Sam Spade's San Francisco

Well, being completely homeless as in pushing a shopping cart is still not going to qualify someone for a bank account, but many people live just a stage or two above the shopping cart level. This new program is an innovative and progressive move to give a helping hand to San Francisco's near-homeless and very-low-income citizens.

Bank on San Francisco is a joint effort of Mayor Gavin Newsom, Treasurer José Cisneros, and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. San Francisco is the first city in the nation to develop a program of this kind to help everyone to enter the financial mainstream and start saving for the future. For some that future might simply mean putting enough money aside to get off the streets, out of the Tenderloin, buy some clothes, start eating better, get help for drug or alcohol abuse, and hopefully transition to a more productive life.

According to Bank on San Francisco, the goal is to bring 10,000 of the estimated 50,000 "unbanked" households in San Francisco into the financial mainstream by helping them to open a low-cost, starter bank account. To accomplish this goal, Bank on San Francisco turned to the City's banks to help remove the barriers that many people face in opening a bank account.

Did you read this story in today's San Francisco Chronicle?

Seniors at UC Berkeley, the nation's premier public university, got an F in their basic knowledge of American history, government and politics in a new national survey, and students at Stanford University didn't do much better, getting a D.

Out of 50 schools surveyed, Cal ranked 49th and Stanford 31st in how well they are increasing student knowledge about American history and civics between the freshman and senior years.


It's not at all surprising to me. The majority of San Francisco's local community and civic affairs blogs cover mainly social events. There are many blogs for young people who have just arrived in San Francisco (within the past several years) and who are still thrilled to make all those special little "inside" discoveries the rest of us (who are long-time or lifetime San Franciscans) made years ago. These blogs chat endlessly about exciting new discoveries like good places to eat on a tight budget, great places to see the City high on a hill, the cheapest place to find designer clothes, and ad infinitum.

Few of those blogs cover anything important to the current life or future of the City. I have assumed we simply had a lack of serious social science students in the City. Maybe that is not the problem. The facts suggest it is true that most of our college and university students are simply under-educated before they arrive at our local college admission offices. We seem to have under-educated students who, for whatever reason, have failed to develop any interest in or understanding of the subjects that have the power to assure them that they and their eventual children will be able to live lives in peace.

This could be the reason why so few young bloggers address our City's social, civic and political issues. Maybe it is simply because the whole subject matter is above their comfort level to assess and discuss. Perhaps they simply have nothing to add ... because they have poor understanding of what's going on around them ... because they are getting F grades in American history, government and politics. They are failing in their responsibilities as adult Americans. This may be the generation that will lose our freedom.

If a generation fails to understand that freedom is not free, they are surely destined to be slaves. Our current flock of young college students are collective Bozos who are ripe for being sold a plot of Florida swamp land. They are naive lambs waiting to be slit from ear-to-ear by people from other areas and countries who grow up in environments less protected and naive, and, from a place where people place a higher value on a solid knowledge of history, government and politics.

When America is being led by half-educated people who have forgotten our history, have weak knowledge of how our government-of-the-people works, and who have poor understanding of our political system ... it will not be long before the United States of America collapses into defeat.

Students who lack these vital elements of their education are not deserving of their degrees and are not deserving of acceptance by the larger society as fully educated and competent American adults. They are an embarrassment to themselves, a humiliation to their schools and a danger to our nation.

The staff and trustees of the institutions should feel thoroughly humiliated and disgraced. You have failed. You have decimated our institutions, damaged the sanctity of higher education and you may be significantly instrumental in the decline and collapse of this nation. Your careers are pathetic.

Our students, our nation and our future DEMAND better than you seem able to provide.

Have you seen the TV commercial showing a firefighter who stares into the camera and tells us that Prop 87 is the wrong solution? The commercial is intended to deceive us into thinking it is sponsored by first-responders, public servants and environmentalists.

That is a lie. That commercial and the entire effort to defeat Prop 87 is being paid for by the oil industry.


Who is paying for the NO on Prop 87 effort?

