[SFGP] SF Green Party Weekly

[announce at sfgreens.org]

SFGP WEEKLY
For The Week of 9/22/05 - 9/29/05

**Come join the SFGP contingent at the Anti-War Rally in Dolores Park!  See 
Events for more information!*

This Week:
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News:
9/13: Four Green Local Interest Articles:
  - Ross Mirkarimi Battles Comcast
  - Pictures From Power to the Peaceful
  - Arlene Ackerman Petition
  - Voters Talk About IRV
9/15: GPCA/SFGP Endorsements (Updated)
9/16: Money And Power Are Good Things In The Right Hands
9/18: Nature Spots In SF
9/19: Government Is Good For You
9/19: Greens Join the September 24 Antiwar Protests
9/20: 4,755 ballots were cast by deceased voters
9/20: 104 Arrested as ADAPT Occupies House and Senate Leadership Offices
9/21: FBI forms anti-porn squad 'I guess this means we've won the war on 
terror,' one agent says
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Events:
9/24: U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW - Rally, March, and Green Party Photo Shoot
9/24: Green Party tabling at the SUNSET FESTIVAL
9/27: Drug Companies Vs. The People
9/27: Can Public Power Gain A Foothold In Today's Electricity Market?
9/27: Protest Environmental Racism
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Announcements:
Joke of the Week
"Opt-Out" Deadline for High School Students
Register to Vote By Mail
Become A Sustainer!
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News
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9/13: Four Green Local Interest Articles

Green Party member and District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi was one of many 
who tried to get more for workers and consumers out of local cable monopoly 
Comcast, but the company's contract was renewed by a 6 - 5 vote.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/09/14/BAG7SEN9OP1.DTL

http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/09/14/news/20050914_ne10_comcast.txt

Check out the San Francisco Sentinel for great pictures of the Power to the 
Peaceful Festival, where the Green Party was tabling along with many other 
great organizations over the weekend.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/

Want to save the school district $375,000?  Sign the online petition to keep 
Arlene Ackerman from taking her golden parachute when she leavers her post.
http://www.wongo.com/petitionmain.php

An analysis of voters attitudes toward Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) has been 
written by local political scientist Rich DeLeon.
http://www.sfusualsuspects.com/deleon.shtml
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9/15: GPCA/SFGP Endorsements
The SF Green Party has made the following endorsements:
Candidates:
City Attorney: No Endorsement
Treasurer: No Endorsement
Assessor: No Endorsement
Local Measures:
NO A- City College Bond
No Position B-Resurfacing Bond
YES C- Ethics Charter Reform
YES D- Appointment of Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors
YES E- Election Date of the Assessor - Recorder and Public Defender
NO F- Local Firehouses
YES G- No Widening of MLK Drive in Golden Gate Park
No Position H- Gun Ban- No Position
YES 1- College Not Combat
Statewide Measures:
NO - Prop. 73 - Termination of Minor's Pregnancy.
NO - Prop. 74 - Public School Teachers. Waiting Period for Permanent Status.
NO - Prop. 75 - Public Employee Union Dues. Required Employee Consent for
Political Contributions.
NO - Prop. 76 - School Funding.
NO - Prop. 77 - Reapportionment.
NO - Prop. 78 - Prescription Drug Discounts.
YES - Prop 79 - Prescription Drugs. t
NO - Prop. 80 - Electric Service Providers. Regulation.
For details on the process, please contact Susan King 
(funking at mindspring.com) or Nicole Walter (ladypest at hotmail.com) for a 
written explanation of the endorsements.
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9/16: Money And Power Are Good Things In The Right Hands
By: Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy/Common Rider)
Source: PunkVoter.com

The amount of power in the hands of the wrong people is alarming. I want to 
state an opinion that may be counter-intuitive to most progressives but I 
think there is some truth in it. Before I get to it, let me introduce a very 
simple premise: Power is money and money is power.
Unfortunately, due to leftover Marxist stuff and a massive sixties hangover, 
most people on the left overlook this fact over and over again. Meanwhile, 
most people on the right are not only aware of this but use it to their 
advantage every day of their lives. What will actually influence the world?
For more, go to: 
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1381
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9/18: Nature Spots In SF

A good website for reminding us about good nature spots in SF.
http://www.natureinthecity.org/
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9/19: Government Is Good For You
By: Steven Hill
Source: Mother Jones.com

Commentary: Hundreds of thousands of people on the Gulf Coast must be 
wishing they had more, not less, government.

