[SFGP] SF Green Party Weekly

[announce at sfgreens.org]

SFGP WEEKLY
For The Week of 11/11/05 - 11/17/05
Welcome to All Our New Subscribers From the Green Festival!

This Week:
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News:
11/5: A Sad Loss For The Green Party
11/6: Update From Ross Mirkarimi's Office
11/9: Greens Win Four Seats in California Nov. 8
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Events:
11/11: Film: Side Effects
11/13: Anti-Racism Training
11/14: Hearing for Public Financing of Mayoral Campaigns in San Francisco
11/14: Anti-Death Penalty Coalition Meeting
11/15: Board of Education Sunshine Ordinance Meeting
11/16: San Francisco Green Party General Membership Meeting
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Announcements:
Joke of the Week
Ask Matt Gonzalez- Reader Questions Requested
New Orleans Reconstruction Project
Become A Sustainer!
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News
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11/5: A Sad Loss For The Green Party

11/07/05
Source: Green Party of New Zealand

The Green Party is mourning the sudden death of co-leader Rod Donald, who 
died at his home last night.
Rod, 48, brought almost superhuman energy, drive and commitment to his work, 
said co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons. "He is an incalculable loss to the Green 
Party, to the country and to me personally.
Read more at: http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1397
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11/6: Update From Ross Mirkarimi's Office
SUPERVISOR ROSS MIRKARIMI
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED - OCTOBER 25 and NOVEMBER 1, 2005Â  BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS

RESOLUTIONS

·     Resolution urging the Director of Health to delay local 
implementation of the State's cannabis identification card program until 
patients, advocates and City and State Legislators have sufficient time to 
petition the State Health Department to modify its card program
protocols to better protect the anonymity of patients and caregivers, and 
physicians can be informed of their new obligations under the State card 
program.
·     Resolution in support o Stanley Tookie Williams’ request 
for Clemency. Tookie Williams has rehabilitated himself by repudiating gang 
life, writing nine children’s book about the dangers of gang life, 
mentoring youth in the CYA, writing “Tookie’s Protocols for 
Peace,” which Newark, New Jersey gangs used to broker a truce. African 
Americans represent 13% of the U.S. population but represent 33% of executed 
prisoners and 67% of death row inmates. The Death Penalty is 
disproportionately and unfairly applied to African Americans.
·     Resolution commending the Hayes Valley Community Partners 
Halloween
celebrations, including four public events: storytelling at Hayes Green, 
face painting at Hayes Valley Playground and Hayes Valley South Community 
Room, and live music at Koshland Park. A safe and festive atmosphere for 
kids to trick or treat and for parents to meet their neighbors is most 
welcome.

ITEMS IN COMMITTEE

·     Ordinance mending the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to 
create a public financing program for mayoral candidates, appropriate 
funding for the program, etc.
·     Urgency Ordinance approving a 16 month and 15 day extension of 
the interim zoning moratorium on Medical Cannabis Dispensaries.
·     Requests that the city attorney draft legislation grants 
amnesty to individuals who have entered "Care not Cash" housing programs who 
risk losing housing due to outstanding vagrancy violations.

LETTERS OF INQUIRY
·     Graffiti Removal on 2 mailboxes on Grove Street, the first at
Octavia
and the second at Laguna, and on a green box and the light post at Oak
and Scott.
·     DPT report on the status of Graffiti Removal from nine street
signs on Steiner between O’Farrell and Turk.
·     DPW report on the status of cleaning of drains at the following 
locations:

      SE corner of Masonic and Frederick
      SE corner of Waller and Masonic
      SW corner of Waller and Masonic
      SE corner of Waller and Ashbury
      SE corner of Ashbury and Masonic
      SE corner of Ashbury and Haight

·     DPW report on the status of cleaning graffiti at the following 
locations:

      Street signs on Oak and Baker
      NW and SW corners of Clayton and Carl
      Street signs regarding parking on Clayton between Waller and 
Frederick
      SE corner of Haight and Clayton
      NE corner of Oak and Steiner
      North and South sides of Haight between Masonic and Stanyan
      Public garbage cans on the NE corner of Haight and Ashbury
      SW corner of Haight between Masonic and Central
      Green Utility boxes at the intersection of Kezar and Lincoln


IN MEMORIUM

Commending the memory of Rosa Louis McCauley Parks, the renowned civil 
rights activist who died last week.