According to a report by the California Secretary of State, here are the cash donors for the No on Prop 87 TV effort: E & B NATURAL RESOURCES MGMT CORP., DRILLING & PRODUCTION CO., AMERICAN ENERGY OPERATIONS, INC., AERA ENERGY LLP, TRC OPERATING COMPANY, INC., CHEVRON CORPORATION (donated $3 million), HOLMES WESTERN OIL CORPORATION, NAFTEX OPERATING COMPANY, VENOCO, INC., BRIDGEMARK CORPORATION, SAN JOAQUIN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, INC., SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM, INC., VAQUERO ENERGY INC., STOCKDALE OIL & GAS, INC., MACPHERSON OIL COMPANY, SIERRA RESOURCES, INC., R & R RESOURCES, LLC, PURISIMA HILLS, LLC., AERA ENERGY LLP (a joint-venture of Exxon-Mobil and Shell Oil - donated $2.8 million), OCCIDENTAL OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, E & B NATURAL RESOURCES MGMT CORP., RIO DELTA RESOURCES, INC., BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, WARREN EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, INC., R & R RESOURCES, LLC, CALIFORNIA BUSINESS PAC, CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION ... and this is only a partial list. To see the full list and the amounts donated, go to the Secretary of State's web site here.


What about the YES on Prop 87 effort?

On the "Yes" side of the argument we find most of the medical, scientific and human services community.

The coalition to vote YES ON 87 includes: American Association for Fuel Cells; American Solar Energy Society; Americans for Energy Independence; American Lung Association of CA; Apollo Alliance; California Alliance for Retired Americans; California Farmers Union; California Federation of Teachers; California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO; California League of Conservation Voters; CalPIRG; Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT); Children's Health Environmental Coalition; Comite Pro Uno; Coalition for Clean Air; Healthy African American Families II; The Interfaith Environmental Council; Latino Urban Forum; National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition; Natural Resources Defense Council; Orange County Society of Allergy; Asthma & Clinical Immunology; Physicians for Social Responsibility; Sierra Club California; Silicon Valley Leadership Group; Union of Concerned Scientists; Union de Vecinos; Utility Consumers Action Network, Yolo County Board of Supervisors, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein; Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Riverside Mayor Mayor Ronald Loveridge; UCSD Professor and Nobel Chemistry Prize winner Dr. Mario Molina, UCSD Professor; Dr. Vincent Tubiolo, President, CA Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and these:

AGRICULTURAL GROUPS:
American Soybean Association. California Farmers Union, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, National Corn Growers Association.

AIR QUALITY GROUPS:
Association of Irritated Residents. Clean Air Now. Coalition for Clean Air.

BUSINESSES:
American Biodiesel, Inc., Amerigy Better Energy Systems, Biodiesel America, Buel Solar Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT), Clean Fuel Connection, Codding Enterprises, Community Environmental Services, Community Fuels, Desal Response Group, The Douris Corporation, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), FlexCar, GAIA Tours, Go Solar, LA Biofuel, Inc., New Voice of Business, Open Energy Corporation, Peloton Energy, LLC Permacity, Solar Planetary Kidz, Real Earth Inc., Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Standard Biodiesel, Inc., Strategic Capital Investments LLC, SustainableBusiness.com, Thistle, The Douris Corporation, UsedCardboardBoxes.com, WilderHill ,Clean Energy Index (ECO), and Working Assets.

CONSUMER GROUPS:
CalPIRG, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of California, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, Public Citizen's Energy Program, Utility Consumers Action Network.

EDUCATION GROUPS:
California Federation of Teachers, Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE GROUPS:
Americans for Energy Independence, Apollo Alliance California, Apollo Alliance Energy Future Coalition, Energy Independence Now, Foreign Oil Independence League, Oil Change International.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS:
Ballona Wetlands Land Trust, League of Conservation Voters, Californians Against Waste, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT), Center for Natural Lands Management, Citizens for a Quality Environment, Community Environmental Council, Earth Day LA, Earth Day Network, Earth Island Institute, Earth Resource Foundation, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Education for Sustainable Living, Endangered Habitats League, Environment California, Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County, Environmental Defense Friends of the Earth, Global Green USA, Global Possibilities, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education, Mono Lake Committee, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense, Council People for Parks Planning and Conservation League, Rainforest Action Network, Redwood Alliance, San Diego Coastkeepers, Santa Monica Baykeepers, Sierra Club California, Southern California Watershed Alliance, Urban Corps of San Diego, Wild Heritage Planners, Windows on our Waters.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:
Bayview Hunters Point Health and Environmental Resource Center, Committee to Save Silverlake Reservoirs, Literacy for Environmental Justice, Pacoima, Beautiful West County Toxics Coalition.

