District 5's topics - tribe.net

Harding Theater

2008-07-10T07:37:47Z

Has any body been following the story on the Harding Theater very closely.

posted in District 5 - 4 replies

District five is alive?

2008-05-06T23:21:38Z

Is anyone active on this tribe? I was excited to see it on here, but it looks like things have gotten a bit dormant. There is the upcoming district supervisor race as well as a lot going on in our district. Anyone active locally?

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Election advice?

2007-11-10T17:55:43Z

i'll be going over my voter pamphlet this weekend, probably checking that helpful bay guardian chart on who supports what, but i'd love to get some grassroots opinions. anything fellow district fivers feel strongly about for this election?

my mayoral ballot:

1: josh wolff

2: qeuntin meeke

3: chicken john or grasshopper or the nudist dude.

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

:::: SAT MORNING: RALLY WITH ROSS MIRKARIMI ::::

2007-10-19T19:56:09Z

:::: SAT MORNING: RALLY WITH ROSS MIRKARIMI ::::
Saturday October 13 at 11AM
Campaign headquaters
544 Haight Street near Fillmore

We're going to have a huge presence on the streets of SF this weekend. We'll kick off our biggest weekend yet with a Rally at the HQ featuring Supervisor Ross MIrkarimi. We'll fuel you up with bagels and coffee. Join us!

We'll be out all weekend long. So if you miss the rally, please come in to the office anytime an find out how you can participate.

Contact:

Andy Blue
andy.blue@yahoo.com

and check out my website at: www.qformayor.org

-Quintin

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

Found very old kitty.

2006-10-24T03:49:51Z

A beautifuland very friendly cat came to my apartment at Haight and Broderick this weekend but she could have come much further away. She was malnurished, due to the fact that she may have been lost for a very long time. Since she was in such bad health, we took her to San Francisco Animal Care and Control, were our last follow up they said that she is on anti-botics, and getting rehydrated.

It is clear to me from the way that she was behaving that she comes from a very loving home, so if you or somebody you know has lost an elderly female cat recently should call animal control.

I am avoiding specific descriptions in hopes that only the owner and friends can identify her.

If this cat is yours, please call promply. If nobody claims her, and her health is good, she may be put up for adoption.

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Stop The Evictions EVENT -- 6/1/06 5:00 p.m.

2006-06-01T04:43:14Z

STOP
THE EVICTIONS
ACTION EVENT
Thursday, June 1 -- 5:00 p.m.
1530 McAllister
Come out and help protect the rights
of your neighbors!

Help proclaim in loud and unwavering
voice that we stand UNITED for our rights
and the rights of our fellow tenants
to live, work and contribute to our
neighborhoods, our communities; our homes.

--Tenants of 1530 McAllister
Join us! Email: StopTheEvictions@yahoogroups.com

Text of Second Flier:

Are you aware that your neighbors at 1530 McAllister
have been served Ellis Act Eviction notices?
Please join and help stop predatory real estate agents from buying buildings
and profiting at the loss of the entire neighborhood.
This is not an owner move-in eviction. This is two people, Elba Borgen
and Laura Rogers, buying and emptying a building, taking it off the rental
market, and selling it for a huge profit as fast as they can.
Our building is made up of a very diverse bunch of people Ñ in age, race
and sexuality. This is the same diversity that makes San Francisco such a vibrant,
amazing city to live in. Many of us are long-term tenants, up to 30 years. If it can
happen to seniors living in their homes for over 25 years, it can happen to you.
Please help us, and others like us across the city, save our homes.
What can I do, you ask? Contact the Board of Supervisors, the Mayor,
and the newspapers. Contact our landlords. Tell all of them that it is not
ok for this to be happening in our city!
Mayor Gavin Newsom
City Hall, Room 200
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415 554.6141
Fax: 415 554.6160
gavin.newsom@sfgov.org
Elba Borgen
415 401.8834
elba.borgen@yahoo.com
Laura Rogers
415 558.0573
Board of Supervisors
D1: Jake.McGoldrick@sfgov.org 415 554.7410
D2: Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org 415 554.7752
D3: Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org 415 554.7450
D4: Fiona.Ma@sfgov.org 415 554.7460
D5: Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org 415 554.7630
D6: Chris.Daly@sfgov.org 415 554.7970
D7: Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org 415 554.6516
D8: Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org 415 554.6968
D9: Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org 415 554.5144
D10: Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org 415 554.7670
D11: Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org 415 554.6975

