lyon
San Francisco
June 19, 2008

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Thank You!

Dear Editor,

I really appreciate the support FCJ leant to the campaign for Prop F and against Prop G in the recent election. Outspent literally 400,000 to 1, FCJ was a critical avenue through which the community’s voice could be presented to the public, while failing to compete in a media market generally dominated by dollars and cents. With the more conservative message being broadcast and printed so loudly and blatantly in other mediums, it’s reassuring that publications like yours are out there peeking under the wizards’ curtains.

Respectfully,

Chris Cassidy, UC Hastings
June 6, 2008

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Impeachment Play

Dear Editor,

I recently saw the play “The Impeachment Trial of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney.” It’s been produced as part of Shirley Golub’s campaign against Rep. Nancy Pelosi in this Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

And if Pelosi wins as expected, Cindy Sheehan’s team might want to consider using a shortened and reorganized version of the play in their effort to unseat the incumbent in November.

The play’s messages come across most starkly in the latter (and better) act, when the Pelosi and President Bush characters testify: Yes, Bush and Cheney should face impeachment for lying to Congress and the people, for savaging the Constitution and for flouting international law; at the same time, Congressional leaders, including Pelosi, have been complicit in the Bush reich’s foul deeds.

Predictably, Bush’s testimony comes last. But if the play is to help Sheehan’s cause, more emphasis on Pelosi’s failings is needed. So to anyone connected with the play who’s reading this letter, I respectfully suggest putting her appearance after Bush’s and lengthening it. That wouldn’t be difficult; call into her question her record not only as House minority leader and then speaker but also as D8 representative — for instance, her influence-peddling in creating the public-private trust that is making the Presidio safe for developers.

Gino Rembetes
Somewhere in Northern California
June 1, 2008

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The Elephant in West Virginia

Dear Editor,

Obama supporters complain because race is too much of an issue in this election. But then, they accuse anyone who doesn’t vote for Obama of racism.

West Virginia is a backward state. That’s just a fact. But it seems ironic that all of those self righteous, self congratulatory Obama supporters who pride themselves on their displaying their tolerance on their sleeves, have no qualms about hurling the most negative slurs imaginable at the people of West Virginia. It would also help if people could observe how the media operate here in West Virginia. If they did, they would be ashamed of themselves.

We, in West Virginia, call media portrayals the “racoon on the barn door” treatment. The media comes here and hunts down the worst stereotypes they can find. This usual involves some, tobacco chewing, unshaven fat slob in a pair of overalls who’s standing in front of a barn that has a racoon hide nailed on the side.

During this election, the media didn’t go to the bigger or the affluent areas of West Virginia. They went to southwestern West Virginia. They went to a part of even we West Virginians don’t even like to go to - Mingo County. The media must have interviewed dozens of people to get the ones who said what they wanted to hear. And they of course got it. They always do.

Another thing about the media is, they don’t come here unless it’s a stereotype reinforcing story. The media recently descended on Logan County when they thought there had been a racial crime. The story was reported as that of a young black woman held hostage by a group of white racists. When it turned out the “victim” had been almost living, voluntarily with her “abductors” for more than a year and was in a sexual relationship with one of them, the media left. They also didn’t report it when it turned out the victim was charged with several felonies, and that her “mother”, who adopted the young woman to receive government benefits, routinely allowed the girl to dissapear for days and weeks at a time. The media also didn’t report that several people in the community of Logan had tried to help the girl and get her out of there, but she wouldn’t go. It was finally a concerned citizen in Logan who called the police to check on her, and that’s when the story broke.

It’s painful when something like the media attack on West Virginia happens. For some reason, the people of West Virginia are exempt from common human decency because we are perceived as racist white trash. I used to live in San Francisco years ago. It’s a great city. But despite the media portrayal of West Virginia, it does have a certain quality of life I’ve never found anywhere else, and that’s why I chose to return and live my life out her.

I would hope that people would be smart enough to know how truly irresponsible the media is, and not think that just because West Virginia voted for the most qualified candidate, we’re a bunch of racists, toothless, gun toting, characters off of Deliverance.

Kim Pettry
Charleston, W.Va.
May 15, 2008

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San Francisco Crime Data

Dear Editor,

My company, SpotCrime.com, has been assembling crime incident data throughout the United States for the last five months. By the end of May, we will have amassed over 1 million incidents from Baltimore to Los Angeles.

We applaud San Francisco’s move to a new mapping system for its citizens, but would like to request that the data is made available to everyone.

Once the data has been prepared for one mapping system, it is our contention that it is easily distributed to anyone who wants it. Similar programs are under way in Oakland, Dallas and DC.

Under the open format, multiple companies, including SpotCrime.com, are taking the data and mapping it. This is done at no cost to the City. SpotCrime.com is already sharing its data with Google and Facebook, and has recently produced an iPhone application bringing crime data information to three of the most ubiquitous platforms used today.

I’m a firm believer that making this type of crime information easily available to the public can empower city residents. In addition to the increased understanding about crime in the city, it is my hope that presenting the information on an easy to use google map creates positive unintended consequences and ultimately increases the safety in our cities.

Sincerely,

Colin Drane, President SpotCrime.com
May 13, 2008

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War

Dear Editor,

In regards to Cindy Sheehan, war is not an impeachable offense. Nobody complained when Pearl harbor got bombed and we went to war then just like we did when those satanic muslims murdered 3000 people on our soil. Whoever says that Islam is a peaceful religion is lying. Islam is a violent religion. Nobody complained when we dropped the atomic bomb on Japan and left Berlin in flames. Stop complaining about Iraq now! Iraq harbored Al Qaeda. We will make no distinctions between the terrorists and those who harbor them. As soon as they set up an American Embassy will top security, the troops will come home for good.

Cindy Sheehan does not know anything. She wasn’t around when Pearl Harbor got bombed. She does not understand that the 9-11 attacks had the same effects on us and we had do go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq to avenge 3000 murders. We will win when every last Muslim that is in Al Qeada is killed.

Kirk Michael
Memphis, Tn.
March 28, 200

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Shock at our government’s lack of imagination;
Awe at the potential power of nonviolence

Dear Mr. Anderson,

First of all, I am not “labeling” the die-in that took place. I am shedding light on what it actually is, in its essence.

But you are right about one thing: that it likely doesn’t seem sensible to Americans as long as they are in the dark about their own history.

During the Vietnam war, one reason more people engaged in this manner was because they had just witnessed the effectiveness of the Civil Rights Movement, and how it was won. Nonviolent action didn’t seem so exotic back then.

But people forget. Had MLK lived longer, there’s no doubt he would have exerted an even stronger influence on the citizens of this country.

And we are indeed fighting car bombers and suicide bombers precisely because we are a foreign occupier in a country that doesn’t need us! Need I remind you of the false pretexts for entering this war, notwithstanding the toppling of Saddam, which in and of itself was a positive occurrence, though whose responsibility that was is debatable, as well as the means in which it was achieved.

If you want to persist in seeing nonviolent action simply as a “screwing up of traffic”—so be it.

I know better and am working to institutionalize this knowledge in all its realms—from the personal to the political—through organizations such as thepeacealliance.org.

Labeling is divisive and it is you who label by calling a community-supported radio station such as KPFA a source of “anti-American” opinion, inferring the same for those voices of soldiers fighting in your name who dare to speak the truth, as they did at the Winter Soldier Hearings of 1971.

We are a culture steeped in violence, and violence is reflected in the language that we use, as well as our actions. I have only to look at the title of your original missive of March 21 to see an example of that, alas.

Voting is important, I agree. But even that endeavor has succumbed to a shamefully low participation rate.

People need to wake up to their own power and vote—yes—but I am not going to put down that sleeping giant that goes by the name of nonviolence. I know too much.

All the best,

Daniele Erville
San Francisco
March 27, 2008

Nonviolence doesn’t make it okay

Dear Daniele,

Labeling your disruption of downtown traffic as a nonviolent action in the tradition of Gandhi and MLK is not enough to make it seem sensible to even a majority of San Franciscans, let alone a majority of Americans. Nonviolence isn’t a particularly effective tactic when fighting car bombers and suicide bombers, as we are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Voting on election day is the most effective nonviolent action I know of. Most Americans now oppose the war in Iraq, but that doesn’t mean they support screwing up traffic in their communities to express that opposition, especially if their communities, like ours, are awash in red ink. Nor do I find citing KPFA and other sources of anti-American opinion particularly convincing.

Regards,

Rob Anderson
March 25, 2008

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Response to Rob Anderson

Dear Rob Anderson,

Allow me to make the connection for you: When 3 trillion dollars have been spent on an immoral, unjust war - money that could have been used domestically towards more constructive ends, to say the least - that, for me anyway, trumps any diverting of our police for a day.

And this “disrupting the normal flow of traffic in San Francisco?” This is a form of nonviolent action designed indeed to “stop business as usual.” Read up on Gandhi, read up on MLK, and you will be reminded of its wherefore and why.

Even though 70 percent of Americans oppose this war, it is a disgrace that we are so removed from its reality thanks to a mass media that shows us nothing. Case in point: the recent Winter Soldier Hearings, where active duty Iraqi war servicemen and women and veterans testified to the ongoing atrocities committed in our name, stories so many of them said could be multiplied 100’s of times over as their stories are the stories of so many of their fellow soldiers.

Who carried the story? Only independent media - again check out kpfa.org to wake yourself up. Listen to shows like Democracy Now airing twice, for your convenience, every weekday morning on 94.1 fm.