The effects of Hurricane Katrina will be felt for years. Financially the 
reconstruction of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will cost unknown billions 
of dollars and resources. We still don't know how many are dead. One of 
America's icon cities may never recover.
For more, go to: 
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1384
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9/19: Greens Join the September 24 Antiwar Protests
Press Release
Source: Green Party of the United States

GREENS JOIN THE SEPTEMBER 24 ANTIWAR PROTESTS, CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE 
WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
Green Party events highlighted in schedule of rallies planned for 
Washington, D.C.
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we 
are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and 
servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." (Theodore 
Roosevelt, remarks in 1918 on President Woodrow Wilson's suppression of 
dissent against U.S. involvement in World War I).
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party members will join united peace coalitions 
United For Peace & Justice and A.N.S.W.E.R. and tens of thousands of other 
angry Americans at the September 24 rallies in Washington, D.C. against the 
war on Iraq.
For more, go to: 
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1383
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9/20: 4,755 ballots were cast by deceased voters
Wilson said sloppy record-keeping cannot explain all of the irregularities 
the party found. The researchers found that 4,755 ballots were cast in 
November 2004 by registered voters who in other public records are listed as 
deceased, he said.  "Clearly, if you're dead, you didn't vote," Wilson said, 
saying that such findings suggest voter fraud.
To read more, go to: 
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15227187&BRD=1395&PAG=740&dept_id=226958&rfi=6
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9/20: 104 Arrested as ADAPT Occupies House and Senate Leadership Offices
Washington, D.C.
Fed up with being the targets of Congressional Medicaid
cuts, and being pitted against Katrina survivors for essential services,
500 ADAPT activists occupied the offices of Congressional leaders for 5
hours Monday, resulting in 104 arrests. "Low income people with
disabilities are hemorrhaging as a result of the continual cuts to
Medicaid by the states and Congress," said Barb Toomer, ADAPT Organizer
from Utah. "The leaders of the House and Senate are obviously in a
position to stop the bleeding, so we came directly to them. We feel these
cuts very personally, and we wanted the Senators and Representatives to
feel it personally, too."
Read more at: http://www.adapt.org/
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9/21: FBI forms anti-porn squad 'I guess this means we've won the war on 
terror,' one agent says
Barton Gellman, Washington Post

   Washington -- The FBI is joining the Bush administration's War on Porn.  
And it's looking for a few good agents.
Last month, the bureau's Washington Field Office began recruiting for a new 
anti-obscenity squad. Attached to the job posting was a memo from FBI 
headquarters to all 56 field offices, describing the initiative as "one of 
the top priorities" of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and, by
extension, of "the Director," Robert Mueller.
The new squad will divert eight agents, a supervisor and assorted support 
staff to gather evidence against "manufacturers and purveyors" of 
pornography -- not the kind exploiting children, but the kind that depicts, 
and is marketed to, consenting adults.
"I guess this means we've won the war on terror," said one exasperated FBI 
agent, speaking on condition of anonymity because poking fun at headquarters 
is not regarded as career-enhancing. "We must not need any more resources 
for espionage."
Read more at www.washingtonpost.com
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Events
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U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW - Rally & March
Saturday, Spetember 24th
11:00am

GREEN PARTY - THE PEACE PARTY SAYS NO TO WAR

Greens will be joining the College Not Combat counter-recruitment contingent 
in support of Prop I at 10:00 a.m. at 16th and Mission and march over to 
Dolores Park.  Bring banners, signs, buttons and wear GREEN!
Rally:  11 a.m. assemble at Dolores Park, 18th and Dolores St. in San 
Francisco. The park is near 16th St. BART station.
March:  12 noon from Dolores Park to Jefferson Square Park (Turk & Laguna.)