--Text of third Flier:

HELP KEEP OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DIVERSE
STOPTHE
EVICTIONS
WE, THE TENANTS of District Five
proclaim in loud and unwavering voice that we stand
UNITED for our rights and the rights of our fellow tenants
to live, work and contribute to our neighborhoods,
our communities; our homes.
Being an association of many buildings in the district
that are undergoing evictions and other related
landlord-tenant controversiesÉ
WE SAY
YES to retaining and encouraging San Francisco's unique diversity of age range,
ethnic background and family makeup.
NO to unfair, immoral and uncompassionate evictions
YES to treating all people with respect.
NO to ill conceived schemes to put profit over people
YES to honoring seniors, young families and all tenants
NO to profiteers looking to make a quick buck on the backs of low-income tenants
YES to standing up for and claiming our equal rights as citizens of San Francisco
and we extend an olive branch to hostile owners to raise the level of the current debate
where all people and all interests are equally considered.
Current member buildings include: 1530 McAllister, (between Scott/ Divisadero),
1166 Haight and 1998 Golden Gate / 800-808 Lyon
Did you know you may lose your neighbors? Join us! Email: StopTheEvictions@yahoogroups.com
Stop the Evictions is proud to work with and have the official support of Supervisor Ross Mirkiarimi

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Feinstein.. War Profiteer

2006-01-13T21:56:47Z

Feinstein.. War Profiteer
Sen Feinstein is a war profiteer, married to URS' Richard Blum,
who has received a several hundred million dollar contract
for a company which manages the checks for US mercenary contractors
such as CACI, Titan, Blackwater Security and other
torturers.

Sam Alito Supreme Court Nominee Heavily Invested in Slaughterhouses -

Sam Alito twice broke his promise to recuse himself from
Vanguard lawsuits in which he is heavily invested. Vanguard is perhaps of publicly investigated mutual funds the one most heavily invested in several kinds of slaughterhouse operations.

Slaughterhouse, safari hunt and other money has in some cases gone underground with private equity funds. The British are less forthcoming
about stockholders than Americans.

www.senate.gov
202 224 3121
God defeat this nomination.

VANGUARD: INVESTED IN ANIMAL SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Vanguard manages more than US $700 billion and has
more than 5000 institutional investors. It is invested
in many slaughterhouse and war operations.
1 It is the major investor in the world's most corrupt bank,
Citibank whose chairman helped jailed Bernie Ebbers buy Canada's
biggest cattle ranch with stolen MCI customer money.
2 It is a major investor in McDonald's (and since NPR has 200 million
in McDonald's stock,
... the 'public radio' network promoted Vanguard)
28,385,755 2.24 $883,932,410 31-Mar-05
3. It is a major investor in Yums, owner of the boycotted KFC
www.kfccruelty.com and of Taco Bell which finally settled with
unions.
4. It is a major investor in Lonestar Steak House which causes
cancer, heart disease, slaughterhouse agony, and deforestation.
(THE) 409,292 1.99 $11,832,631 31-Mar-05
5. It is a major investor in Triarc (Arby's beef)
6. Wendy's Vanguard is a major investor in the world's
3rd largest cowslaughter fast food chain
7. Vanguard is invested in SBC, a pricegouging conglomerate illegal
in Teddy Roosevelt's days
8. It is invested in Dominion, a gas company which has
been pricegouging the poor with doubling of charges.
9. It is a major investor in ConAgra.. 'butterball' turkeys
and other slaughterhouse items.
10. It is invested in Goldman Sachs, neocon warmonger.

John Bogle its CEO has been touted on NPR
because both are heavily invested in McDonald's. NPR was
allegedly left 200 million in McDonald's stock by Joan Kroc.
It is indeed humorous that Bogle would write a book on
business ethics.

Some of the other funds heavily invested in animal agony: Barclay's, J P Morgan Chase,
Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, Charles Schwab

------
Those who are not vegetarian or vegan might consider that
the incubation period of Mad Cow, Mad Deer, Mad Pig, Mad Chicken,
Mad Fish etc is 50 years according to Dr David Heymann of the CDC
speaking on the CBC... Heymann is one of the few truthtellers
at the pharmaceutically dominated CDC. Any investment in animal
flesh is unwise.

