Here’s an interesting video from Streetfilms about the transformation of Melbourne, Australia into a transit-, pedestrian-, and bicycle-friendly city.

* Yes, for some of us, every week is Bike to Work Week.

So it only made sense that I try out for myself.

The story on Nader and Gonzalez’s campaign stop in San Francisco is this week’s podcast. Here is the link Leftinsf Podcast

If you listen, you will immediately note that I am a beginner and my skills are still in the elementary level. But I will keep at it and hopefully improve over time.

Ralph Nader is unapologetic about his politics-he’s right.
Matt Gonzalez, May 11, 2008

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader and his running mate, former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez held a rally at the Roxie Theater last night.

The theater was almost filled. There were a good number of senior citizens, a sprinkling of young hipsters and a small number of families. In front of me in line was a high school junior from Marin who was taking his mother to see Nader for Mother’s Day. The mother told me that she had donated $500 to Nader in 2004 and she got a personal phone call from him. “I still have it on my voice message machine,” she said.

Hansu Kim, a senior advisor to Matt Gonzalez, warmed up the crowd. He listed the various platforms of the Nader-Gonzalez campaign-1) adopting a single-payer healthcare program, 2) cutting the military budget, 3) get rid of nuclear energy and replace it with solar energy, 4) reducing corporate influence on government, 5) opening the presidential debates, 6) levying a carbon pollution tax, 7) reversing U.S. policy in the Middle East, 8) appealing the Taft-Hartley law, 9) ending corporate personhood and 10) impeaching George Bush and Dick Cheney (huge applause on that item from the crowd).

Gayle McLaughlin, Richmond Mayor, spoke about how she became involved in politics by working on Nader’s 2000 presidential campaign. Nader then gave a big build-up to Cindy Sheehan, independent candidate for Congressional District #8 (Pelosi’s district). Nader sad, “Nancy Pelosi is not part of the solution. She’s part of the problem.” Nader gave Sheehan the opportunity to give the audience the URL of her website (cindyforcongress.org) several times during the evening.

Matt Gonzalez was at his oratorical best. Aiming his comments at Clinton and Obama, Gonzalez said, “Rheotic isn’t enough. You can’t just promise to end the war when your party votes to spend $165 billion this year in Afghanstan and Iraq.”

Gonzalez noted that 60% of our tax dollars were going towards the war. Gonzalez pointed out that the United States has military bases in 40 countries. Gonzalez said, “It is ironic that Senator Obama said about Clinton, ‘We can’t afford a president that changes opinion by the politics of the moment.’ Because Obama voted for every spending bill on the war, the reauthorization of the Patriot Act and the appointment of Condelezza Rice as Secretary of State.”

“Exxon made $40 billion in profits this year,” Gonzalez stated, “Obama voted for fossil fuel subsidies in the 2007 Energy Act.”

Gonzalez also talked about the Mining Act of 1872. Under the Act, a prospector only has to pay $2.50 per acre for mining on public lands and they would get to keep all of the royalities from the sale of the mnerals. Under corporate personhood, mulitnational countries get to do the same thing when they mine on public lands. In 2007, a proposed amendment was that the U.S government would get 8% of the royalties from the mineral rights if it was a new mine and 4% if it was an existing mine on public lands. Congress passed the amendment, but it never made out of the Senate. Obama voted against the amendment.

Gonzalez stated that one of the reasons that he almost won the Mayor’s Race in San Francisco in 2003 was that he was allowed to participate in the debates. “If you don’t let us in the debates, the process becomes hollow,” Gonzalez said. He pointed out that third parties have introduced key legislation into the nation’s consciousness by being part of the presidential process. Some of Gonzalez’s examples were presidential candidate Eugene Debs who promoted the idea of women suffrage and presidential James Barney who supported the idea of abolition.