FAITH GROUPS:
California Interfaith Power and Light Campaign, Lutheran Office of Public Policy, Orange County Interfaith Council for the Environment, The Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life of Southern California, The Interfaith Environmental Council .

HI-TECH / RENEWABLES GROUPS:
American Association for Fuel Cells, American Solar Energy Society, California Cars Initiative, Clean Fuel USA, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, Electric Auto Association, Green Depot Los Angeles, Biodiesel Co-op, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Northern California Solar Energy Association, Plug-In America, San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association, Southern Alliance for the Utilization of Biomass Resources, Vote Solar Initiative, World Council for Renewable Energy.

LABOR GROUPS:
California Labor Federation AFL-CIO, California State Building & Construction Trades Council, Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers, Region 5 Los Angeles County Labor Federation AFL-CIO, Orange County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Tri-Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO.

LATINO ORGANIZATIONS:
Comite Pro Uno, Latino Urban Forum, National Hispanic Environmental Council, Union de Vecinos.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUPS:
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, Davis City Council, San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors, Santa Monica City Council, Yolo County Board of Supervisors.

POLITICAL GROUPS:
California Democratic Party, California National Organization for Women (Political Action Committee), Lake County Democratic Central Committee, Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, Orange County Democratic Central Committee, Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee, San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee, Trinity County Democratic Central Committee, Yolo County Democratic Central Committee, Beverly Hills Democrats Democracy Action, Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, Hayward Democratic Club, Inland Counties Stonewall Democrats, San Francisco Women's Political Committee, Stonewall Democratic Club, and West Hollywood Democratic Club.

PUBLIC HEALTH GROUPS:
American Lung Association of California, American Nurses Association, Allergy and Asthma Medical Group and Research Center, California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, California Public Health Association-North, Center for Environmental Health, Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, Environmental Health Coalition, Healthy African American Families II, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Oakland Kicks Asthma, Orange County Society of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, Southern California Public Health Association.

SCIENTIFIC GROUPS:
Union of Concerned Scientists

SENIOR GROUPS:
California Alliance for Retired Americans, Gray Panthers of California, Senior Action Network

OTHER NOTABLE GROUPS:
Alliance for Affordable Energy, American Progress Action Fund, Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, Sustainable Works World Trust Foundation.

ACADEMICS / SCIENTISTS:
A. Paul Alivisatos Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley; Frances Arnold, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, California Institute of Technology;Harry Atwater,Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science, California Institute of Technology;Robert Benson,Professor of Law, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles;Robert G. Bergman,Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Woodrow W. Clark, Managing Director, Clark Strategic Partners and Author of Agile Energy Systems: Global Lessons from the California Energy Crisis; David A. Dornfeld, Professor of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; Andrew Frank,Professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of California, Davis; David Goodstein, Vice Provost and Professor of Physics, California Institute of Technology; Harry B. Gray, Professor of Chemistry, Founding Director of the Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology; Sossina M. Haile, Professor of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Alan J. Heeger, Professor of Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara; Daniel M. Kammen, Professor of Energy and Society, University of California, Berkeley; David F. Kelley, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced; Walter Kohn, Professor of Physics, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara; Clifford P. Kubiak, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego; Nathan S. Lewis, Professor of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology; Rudy Marcus, Professor of Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology; Mario Molina, Professor of Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, University of California, San Diego; Sherwood Rowland, Professor of Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, University of California, Irvine; Michael Sailor, Professor of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego; Mel Simon, Professor of Biology, Nat'l Medal of Science Winner, California Institute of Technology; Jim Stewart, Adjunct Professor of Physics, University of the West; William C. Trogler, Professor of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego; Ahmed Zewail, Professor of Physics and Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology.