I submit to you, and anyone else who is outraged by this war (even if you, Rob Anderson, are not), that if people were taught the potential power of nonviolence, if they took it upon themselves to learn about non-violent protests as the powerful tool that it is, we (the people) could end this war.

Imagine if there had been hundreds of people lying in the streets (a symbolic act to convey the thousands of lives lost in this war) all across this country instead of the 40 or so who were with me last week. Do you think the police would even bother to arrest us?

All I can do is tell you how I see things, and share with you what I’ve learned.

To hear those brave soldiers tell their stories, go to: http://warcomeshome.org/node

To get some knowledge of what nonviolence really is, here’s a place you can go: http://www.mettacenter.org/?page_id=25

And here’s a wonderful book you can read, the one that first opened my eyes to the power people don’t even realize they have: Is There No Other Way? The Search for a Nonviolent Future by Michael Nagler (he is the founder of UC Berkeley’s Peace and Conflict Studies Program).

Sincerely,

Daniele Erville
San Francisco
March 25, 2008

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Reply to Brian Wallace

Mr. Wallace,

I attacked Thigpen because she used the pen name ‘SF Sweetie’ on the chat boards ‘Junto’ and ‘the Wall’ to slander Jim Meko and Marc Salomon. I protect my friends and family. She made some of the most outrageously homophobic statements I’ve read in the SF media. She went on to stab her best friend, Heidi Machen in the back and take her job at the Taxi Commission.

Is that enough for you? And, she’s doing all this in preparation for a run for D6 supe.

She’s a right-wing Republican who keeps running for posts as a Democrat. Say hello to Uncle Miltie for me too.

h. brown
San Francisco
March 24, 2008

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h. brown’s most recent article

Dear Editor,

In a recent column by h.brown, “Supervisors Chu and Elsbernd support Chinese government oppression,” he writes, “the cold cruel flat stare of Supervisor Carmen Chu (D-4 appointee a heartless racist),” in referring to one of your photographs.

Okay, h.brown thinks Ms. Chu is a racist due to her not supporting Supervisor Chris Daly’s resolution concerning the Olympic torch and language condemning the Chinese government. I don’t necessarily buy that argument but I can understand his sentiment to some degree.

But later, during a morning session of the Rules Committee, h.brown refers to a woman “seeking to replace the ever-homophobic Jordanna Thigpen on the Small Business Commission,” yet provides no proof or evidence to back up that charge. Is Ms. Thigpen homophobic based on her Small Business Commission track record? Is this something h.brown overheard someone say or read posted on a blog?

Mr. Thomas, if you’re going to allow Fog City Journal writers to smear a person’s good name at least require them to back it up with facts. I understand a journal writer having the right to free speech but an editor should exhibit some semblance of control over what is said in his publication.

Brian Wallace
San Francisco
March 24, 2008

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Who’s the enemy?

Editor:

The city is facing a $300 million deficit, so anti-war protesters disrupt downtown traffic and divert hundreds of city cops from their normal duties to overtime pay to deal with the disruptions. Hard to see any logical connection between the war in Iraq and disrupting the normal flow of traffic in San Francisco.

Rob Anderson
San Francisco
March 21, 2008

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Third Party Ticket

Dear Editor,

I must agree with the well-written arguments Danielle Erville puts forth on the third party candidacy of Nader/Gonzalez. As voters we have been compromised and mislead; as citizens looking at the 2000 election we can only really identify it as a Supreme Court - fashioned coup. We rely on a system that serves political party over we the people. This situation is sui generis and that breeds reactionary responses (and toward Nader/ Gonzalez specifically incredible vitriol) instead of tempered, measured, informed investigation as to how continued reintroduction of third party candidacies can and will serve us.

I applaud the Nader/Gonzalez ticket.

Lisa Moresco
Noe Valley
March 6, 2008

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If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again…

Dear Editor,

These are words of wisdom, if the cause is a noble one. I will try to make the case why this is true for Nader, and that his pick of Gonzalez as running mate was inspired.

First, let me say that like many, I’ve been impressed with Obama. As someone who has studied non-violence and the writings of MLK Jr, I see in Obama the embodiment of non violent principles, and this, I think, is a big part of his appeal. Whether his voting record is stellar or not in the eyes of “progressivism”, the wisdom inherent in a genuine understanding of non-violence counts a lot for this voter. Obama seems to have it in spades.

That said, though, Nader’s values are sound and in alignment with what many (including myself) are feeling. What people don’t understand is that the anger they feel towards Ralph is misdirected: In a democracy, the bare fact of someone’s candidacy can never be at fault- standing up for what you believe is what democracies are supposed to foster, after all…But if, in fact, the support of candidate “a” amounts to the possibility of an unintended boost for a diametrically opposed candidate “c”–then that’s a sure sign that the system’s at fault–not the candidate.

What most Americans are oblivious to is the fact that the system could be reformed so that the above scenario might never again take place. This is what electoral reform is all about, this is where the anger should be channeled, and this is what Matt wants to shed some light on (among other things). I applaud him for it.

I always thought that any bumper sticker for Nader should have on it by necessity the words electoral reform. Because without the understanding of the latter, what Nader represents can never truly be appreciated or assimilated by the people–and rightly (but lamentably) so!

One could even argue that the current system itself promotes a form of violence in the sense that it prompts well-meaning people to attack a candidate and forces the candidate to defend his or her mere existence!

So let Matt do what he does best and have his role in enlightening the citizenry in this most foundational and heretofore invisible but pivotal of problems. If he can open people’s eyes to it–as he has mine–if he can open the door nationally as he did locally to implementing Instant Runoff Voting (the cure for the mis-characterized “spoiler” effect)–it’ll be a turning point in our country’s capacity for meaningful change.

Daniele Erville
San Francisco
March 1, 2008

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Great publication!

Dear Editor,

I just stumbled onto your publication and I thought I’d take a second to complement you. Besides the content, which is excellent, what literally caught my eye were the pictures. I am super-visual and appreciate the hi-quality photography associated with the writing.

Thanks for a great publication.

Julian Metcalf
San Francisco
February 25, 2008

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On Zoo’s in general

Dear Editor,

Don’t get me wrong, I love animals. I gave one a get-of-jail-card-free and a loving home, a job to do that he loves and the ability to be with me 24/7/365.

But, zoo’s are not great places for wild animals who are designed by nature to be roaming in environments designed for them by nature. Zoo’s are unnatural places. While I hear the call for some animals that cannot be returned to the wild to be held in captivity, there are better places like preserves that are more conducive for a more healthier lifestyle and longer, less stressful life. If anything, animal parks are far better places, though I’d rather see them returned from whence they came.

My heart goes out to the families and spirits that are affected by this incident and the incredulous reactions by the zoo and other officials. If zoo workers were allowed to carry tranquilizer devices to subdue these events, maybe, just maybe there would be a life spared here. No animal should be put to death for being just what they are innately after having been placed in such contrivances as a zoo for all to gawk at.

We can garner far better insight by folks who do far less harm to animals on film in the wild, in their own habitats than we can through the bars of a cage. Also, are these animals really getting the exercise they need to stay in optimum health? I know on days that Charlie (my dog) doesn’t get to go and play with his friends, it affects his health and well being. While we all spend gobs of dollars at gyms and health clubs, too, a little exercise each day at maximum ability for any animal goes a long way at preserving their health, happiness and longevity.

We have enough jails in this world. While we get to walk around aimlessly through a contrived park, animals are caged in less than ample quarters relieved or muted of their natural instincts until they snap back like a rubber band. Think about that on myriad, mezzo and micro levels in all corners of life.

This tiger was acting as it should, like a tiger, like any animal caged and prohibited of its natural habitat and instincts. Do you think this tiger’s innate being likes SF weather? I doubt it unless he/she came from the Himalayas. Why should we force a wild animal to live in an unnatural place with a concrete walls and bars among a few shrubberies?

So, instead of us spending time gawking at animals behind bars, let’s help them live and be free in the wild, and work to preserve their species and natural habitats by *closing this zoo* and returning these animals to places more conducive to their natual existeence, where they may live their lives in peace and tranquility with proper protection so they are not used as trophies or food.

There are so few left.

Bruce Wolfe
San Francisco
December 30, 2007

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Bhutto vs. the SF Zoo

Dear Editor,

Though very tragic and deplorable, I think that the fact that a zoo’s negligence is receiving about as much press coverage as the assasination of Benazir Bhutto, suggests that some peoples’ priorities are out of whack.

Matt Stewart
Palo Alto
December 30, 2007

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Carlos Sousa Jr.

Dear Editor,

No, a “rotting dead tiger” is not what this story is all about. It is about the tragic, untimely death of a 17-year-old on Christmas Day. I do not think FCJ or any other media outlet is covering the story to an unwarranted excess.

As a parent, I cannot stop thinking about this tragedy and how outrageous it is that the zoo did not take effective measures to prevent this attack from occurring.

My deepest sympathies are with the Sousa family and I think this is an important story!

Thank you for your coverage. For San Francisco families, who want to take their children to a zoo, this is an important story.

Tami Bryant
San Francisco
December 30, 2007

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A Rotting Dead Tiger is Still News?

Dear Editor,

ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! ENOUGH WITH THE DEAD TIGER STORIES ALREADY!!! The mainstream press has pretty much got this sensationalist non-issue saturated and that is to be expected from trash like them. But COME ON, Luke, the recycled BCN news releases on this topic are getting pretty old right about now.

Matt Stewart
Palo Alto
December 29, 2007

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Fog City’s cheesecake photos

Fog City’s daily cheesecake photos of Elaine Santore just keep getting better and better. Keep ‘em coming.

She’s hot stuff. I enjoy them myself.