The British are less forthcoming
about stockholders than Americans.
Quote:

Republicans always find it hard
to get out the numbers... in some
cities they hand out tickets to Democrats
when their high paid speakers paid for
with public money come
to town.. in order to swell the audience

Yesterday, as unelected Bush nominee
Sam Alito was questioned by senators,
there were Rent A Republican mobs
outside. It was a hastily done affair..
virtually
everyone with the same sign.

Neocon CNN owned illegally by Neocon
Time Warner... gave frequent flash coverage
to this small group of people.

Poster saw this standing in line
at a grocery store.

www.senate.gov

God end now all violence to any being and listen to
St Francis and Leonardo, two animal rights activists, want
this nomination defeated.

_________________
www.worldanimalnet.org
ivu.org
pcrm.org
www.alitosamerica.org
www.internationalanswer.org
www.network54.com/forum/460325
news108.forumup.org

With the string of state murders in the US ratified by the 'Supreme' Court,
one can only describe the 5 judges who have executed with their
pens... 'serial killers'. They have ratified torture, installed an unelected
pawn of war profiteers, ravaged our earth.
The Supreme Court is the only 18th Century institution unchanged.
Since 1776, the Senate has become popularly elected (in theory..
although Diebold ESS Sequoia Pacific Triad etc. have changed that
www.whatreallyhappened.com/vote...html)
The US is one of the few socalled democracies not electing its high court.
Reformers have suggested an 18 year term, with 1 justice elected
every 1 or 2 years.

One way to find in what investments a corporation, mutual fund
etc. holds... go to finance.yahoo.com type in the symbol
for that entity, and then scroll down on left to 'major holders'.

MSN has such a service too with more listings.

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

The Haight Ashbury Beat

2005-12-14T05:25:43Z

The editor of the recently revived neighborhood rag "The Haight Ashbury Beat" is looking for submissions of stories, photos, ideas and graphics. Writers, artists and cartoonitsts get published. Contact Jeremy Bates: editor@haightashburybeat.com

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

Free Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion

2005-04-08T05:31:27Z

Free Screening and Panel Discussion of The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream

Wednesday, April 27th; 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)

The Off-Market Theater
965 Mission St., San Francisco (at 5th St.), wheelchair accessible

This groundbreaking documentary explores energy consumption and its effect on the American way of life. It’s a study of peak of oil production on a global level and impact on the local level.

The free screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring:

Peter Camejo, socially responsible investment advisor, Green Party candidate for governor in 2002

Ross Mirkarimi, District Five supervisor and longtime advocate for public power in San Francisco

Leah Shahum, Executive Director of SF Bike Coalition

Discussion will be moderated by David Room of the Post Carbon Institute.

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Board to consider TIC-Condo proposal

2005-04-03T20:03:32Z

SAN FRANCISCO
Board to consider TIC-condo proposal
Plan pits renters against owners in sky-high market
- Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, April 3, 2005

San Francisco got into the business of capping the number of apartments that can be turned into condominiums more than two decades ago in an effort to preserve affordable rental housing in one of the hottest real estate markets in the world.

The regulation started a tug-of-war over the city's political and socioeconomic identity that is still playing out today.

On one side of the battle over condominium conversions are those advocating for changes in the law to allow for an expansion of homeownership and the financial benefits it creates for those hoping for a piece of the American dream.

On the other side are those who fear such an expansion would erode the city's stock of affordable rent-controlled housing and come at the expense of the city's middle and lower classes made up of cafe workers, artists, maids and the working poor.

The debate is about economics, social engineering, political power and culture -- a fight, as one elected official put it, for the very soul of the city.

This week, both sides are digging in their heels again over a proposal headed to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that would benefit a select group of people who own tenancies in common -- a real estate transaction popular with first-time homebuyers in which a group of people own a residential building collectively and share a mortgage while occupying separate units.

The proposal would allow these property owners to turn their tenancies in common, or TICs, as they're commonly known, into condominiums. Condos, which are individually owned, are worth more on the open market and are considered a more financially stable investment.

Under current law, TIC owners are covered by the same city cap that limits the number of apartment-to-condo conversions at 200 a year. The limit, enacted 23 years ago, is intended to preserve the stock of rent-controlled apartments. A total of 1,512 units were entered in this year's condo- conversion lottery.

If the new proposal is approved, owners of certain TICs could sidestep the competitive condo-conversion lottery, for what is supposed to be a one- time-only deal. City officials know of at least 374 units that would be eligible under the proposed guidelines.