Commending the memory of Jane Weirick, a tireless advocate for cannibas 
reform, who died this week at age 46.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

NOVEMBER 16
Park District Community Forum, 6 - 8pm at the MLK-MG Community Center.  The 
Park Police District hold monthly community forums, in an attempt to 
increase participation and meaningful dialogue.  Park District is 
organizing a Advisory Council for the community forums.  For more 
information contact Kyle Peterson 415-571-0338.
www.parkdistrict.blogspot.com
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11/9: Greens Win Four Seats in California Nov. 8
Greens Celebrate 19 Election Victories!
11/09/05
By: Mike Feinstein
Source: http://www.gp.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- According to early election returns, Greens have won at 
least 19 races in November 2005, bringing the number of Greens elected in 
2005 to 34.

Out of eight races in which Green incumbents ran, six won. Four out of five 
candidates running in California were elected; 66 Greens now hold elected 
office in this state. Pennsylvania reported the most Green victories (eight) 
on November 8, with York County counting the most county victories (four) 
within the state. At least 115 Green candidates competed for office across 
the U.S. on November 8.
For more, please go to: 
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.gem?idx=1398
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Events
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11/11: Film: Side Effects
Friday, November 11th
(See theatres for show times and details)
Regal Galaxy 4 Theater

We are thrilled to announce that our independent feature film Side Effects 
is coming to San Francisco and Berkeley beginning November 11th. The movie 
will play at the Regal Galaxy 4 in San Francisco and the Berkeley 7.
Side Effects is a satirical, insider¹s look at the daily marketing practices 
of the pharmaceutical industry and stars Katherine Heigl of Grey¹s Anatomy. 
Although fiction, the film is closely based on the writer/director¹s decade 
working directly for the industry as a pharmaceutical sales representative. 
Side Effects has been warmly embraced by the medical community, general 
public, and press. The movie is a fun, light, and entertaining way to learn 
how the industry operates behind the scenes.
For more information, please contact: info at sideeffectsthemovie.com
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11/13: Anti-Racism Training
Sunday, November 13th
4:00pm- 8:30pm
1028A Howard St. (SFGP Office)

Sunday, November 13 from 4:00pm-8:30pm, an anti-racist training will be held 
at the Green Party office. This training is highly recommended for anyone 
participating in the Roadtrip for Relief to New Orleans, and is also useful 
for activists working on social justice issues here in SF.

It is helpful if you notify us to let us know in advance that you‚ll be 
attending. The training will be led by long-time anit-racist trainer, Sharon 
Martinas. It‚s BYOB, Bring Your Own Burrito.

To confirm, or to contact organizers for any reason, please call or email:
sfcaravan at mutualaid.org
800-743-3808 ext. 350
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11/14: Hearing for Public Financing of Mayoral Campaigns in San Francisco
Monday, November 14th
6:00pm- 7:30pm
Ethics Commission, City Hall, Room 408

Dear friends,
After months and months of hard work we're finally at the point of our first 
hearing for our legislation to establish public financing of elections for 
the mayor's race. We have been picking up endorsements from a wide 
cross-segment of the city, showing the broad support for this effort to 
bring "Voter Owned Elections" to San Francisco. Endorsers include 
Assemblyman Mark Leno, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Supervisors Ross 
Mirkarimi, Tom Ammiano, Gerardo Sandoval, Jake McGoldrick and Chris Daly, 
Common Cause, SPUR, SEIU Local 790 and United Healthcare West, Sierra Club, 
numerous Democratic Clubs, Upper Noe Neighbors, Senior Action Network, Green 
Party, Global Exchange, Asian American Political Coalition, Mexican American 
Political Association, Cal PIRG, Tenants Union, and many more.

See the full list at http://voterownedelections.org/listofsupporters.html

Next Monday, November 14, the Ethics Commission will be discussing whether 
to extend the public financing that we already have for Board of Supervisors 
to other races. Please mark the date on your calendar -- WE NEED TO SHOW 
STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT!!

What: Hearing for Public Financing of Mayoral Campaigns When: Monday, 
November 14, 6-7:30 pm Where: Ethics Commission, City Hall, Room 408

If you wish to read more about this legislation, including the text of 
legislation, main talking points and more, visit 
http://voterownedelections.org/

I really hope you can make this important hearing, part of our ongoing 
efforts to make San Francisco democracy a showcase for the nation, including 
instant runoff voting, a watchdog Elections Commission, consolidated 
elections, and a robust Ethics Commission.
Steven Hill
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11/14: Anti-death penalty coalition meeting
Monday, November 14th (Meets every Monday)
6:30 pm
1663 Mission St. 4th floor San Francisco

Stanley Tookie Williams, former co-founder of the Crips gang, death row 
prisoner
and leader for peace, has been given an execution date of December 13th, 
2005.
The State of California wants to execute 3 people in the next few months!
We need a movement to stop this injustice.
The coalition is planning signature ads, media outreach, local and national
events, protests and press conferences.