Ann Garrison
San Francisco
December 24, 2007

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Health insurance companies are getting away with murder

Dear Editor,

I noticed the Chronicle forgot this story maybe because it happened too far away to cover it. Maybe, shopping was more important for their reporters.

Nataline Sarkiysan was a 17 year-old young woman who had leukemia in Los Angeles. Having worked at UCSF on the 11Th floor of a cancer ward that did bone marrow transplants, I can tell you how minutes, not hours nor weeks, can mean a patient’s life if a doctor or a nurse doesn’t do their job. Between the lack of platelets that control bleeding, red blood cells that give nourishing oxygen and finally, the white cells that prevent infection, patient’s and their families go through hell to survive and win over this nasty, god-awful disease. A bone-marrow transplant saved Nataline’s life before, now it was her liver that was failing. She had a good chance of surviving with a new liver.

Last week, I got an e-mail to call CIGNA, the health insurance giant. Her doctors wrote a letter to CIGNA on December 11th and a week later, had denied it as “experimental”. That’s a common excuse used by insurers to not give you care. Not taking no for an answer, her nurses of CNA/NNOC organized a protest.

The community and Nataline’s family did these protests on line, on the phone and as a last resort, outside UCLA last Thursday to pressure CIGNA to change its mind on the denial. You can see the You-tube video on line on the CNA website.

It worked and CIGNA reversed course and authorized the transplant. But for Nataline, it was a little too late and she passed in her sleep at 6 pm the same day.

I am not trying to ruin people’s holiday season with this sad story. Nataline could have been save, but not by our current system that allows health insurance companies to get away with murder. If Nataline’s death has any meaning it will be that bills, like the one hastily passed by our so-called leaders in the Assembly on Monday, never see the light of day. The Nunez-Schwarzenegger bill isn’t Medicare for all, single-payer. It forces people who have no money to buy health insurance like CIGNA and will be paid for by taxes including at least 1 billion dollars from the public sector. It’s a gift to the health insurance industry who will see their profits rise and our lives put on the line like Nataline.

Next year, I am told, will be the year of health care reform in California and our nation. I hope for the next Nataline, they will be right. Maybe, we can finally have a system that allows doctors, nurses and above all patient’s and their families the ability to make their own medical decisions without insurance companies eying their bottom lines first. Anything less is unacceptable, ethically challenged and down right wrong.

Thank you,

Nancy Lewis, RN FNP
San Francisco
December 23, 2007

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Holiday Treat Throwdown

Dear Editor,

Thanks so much for including our little soiree in FCJ. The pictures are fantastic and the captions are hilarious!

Thanks for coming!

Cammy Blackstone
Legislative Aide, Office of Supervisor Sean Elsbernd
December 20, 2007

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Pat Guintos passed away after last stand in support of HR 676

Dear Editor,

My name is James Keys and I am the new Health Program Director for Senior Action Network. The rally held at the Federal Building, on December 13, 2007, was organized by me and the SAN Health Committee.

Your comprehensive coverage of our event and the full amount of information printed regarding “House Resolution Bill 676” provides a clear and concise “snapshot” of what millions of people are crying out for, less expensive and quality healthcare.

We invited a representative from Congresswoman Nancy Peolsi’s office to listen to our speakers, yet the “cool” response I received on the phone did not assure me anyone from that office would be in attendance.

Many people, seniors, disabled, healthy, young, etcetera have worked and fought very hard for a “single-payer” universal healthcare plan. Too much of the money spent on healthcare goes to administrative costs. People are paying 31 cents of every dollar to have an administrative person shuffle papers around. That money could be put to better use. Single-payer would eliminate the “excess” steps and direct monies to providing better healthcare. Yet that would make a lot of insurance companies angry.

And finally, if you look at the photograph of Kay McVay, President Emeritus of the California Nurses Association, you will see Barbara Blong, Executive Director of Senior Action Network and behind her is Ms. Pat Guintos. Ms. Guintos told Barbara that she “was cold, yet she would stay with her at the rally because healthcare was so important.”

Ms. Guintos passed away Saturday night. She will always be remembered and loved. She left us standing up for what she believed in.

Thank you for the article and photographs.

James Keys
Health Program Director
Senior Action Network
December 18, 2007

Editor’s Note: We are sorry to read your news of Ms. Guintos’ passing. Ms. Guintos’ memory will now be inextricably linked to the final stand she took in support of the very health care legislation that may have saved her life, and the lives of millions of Americans who cannot wait until January 2009 to receive the health care they need today.

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The Bicycle Plan

Dear Editor,

The reason the environmental impact report on the Bicycle Plan is being delayed is that those responsible for actually writing the report understand what we have been saying for almost three years: The 460-page Bicycle Plan is a huge project that affects hundreds of city streets, which means the EIR must also be a comprehensive document that does justice to the scope of the Plan. If, as we urged at the time, the city had done an EIR in the first place, the city’s bike people wouldn’t be facing this problem. On the other hand, if the city had done an EIR in the beginning—instead of trying to sneak it through the process—the people of the city would have learned even sooner what the cycling community and its many enablers in City Hall planned to do to their neighborhoods: take away street parking and traffic lanes to make bike lanes.

The bike people like to cite the David Binder survey, but he should also have asked city residents this question: Do you want the city to take away street parking and traffic lanes in your neighborhood to make bike lanes? I bet the positive response would have been a lot smaller than 75%.

Regards,

Rob Anderson
San Francisco
December 12, 2007

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Harassing CNA/NNOC Nurses for our Advocacy:
Why We Strike Part II

It was no accident, nor a concern for patient safety,that a memo from the Chief Nursing Executive, Ms. Vicki Ardito to management staff, surfaced last month. Unit by Unit, Sutter nurses are being targeted for those with the “worst attitudes” by supervisors for disciplinary action. From simple write ups to termination, nurses are being targeted throughout the Sutter system. Everything, from not answering the phone in a timely manner to not saying a scripted message to their patients every shift is being documented.

But the real reason, the Sutter RN’s are being targeted for their attitudes is their dogged determination to fight for their profession, a decent contract and most importatly, their patient’s right to a safely staffed hospital by the RN’s who over-see their care.

Last week, these determined nurses had the audacity,to vote for another strike, beginning next Thursday at 7am until Saturday at 7am at “all” 13 Sutter facilities in Northern California. Once again, nurses,from Sutter Delta near Sac town,to Alta Bates in Berkeley, to Peninsula in Burlingame and lastly, CPMC and old St. Luke’s in San Francisco, will be walking the picket line for two days. In addition, despite their every effort to fore-stall the closure of St. Luke’s at the Board of Supervisors, Health Commission and multiple community rallies, Sutter is threatening a wall to wall lock out of all nurses who walk the picket line next week and close the adult Medical-Surgical units in the new year.

I hope as many people can join the CNA/NNOC nurses on the picket line next week. I will be there to help the nurses win this fight for themselves and their patients. As a nurse for over 17 years, a member of CNA/NNOC for the same length of time, I can tell you how important the bedside nurse is to keeping patients alive and well during a hospital stay. They are fighting as though a life depends on them. I think it does.

It is not the nurses who are expressing the “worst” attitude and need an attitude re adjustment, it is Sutter management.

Sincerely,

Nancy E. Lewis, RN FNP
San Francisco
December 6, 2007

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Empowering Crackpotism

Dear Editor,

What exactly are the progressive “gains” Christina Olague is referring to? What does Sue Vaughn think the political difference is between the city’s progressive men and progressive women in the city? Don’t all male and female prog leaders in SF support the Bicycle Plan, Critical Mass, and the ongoing city jihad against the wicked automobile? And don’t all male and female prog leaders in SF support the Rincon Hill highrises, the Market/Octavia Plan, and UC’s land-grab on lower Haight Street? And didn’t all male and female prog leaders in SF support Josh Wolf, ignoring the fact that city cop Peter Shields had his head fractured by Wolf’s comrades during that demo? And, by the way, when is the SF Green Party going to take the anti-American tirade by convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal off of its website? What makes anyone think the Green Party’s Ross Mirkarimi, who supported Josh Wolf and likes to prattle about revolution, could ever be elected mayor of SF? And when are city progs going to step up with a sensible approach to homelessness in SF instead of knee-jerk opposition to whatever Mayor Newsom is doing?

Regards,

Rob Anderson
San Francisco
December 6, 2007

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Women empowerment

Dear Editor,

Sitting in on a conversation with Matt Gonzalez and Ross Mirkarimi as they discuss furniture is hardly my idea of empowering women in local politics. I walked by Matt’s office a couple of times that evening as he engaged in meetings with Jazzie Collins and Jane Kim, so it seems that many meetings and conversations were taking place in his office that evening. And honestly for all the grief Matt has taken over the years, he has encouraged leadership among women locally. It is common knowledge that Gonzalez encouraged Sarah Lipson and Jane Kim to run for School Board. He was one of the first electeds to support Renee Saucedo in her District 9 Supervisors race and the list goes on. When he was President of the Board of Supervisors he didn’t hesitate to appoint some of us to key commissions ranging from planning to immigrant rights and he continues to work with the Mayor of Richmond and other women who are in key decision making roles in a support capacity.

There is a time and a place and sometimes at these events people want private time to talk about any number of issues and we should respect that. That Mirkarimi and Gonzalez are talking is a good thing as we are all going to have to come together in November of 2008 to preserve the gains we have made as progressives. Preserving and increasing those gains is a conversation we should all be engaged in regardless of gender.