By itself, the plan would not take any rentals off the market because the TICs already are in the ownership stock.

But critics speculate the one-time chance to bypass the lottery would be repeated , and, as Supervisor Jake McGoldrick said, "open the floodgates.'' Backers of the proposal dispute that assertion.

The stakes are potentially high in San Francisco, where nearly two-thirds of the residents rent -- the flip side of the national norm.

Shifting the balance could very well, over time, result in a change of the city's political landscape.

"I think there's a different mind-set of homeowners, and that tends to be more conservative. In San Francisco, that means pushing people more toward the center,'' said Tommi Avicolli Mecca, a tenant activist intent on preserving the rental stock and the city's liberal status quo.

"I'm not against homeownership,'' he said. "I just want to make sure that we preserve the rent-controlled stock so we can continue to be a city of refuge for queers and immigrants and working-class families.''

What eventually could be at risk, he said, are rent control, election of supervisors by district rather than citywide, and other policies that are at the heart of San Francisco's liberal progressive agenda.

Ryan Chamberlain, field director for San Francisco SOS, a group promoting more conservative policies, agreed that the political balance would shift. Homeowners, who have a financial stake, tend to be more rooted in their community, whereas renters tend to be more transient, he said.

"I think that would be an unavoidable political outcome because you'd have more stakeholders in the city. When it comes to public policy, it should be more swayed toward the stakeholders,'' said Chamberlain, whose group has pushed a centrist agenda in such areas as taxation, school policies and enforcement of anti-nuisance laws.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, who is co-sponsoring TIC legislation with Supervisor Bevan Dufty, said the measure is designed to protect the middle class -- teachers and social workers -- who want to own but can't afford to buy a single-family home. She pointed to the housing crisis as a factor in the exodus of young families from the city.

By helping these people convert their properties to more financially secure condominiums without the uncertainty of the lottery, she argued, they are less likely to leave San Francisco for places where homeownership is more affordable.

But Sister Bernie Galvin, a Catholic nun who works with the homeless and poor, said homeownership unfortunately has resulted in the displacement of tenants who can't afford to buy. The reality in San Francisco, she and others say, is that new construction hasn't kept up with the demand for housing, and that even when new housing is built, TICs and condos in older buildings are often less expensive.

That has resulted in a surge of landlords using a state law, the Ellis Act, to take hundreds of units -- many regulated by rent control that limits rent hikes on occupied apartments -- off the market and selling them as TICs. If the units become condos and are rented out again, they are not subject to rent control.

"It will continue the longtime trend of San Francisco becoming a city for the wealthy,'' Galvin said of the proposal.

That notion frustrates Randy Brasche, president of the San Francisco TIC Coalition, a group formed last year to promote the interests of people who own TICs and those who want to buy them.

A software marketer who lives in a four-unit building he bought with others two years ago in the Glen Park neighborhood, Brasche said the legislation is a moderate proposal that will help first-time homebuyers build equity and a more secure financial future.

Both sides have been rolling out people at City Hall this past week to put a human face on the struggle -- current and hopeful homeowners and tenants who have been displaced.

"It's sort of become a beast that has outgrown us,'' Brasche said of the legislative proposal. "It basically underscores the housing problem in San Francisco.''

As the Board of Supervisors is set Tuesday to consider the measure, which has the backing of Mayor Gavin Newsom, two other proposals considered even more polarizing are in the pipeline.

Supervisor Chris Daly, backed by the San Francisco Tenants Union, has called for a three-year moratorium on all condo conversions. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, supported by real estate interests, is looking to expand the annual number of allowable conversions to 800 to 1,500 for each of the next five years.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin doesn't see the fight going away any time soon, at least as long as the clamor for homeownership bumps up against the prospect of decreasing the number of rent-controlled dwellings.

"At the end of the day,'' Peskin said, "it's a fight for the soul of the city -- what the city is going to look like and how it's going to vote.''
Condo conversion plan

The proposed ordinance would provide eligible owners of tenancy in common buildings, or TICs, a one-time exemption from San Francisco's condominium conversion lottery.

Participation would be restricted to TIC buildings with no more than six units. The buildings must be 100 percent owner-occupied, and those owners must have lived in them on Jan. 20. Buildings in which the owners displaced senior, disabled or catastrophically ill tenants after Nov. 16, 2004, wouldn't be considered for the exemption. City officials know of at least 374 units that would be eligible.