VOLUNTEER: The San Francisco Green Party plans to deploy at the beginning 
and end of the march. We need volunteers for an ironing board brigade to 
register voters and distribute literature. For those not marching, we will 
assemble at 11:15 at Jefferson Square Park to begin setup there. Contact 
Micheas Herman for information at 415.424.5881 or m at micheas.net

PHOTO SHOOT: Ray Tobey will be conducting a photo shoot in Dolores Park 
around 11 am The photos will be used in Green Party literature.  Ross 
Mirkarimiis speaking at the anti-war protest, and we'll take a group picture 
whenRoss is off stage.  Please dress to impress and flock to the Green 
Partybanner if you'd like to be in the photos.  Look for Rosilind Lord, Ray 
Tobey, or Marc Solomon at thw ralley for details.
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Green Party tabling at the SUNSET FESTIVAL
Saturday, Spetember 24th
10:00AM- 4:00PM Green Party tabling at the SUNSET FESTIVAL
Sunset Recreation Center, at Lawton and 28th Ave

Transportation: From downtown, use MUNI N-Judah Streetcar
Tabling with SF Green Party and Nov 2006 Supervisor D#4 Candidate *PIERRE 
FRAYSSE
Come help to Register Greens Voters, Sign a Petition to PROTEST against MUNI 
service cut ( 66-Quintera Bus) and get organized for the next November 2005 
election.
(*note: The SF Green Party has not made an endorsement in this race)
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Drug Companies Vs. The People
Tuesday, September 27th
7:00pm- 9:00pm
626 Pacheco St., San Francisco ( At the corner of 10th Avenue, #6 Bus )

Speakers: Michael Steinman, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University 
of California, SF & SF Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He will be speaking 
on How the Pharmaceutical Industry Influences Physicians‰ Earl Lui, Senior 
Attorney, Consumers Union, will speak on Prop 78 and 79.
Sponsored by the California Universal Health Care Organizing Project, Health 
Care for All ˆ San Francisco, and the California Physicians Alliance.
For more information call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler at value.net
And from the website of the advocates.
Should the state of California create a new prescription drug discount 
program for residents at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, 
and change state law to make it illegal to engage in profiteering from the 
sale of prescription drugs?

Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:
Provides drug discounts to Californians with qualifying incomes. Funded by 
state-negotiated drug manufacturer rebates. Prohibits Medi-Cal contracts 
with manufacturers not providing Medicaid best price.
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Can Public Power Gain A Foothold In Today's Electricity Market?
Tuesday, September 27th
7:00pm
1028A Howard St.

Realities of the California Electricity Market

Discussion includes:
Renewables: advantages, practicalities, producers, and pricing

Prop 80 and Community Choice Aggregation

If you want to learn more about any aspect of the California energy market, 
you will
The next SF Green Party energy working group meeting this next Tuesday, 
September 27th, 7 P.M. a the Green Party office promises to be interesting. 
This will NOT be a meeting to revisit our local's decision on Prop 80. I and 
many in the group with whom I have discussed it feel firmly that our 
decision to not support Prop 80 is the right one for an assortment of 
reasons.
None the less, a lot is happening in the energy arena, and Matt Friedman 
will conduct what I hope will be a wide ranging discussion of some of the 
issues we are looking toward as we try to get more public control of our 
energy sources and delivery. I hope Paul Fenn and/or Julia Peters will also 
be able to join us.
Matt Friedman of TURN will be doing a presentation and open discussion on:

Prop 80 and Community Choice Aggregation
Realities of the California Electricity Market
Renewables: advantages, practicalities, producers, and pricing
About Matt Friedman:
Authored the California Renewables Portfolio which is now state law
Authored Prop 80
Harvard Law School
Makes sense of California energy market
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Protest Environmental Racism
Tuesday, September 27th
12 noon
US EPA Region IX Headquarters (75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, between 
Howard and Folsom, 2nd and 3rd Streets - take Montgomery Street BART/Muni)

