Nebraska Senate Race Features Candidate of Change
by Paul Hogarth‚
May. 09‚ 2008
With the presidential primary fight now behind us, activists can focus their attention on Congressional races to expand the Democratic majority. On May 13th, Nebraska will hold a statewide primary for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by a Republican. And Democrat Scott Kleeb, a 32-year-old rancher, is running an Obama-like campaign for change. His opponent, Tony Raimondo, is a manufacturing executive who switched parties because the Republican establishment rallied behind another candidate. Like Obama, Kleeb’s campaign has been fueled by small online donations – and has grassroots appeal that has energized the Democratic Party. If 2008 is going to be the year of change like many are predicting, Kleeb should do better than expected.
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Ex-San Franciscan Leads Fight to Save Wrigley Field
by Randy Shaw‚
May. 09‚ 2008
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is perhaps the greatest historical monument in professional sports. It seems unimaginable that Wrigley could soon become renamed “Burger King Park,” “Toyota Field” or given a similar corporate moniker. But Sam Zell, whose Tribune Company owns the Cubs as well as such newspapers as the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, is attempting to sell the stadium in a deal that would potentially generate increased revenue for the new owner by allowing the corporate renaming of Wrigley. Jerry Pritikin, who spent his formative years working with Harvey Milk and building gay political power in San Francisco, has become a leader in the fight to save Wrigley’s name. Pritikin and his allies' website, www.keepitwrigley.net, is part of the campaign, which has broadened to include powerful Illinois political figures committed to stopping the desecration of the Cubs venerable Wrigley home.
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For Philly Cops, a Trip Down Memory Lane
by Tommi Avicolli-Mecca‚
May. 09‚ 2008
I’m no fan of the Philadelphia Police Department. I grew up in the working-class streets of South Philadelphia. As a kid, I got stopped by patrol cars on my way home late at night because I looked like someone who had done something wrong. Meaning that I looked Italian. We didn’t call it profiling in those days.
When I came out of the closet, police officers used to raid gay bars (if they didn’t fork over their payoffs on time) and harass queer men walking down the gayest street in town. Believe it or not, they could arrest us if it was after a certain hour and we were in groups of three or more. The first time I was caught at a raid at a popular gay night spot, I made it out of the kitchen door and over a fence. I was underage and had a fake ID.
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Speed Racer, The Mach 5 and Chim Chim's Bad Ass Revenge
by E. "Doc" Smith‚
May. 09‚ 2008
As a child growing up in DC, I became a huge fan of the newly arriving Japanese anime series; Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Gigantor and of course, Speed Racer. The adventures of Speed, his gal Trixie, his pal Sparky, his constant stowaway little brother Spritle and his chimp, Chim Chim, were a must see TV event for me and my siblings. Speed's mysterious brother, "Racer X", his parents, the evil "Snake Oiler" and the equally dangerous "Car Acrobatic Team" were riveting fare, but the true star of the show was Speed's car... "The Mach 5". Like 007's Aston Martin, the Mach 5 could not only slice tires, it could jump, drive under water, defying gravity like no vehicle ever could. Now comes the Wachowski Brothers latest effort, the blue screen heavy "Speed Racer". Once again, Hollywood has tried to make another film from the animated archives of the past and by most accounts, they've come up short.
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A Midsummer Night Mare; Film Noir - 1948 Was a Great Year for Movies
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 09‚ 2008
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: IT’S GLOBAL, IT’S PHYSICAL AND MOSTLY IN THE INDIAN LANGUAGE
This North American Premier of Shakespeare’s singsong recitation comedy coupled with a foreign language makes it even daffier and confusing than the original. The Dash Arts production assumes that everyone knows the story. As I looked around – I saw a lot of young people who were probably seeing this play for the first time. And you know what, the look on their face said: “What the hell is going on?”
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Editorial: The Case Against Proposition G
May. 08‚ 2008
On June 3, San Francisco voters will decide the future of the largest remaining undeveloped acreage remaining in the City. Although its location at the Hunters Point shipyard and alongside Bayview’s low-income minority community has long kept it out of sight and mind, this land is our last opportunity to remake the City’s waterfront a striking community that continues to meet our city’s needs.
Remarkably, almost all the information sent to voters has come from political consultants hired to sell this proposal. It comes in brochures with attractive drawings but very little else, with campaign costs already over $2 million and likely to set an all-time record for a San Francisco ballot measure.
San Francisco, the leader in so many areas, appears to be on the verge of giving birth to yet another first-of-a-kind: the stealth campaign to write public policy out of public view, through a ballot measure exclusively funded by the corporation anxious to seize a billion-dollar prize, and offered in language that wriggles, weasels, and walks away from all the promises it boasts.
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“No on 98” Campaign Goes in Overdrive
by Paul Hogarth‚
May. 08‚ 2008
With Barack Obama having sealed the presidential nomination, California progressives can finally shift their focus to the June 3rd statewide primary. Yesterday, a broad coalition rallied in front of San Francisco City Hall – calling on the state’s voters to defeat Proposition 98 that abolishes rent control, repeals inclusionary housing laws, guts environmental protections and endangers water projects. The local Department of Elections mailed out ballots to permanent absentee voters this week, and early voting has already begun at City Hall. If the “No on 98” effort reaches enough voters in the next 27 days and reminds them that there is a June primary, Prop 98 will go down in flames. Meanwhile, the “San Francisco for Obama” team is busy registering new voters – with a mobilization set for this weekend.
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School Beat: Fighting For Funding
by Lisa Schiff‚
May. 08‚ 2008
In the face of a Governor who refuses to act responsibly by fairly raising taxes and closing tax loopholes, public education advocates are mobilizing in numerous ways for numerous responses. Not only are we continuing our advocacy in opposition to Schwarzenegger’s outrageous attacks against public schools, but locally we are devising solutions that will help increase our financial stability and independence.
School communities are sending the Governor stacks of postcards; individuals are making phone calls and writing letters; unions and supporters are demonstrating. This Friday from 5pm to 7pm at 555 Franklin Street the San Francisco PTA is hosting a Flunk The Budget Potluck to which people should bring food and a cell phone, and the PTA will provide the space and most importantly the phone numbers of legislators and members of the appropriations committees (RSVP to 415-290-2708 if you plan to attend.)
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Obama Seals Nomination With Last Night’s Results
by Paul Hogarth‚
May. 07‚ 2008
When the polls closed in North Carolina and the networks immediately called the state for Barack Obama, I concluded that there must have been a huge black turnout. There was – but despite talk of a “polarized” Democratic electorate along racial or class lines, Obama made in-roads last night with Hillary Clinton’s base that will help him win the general election. With his 14-point victory in the last primary state that had over 100 delegates, Obama sealed the nomination and erased the “popular vote” gains that Clinton had achieved in Pennsylvania. Clinton’s two-point victory in Indiana – only made possible by Rush Limbaugh urging his listeners to vote for her – did not offset her inevitable loss, as the mainstream media proclaimed it a “momentum-killer” for her campaign. Clinton has cancelled all of her public appearances today, giving Democrats the chance to rally around Obama – who is now the presumptive nominee.
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Obama’s Strength, Traditional Media’s Weakness
by Randy Shaw‚
May. 07‚ 2008
May 11, 2008