There are 330,000 dwellings in San Francisco, 65 percent of them rentals. The yearly cap on condo conversions is set at 200.

E-mail Rachel Gordon at rgordon@sfchronicle.com.

Page A - 21
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/03/MNGFTC1A1L48.DTL
©2005 San Francisco Chronicle

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Monthly Art Shows at City Hall

2005-03-17T22:38:47Z

Third Friday Art Openings continue!

Reception March 18, 2005, 5-8pm
Office of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi
San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 282
415.554.7630

This month's show features a photography installation by Teresa Norris

It's free and everyone is invited. Light refreshments served.

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

SF Muni Fare Inspectors attempt to enforce nonexistent ban on photography

2005-02-21T04:31:14Z

San Francisco Indymedia

Original article is at http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/1711084.php Print comments.

Attack of the SF Muni Fare Inspectors
by repost Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 at 9:23 AM

SF Muni Fare Inspectors attempt to enforce nonexistent ban on photography

Local photographer Stevem was harrassed and threatened by a SF Muni Fare Inspector, and SFPD and BART Police officers for exercising his legal rights. He published this first hand account, on his excellent blog:
* * *

Last Saturday, Sheila and I were out and about. We did some shopping downtown and then entered Montgomery Station. We were gonna hop on Muni and head out to Marcellos in the Castro for a slice of pizza.

While we were on the platform waiting for our train I figured I'd grab a few photos of the crowds. There has been talk of a fare increase and you never know when some current Muni photos might sell. Check out one of the images that I took, and tell me if you think this presents a security threat. And they weren't even good photos!

As soon as I snapped the first shot, a SF Muni Fare Inspector admonished me to stop taking photos. I won't go into detail here as you can read my ROUGH DRAFT letters of protest to San Francisco Municipal Railway and San Francisco Police Department (both in PDF format). These letters are a good account of what happened. However, the short version is that The Fare Inspectors tried to prevent me from taking photos under threat of citation. When I refused to stop, they tried to cite me but couldn't find any relevant code, regulation or law to cite me. Enlisting the aid of the SFPD and BART Police officers also yielded no results. No citation was issued.

I'm grateful to be a member of the National Press Photographers Assocation and subscribe to their email list. Because this topic and others experience with it had been discussed on the list I knew what my rights were, and how to handle myself, I was able to challenge this abuse of authority and not succumb to the intimidation of these well intentioned by absolutely WRONG civil servants.

Sheila, my lovely bride and dream girl, was a real trooper and a pillar of support. She understands the issues at work, and what is at stake in this situation. She stood by me physically and morally throughout the entire episode. Without her support I couldn't have taken the stand that I did. Also, she's helped out a lot with getting the letters ready to send. Thank you Sheila; I love you very much!

The anger that I felt regarding this incident has morphed into sadness. I'm sad that the Fare Inspectors are so inept and misguided as to try to enforce nonexistent laws. Also it's sad that they think that preventing a photographer from shooting in the Muni Station will have ANY impact at all on security. On a deeper level it causes me great concern that these Fare Inspectors (and the SFPD Officers) balanced my rights and freedom as a US Citizen and a photojournalist against the negligible security gains afforded by preventing my photography, and my rights lost. Come on people if you're going to take my rights away, at least get some benefit from abrogating my rights!

It saddens me that a professional Police Officer, sworn to uphold the law and protect the citizens of his city, was willing to twist and pervert the law in order the threaten me with arrest for exercising my rights. I can't begin to tell you how shocked I was when Officer Ryan threatened me with arrest for Trespassing if I continued to take photographs! This is America, He is a law enforcement officer, what the hell was he thinking?!?!

I can't help but feel that the terrorists have won. Have we again reached a point in our history where fear is so strong that it overrides justice and common sense? Have we arrived at a place where the phrase "for security reasons” trumps logic? Where it trumps justice, fairness and liberty? Are we so paranoid that we're willing to give up our basic freedoms in pursuit of elusive security? I'm all for doing what we can to make our country safer. I live in San Francisco, a place that is likely on the terrorist todo list. Of course I want security. But if we sacrifice our freedoms that were gained by the blood of patriots, we will cease to be beacon of freedom that we should be. Bottom line, as long as we are a free and open society, we can not plug every security hole, but, even if we gave up our freedom and liberty, we still wouldn't achieve security!