In an act of environmental racism and injustice, the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it wants to eliminate 
race and income as factors in developing the agency’s strategic plan to 
protect public health and the environment from pollution.
This action by US EPA is a direct threat to communities of color and other 
low-income communities that continue to suffer a direct, discriminatory and 
disproportionate impact on their health and environment due to the ongoing 
reality of environmental racism and injustice.
Contrary to US EPA public relations statements, environmental racism is 
alive. Race and class are still major factors in determining who gets 
polluted and how communities are protected from pollution.
For more information and to get involved please contact:
West County Toxics Coalition (925) 432-1350
Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice (415) 248-5010
Communities for a Better Environment (510) 209-7398  * Urban Habitat (510) 
839-9615
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Announcements:
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Joke of the Week
(In honor of Fulsom Street Fair *and* Love Parade, we present not one, but 
*two* humorous pieces!  Soon to be a once-a-month feature, from your friends 
at the SFGP Weekly!  Enjoy! -ed.)

Roe vs. Wade
(Submitted by Pat Gerber)
Q. What does Mr. Bush think about Roe versus Wade?
A.  He doesn't care what people did in New Orleans.

Three Limiricks

The FEMA Head Michael D. Brown
By Madeleine Begun Kane

The FEMA head Michael D. Brown
Helped cause thousands to suffer and drown.
Now he's dodging the blame.
Who's at fault? Val'rie Plame?
Let's throw Dubya and Brown out of town.

Bush Is Fond Of Political Hacks
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Bush is fond of political hacks.
He don't care what credentials they lack.
When they crim'nally flop,
He congrats them nonstop.
While Rove launches a fall guy attack.

Reader Dub
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Who cares what Dubya claims to read:
The history of salt?
Plus tomes on flu and Alex II
What nonsense! Oy Gevalt!
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"Opt-Out" Deadline for High School Students

Just a quick reminder to all parents of high school
seniors that the deadline for turning in the paperwork
that allows respective districts to deny military
recruiters access to the name, address and telephone
number of their child is Oct. 1. Most parents are
still unaware that per No Child Left Behind unless
parents submit necessary paperwork to "opt out",
schools must provide access of students records to
military recruiters.

Michelle Crow
Congressional District Aide
U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-7)
810 E. 22nd St, Ste 102 Tucson, AZ 85713
Phone: (520) 622-6788 - Fax: (520) 622-0198
Michelle.Crow at mail.house.gov
www.house.gov/grijalva
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Register to Vote by Mail
(Sponsered by EQCA)

Register to Vote by Mail--Get Your Friends to Do the Same

When Republican Secretary of State Bruce McPherson sees tens of thousands of 
people registering to vote by mail from this action, it will send a strong 
message to the Governor about the amount of support marriage equality has 
with the voters of California.

Tuesday’s Special Election victory for pro-marriage equality candidate Ted 
Lieu in Assembly District 53 clearly shows how important it is that our 
supporters are registered to vote and participate in every election.

Statistics prove that voters who are registered to vote by mail (absentee 
ballot) are much more likely to cast their vote in every election.  Join the 
"Frequent Voter Club " and register to vote by mail today.
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Become a Green Party Sustainer!

As you may know, the SFGP is supported by our wonderful sustaining donors --
175 and growing.  In the next 12 months we hope to double that figure, and
you can help us achieve our goal by signing up to make a regular
contribution to the Green Party.

Our sustainer program nearly pays all of our basic monthly operating
expenses, including rent and utilities on the office, and drastically
reduces the amount of work needed to raise money.  Our sustainers free us up
to do what we're really here for - to pursue Green values through the
democratic system. Sustainers also ensure that we are able to keep our
office, which has hosted numerous campaigns' headquarters including the
successful Prop A, Instant Runoff Voting initiative.

Becoming a Green Party sustainer is easy, fun, and secure!

Online: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/makeadonation/makeadonation.html

Phone: 415-701-7090
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For more info on our activities, please see our website,
http://www.sfgreenparty.org. You can also email us questions at
info at sfgreens.org.  To send us news items (short blurb please, plain
text only) for possible inclusion in the newsletter, email
news at sfgreens.org.  Please don't put these addresses on mailing lists;
messages not specifically addressed to us won't go through.
Submissions for Joke of the Week, or comments and questions on the
content of the newsletter are welcomed by the editor at
ladypest at hotmail.com