I wrote friday about the GGRA suing to stop the city’s universal health care initiative. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the head of the GGRA, Kevin Westlye, is on the task force charged with implementing the program. So he is supposed to help with implementing a program he’s suing to end!

I had hopes the GGRA would understand that health care for all San Franciscans is incredibly popular, among their customers as well as their employees, but I am clearly underestimating the horror they feel at paying another cent for their employees.

If they want to sue, fine. But Kevin Westlye should resign from the task force. He clearly has no desire to implement the law, so he should get the hell out of the way.

Finally, if you’re as pissed off about this as I am, you can do something about it. There’s a rally monday:

This Monday, members of the San Francisco People’s Organization, SEIU
790, Young Workers United and The Milk Club are coming together and
rising up against an unconscionable act by the Golden Gate Restaurant
Association:

Having first opposed the minimum wage initiative, then the sick leave
ordinance (which SF voters just passed by a 2-1 margin), the GGRA is now
filing suit to stop the Health Care Access ordinance passed UNANIMOUSLY
by the Board of Supervisors and supported by Mayor Newsom.

They claim to support it “in theory” but are simply suing to stop the
funding mechanism for it. Yes, their claim is as ridiculous as it
sounds. Because without funding for it, there will be no health care
access for uninsured workers like the ones who enrich the GGRA’s
members. Make no mistake, the GGRA is trying to kill Health Care Access.

So this Monday, 12/4, we need all of you to take a stand for health
care, for working people, and for the values of our community:
We will gather at 5:45pm where the Golden Gate Restaurant Association is
holding its annual Christmas party.

Staging Area: Meet at Ghirardelli Square on the corner of Larkin and
North point at 5:45 Sharp! At 6PM, we will walk around the corner to
the restaurant at 891 Beach Street at Ghirardelli Square and sing a
Christmas carol of Scrooge so that Tiny Tim and his family can get
health care once and for all. The Grinch may also make a guest
appearance.

This is not just an abstract political issue - this is a fight for the
soul of our city. Please forward this to anyone you know who would be
willing to stand up with us, and we’ll see you on Monday evening.