Ben Franklin said it best, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

NOTE: I'll be editing this blog entry as well as the draft letters to the SF Muni and SFPD to correct grammar, typos, etc. The basic content will remain the same.

www.shooter.net/index.php/weblog/Item/attack-of-the-sf-muni-fare-inspectors/

© 2000-2003 San Francisco Indymedia. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the San Francisco Indymedia. Running sf-active v0.9.4 Disclaimer | Privacy

posted in District 5 - 4 replies

And the Ranked Choice Voting Winner is...

2004-11-12T20:06:34Z

Ross Mirkarimi!

speech and photos:
http://luxomatic.textamerica.com/?r=1647208

Ross is cofounder of the California Green Party, long-time activist and former CA campaign coordinator for Ralph Nader and campaign manager to Matt Gonzalez.

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Thanks

2004-11-06T06:04:11Z

Dear Friends,

Just moments ago, I called Ross Mirkarimi and congratulated him on being the next District 5 Supervisor.

I will do everything possible to help him make District 5 and our larger community a better city.

Let me also say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and extend my gratitude to our truly tireless campaign staff and volunteers.

This has been an extraordinary election. I've seen all of District 5 in this campaign and I love this District.

Thank you.

Robert Haaland

posted in District 5 - 2 replies

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

2004-11-05T02:26:11Z

i created this tribe because i thought we could get some interesting discussion/support/info exchange/etc. for the election.

now that the election has passed, i'm thinking of deleting/closing the tribe. but because i'm very interested in living in a democracy (ha!--yes, democracy, not plutocracy) i want YOUR opinions first.

keep the tribe to discuss D5 issues? or delete it?

also i feel i should mention i moved to D9 this week. so perhaps i could pass along moderation as well.

:]

thanks to everyone who has joined/participated. cast your vote here in this thread for whether we stay or go.

xo,
s

posted in District 5 - 2 replies

An Open Letter to District 5

2004-11-03T00:12:37Z

Dear friend,

My name is Robert Haaland, and I am running for District 5 Supervisor in San Francisco. I’m writing to tell you a little about myself, and to ask for your support. I am a longtime progressive activist who has dedicated myself to protecting renters, fighting for social justice, and achieving political reforms that empower working people, people of color, and neighborhoods. I hope you’ll consider me, and forward this letter to your friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances who live in District 5.

I came out to my father when I was 18. He threw me out of the house because he was afraid I would "spread the gay disease." Like many young queer people, after being shunned by my family I ended up in San Francisco. The city has been my home for twenty years, the Haight for the past nine of them.

Since that move to San Francisco twenty years ago, I have dedicated my life to fighting for housing, jobs, and civil rights for everyone.

I worked as an organizer for both the San Francisco Tenants Union and the Housing Rights Committee during some of the most challenging times for renters in this city. I led several fights to save rent control and worked to protect neighborhood businesses and housing. I helped create an emergency rent assistance loan fund and stronger protections against unjust evictions.

I served as vice-president and then as president of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, where I fought for a higher minimum wage, public power, and the right to marry.

The Bay Guardian wrote that I am “…at the center of the resurgence of the progressive movement.” In 2002, I was elected as part of a reform slate to the San Francisco Democratic Party Central Committee. I was named a Bay Guardian “Local Hero” because of my work empowering the progressive community in San Francisco.

I took leave from my current job as an organizer for SEIU 790, the city employees' union, to run for Supervisor. Together with our members, I have fought to protect vital city services that San Franciscans depend on every day, such as MUNI and the city's public health services.

I am running for Supervisor because I think our district and our city need an experienced, progressive voice to speak for all San Franciscans.

I believe in preserving and creating affordable housing. I am a strong supporter of rent control. I believe we must strengthen rent control to ensure that everyday people can afford to live in San Francisco. Homeownership is also important. We must get over the fights that grind the whole process to a halt and build housing that's affordable to everyday San Franciscans.

I believe we can solve homelessness. We must stop homelessness before it starts. I helped create the emergency rent assistance fund (RADCO), which provides emergency assistance to help people keep their homes. I will continue working towards more supportive housing, substance abuse treatment on demand, and stronger protections against illegal evictions.