BUSINESS LEADERS:
Bradley E. Baker, CEO, Codding Enterprises
Thomas Baruch, Founder & Managing Director, CMEA Ventures
Rod Beckstrom, CEO, Carbon Investments
Roger Duncan, Deputy General Manager, Austin Energy
David Edwards, Managing Director, Greentech Research, ThinkEquity Partners
Ira Ehrenpreis, General Partner, Technology Partners
Bob Epstein, Co-Founder, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Greg Farall, Financial Advisor, Lakeside Financial
Tom Faust, CEO, Redwood Renewables
Irwin Federman, General Partner, US Venture Partners
Jonathan Foster, Vice President, Corporate Development and General Counsel, Atempo, Inc.
Board of Directors, California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF)
Thomas Jacoby, Vice Chairman, Klipsch Group, Organizing Member, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Director, California Clean Energy Fund
Vinod Khosla, Partner, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, Founder, Sun Microsystems Inc.
Nicole Lederer, Co-Founder, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
James Lyons, Software Engineer, Google
Amit Master, Sr. Financial Analyst, Cresa Partners
Audrey Philpot, Multi Media Communications, Transformedia
David P. Saltman, President & CEO, Open Energy Corporation
Tom Soto, Founder & President, Paladin Private Equity Partners
Former President, Coalition for Clean Air
Karl Susman, Owner, Susman Insurance Agency
Josh Tickell, President, Biodiesel America
Sheela Toor, Marketing Communications Manager, Raza Microelectonics
Daniel Weiss, Managing Partner, The Angeleno Group
Dr. Rob Wilder, CEO, Wilder Shares, LLC, President, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Initiative

COMMUNITY LEADERS:
Phil P. Bacerra, Executive Director, Democratic Foundation of Orange County
Julie Bear, Executive Director, Eastern Sierra Land Trust
Elaine Booth, President, Women for: Orange County
Ana Unruh-Cohen, Associate Director, Center for American Progress
Sam Duran, CEO, Urban Corps of San Diego
Mike Feuer, Former City Councilmember, City of Los Angeles
Sandy Grant, Chair, Santa Monica Sustainable City Task Force
Roger H. Gray, Director, Pasadena Walks
Tom Hayden, Former Senator, California State Senate
Greg Johnson, Community Services Director, City of Westminster
Jay Levin, Founder of LA Weekly
Alan Lloyd, Former Secretary of California EPA
Mark Paul, Former Deputy Treasurer, State of California
John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
Krishna Rallapalli, President, Huguenin Rallapalli Foundation
Alexia Salvatierra, Pastor and Executive Director of Laity United for Economic Justice
Irving Sarnoff, Founding Director, Friends of One United Nation
Wendy Schmidt, Non-Profit Director, 11th Hour Project

EDUCATION LEADERS:
Jack O'Connel, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Julia Brownley, President, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Mona Field, Trustee of Los Angeles Community College
Eric Mar, Commissioner of SFUSD, Board of Education SFSU

ELECTED OFFFICIALS - FEDERAL:
Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator
Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, United States House of Representatives
Howard L. Berman, Member, United States House of Representatives
Linda T. Sanchez, Member, United States House of Representatives
Loretta Sanchez, Member, United States House of Representatives
Hilda L. Solis, Member, United States House of Representatives

ELECTED OFFICIALS – STATE:
Phil Angelides, Treasurer, State of California
Don Perata, President Pro Tem, California State Senate
Gloria Romero, Majority Leader, California State Senate
Richard Alarcón, California State Senator
Liz Figueroa, California State Senator
Sheila Kuehl, California State Senator
Fabian Nunez, Speaker, California State Assembly
Karen Bass, California State Assemblymember
Wilma Chan, California State Assemblymember
Judy Chu, California State Assemblymember
Dave Jones, California State Assemblymember
John Laird, California State Assemblymember
Joe Nation, California State Assemblymember
Jenny Oropeza, California State Assemblymember
Fran Pavley, California State Assemblymember
Lori Saldana, California State Assemblymember

