Hello Fellow Greens, Don't forget to join us for our General Meeting on Wednesday, March 16. See the detailed agenda in Calendar below. We also need volunteers for the upcoming anti-war march on Saturday, March 19. If you can help, contact Mark Barnes at mbarn2002@yahoo.com. We are also planning a contingent for the Cesar Chavez parade on April 3. In this update: News Calendar NEWS: Three Green Party members in California competed in special elections on March 8. Though none were victorious, they all ran strong campaigns. Victor Gonzalez ran for Pasadena City Council, Greg Allen ran for Arcata City Council, and Pat Driscoll ran in a special election for the 5th Congressional District. Across the Bay, Green Party member Aimee Allison is running an exciting campaign for Oakland City Council. Aimee is scheduled to speaking at an anti-war teach in to be held in San Francisco on March 24th. See Calendar below for details. The San Francisco Green Party will be considering an official endorsement of Aimee at our March 16 General Meeting. To learn more about Aimee's campaign or to volunteer, call 510-594-7772 or visit http://www.aimeeallison.org. It appears that our 2003 Mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez is opening his new law practice this month. His partner is Whitney Leigh, old law school buddy of Matt, Green Party member and former candidate for school board. http://www.sfist.com/archives/2005/01/20/political_junkie_dewey_cheatam_and_... nzalez.php http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2005/01/24/tidbits1.html The San Francisco Green Party will be featured, along with many other local organizations, in TCB-Café Publishing's new book: "SAN FRANCISCO SOCIAL: A Guide to Fascinating, Exciting or Prestigious Organizations, Clubs and Associations". You can now see a PDF sample of selected pages from the upcoming publication. http://cafeandre.com/sanfranciscosocial.html Green Party County Council member Kim Knox continues to write for SFCall. http://www.sfcall.com/ Is that Mayor Gavin Newsom signing a "Matt-for-Mayor" t-shirt? http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodama/5856146/ Supervisor Chris Daly has started a blog, in which he criticizes the San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.chrisdaly.org/site/bdsupvrs_page.asp?id=30221 The newspaper bites back in a recent article. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/10/BAG84BMTS31.DTL San Francisco Examiner ace political reporter Adriel Hampton takes a job with the city. http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/03/11//columnists/the_body_politic/2... 50308_co01_bodypolitic.txt Check out the latest news releases from the Green Party of California Media Committee at http://www.cagreens.org. CALENDAR: SUNDAY, MARCH 13 WHAT: Meeting to discuss "Local Control" (tax/revenue) issues WHEN: Sunday, March 13 at 3 PM (PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE!) WHERE: Atlas Cafe, located at 20th Street and Alabama. DESCRIPTION: Everyone who is interested in joining or has an opinion or thoughts to share is encouraged to attend this meeting of a newly forming working group. For more information, contact Vicki Leidner, vleidner@rcn.com. MONDAY, MARCH 14 WHAT: Campaigns and Issues Working Group Meeting WHEN: Monday, March 14 from 7 – 9 PM WHERE: San Francisco Green Party office, located at 1028 A Howard Street, between 6th and 7th Streets DESCRIPTION: There will be a discussion of our work plan for the year and proposals for the political strategy for the party. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 WHAT: San Francisco Green Party General Membership meeting WHEN: Wednesday, March 16 from 7:30 - 9:30 PM WHERE: San Francisco Green Party office, located at 1028 A Howard Street, between 6th and 7th Streets DESCRIPTION: This is the San Francisco Green Party's monthly meeting. All members are welcome. The agenda is below. I. Introductions and accreditation of members not listed by the County Council (20 minutes) II. Endorsing Aimee Allison for Oakland City Council (25 minutes) Presented by Susan King and several people from her campaign. III. Proposal: Working Groups must meet in a public space (15 minutes) Presented by Kim Knox IV. Proposal: De-certify Mixed Greens for failure to fulfill their mission. The County Council has received the following complaints from people of color: the group is hostile to them; lack of outreach to minorities other than Latino; specific complaints include publishing charges of racism against African-American activists; publicly slandering a Latina Green Candidate; and damaging the Green Party by working against most of our candidates and issues to further the political aims of a few of the members. It is the view of the County Council that this group is not advancing the cause of Greens of Color, not providing a safe meeting place for Greens of Color, and not advancing the Green Party in communities of color. The County Council has seen no avenues of redress that any of the parties are interested in exploring, so we reluctantly feel we must recommend disbanding the Mixed Greens as they are impeding the key value of diversity. (45 minutes) Presenter is to be announced. V. Working Group Reports (10 minutes) VI. Announcements (5 minutes) SATURDAY, MARCH 19 WHAT: Global Day of Action - No to War & Occupation WHEN: March 19, 11 AM WHERE: Begin at Dolores Park and march to Civic Center DESCRIPTION: March to say No to War & Occupation — Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, Afghanistan, Cuba & Everywhere! Bring the Troops Home Now! Money for People's Needs, Not War! For more information, visit http://www.actionsf.org/anscall050124.htm. MONDAY, MARCH 21 WHAT: Panel with women Green Party members who have run for office WHEN: Monday, March 21 at 6:30 PM WHERE: San Francisco Green Party Office, located at 1028 A Howard Street, between 6th and 7th Streets DESCRIPTION: Join us for refreshments and a panel discussion on women running for elected office. Sarah Lipson has been confirmed as moderator, and the panelists are Susan King, Lisa Feldstein, Renee Saucedo and Jane Kim. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 WHAT: Evict PG&E from Hunter's Point. Shut down PG&E's Hunter's Point Power Plant Now! Join this community protest for environmental justice! WHEN: Wednesday, March 23 at 12 Noon WHERE: PG&E Corporate Headquarters, located at 77 Beale Street near Market Street DESCRIPTION: Sponsored by the Coalition to Shut Down the PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant, Huntersview Tenants Association, All Hallows Garden Residents Association, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Code Blue, and the Community First Coalition. For more information, contact Greenaction at 415-248-5010 or visit http://www.greenaction.org/. THURSDAY, MARCH 24 WHAT: Community Meeting on Living Wage and Health Care with Sophie Maxwell, District 10 Supervisor WHEN: Thursday, March 24, 6 - 8 PM WHERE: Crocker Amazon Club, located at 785 Moscow Street at Italy Street, two blocks northeast of Geneva and Moscow DESCRIPTION: The Living Wage Coalition is holding an education and information session about the Living Wage laws - the Minimum Compensation Ordinance and the Health Care Accountability Ordinance - and the new Minimum Wage Ordinance and about how the laws can be improved and expanded to include more workers. Sophie Maxwell confirmed she would attend. Gerardo Sandoval was invited but declined to attend. Please contact his office at 415-554-6975 or Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org and let him know that you care about a living wage and would like him to attend this meeting. For more information, contact the Living Wage Coalition at 415-863-5543 or sflivingwage@hotmail.com THURSDAY, MARCH 24 WHAT: On the 40th Anniversary of the first teach-ins on the Vietnam War, NATIONAL TEACH-IN ON IRAQ: How Can We End This War? WHEN: Thursday, March 24 at 7 PM WHERE: Mission High School, 3750 18th Street (at Dolores) in San Francisco DESCRIPTION: Two years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the country continues to bleed and suffer. The death toll soars on all sides and especially among civilians. The cost of the war mounts daily and vital services are cut at home. But many questions remain: Did the January 2005 elections improve the situation in Iraq? Is the US troop presence in Iraq helping stabilize the country, or is it at the root of Iraq's deadly violence? And what are the true costs of the war at home its impact on military families and returning veterans, its $200+ annual billion price tag, and the looting of our economy by militarist corporations? Join people throughout the country as we consider these issues and others at teach-ins in San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Ann Arbor, marking the 40th anniversary of the first Vietnam War teach-in in 1965. Featured Speakers include: Rahul Mahajan, Anti-war Activist and Author of Full Spectrum Dominance: U.S. Power in Iraq and Beyond: Cindy Sheehan, mother of fallen Iraq war soldier, Co-Founder of Gold Star Parents for Peace, and member of Military Families Speak Out Fernando Suarez, father of fallen Iraq war soldier, Founder of Guerrero Azteca Project and member of Gold Star Parents for Peace Aimee Allison, Gulf War conscientious objector, counter recruiter, and Oakland City Council candidate Howard Wallace, San Francisco Labor Council, National Board of Pride at Work, and Steering Committee of US Labor Against the War Sean O'Neil, US Veteran of the Iraq War and purple-heart recipient Medea Benjamin, Co-Founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace Sponsored By Global Exchange & CODEPINK: Women for Peace $5 requested donation; Free for students; No one turned away for lack of funds. For more information: http://www.globalexchange.org or call (415) 255-7296. FRIDAY, MARCH 25 WHAT: Election Reform Workshop - The No Confidence Movement WHEN: Friday, March 25 at 7:30 PM WHERE: SF Green Party office, located at 1028 A Howard Street, between 6th and 7th Streets in San Francisco. DESCRIPTION: Come and hear about the No Confidence Resolution. Read it at http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2004/11/no-confidence-resolution.html. This resolution says we have no basis for confidence in the legitimacy of US federal elections. This resolution is pending before the Arcata City Council. Pressing it in Eureka has led two City Council members to co-sponsor a town hall forum on election reform. It is time that SF and Berkeley take a look. SUNDAY, APRIL 3: WHAT: Cesar E. Chavez Holiday Parade and Festival WHEN: Sunday, April 3, parade assembles at 11 AM WHERE: Justin Herman Plaza, at the foot of Market Street DESCRIPTION: Join thousands from labor unions, community organizations, religious congregations and schools in commemorating the birthday of Cesar E. Chavez, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers. This is the fifth anniversary of the state holiday. For more information, contact 415-552-2911 or email CECparade@yahoo.com Thanks to all of our members for your continued support! Warm Regards, Erika McDonald To have an item included in this email, send a message to erikasf@aol.com. No attachments please.