Still, Sue makes many valid points but from my standpoint and at the risk of coming off as too “60’s” I still feel more empowered as a women activist after sitting around in room talking with other women like Alix Rosenthal, Renee Saucedo or Misha Irizarry or Sue Vaughan or Susan King. Progressives have alot of work to do in this area this fall we are still absent progressive women in many races but where we can support progressive women we should like Sonya Mehta’s run for Community College Board. There are many ways to empower ourselves as women activists but if a private conversation is taking place let’s respect it, there are many avenues and places we can continue to engage in that have a greater reach than this.

Sincerely,

Christina Olague, San Francisco Planning Commissioner
December 5, 2007

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Mark Sanchez, etc.

Dear Editor,

I think that the first and most fitting pieces of legislation that Mark Sanchez can introduce if he becomes a Supervisor is to make the position of School Board member a full-time, full pay, job so that the rich (i.e. Heather Hiles), old (i.e. Dan Kelly), and/or well connected/conflicted interest (i.e. Hydra Mendoza and Heather Hiles) aren’t the only ones who have a better chance at winning a seat. Who knows? Sarah Lipson might still be on the School Board if such basic necessities were a part of the game.

In addition, he might want to further level the playing field in that sector by making School Board positions elected by district instead of city-wide, as well as instituting campaign matching funds for the honest and well-intentioned candidates.

As a semi-non-sequitor, the District 9 (and 3) race for Supervisor is just screaming for reform with regard to IRV. As things stand, the IRV, exclusively 1-2-3 process is entirely un democratic, as the voter can only rate 3 out of God knows how many candidates that are running. This is especially important for the next mayoral election since at least 20 people will be vying for that Brass Ring. I say that voters should be able to rate as many candidates as they want. This is especially important now that The City is in the process of getting their new voting machines.

Matt Stewart
Palo Alto
November 5, 2007

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A revolution in gender and politics, please

Dear Editor:

Perhaps some context is necessary to understand the events of Friday night. Perhaps it’s true that three men behind the glass walls of an office at a fundraiser being hosted by one of them could have been talking about anything, and I would have none of it — even if they had been talking about furniture, as an informant later told me they were. In fact, most likely it IS true, as I believe there are few things in the world that are more important than (and excuse me, Ross, for appropriating one of your favorite words) a “revolution” in gender and politics. Certainly, a discussion about the revolution in gender and politics — with women in the mix — takes precedence over a discussion of furniture, and at a political event, no less.

That revolution is not happening quickly enough in San Francisco. Besides the fact that women are underrepresented in elected office in San Francisco, over the past year there have been numerous supposedly progressive events in which women have not been included as speakers, in which women invitees have not been listed on the promotional literature, or in which women have not been acknowledged in the news coverage of those events. While I can list the specific events during this past year, the frustration with the failure of our male colleagues to include women in “their” events goes back many years.

And yet women have been on the ground, central to the campaigns of ballot measures and our male colleagues. As we are all responsible for mitigating global climate change and resisting natural resource wars, we are also all responsible for participating in that revolution in gender and politics. To be silent when we witness the perpetuation of the old paradigm of male political hegemony is to be a participant in that perpetuation.

So I rocked the boat the other night. Not the first time and you can wager big bucks that it will not be the last time. Luke, have your camera ever at the ready, Elaine your pen. It was a great party and a great evening, and we’ll all survive our seasickness and get over this — and hopefully move forward with a greater sensitivity to the issues of gender and ethnic diversity in our all too white, all too male progressive community. And hey, I like and appreciate all of our male colleagues and allies.

Sue Vaughan
San Francisco Green Party
December 4, 2007

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“Out” in the fog in the middle of the Road!

Dear Editor,

I have a Google Harvey Milk alert and your “Mayor of Castro” Memorial edition popped up and it made me think of hopping on the reversible light-year train, to take me back to what “Chuck” Dickens called “The best of times, the worst of times,” but in San Francisco in the 60’s and 1970’s.

I’m now here in Chicago, the city I left in the early 60’s because then it was taboo to know anyone or be “queer”!

I went west, a young man and discovered Utopia in the making. Most people think San Francisco has always been a liberal city. However when I arrived, there were laws still on the books, that if you wanted to dress in drag (not my forte), you had to wear a name like tag saying “I am a boy” or you could be arrested, even on Halloween! However, it was courageous drag queens who helped to change anti-gay laws by being arrested many times. I was lucky to have seen José Sarria at the fabled Black Cat bar, and when he ran for City Supervisor and received over 6,000 votes that begat gay politics, over a decade before Harvey Milk. The city was a great small city back then and you did not have to file for bankruptcy just to pay your rent, or rent a small storefront in most parts of the city. A lid of pot cost $7 and Zig Zag papers sold for a nickel!

The gay area was mostly on Polk Street and muni cost 15 cents. Aquatic Park had a gay beach and the smell of chocolate filled the air from Ghiardelli Square before it was turned into a shopping center. Most of the wharf area were still warehouses. I also discovered, like myself, many people migrated from their hometowns to San Francisco just to be ourselves. I bought a cheap Kodak Instamatic camera to send tourist like images back to friends and family in Chicago, but images of leftover beatniks, hippies, flower children, Golden Gate Park, “summer of love”, peace mongers and war protesters, found their way into my lens by the end of the decade.

I began the 70’s by moving on a small street called Alpine Terrace, located between the Haight-Ashbury and Castro-Eureka neighborhoods. I rented a 2 bedroom house with a front and back yard, an in-law apartment with two parking garage spaces for $250 a month. I bought a better camera and became a freelance photographer and publicist. I specialized in gay clients, bars and businesses, at a time when it was not yet fashionable to be openly gay, and by osmosis became involved in early San Francisco gay politics, sports and media.

I used to display my photographs in a Castro Street storefront window of Georgeanna’s Bakery, just a few steps from today’s Harvey Milk Plaza. I made lots of friends including Harvey, Mayor Moscone, Dr.Tom Waddell and lots of enemies as well, including many I did not even know! President Eisenhour said “taking a political stance in the middle of the road will open you up to the extremes of both sides of a political issue” and it did for me, especially when I supported Terry Hallinan when he ran against Harvey Milk for Supervisor in the 5th District. The gay rag Bay Area Reporter labeled me “Gays for Homophobia!”

Hey, I didn’t mean to rant and rave when I started this letter… I really just wanted to congratulate you on your fine site. I keep in touch and once in a while contribute some tales to BeyondChron.com and a few of my images can be found at Uncle Don’s, but from now on I’ll add your site to stay in touch, too.

Like I said I was lucky to have been in San Francisco at a time when the fog horn sounded like a real fog horn, to know people before they discovered themselves and others, and to have a treasure trove of memories, one of a kind memorabilia and thousands of images to remind me just how lucky I was.

Thanks for being there and for your site.

Cheers,

Jerry Pritikin
Chicago
December 2, 2007

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Responding to Alex Dollery…

Dear Alex,

You must be a liberal to even suggest that the USCG was responsible for the oil spill that was caused by an outbound ship. Research the subject before spouting off about people that serve and protect this wonderful country of ours. You are probably just as much to blame for the oil spill.

I enjoyed the article very much, and yes I am proud of all military personnel serving our country. Also Jessica’s last name is spelled Shafer, she is my daughter and I am proud of her too!

Judy Lewis
November 20, 2007

Editor’s Note: Thank you for your letter of correction. Jessica’s last name now corrected.

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What’s with the puff piece on the Coast Guard?

Dear Editor,

Hadn’t you noticed that the Coast Guard is responsible for one of the worst oil spills in the history of the San Francisco Bay? Or did you think they should be given an award for their incompetence?

Given the suck-up tone of that “article,” I’m surprised you didn’t suggest that the 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel was an environmental friendly additive that would restore wildlife health and act as a soothing emollient for swimmers and fishermen.

Alex Dollery
November 19, 2007

Editor’s Note: The Coast Guard feature story was undertaken in mid-October, weeks before the oil spill travesty occured on Novemer 7. Despite the somewhat awkward timing of the story, it was scheduled for publishing today.

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Enabling Torture

Dear Editor,

The Gulf War vets in your article are to be commended for their efforts to publicize the fact that the technique cutely named “waterboarding” by the media (isn’t it fun - its like snowboarding!) is in fact a form of torture.

Some clarification is in order, though. Unlike the mere simulation enacted by these activitists, the technique used by US forces does not include a barrier to keep water from entering the lungs of its victims. The whole point of the technique is to give the victim the experience of drowning until they break, hopefully short of death. Thus, even referring to this torture as “simulated drowning” is not accurate. It IS drowning. If someone fell into a pond and was drowning, but was saved before death, we would not call that “simulated drowning.” And that term should never be used in connection with this torture method, as it makes it sound less horrible than it is.

Knowing this, and knowing that our government signed treaties declaring this technique to be torture, how can ANY person support an Attorney General nominee who refuses to say this technique is torture? Such a nominee is declaring up front that they will NOT uphold the law.

Senator Feinstein, who broke ranks and announced her early support of Mukaskey, should be ASHAMED. But of course it has become clear that she is without shame and does not deserve to serve the people of California.

Jerry Threet
San Francisco
November 15, 2007

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Latest CrackBerry Chronicle

Dear Editor,

I have this to say about the latest installment of the CrackBerry Chronicles:

Supervisor Aaron Peskin waiting to take a bus from the Yes on A/ No on H party, was the best thing I saw all night (and I saw a lot).

I’d like to see more supervisors taking the bus or streetcar more often. Didn’t we ask them to take transit at least once a week at some point (if possible), or is that just the Municipal Transportation Agency board?

For those supervisors, other electeds, city staff, commissioners, etc. wanting to take transit but concerned they might miss a meeting because of a late bus or streetcar, I have this advice: always always wear flats.