ELECTED OFFICIALS – COUNTY:
Aaron Peskin, Board of Supervisors President, San Francisco County
Fred Keeley, County Treasurer, County of Santa Cruz
Keith Carson, County Supervisor, Alameda County Board of Supervisors
Alice Lai-Bitker, County Supervisor, Alameda County Board of Supervisors
Chris Daly, County Supervisor, San Francisco County Board of Supervisors
Victor Mow, County Supervisor, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors
Blanca Alvarado, County Supervisor, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Helen Thomson, County Supervisor, Yolo County Board of Supervisors
Mardi Wourmhoudt, County Supervisor, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors

ELECTED OFFICIALS - CITY:
Ruth Atkin, Mayor, City of Emeryville
Tom Bates, Mayor, City of Berkeley
Jane Bender, Mayor, City of Santa Rosa
Beth Ingalls, Mayor, City of Truckee
Bill Judge, Mayor, City of Orinda
Dennis Kennedy, Mayor, City of Morgan Hill
Judy Kleinberg, Mayor, City of Palo Alto
Ronald Loveridge, Mayor, City of Riverside
Nury Martinez, Mayor, City of San Fernando
Gavin Newsom, Mayor, City of San Francisco
Leticia Vasquez, Mayor, City of Lynwood
R. Scot Hunter, Mayor-Pro Tempore, Town of Rose
Bobby Shriver, Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Santa Monica
William Broderick-Villa, Vice-Mayor, City of Waterford
Kelly Fergusson, Vice-Mayor, City of Menlo Park
Otto Lee, Vice-Mayor of Sunnyvale
Ron Orenstein, Vice-Mayor of Willits
Sam Pierce, Vice-Mayor, City of Sebastopol
Pete Sanchez, Vice-Mayor, City of Suisun City
Karl P. Warkomski, Councilmember, City of Aliso Viejo
David Meserve, Councilmember, City of Arcata
Maxwell G. Anderson, Jr., Councilmember, City of Berkeley
Kriss Worthington, Councilmember, City of Berkeley
Linda Maio, Councilmember, City of Berkeley
Frank A. Tierney, Councilmember, City of Coronado
Josve Barrios, Planning Commissioner, City of Cudahy
Juan Romo, Councilmember, City of Cudahy
Stephen Souza, Councilmember, City of Davis
David Weinsoff, Councilmember City of Fairfax
Bob Wieckowski, Councilmember, City of Fremont
Dean Williams, Councilmember, City of Grass Valley
Christine Krolik, Councilmember City of Hillsborough
Louie A. Lujan M.Ed., Councilmember, City of La Puente
Jane Egly, Councilmember, City of Laguna Beach
Janice Keller, Councilmember, City of Lompoc
Gerrie Schipske, Councilmember, City of Long Beach
Eric Garcetti, President, Los Angeles City Council
Rockard J. Delgadillo, City Attorney, City of Los Angeles
Wendy Greuel, Councilmember, City of Los Angeles
Alex Padilla, Councilmember, City of Los Angeles
Ed. P. Reyes, Councilmember, City of Los Angeles
Herb Wesson, Councilmember, City of Los Angeles
Jim Aldinger, Councilmember, City of Manhattan Beach
Esther Sanchez, Councilmember, City of Oceanside
Peter Drekmeier, Councilmember, City of Palo Alto
Dr. Michael G. Harris, Councilmember, City of Pleasant Hill
Jim Rogers, Councilmember, City of Richmond
Sanmukh Bhakta, Councilmember, City of Rio Vista
Kevin McCarty, Councilmember, City of Sacramento
Judy Chirco, Councilmember, City of San Jose
Linda J. Lezotte, Councilmember, City of San Jose
John B. Ewan, Councilmember, City of San Luis Obispo
Jan Epstein, Councilmember, City of San Mateo
Das Williams, Councilmember, City of Santa Barbara
Dominic J Caserta, Councilmember, City of Santa Clara
Mike Rotkin, Councilmember, City of Santa Cruz
Kevin Mckeown, Councilmember, City of Santa Monica
Cliff Barrett, Councilmember, City of ScottsValley
David W. Roberts, Councilmember, City of Solana Beach
Joseph J. Gonzales, Councilmember, City of South El Monte
Mari Rodin, Councilmember, City of Ukiah
Abbe Land, Councilmember, City of West Hollywood
John J. Duran, Councilmember, City of West Hollywood
Jeffrey Prang, Councilmember, City of West Hollywood

