What Activists Can Learn From Occupy Wall Street
by Randy Shaw‚
Oct. 04‚ 2011
For some, Occupy Wall Street is a great strategy for bringing attention to the financial industry’s ongoing abuses and the political system’s unwillingness to control them. For others, it is more akin to a 1960’s “Be In” than a serious challenge to Wall Street power, as it lacks the specific targets and winnable demands customary in standard organizing campaigns. Activists can disagree on many aspects of the occupation, and debating its strategy (or lack thereof) adds to our learning curve. But the greatest lesson of Occupy Wall Street is hard to dispute: many have not given up hopes for real progressive change, and are now more likely to focus outside the electoral process. The challenge is channeling the energy demonstrated over a decade ago in Seattle, throughout the nation in 2008, and earlier this year in Madison and now at Occupy Wall Street into ongoing campaigns attacking social and economic inequality. And if you think the answer simply lies in pushing people to knock on doors for Obama’s re-election, you have missed the point.
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Ed Lee’s Rivals Struggle to Raise Cash, But Yee Helped By Independent Expenditure
by Paul Hogarth‚
Oct. 04‚ 2011
“The new money is either going to the incumbent [Mayor Ed Lee] or just staying out,” lamented Bevan Dufty in a Matier & Ross column last week. With the latest numbers out from the Ethics Commission, Lee has swamped the competition this quarter – raising over $748,000 for the period ending September 30th. And while David Chiu does have the most “cash-on-hand,” the media have not reported how little of that money was raised recently. Ed Lee’s rivals are now having to look elsewhere for money – getting creative when they can: Chiu in New York, Leland Yee with donors across California, and Dennis Herrera tapping names like Thomas Coates. Lee has raised an impressive sum from local business owners, but some donors will give progressives pause – such as Ellis Act attorney Andrew Zacks. Independent expenditure committees are under way to promote Lee’s re-election, and they will likewise swamp the fundrace there too. But so far, Leland Yee has been helped by a $210,000 expenditure.
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San Franciscans Disengaged As Absentee Voting Soon Begins
by Randy Shaw‚
Oct. 03‚ 2011
Election fatigue, disillusion with national politics, the lack of contentious issues, satisfaction with how the City is being run or a combination of all has left San Francisco voters lacking passion as voting soon begins for three contested citywide offices. Mayoral candidate Ed Lee’s lead in nearly all polls is virtually unchanged over the past month, and the race has become less about issues than over who is supporting each candidate. The District Attorney’s race is a sleeper despite an inexperienced, appointed incumbent new to San Francisco whose rivals are trying to stir up excitement about the race. The first real contested Sheriff’s race since 1979 has also failed to excite voters, who may need a high-profile Dick Hongisto (or a Terrence Hallinan in a DA’s race) to get interested in who holds these jobs. Here’s my sense of where the races are as absentee voting soon begins.
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Leroy Looper Memorial on October 5
Oct. 03‚ 2011
The memorial service for longtime Tenderloin leader Leroy Looper, whose legacy forever transformed San Francisco, is Wednesday, October 5, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Cadillac Hotel, at 380 Eddy Street (@ Leavenworth.)
Why the Koch Brothers Want to Make Chris Christie President
by Adele M. Stan‚
Oct. 03‚ 2011
When Texas Gov. Rick Perry, currently the frontrunner in the Republican presidential nomination contest, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made a pilgrimage in June to a Colorado gathering of wealthy right-wing donors convened by billionaires Charles and David Koch, one man clearly impressed the brothers much more than the other.
Introducing Christie, who delivered the keynote address to the Koch Industries gathering, David Koch gushed. "With his enormous success in reforming New Jersey, some day we might see him on a larger stage where, God knows, he is desperately needed," said Koch, according to secretly recorded audio files of the event obtained by Brad Friedman of the Brad Blog.
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Estonia, My Estonia: U.S. Lags Far Behind in Worker Protection
by David Macaray‚
Oct. 03‚ 2011
If you were wondering where the United States ranks, relative to the rest of the world, in the general category of “worker protection,” there is now a precise answer available — one supplied by Professor Kenneth Thomas of the University of Missouri (St. Louis), who based his findings on statistics supplied by OECD members.
The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) is a group of 34 comparatively “rich” industrialized nations that was founded in 1961 and whose stated purpose, more or less, is to meet semi-regularly to discuss ways of increasing economic progress through world trade. It might help to think of the OECD as an international version of the Chamber of Commerce. Its headquarters are in Paris, France.
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San Francisco Has Front-Row Seat for Week 3 of the Michael Vick Train Wreck
by Irvin Muchnick‚
Sep. 30‚ 2011
Michael Vick medical reports tend to be fungible, like Vietnam War body counts. But as this article was being written, he was assuring one and all of the “100 percent chance” that he will start Sunday's game at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Since the 49ers are the Eagles' opponent, Bay Area television viewers will be complicit in the next rubber-necking twist of the increasingly grotesque Vick saga.
Reformed criminal, repentent canine abuser, astonishingly gifted athlete … Vick brings the whole package to the uniquely American story of industrial death and disability in sports. An unsound mind in an unsound body.
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Impulse! Records 50th Anniversary Exhibit Comes to SFJHC's Lush Life Gallery
by E. "Doc" Smith‚
Sep. 30‚ 2011
Impulse! Records, a label synonymous with some of the greatest names in jazz, celebrates its 50th Anniversary with an exhibit at San Francisco’s Jazz Heritage Center’s Lush Life Gallery. This exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Impulse with iconic album covers and images of musical history’s giants captured by Chuck Stewart’s camera that tell the label’s story as vividly as its music does. I was amazed at the album covers and photographs in this exhibit; from drummers Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton and Max Roach, to vocalist Shirley Horn and of course, John Coltrane, perhaps Impulse's most famous artist.
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Once in a Lifetime Brings Amazing Hollywood Flavor to A.C.T.
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Sep. 30‚ 2011
A.C.T’S production of ‘Once in a Lifetime’ is dazzling. The show is like getting on a Hollywood treadmill that won’t let you get off. Wonderful dialogue sparkles among the brilliant sets and sensational acting. Oh, if only I could have been there in those days.
A.C.T has spared nothing to bring back 1920’s – 30’s Hollywood when Gossip Columnists ruled the day. For instance, there is the hilarious take on Gossip’s like Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. And no one could do it better than Rene Augesen as she plays Gossip Monger Helen Hobart. She really nailed the role. Brilliant!
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Chronicle Promotes False Attack on Oakland Mayor Quan
by Randy Shaw‚
Sep. 29‚ 2011
October 5, 2011