Karen Babbitt
San Francisco
November 12, 2007

Editor’s Note: Good ole Pesker’s, he knows how to walk the walk, especially after a few jars at the local watering hole!

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Eric Quezada is the best progressive candidate for District 9 Supervisor

Dear Editor,

Our district system provides the opportunity for genuine neighborhood leaders to win Supervisor elections, making endorsements, citywide stature, and even fundraising much less important. So while Mark Sanchez has done yeoman’s work for progressives at the School Board and David Campos has earned my respect as Police Commissioner, Eric Quezada is by far the best choice for District 9 Supervisor.

Eric Quezada has spent the better part of 2 decades working on District 9 neighborhood issues with PODER, Mission Housing, the Mission Anti-displacement Coalition, the Mission Economic Development Association and now Dolores Street Community Services. He’s also a long-time board member with the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center.

Eric took the lead on challenging live/work development in the Mission in the 90’s and has worked since on stopping the gentrification of the neighborhood. Eric’s been at the forefront of the District’s most pressing issues — affordable housing, immigrant rights, family services, economic development, and environmental justice.

Eric Quezada is not only a good progressive, he’s a neighborhood leader with deep grounding in the issues of San Francisco’s most progressive district. He may not be the best-known candidate and he probably won’t have the biggest endorsements and war chest, but Eric Quezada is the best progressive candidate for District 9.

Supervisor Chris Daly
November 11, 2007

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When is Progressive voter apathy ever justified?

Dear Editor,

I’m a bit curious. If four years ago, 119,323 San Franciscans came out “on a rainy day in December,” to quote Supervisor Chris Daly from his blog, and voted for Supervisor Matt Gonzalez in his run-off against Supervisor Gavin Newsom, what happened to these people Tuesday?

An anticipated low turn-out would have been an excellent opportunity to unseat an incumbent mayor. Plus, this was the first year we had rank-choice voting for Mayor that the Green Party fought tooth-and-nail for. Rank-choice voting was supposed to increase voter turnout and give the little guy a chance.

Add up the just number of people who voted for Supervisors Tom Ammiano, Chris Daly and Ross Mirkarimi the last time they ran and ask yourself where that number appears in the election result tables. Why didn’t these same, exact Progressives vote for Quintin Mecke? Was his platform all that different? Regardless of how much money Newsom’s campaign spent, these voters were well aware of Quintin Mecke. His name was on the ballot along with all the others.

Besides rank-choice voting, you can now sign up for permanent absentee voting in which the ballot is sent right to your home. So all you have to do is take out a black-ink pen, connect the arrow feathers to the arrowhead and mail in your vote. How difficult is that? Are pens now too heavy to lift?

When is Progressive voter apathy ever justified?

Brian Wallace
San Francisco
November 7, 2007

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Burma story

Dear Editor,

Thanks very much for covering this important story. Many people in the Bay Area still don’t know where Burma is and thanks to your coverage, some are beginning to realize the horror that is happening over there.

With thanks,

Ruth Goode
San Francisco
October 27, 2007

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David Campos

Dear Editor,

I cannot believe that in the short time since I last read FCJ, as in yesterday, as I had just read the inspiring piece on Peter Lauterborn, Eric Mar and Chris Jackson running for office, there has been such a rush of heated exchanges involving David Campos.

I think I have solid progressive credentials and will not support anyone that I do not consider solidly progressive, and I have, at least in my heart, if not yet publicly, declared my support and endorsement for David Campos in District 9 and I have to take exception with Marc Salomon’s characterization of progressives supporting David just because he is a “nice guy.”

I think Michael Goldstein did a fine job with the facts surrounding David Campos’ politics and credentials, so I do not need to go there.

I first came into contact with David when he was SFUSD counsel and I was an SFUSD parent compelled to attend SFUSD board meetings to stand up for the children that kept getting a raw deal from certain BoE members. And I was the parent plaintiff to oppose the contract Dan Kelly crafted for Arlene Ackerman.

It would be fair to say that initially I did not have a favorable opinion of an attorney for the SFUSD that I was always at odds with. But as I realized who David was and what his values were, I also knew that even if I disagreed with his legal opinions at times, that was his job, to represent the SFUSD.Just because I disagreed with some of his legal opinions, that did not make him, as a person, any less progressive. I work for the State of California, just because Arnie is my boss, doesn’t mean I like or agree with him. As for David being an attorney for the SUSD, I certainly do not have a law degree and I have no reason to think David ever interpreted the law incorrectly just because I disagreed with his opinion. Simply because something may be legal, does not make it politically right in my world view but it is also no reflection on David’s personal values or politics. I am sure for every time I disagreed with an opinion he rendered, there was a time that he gave legal expertise that was a victory for the children and employees of the SFUSD. David could have went into private practice and earned a lot more money, instead, he was counsel to a public school district.

The reasons I am supporting David Campos are many:

Because I know my district supervisor, Ross Mirkarimi needs a good ally on the Board when Tom Ammiano is termed out.. No, I am not currently a resident of the Mission, but I have lived in the Mission and Bernal Heights growing up. I also worked in the Mission doing interviews for the Census Bureau, and one of the most pressing issues of injustice facing my district and the Mission, is the odious gang injunction. And the issues I care about:

- Black and Latino children and the achievement gap in the SFUSD
- Jobs and opportunities for these youth, ex-offenders, etc.
- Immigrant rights, stopping the ICE raids
- Affordable Housing
- Healthcare
- Police Accountability
- Responsible and responsive government
- Crime prevention from a humane and social justice perspective

These are all issues I trust David with.

I think for someone to immigrate to this country, from a humble background and go on to attend some of the finest universities and become an attorney, is a remarkable asset to District 9.

Do you realize what a role model he is for the community he is running to represent? How many Latino, immigrant youth will be inspired by him?

David will bring the unique perspective of growing up a working-class immigrant in a racist, xenophobic culture, where he had to learn a new language; achieving a law degree which gives him crucial skills and knowledge to work in city government, but has the background to fight for the rights of those who been disenfranchised.

This is why, as a die-hard progressive, I am proud to support David Campos. And given what an outspoken critic I have been of the politicians in San Francisco, he would not want me associated with him if he was not truly a progressive.

Tami Bryant
SEIU 1000
October 26, 2007

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This Progressive sets the record straight

Dear Editor,

I just read Mark Salomon’s response to my letter and it’s clear from it that given Salomon’s obsession with attacking David Campos, facts are no longer important to him. Since that is the case, it would be futile for me to engage Salomon at this point. I will simply say that progressives are behind Campos not because he’s our friend and he’s a nice guy, but because of his solid progressive record, including his work on the Democratic County Central Committee and the Police Commission. Finally, in light of Salomon’s many inaccuracies, let me set the record straight about the following:

- It wasn’t Louise Renne or Arlene Ackerman that actually hired Campos, ultimately, it was the Board of Education - Mark Sanchez included - that unanimously hired Campos as the School District’s Chief Counsel.

- As far as Ackerman’s contract is concerned, Campos was not even the attorney present at the meeting in question. What Campos did say is that while he would never have given Ackerman the golden parachute she received, unfortunately, the law allowed the lame duck Board to do what it did.

- As far as Campos and open government is concerned, I don’t know what Salomon is talking about. Salomon should ask Sanchez about the fact that it was Campos who helped the Board of Education pass their version of the Sunshine Ordinance. It was also Campos who said that the Bay Guardian was entitled to get copies of Ackerman’s expense reports even though Ackerman tried to block their release.

- And as far as Campos and public power is concerned, Salomon’s attack totally missed the mark. Campos actually spent more than two years of his life fighting PG&E in court, including successfully fighting PG&E’s efforts to keep the City from providing public power to City facilities like the Ferry Building. And Campos was the City’s lead counsel in the lawsuit against PG&E’s parent company over money stolen from ratepayers during the Energy Crisis.

Finally, last Tuesday’s Milk Club meeting is evidence that “Malice” no longer exists.

Michael Goldstein
30 year San Francisco renter
October 25, 2007

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Some of my best friends are Progressives..

Dear Editor,

The point of my editorial was to reflect on the Leno/Migden contest as one where races based on friendships and personalities distract scarce progressive resources from pressing tasks at hand. This is critical because the challenges facing residents of D9 are anything but academic and progressive leadership is required to make real changes that make real people’s lives better.

But Michael Goldstein makes my case and then some with his letter. Michael states that since David Campos and Mark Sanchez are friends, that any concerns over Campos’ lack of progressive record and credentials are dismissable. I believe that the only way that one might consider Campos to be a progressive, by Michael’s measure, is if he were one’s friend and one considered themselves to be a progressive; call it Michael’s Law of Inverse Cooties.

My comments were not on the substance of the D9 race, rather on the pattern of squandering scarce resources and opportunities that occurs when political campaigns are run based on friendship networks and cliques rather than on what moves the progressive agenda forward most expeditiously.

As things stand now, the clock is running down on the progressive project–how many Mission residents will be displaced by the march of the luxury condos between now and when the next D9 supervisor is sworn in–and few would wind that clock to buy some more time.

On the substance, however, I find it difficult to construe a “solid progressive record” from recent history as observed:

- Campos was Louise Renne and Arlene Ackerman’s choice to counsel the SFUSD. Louise Renne was PG&E’s City Attorney and Arlene Ackerman found common cause with corporate attack dogs like Wade Randlett and Republican homophobes like Donald Fisher,

- Campos was the SFUSD attorney who okayed a special meeting with a 22 hour (not 24 per law) notice on a federal holiday which allowed a lame duck, defeated incumbent Heather Hiles to provide the swing vote approving a contract that gave Ackerman $375K that came straight out of the beleagured classroom.