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS:
Carol M. Browner, Former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1993-2001)
Board Member, Center for American Progress
Winston Hickox, Former Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency
Roland Hwang, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President, Waterkeeper Alliance
John A. Knox, Executive Director, Earth Island Institute
Peter Meisen, President, Global Energy Network Institute
Mary Nichols, Director, UCLA Institute of Environment
Jerome Ringo, Chairman of the Board, National Wildlife Federation
James Strock, Former Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency
Nadine Weil, Global Green
Diane Wittenberg, President, California Climate Action Registry

LABOR LEADERS:
Charles A. Bucks, Vice President, U.S. Postal Service
John Connolly, President, AFTRA, AFL-CIO
Ron Garcias, IA Representative, IATSE Union
Danny Ramos, Political Director, SEIU Local-535

LATINO LEADERS:
Jennie Carreón de Lacey, Director of Governmental and Public Relations, Soledad Enrichment Action
Alexandra Gallardo Rooker., 1st Vice-Chair, California Democratic Party
Dolores Huerta, President, Dolores Huerta Foundation

NATIONAL LEADERS:
Madeleine Albight, Former U.S. Secretary of State

PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS:
Robert H. Friis, President, Southern California Public Health Association
Linda Rosenstock, Dean, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
Vincent Tubiolo, President, California Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

Now ... who do you believe?

All these Californians ... or ... the big oil companies?

Vote YES on Prop 87

Visit the YES ON PROP 87 web site at:
http://www.yeson87.com/

The Republican-controlled U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce voted yesterday to cut as much as $10-million in federal funding for San Francisco AIDS patients. More than 15,000 HIV+ San Franciscans will suffer. Their quality of life will decline, more treatment plans will be interrupted or terminated and, as result of this vindictive vote by this Congressional committee, more San Franciscans will die.

The smiling bastard in the photo is Joe Barton, the Congressman from Texas who is a buddy of fellow good-old-boy George W. Bush. Barton is Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee and is the son-of-a-bitch most directly responsible for this reprehensible vote.

The Republican Party and the Bush Administration detest San Francisco and, most particularly, they cannot tolerate gay and lesbian liberal San Franciscans. This vote is a clear attempt to punish and penalize the people of San Francisco because we refuse to follow the Red Republican banner and support their inept president. It's payback ... Republican style.

And make absolutely no mistake about their intention. The Texas Bush Republicans are well aware that this is a death sentence for HIV+ gay and lesbian San Franciscans. It is an orchestrated attack on gay and lesbian San Franciscans by a hateful and homophobic renegade band of Republicans who are doing the bidding of their jackass leader, George Bush. It is our punishment for failing to obey the will of that goddam warmongering Texas idiot.

It is almost unbelievable that fellow Americans, be they Republican or not, would crawl so low as to put the lives of American's in jeopardy because of partisan politics. The Republican Party is rotten to the core. They have become an anathema to the world and a malediction to freedom.

James Loyce, Director of AIDS Programs for the San Francisco Department of Public Health warned that "nothing will be untouched by this loss, if it happens."

Yes ... that's IF it happens.

Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein have swung into action to block this horrific action. Nancy Pelosi, leader of the Democrats in the House has vowed to fight the committee decision with full and unlimited vigor. Mayor Gavin Newsom is using the power of his office to do everything possible to forcefully lobby against the bill.

But, what are you doing?