I believe in a fair shake for everyone. San Francisco has recently made several steps forward by raising the minimum wage, providing health care to our children and youth, and instituting measures to protect blue-collar industry in our city. We need to continue making strides towards health coverage for everyone, housing that real everyday people can afford, and safe and clean neighborhoods.

I believe in civil rights. San Francisco has an international reputation as a city that believes in tolerance. We need to do better than tolerance. We need to continue our leadership in guaranteeing marriage rights for all. We also need to ensure that all San Franciscans are treated fairly by our police department.

I believe in neighborhoods. Empowering people to access local government and to make decisions that affect their lives is at the core of my political activism. I have fought against chain stores and against displacement of small businesses and non-profit organizations. We need to continue to empower neighborhoods in the planning process and keep San Francisco the city we love.

I have worked to build our city’s progressive movement and to make San Francisco a more just, humane, and caring city. I will continue to do so as Supervisor. If I am elected, I will be the first openly (out of the closet) transgender Supervisor in the country. We can send a message that will rock the nation. I hope that you will support me. To find out more, please call my campaign office at 409-1318, visit www.roberthaaland.com, or stop by 1883 Hayes Street.

Thank you,

Robert

posted in District 5 - 3 replies

where is ross?

2004-10-31T00:04:29Z

i met him today and liked him. but i'd like to see and hear him more online. i want someone who's going to be directly interactive and responsive with us now and after they win.

posted in District 5 - 7 replies

school board elections

2004-10-30T02:37:24Z

(reposted from lower haight tribe)

please don't forget to take a look at the candidates running for school board in san francisco!

http://www.sfpolitics.com/html/elections/schoolboard/2004_school_board.cfm

my picks are: sanchez, mar, kim, and yee (for whatever my picks are worth).

hiles and wynn are both reluctant to commit the school district to following the sunshine ordinance, that's one mark against them. hiles is so "professional" she recently told mark sanchez to "shut the fuck up" at a packed school board meeting. besides which spending over $150,000 on a school board campaign (as hiles has done) strikes me as somewhat obscene...

thanks, just wanted to opinionate!

posted in District 5 - 3 replies

PHoenix Streets is the best choice for D5

2004-10-25T02:19:23Z

Being involved with a D5 camapaign, I've attended all of the candidate forums and had a chance to hear all the
candidates speak.

One point that almost all candidates agree on is that crime and
violence in the predominantly black neighborhoods of
D5 is one of our most critical issues.

Phoenix Streets is the most genuine candidate to try and tackle
this pressing issue--he is a black man who actually grew up in
the projects of the Western Addition.

He joined the Navy to pay his way through school at UC Berkeley.
He then went on to obtain his J.D. from Hastings and is currently
an attorney at the Public Defender's office.

Phoenix was featured in a KQED Documentary called "Presumed
Guilty" about public defenders. If you would like to borrow a copy,
please contact me.

Phoenix has lived in D5 for 17 years and wants to give back to
his community. He is a very caring, smart and diplomatic
figure. I sincerely hope you take a close look at him before you
decide who you think will be the most effective Supervisor.

thank you!
Phoenix Streets for D5 Supervisor

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

Absentee Ballot

2004-10-20T16:25:56Z

Just got mine in the mail today.
I'm ready to vote!

posted in District 5 - 3 replies

still undecided? gotta rank 1-2-3?

2004-10-19T20:21:11Z

candidate's forum tonight:

Tue, Oct 19, 7-9 p.m.
Japanese Cultural and Community Center
1840 Sutter Street, 1st floor

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

still undecided? gotta rank 1-2-3?

2004-10-19T20:21:06Z

candidate's forum tonight:

Tue, Oct 19, 7-9 p.m.
Japanese Cultural and Community Center
1840 Sutter Street, 1st floor

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

fun with the ranked-choice simulator

2004-09-01T09:59:36Z

http://www.demochoice.org/sfballot.php?poll=SF5

[sorry for being a lame-ass moderator. chime in folks: news bites, etc.]

posted in District 5 - 2 replies

newsom's d5 town hall this saturday

2004-08-26T11:32:25Z

Join Mayor Gavin Newsom for his fourth Town Hall meeting which will take place in District 5 on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the West Bay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore Street at Eddy.

from: http://news.sfobserver.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=f36709a85b0bce976d1de68ce0d9bbfd

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

BrettWheeler.org

2004-08-19T22:32:17Z

"Brett Wheeler, a nice guy, liberal Democrat and friend of Matt Gonzalez, quietly initiated his run by designing a web page that is promoted every time you search on the internet for a SF political site. Next, he organized a kickoff rally which rivaled in numbers those of others considered frontrunners."