More ways to get involved:

1. Contact Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841/Fax: 916-445-4633
To send an Email please visit: http://www.govmail.ca.gov

2. Visit www.savetookie.org and download fact sheets and petitions and get 
sample letters to send to the Governor

3. Contact your State Assemblymember and urge him/her to pass the 
“California Moratorium on Executions Act (AB 1121)” immediately! Look up 
your representative by zip code at: www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
For more information, please contact: 510-333-7966 or 
crystal at nodeathpenalty.org
Read a related article at www.counterpunch.org
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11/15: Board of Education Sunshine Ordinance Meeting
Tuesday, November 15th
7:00pm
SFUSD, 555 Franklin St.

The BOE will have its sunshine ordinance for first hearing on Nov. 15 at its 
regular meeting.  (So it will be one of the items on the agenda.)
Please contact Kim Knox (kimberleyknox at hotmail.com)
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11/16: San Francisco Green Party General Membership Meeting
This is our monthly General Membership meeting where endorsements, policy 
decisions and discussions occur. Agenda:
Facilitators -- Caty and Micheas

1) Intro to Green Process -- JMC, 5

2) Agenda Review and Approval - 5

3) Consent Calendar -- 5, Marc Bylaws amendment (see below). We approved 
this twice, but not at consecutive GM meetings. Bylaws ammendments have to 
be approved at consecutive meetings, so we need to start over.

4) GPCA Plenary Discussion -- 45, Christina Olague -- Proposal on lowering 
voting threshold: 5 min Introduction, 15 min Discussion Proposal on GPUS 
affiliation 5 min introduction, 15 Discussion. Other Proposals - 15 minutes.

5) Delegate Election -- 30, JMC See SFGP bylaws for election process. 
Plenary will be weekend of Dec 10 in Yolo. See http://cagreens.org/plenary

6) SEIU Local 790 Support - 10, Kim Knox

7) CIWG policies, discussion of process - 10, Marc

8) GM meeting time and options for December meetings - 10

9) Announcements - 10
Please view the full calendar at: 
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/events/events-itemfromhome.gem?idx=1411
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Announcements
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Joke of the Week

A special cartoon:
http://www.thefrown.com/frowners/becomerepublican.swf

More Mad Kane!
www.madkane.com

An anti-choice judge who's named Sam
Tells the poor and the weak they should scram.
If he takes Sandra's place,
All our rights he'll erase,
And the wingnuts will have a grand slam.
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Ask Matt Gonzalez- Reader Questions Requested

Due to popular request, The SFGP Weekly is planning to take part in an 
interview with Matt Gonzalez to discuss the issues, and we want your input!  
The Weekly staff wants to aski him *your* questions and get real answers.  
We would like to print this discussion in an upcoming edition of the Weekly, 
but we are still arranging the date for this event at this time, so stay 
tuned.
Please send all questions for the planned Matt Gonzalez interview to the 
editor at ladypest at hotmail.com, or to news at sfgreens.org, with Question For 
Matt as the message title.
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JOIN THE ROADTRIP FOR RELIEF!!
CLEAN-UP, REPAIR, REBUILD IN THE
9TH WARD WITH COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE
November 20-27

Common Ground Collective has called a National Caravan to arrive in New 
Orleans on November 20th and work over the week of Thanksgiving until 
November 27th. In the meantime, we are having regular planning meetings to 
build up to this event, and we need people to join our organizing efforts.

Please contact Susan King at funking at mindspring.com to find out how you can 
be a part of this vital effort.

Why: The concentrated efforts of this caravan will bring hope to the 
displaced people of New Orleans so they see that it is possible to clean-up 
their neighborhoods and rebuild their lives. The work of the caravan will be 
a demonstration of what is possible.
Who: You. Your organization. Self-sustained groups that can organize 
themselves. We also need volunteers with specific skills: electricians, 
mechanics, plumbers, mold abaters, roofers, construction workers, 
carpenters, tree workers, lawyers, cooks and people who can train other 
volunteers and residents in these skills.
When: We need organizers to help right now! We're asking folks in the 
caravan to arrive in New Orleans on November 20th and work through the 
Thanksgiving week until Novemeber 27th. Of course, volunteers are needed 
continuously and can arrive anytime.
How you can help: Get on the bus. Donate a bus. Organize a bus. Donate $$$$. 
Donate supplies . Help raise funds, plan a fundraiser, ask your network to 
donate. Help spread the word.
www.sfgreenparty.org
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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, comments, 
Letters to the Editor, or fan mail, at info at sfgreens.org.  To send us news 
items (short blurb please, plain text only), 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 are 
welcomed by the editor at ladypest at hotmail.com