- Campos obstructed the provision of access as required under state law to Statements of Economic Interest that were allegedly filed under threat of perjury by his boss, disgraced superintendent Ackerman, but never produced on demand as required by state law.

- Campos gave money to to downtown user-friendly Susan Leal, who has blocked public power as General Manager of the PUC, instead of acknowledged progressives Ammiano or Gonzalez, but this was before David decided to reposition himself as a progressive running in the most progressive district in San Francisco.

- Campos has no grassroots experience on the issues of the day of import to the Mission, including housing, land use and planning, education, healthcare, or the environment and transportation.

David Campos is a nice guy and I can see why he has friends who will bend their political principles to support him, but he is only progressive under the logical framework of Michael’s Law of Inverse Cooties, where since David is Michael’s friend, and Michael is a progressive, therefore David is a progressive.

There are two candidates in D9 with long records of grassroots progressive activism, and for Malice to insert a moderate like Campos in the race, to masquerade him as a progressive, while progressives are defending and working to upgrade in D1, 3 and 11, smacks of valuing cliques over moving a progressive agenda and does a great deal of downtown’s work for them.

Shame on Malice for parachuting their moderate candidate into D9 over qualified progressives.

Marc Salomon
Eighteen-year Mission District resident
October 25, 2007

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Responding to Marc Salomon’s editorial

Dear Editor,

I just read Marc Salomon’s editorial where, among other things, he refers to David Campos as a “moderate” running against progressives like Mark Sanchez. While I can understand that Salomon likes Sanchez and wants to help him get elected, I cannot understand why he would do so by once again distorting Campos’ solid progressive record.

As Salomon knows, Campos and Sanchez are friends who like and respect each other. As progressive candidates running for the same position in District 9, Campos and Sanchez have promised to each other to run positive campaigns.

All of us would be wise to follow their example.

Michael Goldstein
San Francisco
October 25, 2007

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Dennis Kucinich: Emasculated Diva

Dear Editor,

I’m bewildered as to why liberal Democrats are so infatuated with perenial candidate, Dennis Kucinich. He’s a man who is known to turn his back on his supporters at the last second and tell them to throw their support to whichever candidate that is most likely win the primary — however repugnant that preordained candidate might be. This just proves that, underneath it all, he swims in the same water as the Democratic Leadership Council.

He is merely a diva that is running for president to “raise the level of debate” and “offer people an alternative.” Instead of grandstanding in an impotent fashion, he should push the powers that be out of their comfort zone by running as an independent or third-party candidate. He may draw some heat and offend some people (i.e. his hypocritical liberal Democratic supporters), but at least he would be doing the right thing by furthering a growing cause as opposed to diluting it.

Matt Stewart
Palo Alto
October 23, 2007

Editor’s Note: You may be pleasantly surprised to know there’s a rumor floating around suggesting Kucinich will run as an independent should he not win the Democratic Party nomination for president.

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Green Party Endorsements

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your story on the Mayoral candidates. One correction: the SF Green Party did not endorse a candidate. Instead, we recommend four candidates who agree with us on most of the important issues that are key to running the City. Our complete endorsements and a discussion of the issues on this November’s ballot are given on our web site.

John-Marc Chandonia, SF Green Party
October 18, 2007

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Jim Rivaldo

Dear Editor,

I just wanted to clarify that Jim passed away from AIDS/Hep C complications. People with AIDS are dying from liver cancer and heart attacks caused by the virus and our medications. In fact, people with HIV/AIDS are 22 times as likely to get cancer. This is only worsened when we have Hep C co-infection.

AIDS is still the #1 cause of premature death of all men in San Francisco, ages 15-54. It is important that public perception is accurate. Not reporting AIDS as a cause of death does a disservice. Especially when San Francisco continues to receives outrageous cuts to our HIV/AIDS funding. The losses to AIDS housing have been staggering. Fortunately, AIDS Housing Alliance/SF was able to help Jim enjoy a more peaceful place for him to die in. Others are not so lucky.

Regards,

Brian Basinger
Director, AIDS Housing Alliance/SF
October 17, 2007

Editor’s Note: Thank you for your letter of clarification.

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Jim Rivaldo will be remembered for his friendship,
generosity and humor

Dear Editor,

I have never made a secret of the fact that I wouldn’t have been elected City Attorney were it not for the creativity, savvy and intellect of Jim Rivaldo. Far more than what he accomplished politically, however, Jim will be remembered by those of us who loved him for his friendship, generosity and humor.

It would be impossible to chronicle the political empowerment of the LGBT community and others over the last three decades without acknowledging the extent to which Jim’s extraordinary talent made it possible. I think we all hope that the work of our lives will leave the world a better place. With Jim Rivaldo, we know his did.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera
October 17, 2007

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The wonderful Jim Rivaldo

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your tribute to Jim Rivaldo. Jim was an extraordinary person with a passion for San Francisco, its governance and its politics. He and his partner, Dick Pabich, created an amazing and positive political consulting business in the 1970’s which propelled many, often rather ordinary, individuals into leadership positions in California.

While more than thrilled to work for gay and lesbian candidates, Jim and Dick helped a broad spectrum of candidates. Both men were charming and funny guys who loved mixing it up for a good cause. My first campaign manager, Jack Davis, often used their talents to create campaign literature, signs and buttons. I still cherish my first campaign button, designed by Jim, finalized only after heated debates about which colors could be seen most clearly across a crowded room. Jim’s color schemes ruled the day.

Jim worked on my current campaign right up until a couple of weeks ago, correcting copy from his computer and warning me about everything from hubris to the use of capital letters. He was a constant friend and trusted adviser to many, both during campaigns and during those long stretches in between.

Jim Rivaldo: A great guy who gave so much.

San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey
October 17, 2007

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Local 87

Dear Editor,

Thank you for publishing the stories that the “mainstream” media constantly ignores. I work a full time day job so I frequently have to miss the protests and rallies for issues that I consider crucial.

But thanks to your web site, there are photos and information about what I’ve missed. I really appreciate the coverage of the rally to support the janitors from my sister local, SEIU 87. I think ICE, all the way up the chain to George Bush, are the real terrorists and intimidating janitors, who work very hard, is unconscionable.

I stand in solidarity with the janitors and their righteous struggle to get their jobs back! San Francisco is a Sanctuary City.

It is our federal policy that causes the conditions of poverty and hopelessness, that propels people to immigrate to the U.S. in the first place. NAFTA, CAFTA. We exploit the people of their nations and support/instill their corrupt governments, and then self-righteously persecute them when they come here to make an honest living and take care of their families.

They deserve their jobs back so they can support their families.

I am appalled at the Feds’ actions, including violating San Francisco law. Was Newsom there to demand their reinstatement? I certainly hope so.

Tami Bryant
San Francisco, SEIU 1000
October 13, 2007

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Nurses strike

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your coverage of what is turning out to be the largest strike of RN’s in over a decade. The SF Chronicle thought it was more important to place concerns over “Halloween” and “pets puttin on the ritz” on this morning’s edition than the walk out all over northern California of over 5500 RN’s of CNA/NNOC. They chose to put it in the “Business section” which I guess is where I guess they think healthcare should be. I can’t believe the shallowness of our major media outlets and applaud the Fog City Journal for covering this strike.

I attended the press conference on Monday in Oakland and was appalled at the un-safe staffing levels in Sutter St. Lukes’ and their master plan to turn the hospital into clinics rather than acute care beds that this city badly needs. I am all for clinics but San Francisco has seen more than its share of hospitals close their ER and lose acute care beds, like, Mt. Zion hospital did, after a disastrous but predictably bad merger with Stanford Hospital. SFGH will be the last refuge of SF’s neediest if Sutter Health gets away doing what they are planning to do and are doing with regard to patient care issues at St. Luke’s.

The picket line began this morning at 7am and it was spirited and well attended by Sutter St. Luke’s RN’s who seem determined to hold Sutter’s feet to the fire for the next 48 hours, and beyond if necessary.

Nancy Lewis, RN FNP, CNA/NNOC.
San Francisco
October 10, 2007

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Quakes and Highrises

Dear Editor,

BOMA honcho Ken Cleaveland unwittingly stipulates to the perils of our nascent high rise boom, and in so doing, makes the argument for a moratorium on high rises in the shaky South of Market until seismic and fire safety issues can be fully aired, solutions vetted and addressed.

When he says ‘”How can you trust a piping system in an earthquake?” he asked. “It’s all about scare tactics.”,’ as he supports a new kind of wonder-elevator that is supposedly immune to fire, he admits that any system to provide a safe environment for firefighters is compromised by seismic issues.

BOMA and developers are scared of having to take eventual responsibility for the human consequences of their highly profitable megaprojects, and we are being bullied into entitling projects that are demonstrably dangerous under conditions historically certain to occur.

Further, the glass skins of these high rises are liable to collapse during a seismic event. How might we expect firefighters to enter a building if there is a substantial pile of broken plate glass blocking the entrances? Whole plate glass sheets can act as an airfoil and travel for blocks as deadly sharp wings as well.

As developers around the world traditionally do, Ken Cleaveland’s BOMA constituents want to take their entitlement and the profits they generate and evade responsibility for what happens after they’ve been paid, in a disaster that we will have to deal with.

Marc Salomon
San Francisco
October 4, 2007

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No, Julian, h. is the ARCHETYPE of integrity

Dear Editor,

Julian — I disagree with you about h. being a liar. I think that (to him at least) he is preaching the god’s honest truth. However, I do believe that — like the Chronicle — his opinions are lazy, sloppy, and, therefore, grossly misinformed.