-- Kate Smith, SF-Frontlines.com 8/19/2004

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

22 Candidates

2004-08-12T22:14:07Z

Yesterday was the filing deadline to run for District 5.
Today's Chronicle lists 22 official candidates:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/12/BAGJ086K4F1.DTL

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

8/11 anti-violence conference/meet (some of?) the candidates

2004-08-12T22:00:02Z

http://www.tribe.net/tribe/servlet/template/pub%2CViewListing.vm?listingid=ebc80976-5b2e-48d9-a19c-3159219fd010&nextpage=%2Ftribe%2Fservlet%2Ftemplate%2Fpub%252CTribeCard.vm%3Ftribeid%3D3ea1d126-dc7e-4a92-88c7-c0d8b8ad97b1

once again, hope to see you tomorrow (wednesday) evening 6-9pm at 762 fulton @ webster, the african american arts and cultural complex.

kamala harris, matt gonzalez, and sarah lipson will be among the guest speakers addressing the "state of the district". they will be followed by a youth speakout and Q&A, then breakout sessions on topics such as economics/housing, youth issues & education, family services & health, and the juvenile justice system, to offer suggestions for positive actions with a focus on cooperation between the various agencies and others that serve district 5 - the board of education/sfusd, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, local businesses, etc.

many (hopefully ALL!) of the district 5 candidates will be in attendance.

the event is immediately followed by a dance party 9-11pm with music and open mic, food, etc.

c'mon out! - after all we are "home to The City's most progressive voters"!! the examiner said so!
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/033004n_gonzalez

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

Matt Gonzalez endorses Ross!

2004-08-11T21:11:16Z

pics
http://luxomatic.textamerica.com/?r=1231080

rossforsupervisor.org

posted in District 5 - 0 replies

How many candidates??

2004-08-10T22:06:20Z

Yesterday's Chronicle listed the following 21 candidates as having officially filed to run for the District 5 seat. The filing deadline in District 5 is Wednesday, August 11.
But... the heading of this tribe lists "27+ candidates" and a post by someone else quotes the San Francisco Observer as listing 30+ candidates.
Are those other sources counting candidates who have announced their intention to run but haven't filed the offfical paperwork yet? Or is the Chronicle list imcomplete?

Robert Anderson
Bill Barnes
Joseph Blue
Harold Brown
Patrick Ciocca
Julian Davis
Lisa Feldstein
Emmett Gilman
Robert Haaland
Phillip House
Dan Kalb
Susan Kin
Michael O'Connor
Jim Siegel
Tys Sniffen
Francis Somsel
Phoenix Streets
Andrew Sullivan
Nick Waugh
Brett Wheeler
Vivian Wilder

posted in District 5 - 7 replies

meet district 5 candidates

2004-08-07T17:46:05Z

here's what i know now:

district 5 candidates will be meeting the public at
the african american art and culture complex
wednesday, august 11, 6-9PM
762 fulton

i'm pretty curious, as i can't even count all them candidates... sorry i don't have a lot of details about the meeting, will post them as i get them... if anyone knows more, please add in! thanks.

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

Wierd Publicity Stunt

2004-08-07T17:36:42Z

Weird publicity stunt by District 5 Candidate Ben Vanderford:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A video that appeared on a Web site used by Islamic militants purported to show the beheading of an American hostage on Saturday but the mother of the man shown in the video said it was a hoax.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5902583

http://www.recordlabelrecords.org/ben/index2.htm

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

July 7 Candidates Collaborative

2004-07-09T21:33:11Z

Does anyone have anything to report from last night's forum? I missed it.

posted in District 5 - 1 reply

Intention

2004-07-01T22:53:25Z

Hi. I'd really like to grow this tribe and have it be a nice, friendly place for people to discuss the issues of five and who they're supporting and why.

I'll try to post article and candidate site links as I can; I encourage you all to do the same.

Please announce your related events here, too: in the listings, not in the discussions.

Please feel welcome to join and invite your interested friends!

posted in District 5 - 6 replies

boundaries

2004-06-18T08:32:11Z

where do you find the boundarie jurisdictions?

posted in District 5 - 1 reply