San Francisco’s Unsung Activist Heroes of 2006Randy Shawbyline‚ Dec. 12‚ 2006San Francisco progressives made great progress in 2006, a year that saw the city’s low-income workers win enactment of universal health care, paid sick leave, and historic contract gains for members of UNITEHERE Local 2. Tenants won two ballot measures, progressive Supervisor Chris Daly won re-election, Jane Kim led a progressive sweep at the School Board, thousands took to the streets on May 1 for immigrant rights, homeless single adults were housed in record numbers, millions of city dollars were redirected to families’ needs, and San Francisco’s Nancy Pelosi is now the most powerful member of Congress. Not all the news was good, as increased violence plagued African-American neighborhoods, the city’s largest remaining black community was put under the control of the Redevelopment Agency, and the City Attorney denied voters the opportunity to approve the Agency takeover of Bayview-Hunters Point through a public referendum. Here are some of the unsung heroes who made a difference in 2006. |