Here's what you can do to help. Contact our legislators by U.S. Mail and also by telephone. Emails do not carry the same "weight" as letters sent through the postal service or personal phone calls. For this extremely urgent issue, take the time to write three letters and put them in the mail. Also, take the time to make three phone calls and talk to a staff person personally.

Don't put it off. Do it now!

Here's who to contact ...


Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Party Leader, U.S. Congress
San Francisco office:
450 Golden Gate Ave., 14th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102


Washington, DC office: 2371 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515



Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator from California
San Francisco office
1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111

Washington, D.C. office
12 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510


Diane Feinstein, U.S. Senator from California
San Francisco Office
Jim Molinari, State Director
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
415/393-07077
TTY/TDD: 415/249-4785

Washington, DC office
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone:
Fax:
TTY/TDD:

Joe Ratzinger, who took the name Benedict XVI when he was crowned Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologus, a 14th century Byzantine emperor, during a speech at the University of Regensburg in his native Germany. The quote angered the entire Muslim world.

Great. Just what we needed. Nice work, Joe.

Here is what Ratzinger told the assembled students, "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Even George Bush, Official Idiot of the United States, would have known better than to say something that completely stupid and thoroughly insulting.

Now Ratzinger says he's sorry, but like any other crafty, deceitful politician, Ratzy didn't apologize for what he said. He only said he was sorry for the reactions of some people to what he said. In fact he further limited his "apology" by pointing to "some countries" and a "few passages". Ratzy did his best to trivialize the feelings of Muslims and isolate them from the rest of the world (his world) by labeling them as coming from "some countries" and as people who reacted to only "a few passages".

Read his apology for yourself: "I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims."

But, wait a minute there Ratzy ... What about the apologies you owe to the gay and lesbian community? The queer community is in the same position the Jews were in at the beginning of the German Nazi occupation of Europe. They wondered when the Vatican would secretly strike a deal with the Nazis and sell them up the river. And that is exactly what the reigning Pope at the time did. He jumped in bed with Hitler.

So, listen Ratzy, what about an apology first to Jews everywhere and particularly to Holocaust survivors and their families?

And, if, Ratzy, someday by an amazing gift from God, you ever do finally decide to issue apologies where they are do, try not to belittle the people to whom you are apologizing. Stop behaving like a pompous jackass.

How many people in San Francisco complain about the crime, the corner liquor stores, the gangs, the dumpy housing projects, the murders and the thriving narcotics business in the Bayview - Hunters Point? It is a figure that would instantly jump into the thousands. Let's face it: the Bayview - Hunters Point has been the most embarrassing neighborhood in San Francisco. It is a place we never mention to tourists. Mere mention of the name brings up images of murders, shootings, crack selling baggy-pant wearing felons, sleazy corner liquor stores that double as emporiums for drug dealers, and, piece-of-shit old cars with expensive amplifiers that produce that BOOM BOOM BOOM (license plates rattling all the way) that disturbs everyone's peace.

Deep inside this place Wells Fargo decided to open a branch. Wells Fargo is headquartered in San Francisco and has taken a step toward doing its part to bring normality and law-abiding life to an otherwise dismal neighborhood. The branch has reached its two-year milestone and recently announced it has attracted more than 1,000 local customers. The Third Street Light Rail project has helped a lot and the City's installation of surveillance cameras has had a major impact on crime reduction.

Joanne Schultz, SF downtown regional president for the bank, told the San Francisco Business Times, "The Bayview district has a lot of potential for economic growth and our strong numbers are a sign that things are looking better in the neighborhood."

This coming Saturday, September 16th, the Wells Fargo Bank Baview - Hunters Point Branch will host a community celebration. The San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders and members of the team (which plays at Candlestick Point, adjacent to Hunters Point) will join Wells Fargo corporate executives to meet with and get to know the people in the neighborhood. Additionally, Wells Fargo will present a total of $30,000 in grant money to the Bayview - Hunters Point Center for Arts and Technology, the Take Wings Foundation, the Providence Foundation of San Francisco, Renaissance Parents of Success, and the Visitacion Valley Development Corporation.

Now ... what about some of the other major corporations that are either headquartered in the SF Bay Area or which have substantial investments in San Francisco? Where are they? What plans do they have to follow in the Wells Fargo footsteps?