In addition, his opinions are influenced and generously-peppered with cruel vitriol for no other purpose than his own perverted personal entertainment, which — more importantly — allows him to confirm to himself that he actually exists.

In other words, he’s a sadist who feeds off of tormenting others and, out of a mixture of arbitrariness and necessity, he’s temporarily filling his sense of emptiness with your existence. After he is done with you, he’ll move on to his next hapless victim. It’s kind of like self-mutilation, only, unfortunately, he is inflicting it on others instead of a well-deserving self.

You can save yourself from excruciating frustration and torment by knowing that h. is merely the radioactive byproduct of countless lost and gluttonous years of boozing, reefering (on the public’s dime, mind you) and inner-turmoil — things that he is unwilling to resolve maturely. Try to take solace in the fact that he’ll eventually exhaust himself.

Matt Stewart
Palo Alto
October 1, 2007

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Thank you for FCJ’s beautiful coverage

Dear Editor,

You captured the heart and soul of the Sheriff’s Women’s Reentry Center!

Thank you for the beautiful coverage!

All the best,
Sunny Schwartz
Program Administrator, Women’s Reentry Center
September 29, 2007

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h. brown ruffles some feathers

Dear Editor,

Those familiar with the ‘journalism’ of h brown are probably aware of his utter lack of integrity. Readers of his SF Bulldog column have become more and more aware of his dishonesty over the years. For those who are not aware, it should be made abundantly clear that h. brown’s column is all too often a fountain of spurious and libelous drivel.

Though a self-described lefty, h brown has taken to shamelessly publishing abject lies about members of the progressive community in San Francisco. Freedom of the press is a right that is no less abused by h brown’s false and aggressive personal attacks than by the pundits of the Fox News Network.

Though it is broadly understood that h brown’s invectives are based in complete fantasy, thus almost nullifying the need for this letter, truth-loving people ought not to allow such pathetically invalid machinations to be disseminated in the name of progressive journalism.

Righteous victories have never been won nor just ends ever obtained by spinning destructive and belligerent lies about those peacefully advancing honorable causes. This unfortunately has become h brown’s M.O. and pitiful legacy. Those who remember his witty and perceptive commentary of yesteryear are even more saddened by his fall from respectability.

This letter is a call for all those of sound mind and honest bearing to disregard h brown’s published articles and to remove his slander from your list-serves and inboxes.

P.S. Thank you to Fog City Journal for screening h. brown’s articles before posting them and for refusing to publish articles containing baseless personal attacks.

Julian Davis
San Francisco
September 29, 2007

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Great coverage of the Women’s Reentry Center grand opening

Dear Editor,

Love the Women’s Reentry story in today’s edition, although there were not nearly enough pictures of me. Other than that, it’s great!

Thanks for covering the event so well!

San Francisco County Sheriff Mike Hennessey
September 28, 2007

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Grasshopper

Dear Editor,

Too bad about Grasshopper - shows you how stressful taxi driving can be, given double and triple parked trucks, illegal limos, tourists driving like they are in Disneyland, bicycles, skateboards, wheelchairs, rollerbladers, shooting gangbangers, every locomotion a loco has a notion to motion, and last, but by no means least, our fair taxi commission with nothing better to waste their eight-hour meetings on than taking away his livelihood (scheduled for the night he was arrested) for refusing to give up his right to stick an “Impeach Bush” sticker on his taxi bumper, instead of focusing their authority on the fake taxis pervading San Francisco, driven by unlicensed operators who, for all we know, could be convicted rapists and worse ( I won’t say the t word).

Sean O’Neil
San Francisco
September 21, 2007

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Murder and Suicide the American Way

Dear Editor,

Hurrah to Jill Chapin for her excellent guest editorial “Murder and Suicide the American Way” and hurrah to Luke Thomas and the Fog City Journal for having the balls to publish it!

See www.cchr.org for more on how psychiatric drugs alone are taking a devastating toll on our society.

Jeff Quiros
San Francisco
September 16, 2007

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Bring on the chicken suits

Dear Editor,

Mayor Newsom’s request that all of his appointees submit their resignations is not an act of “vision” as he would have you believe. It’s an act of complete cowardice.

As a manager for 20 years I would never ask ALL of my key people to tender letters of resignation to make me look “better.” It’s not a motivational tool to tell all your staff that you’re potentially tired of them. This shows a continued lack of leadership from Mayor Newsom. He is asking HUNDREDS of employees, most of whom are are doing remarkable jobs (especially commission appointees who are nominally paid for an extraordinary amount of work) to offer letters of resignation so he can pick the few that he really wants to let go

Why doesn’t he have the guts to just fire the people he has a problem with? He is too much of a coward and thinks it will get much less scrutiny this way.

But, he is WRONG. His actions will garner much scrutiny as he has exposed his administration. If he is asking for massive resignations then he is admitting that his administration is a complete failure, a rare point on which i agree.

Donna Linden
San Francisco
September 12, 2007

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Grasshopper’s antics

Dear Editor,

Regarding your 9/9 piece titled, “Mayoral candidate arrested for stalking Supervisor Ed Jew” my only thought is that Grasshopper is a nut. Total loon. Batshit crazy.

Grasshopper’s antics make a great argument for paying the filing fee not being enough to join the debates.

Yet in spite of Grasshopper, I enjoyed Friday’s debate and look forward to attending another.

-Bob Brigham
San Francisco
September 10, 2007

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Correction

Dear Editor,

In the article (Court Jester reviews third 2007 mayoral debate), you run a series of pictures capturing what happened during and after the mayoral debate on Friday, August 31st.

One of the picture’s caption reads: “The spies who love Newsom.”

I happen to be in that picture and I resent being labeled with any candidate, campaign, or affiliation.

This becomes even more disturbing because I will be hosting a candidate forum on Wednesday, September 5th and have invited all 13 ballot qualified candidates to attend.

So far in this election cycle I have remained neutral and have not offered the use of my name for anything on the November ballot. I want to thank some of your readers for calling this error to my attention.

Michael Nulty
Tenant Associations Coalition of San Francisco
San Francisco
September 3, 2007

Editor’s Note: Thank you for your letter of correction. We have replaced the photo and look forward to attending the 4th Mayoral Debate you are hosting.

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Tony Hall Bows out of Mayor’s race

Dear Editor,

Though I’m not a big fan of Tony Hall’s politics, I have always respected his honesty.

It is a shame that Hall, as one of two candidates to pre-qualify for public financing, is dropping out of the race because of pressure from the Newsom gangsters. Matt Gonzalez seemed to rise above this. I would have hoped Hall would.

‘Newsom Campaign Manager Eric Jaye told Fog City: ‘It’s unfortunate that Supervisor Hall chose to leave the race. He was the last candidate left that wasn’t named after a barnyard animal.’”

This is a disgusting comment and speaks to the low level that Gavin’s campaign always reaches to. Eric Jaye is a disgrace, and Newsom should be horrified to be affiliated with him.

There are two candidates with serious platforms that address the myriad problems in San Francisco. They are Ahimsa Sumchai Porter and Quintin Mecke. We should not be dismissing these less high-profile candidates during this critical election.

Donna Linden
San Francisco
August 30, 2007

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Facts Are Not Inconvenient for Me

Dear Editor,

In response to Barbara Meskunas’ response to my email, I apologize to all for making a typographic mistake in my Letter to the Editor (8/23/7). I meant to say Supervisor Ed Jew voted for censure against an Asian journalist who attacked the African American community and outraged the Asian American community.

Ms. Meskunas’ arguments are empty. Hate speech is hate speech in whatever form. And, yes, that is a progressive value, Barbara. Yes, Michael Savage has a right as an American citizen to say whatever he likes, but we, as a civilized citizenry, also have every right to ask corporations that he not be permitted to spew such venom on our public airwaves.

Jew’s stance shows cowardice not independence.

Ms. Meskunas’ also stated in an earlier email that his so-called independence is why “he [Jew] has been targeted for removal.” Pleeeeze. Jew has been targeted for removal because he has no respect for the spirit, and perhaps the letter, of San Francisco elections law that requires candidates to live in the district they represent.

It is clear to me, and anyone that reads the basic facts of the case, that Jew lives in Burlingame, which is in San Mateo County the last time I checked.

Meskunas’ defense of Jew appears to be motivated by fear of losing her job when Jew is convicted and removed from office.

When you’re ready for a “mature” discussion, Barbara, you may contact me and all of Ed Jew’s critics, of which there are many!

Donna Linden
San Francisco
August 30, 2007

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Open letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi - Petition for action

Dear Madam Speaker,

The Constitutional violations of this administration have been so flagrant and so serious that if not checked, some future President may find on taking office a handy tool box of tyranny in precedent just waiting to be dusted off and used again.

I very strongly urge and respectfully petition you to task the House Committee on Rules with serious and open examination of whether the House Judiciary Committee and Congress should consider articles of impeachment against President George Walker Bush and Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney.

I write this letter following discussions with many friends, some of them Republicans and at least one who voted for George Bush. My private poll has been mirrored all across this country in responses to wider and more professionally organized polls. Americans are already forming a sizeable minority considering impeachment [33% - 45%, depending on the poll] and the raw numbers have reached a majority for investigation [51% - 56%]. America is well ahead of you.

This is not an issue of party; it is not an issue of failures in Iraq; at issue is not the short remainder of this President’s term. At issue are high crimes, in the sense used by the Founders and by Blackstone, against the Constitution of the United States. These include violations of separation of powers, usurping to the President and Vice President powers expressly forbidden by the Constitution; and, repeated violations of Amendments I, IV, V, VI, and XIV of the Bill of Rights.

