Full disclosure…I am working on the Alliance for a Better California Campaign, the campaign to defeat Arnold’s initiatives, instead of my usual day job at Local 790. But I am working on it because I truly believe in what we are doing and after Arnold’s veto, I am looking forward to some more accountability in November. First he came for the nurses, then he came for the teachers, then he came for the firefighters, and immigrants. And now the queers.

Nicole Derse, Campaign Manager for Ross Mirkarimi

I am the SF Campaign Director for the Alliance for a Better California and I am incredibly pleased and honored to be working with a couple of talented folks, Nicole Derse and Amy Laitinen. You may remember Nicole as Ross Mirkarimi’s campaign manager and Amy who worked for Matt Gonzalez as his Chief of staff. They are both incredibly bright, hard working, principled and decent. Again, I’m honored to be working with them. And for those who are interested, we are conscious of the fact that we were all on different teams of the progressive fight last fall in District 5. Nicole was with Ross, Amy was with Lisa, and I, well, yes, I did vote for myself-even after a grueling campaign. We all feel that it is incredibly important that we strengthen whatever bridges that may have been weakened. I know Ross and I have genuinely tried to play well together this year but we hope to do more bridge strengthening over the next year. And well, Lisa Feldstein is just great. Anyway, we look forward to seeing you in our office at 1338 Mission Street. You can even find a little corner of unity in our fractious world. There are those who would like to see the divisions continue but they aren’t at our office.

Amy Laitinen, Former Chief of Staff for Matt Gonzalez and strong volunteer for Lisa Feldstein

Our offices are located at in the United Healthcare Workers West office at 1338 Mission Street. Kim Tavaglione is the Field Director. You may know her from her work at UHW. Well she is dynamite too and we are incredibly lucky to have her on the team. And last but not least, Brandy Hunt is the office director. We are going to tear it up in SF and look forward to seeing you.

Here are the details about Saturday:

We’re organizing against Schwarzenegger in this Special Election
and we want you and your organization to join us!

Alliance for a Better California Kick-Off/Precinct Walk
Saturday, September 10th, 2005
9:30 am-2:00 pm
African American Art and Cultural Complex
762 Fulton St., San Francisco

Inspiring Performance by the Bay Area female Hip Hop collective Sisterz of the Underground
Barbecue to follow in Alamo Square, sponsored by the San Francisco Labor Council

It would be really helpful for your organization to endorse the Alliance. Please contact us for an endorsement form or more information.

We look forward to working with you to defeat these dangerous initiatives and to protect California’s education, health care and vital community services!

Thanks,
Nicole Derse
SF Coalition Director
Alliance for a Better CA
Phone: (415) 503-5797

Also, check out the new alliance website that our friend Brew from the Robot Invasion created. Brew is also blogging for the site.

Also, I would be remiss to not tell you about the best social event of the month. If you haven’t met the folks from the Transgender Law Center, this is the time. These guys are some of the best people I have ever met. And boy do they save lives. So see and be seen with some really cool folks.

Cecilia Chung, Chris Daley, and Willy Wilkinson from the Transgender Law Center

The handsome Shane Caya from TLC

Transgender Law Center Fundraiser

Transgender Law Center
Bambuddha Lounge
601 Eddy Street (at Larkin), San Francisco
Wednesday, September 21, 6:00pm

2,100 Advice and Counsel Contacts — $50,000
3,500 Legal Workshop Participants — $45,000
10 Cutting-Edge Publications — $25,000

Making California Safer for Transgender People and Our Families — PRICELESS

Help us celebrate TLC’s 3 years of transitioning California into a state where we can all fully and freely express our diverse gender identities!

Donation Levels: $50 $75 $100

You can purchase tickets online at www.transgenderlawcenter.org/donate (put Sept 21 in the designation box) or by calling Cecilia at (415) 865-0184. If you are unable to make the party, please consider making a special birthday donation to TLC.

Special Performance: the amazing Veronica Klaus

Community Awards

Light food and no-host bar

*ASL interpretation will be provided