Where, for example, is the Safeway in the BV-HP?

How about Starbucks? I work in the Financial District and we trip over the damn things here. Has anyone seen a Starbucks anywhere even remotely close to the Bayview - Hunters Point community?

Rite-Aid has a contract to provide prescription medicine for the City and County of San Francisco. Rite-Aid currently forces many of the City's customers to go downtown to the Rite-Aid at Van Ness and Market. What about the Bayview-Hunters Point where an abnormally large number of Rite-Aid pharmacy customers live? Why can't Rite-Aid open a store where its customers are? At very least, why force people to leave their neighborhood and travel across the entire City to get their prescriptions filled?

Walgreen's has stores in BV-HP. Walgreen's has invested in the people of the Bayview - Hunters Point. What in hell is wrong with the stuffed-shirt executives at Rite-Aid?

Safeway and Rite-Aid are only two examples of businesses that want nothing to do with the Bayview - Hunters Point. We, the rest of San Francisco, need to put pressure on these entities to follow Wells Fargo's lead and begin investing in the future of ALL our City ... not just the plum locations.

Dildos are pretty common in many San Francisco homes, but have you heard of the Jackhammer Jesus Dildo?

A what, you say?

A Jackhammer Jesus Dildo. But if you're not a Jesus Groupie, perhaps you might consider God's Immaculate Rod or even Buddha's Delight or the striking Moses Dildo, which will easily part anyone's Red Sea.

The Jackhammer Jesus Dildo is 7.5 inches long, made from high-quality silicone, comes in 10 colors and sells for $60 from Divine Interventions. You will be able to spot the Jackhammer Jesus Dildo in the photo above. It's the one with the cross-shape.

Sounds like a perfect gift for a postulant or novice in the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Now if the Divine Interventions people really have guts, they will introduce the Mohammed's Nose Ass Tickler, or something along those lines.

Hallelujah!

Did you read about the Bay Area crook who tried running from a CHP officer and tripped himself on his own pants? After running about 100 feet the stylish hip-hop gansta's pants fell down to his ankles and he came to a crashing sliding stop on his face. The pantless wonder was booked into jail on charges of running from police and violation of parole. No charges were filed against him by the Fashion Police who expressed relief at getting another unaestethic gansta off the streets and into prison.

With the Gold Rush in 1849 came a great tsunami. It was a flesh-and-blood tsunami of immigrants flowing into California from every corner of the world. Many tens of thousands of people poured into California, most of them in search of gold, others coming to provide goods, service and supplies. Nearly all of them came through the Golden Gate and first stepped foot on California soil at the docks in San Francisco.

Next Wednesday, September 9th, we celebrate Admission Day, the date in 1850 when California joined the Union as a free, nonslavery state. Although San Jose was chosen as the state's first capitol, it was clear that San Francisco was the commercial center of the new state. Ships coming around Cape Horn and from various points in the Pacific and Asia were almost always bound for San Francisco. Nearly all of them carried merchandise, goods and supplies in addition to passengers.

In 1853 Major General William T. Sherman resigned his military commission and opened a bank on in the heart of the old Barbary Coast. Fortunately for the nation, Sherman's bank failed and he returned to active service with the Army. Sherman went on to lead Union soldiers in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Cattanooga, the Carolinas Campaign and Sherman's famous March to the Sea. In 1869 Sherman was appointed Commanding General of the U.S. Army when the position's previous holder, Ulysses Grant, was elected President of the United States. Sherman's bank, which still stands at the corner of , is shown in the photo upper right.

From San Francisco the newly arrived merchandise spread throughout the state by boat up the Sacramento River, stagecoach, freight wagon and by railroad. The Big Four (Collis Huntington, Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins) developed and built the Central Pacific Railroad with the labor provided by thousands of Chinese immigrants. By 1869 the transcontinental railroad had been completed and San Francisco was connected by rail to the East Coast. It was immediately after that the State of California began its steady rise to become, if California were an independent nation, what would be one of the ten largest economies in the world.