Most serious of these violations has been Contempt of Congress and repeated violation of Amendments IV and VI, to the damage of American freedoms at home and American policy abroad. We have an increasingly serious Constitutional crisis; the cure for this crisis is impeachment.

Madam Speaker, you hold the highest legislative office under the Constitution. All of the threatened rights of this Constitution reside under your protection. Your oath of office is not to party, but to preserve, protect, and defend the instrument of these rights. George Bush and Richard Cheney made the same oath in a much more public and solemn ceremony. We have seen them violate their vows and express contempt for Congress examining their violations.

I am writing to you because if I fail to act I become not a free citizen, but only a subject under an Imperial Presidency that tramples on the precepts the Framers held so dear, and for which generations of Americans gave “that last full measure of devotion” to defend. Madam Speaker, I call upon you to act now so that future generations will not look back on our collective failure.

Wayne B. Lanier, PhD
San Francisco
August 29, 2007

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Code Pink action at Federal Building

Dear Editor,

Thanks for your comprehensive and interesting report on the Code Pink action at the SF Federal Building on August 23. Your words and photos captured the spirit of the action, as well as showing the unprofessional conduct of the police, who preferred to push and drag peaceful protestors rather than proceed properly.

Code Pink Local Groups coordinator Rae Abileah was hurt in the back when an overzealous and incommunicative policewoman brutally shoved a heavy door against her; Rae had to go to the emergency room for medical care.

Your journalistic witnessing is an important part of our (barely functioning) democracy. I have forwarded the link to your article all over the country.

Janet Weil
San Francisco
August 25, 2007

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Facts may be inconvenient

Donna Linden condemns Ed Jew’s defense of the First Amendment on the basis of false assumptions perpetuated by censorship proponents:

“He voted for censure against an Asian journalist who attacked the Asian American community, yet voted against censure of a white man who attacked minority communities.”

In reality, he voted for censure of an Asian columnist who attacked the African-American community with a column entitled “Why I hate Blacks,” contained in an Asian-owned newspaper that receives city advertising dollars, (a condition that warrants Board of Supervisors oversight, in Ed Jew’s opinion).

In the case of the “white man,” Supervisor Jew voted against government censure of a radio talk show host who was mocking a behavior, not the race of those who were so behaving, in an attempt to get him fired. Is media censorship the goal of “progressive” San Francisco?

Facts may be inconvenient, but they are relevant to a mature discussion.

Barbara Meskunas, aide to Supervisor Ed Jew
San Francisco
August 24, 2007

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Correction - Ed Jew is a Democrat

In response to Barbara Meskunas’ email, it is insignificant whether Ed Jew is a Republican [his former affiliation] or a Democrat. He is a hypocrite. He voted for censure against an Asian journalist who attacked the Asian African American community, yet voted against censure of a white man who attacked minority communities.

Ed Jew is a hypocrite, a criminal (as far as I can tell as he lives in Burlingame), and a joke. For Barbara Meskunas to be defending him is laughable. He is not an Independent in the best sense of the word. He is a fraud!

Donna Linden
San Francisco
August 23, 2007

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Censureship is a load of bullocks

Dear Editor,

Is Mr. Gramly claiming that if the Board of Supervisors does not attend to everything then it cannot attend to anything? If Gramly had empathy for folks worse off or different than him, then he would realize that such attacks effects us all.

If Gramly truly thought political action should be limited to policies that effect us all, then he would have called the bicycle advocates on their unHealthy Saturdays monomania and demanded that they focus on keeping the other 1,000 miles of city streets safe, well paved and traffic calmed under a viable bike plan, for those of us who rely exclusively on bicycles for our transportation every day.

The truth is that amidst some gems, much of progressive policy is in shambles while our opponents are advancing. Progressives can only succeed if we work together in coalition and learn from our mistakes. People may make strategic mistakes but cannot be allowed to blame the messenger for pointing this out or worse, to deny them.

There are reasons why Matt Gonzalez could not put together a campaign this year and there are reasons why Cat Rauschuber is lashing out at me, and those reasons are related. There are reasons why the bike plan is in court and why unHealthy Saturdays made McGoldrick vulnerable, and those reasons are related.

It takes more than healthy middle class white guys on bikes like Matt Gramly and myself to build a majoritarian progressive coalition. It takes people who are willing to put their immediate self interests aside for a time in favor of creating the conditions where those who are less fortunate and less able then we, as the direct flipside of our privilege, can speak for themselves and actualize their political aspirations along with us.

“Stepford husbands, Stepford wives
With longer scissors, sharper knives
So sugar-sweet, they spend their time
As censors, working overtime.”

As far as censoring censures because of fears of censorship, it looks like someone in San Diego just fears free speech with which he disagrees so he censures us for censuring hate.

Marc Salomon
San Francisco
August 17, 2007

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Counter regarding free speech

It is not illegal nor irresponsible for Michael Savage to refer to gays as sodomites or to joke about illegal aliens dying while hunger striking. Free speech is about the right to say things that others disagree with, especially when the speech is critical or offensive. This whole idea of “hate-speech” is silly and quite unamerican. Americans are free to hate whoever, whatever they want to.

Michal Savage hates illegal alien invasion. Big deal, so do millions of people, which was made perfectly clear when the folks angrily demanded that the Senate abandon its amnesty plans.

The real story here is that a government representative, Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, tried to censure and economically impede Savage simply because he disagreed with Savage’s comments. That is stunning, although I’m not surprised that the intolerant PC enforcers would rally against Savage on this issue.

Don’t like Savage? You’re free not to listen to him.

Kevin Parkhouse
San Diego
August 17, 2007

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Free speech (reprised)

To answer Mr. Salomon’s letter responding to mine; where are the weekly resolutions from the Supes condemning the hate-speech of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity? Where is the resolution condemning Michelle Malkin’s book advocating for the internment of Islamic-Americans and justifying the WWII internment of Japanese-Americans? Where is the resolution condemning Alberto Gonzalez’ assault on the Constitution? Aren’t these “worthy” of being “confronted” too?

My point is that government needs to be focused on solutions to problems that affect us all; to keep Muni running on time, to make the streets safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, to bring murder rates down, to get guns off the streets, etc. Does anyone really believe that there is anyone in City Hall who heard the comments of Michael Savage and contemplatively pondered to themselves, “Wow, this guy makes a really good point. These protestors really SHOULD starve themselves to death!”? Do we really need to use precious resources every time someone utters such nonsensical and obvious idiocy? There are far too many better uses of those resources.

Now, on another note, I read Cat Rauschuber’s letter a few days ago explaining why she very reluctantly left the Green Party and I think Mr. Salomon’s letter demonstrates these reasons in spades. Going off on a tangent and telling me that, because I, being a “white liberal,” like to ride my bicycle in Golden Gate Park without fear of being run over by an SUV I am somehow responsible for the deplorable and inequitable conditions suffered by minorities and imimigrants still to this day and that I am also responsible for the continued asbestos poisoning of African Americans is so incredibly patently absurd that I really don’t know what to say. Other than the fact that statements like those, made in that tone, make it essentially insurmountably difficult for people who are otherwise decent and who want to have a positive impact on our society from actually doing so. And who knew that Jake McGoldrick was my own personal puppet?

I expect the next round to include allegations of my complete responsibility for the lack of a credible challenger to the Mayor because I occasionally like to go to Ocean Beach and look at the waves.

Matt Gramly, Evil Puppet Master & Bike Lover
San Francisco
August 17, 2007

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And the difference is?

Dear Editor,

“Is Supervisor Ed Jew a hypocrite?“, thank you for asking the question because at first glance and without a logical explanation on the difference between his position on the AsianWeek resolution and his vote on the resolution authored by Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, seems to be contradictory.

Perhaps miss Barbara Meskunas, as aide to Supervisor Jew, can explain to us how voting against the resolution condemning hate speech against Latinos on the airwaves by Michael Savage it is defending free speech and voting for the resolution condemning “using stereotypes by race, religion and ethnicity” in the Asian Week resolution “makes him an Independent in the best sense of the word“? (Barbara Meskunas, aide to Supervisor Jew)

“For the record, Supervisor Ed Jew is not a Republican. He is a Democrat. But his vote in defense of the First Amendment makes him an Independent in the best sense of the word, and that is why he has been targeted for removal.”
(Barbara Meskunas, aide to Supervisor Jew)

Furthermore, is miss Meskunas suggesting that the legal problems that Supervisor Jew faces it is because he is an independent?

Aurora Grajeda
San Francisco
August 17, 2007

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Shame on Jew!!

Dear Editor,

Excellent article, Mr. Thomas on Supervisor Ed Jew’s hipocracy against his Hispanic constituents. Hispanic and Hispanic immigrants are experiencing a daily 24/7 tsunami of racism, prejudice and xenophobic hate that has been initiated by talk-radio host like Michael Savage.

This insance racism is spreading like fire thanks to people like Ed Jew who condones that type of behavior and hateful language - as long as it is not in his “neigborhood.”

Cynthia Ibarra
San Francisco
August 16, 2007

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Free speech

Dear Editor,

Just as Michael Savage (nee: Michael Alan Weiner) has the right to free speech on government owned airwaves, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has the right and duty to confront hate speech against Latinos on behalf of their constituents.

The only reason why this resolution is taking any measurable amount of time is because Supervisor Ed Jew, as is his right, called the item on the “adoption without committee reference” calendar to committee for a hearing. Of course, Jew did not exerc