Nader took the theme of not getting into the debates with his opening statements. “The Democrats filed 24 lawsuits in 18 states in 2004 to keep the Nader-Camejo campaign off the ballot. That is bigotry. We as a country pass laws to make it difficult to get on the ballot. That’s political bigotry. That’s Jim Crow. And I call it borderline facism. All independent thought have come from independent candidates.”

Nader had some good sound bites. At one point, he looked up to the audience and said, “Isn’t it funny that Obama’s motto is “Hope for Change” and his book was titled, ‘Audacity of Hope.’ Now Clinton is running on audacity and hope.” The crowd roared.

Nader called on the audience to help the campaign gather signatures to get onto the ballot. “Half of democracy is showing up,” Nader said. He noted that corporations and their lobbyists have changed the dynamics in Washington. He listed all of the key legislation that was passed in the late 1960’s and 1970’s-the creation of the EPA, OSHA, Clean Water Act, the Drinking Water Act and product safety bills. “Nixon signed these into law not because he supported them, but because he was frightened of the crowds that rallied for this legislation. But now people are not rallying.”

“Now (politicians) are part of the Washington puppet shows,” Nader said. Nader quoted Eugene Debs, “If you give them the power to control your expectations, then they got you.”

In his ending comments, Nader said, “After World War II, Europe was devasted. In rebuilding the European countries, their citizens demanded a living wage. And they got it. They demanded strong trade unions. And they got it. They demanded universal health care. And they got it. They demanded 4-6 weeks of vacation leave each year. And they got it. They demanded childcare. And they got it.”

Nader said, “The motto of the Nader-Gonzalez camapign is ‘We will decide. We, the people, will decide. That means the responsibility is on our shoulders.”

Despite millions being spent against us, committed volunteers have put Proposition F in play– collecting over 11,000 signatures in 10 days, reaching out to political clubs and community groups, running nightly phone banks, and dropping literature on the weekends. These true heroes have been doing the work to support our families struggling to make it here.

Now we need your support.

Come out to get energized and connected with the campaign, have some fun (with Eric Quezada on the ones and twos), and make a donation.

$20+ (no one turned away) Checks should be made to “Bayview Committee for Affordable Housing” (FPPC#1303906)

Public School Parents, note that Argonne got its sign donated by FedEx/Kinkos. If they can do it for Argonne, they should be making a similar sign for your school.

Future firefighters were exploring a SFFD fire truck.

Music graced the large playground of Argonne Elementary School. The most interesting music act was a father-son duo who was doing Ramone and Clash covers. (They had help with a bass player who was standing apart from Dad and Son.) Mom was showing her mosh pit moves in front of the audience.

The parents of Argonne ES hit on a smart idea-a fingerpainting booth. This customer got a lovely pink.

One of the most popular activities are climbing a pretend mountain. Here is a future mountain climber going up Mt. Everest.

Face painting is always available at elementary school fairs. This future Argonne student got a butterfly.

Over 40 people were in attendance to enjoy the food and listen to their favorite candidate for Supervisor in D-1 (the Richmond). The event was held at Rossi Park. Organized by Valerie Soe, Sandra Fewer and myself, the event had balloons to delight the children as well as a small gift of candy for mothers.

Here are some photos of the event:

These are some of the people who came to the Parents for Eric Mar for D-1 Supervisor event on Saturday.

Valerie Soe, a mother of two public school students (left) and Sandra Fewer, a mother of two public school graduates and a current Washington High school student, spoke about Eric’s commitment to families and the values of the Richmond.

Here are some of Eric’s biggest supporters-his daughter Jade, niece Lian who is being held by her dad (and Eric’s twin and campaign manager) Gordon Mar. Gordon is the co-executive director for Chinese Progessive Alliance.

Many of those who were enjoying the sun and playground structures at Rossi Park, stopped to meet Eric. Most were thrilled to meet someone who was committed to the same values that they had-and took away a house sign for their home.

This fashion plate of the toddler set came to support Eric. Accessories make every outfit-that’s why she choose to get a red balloon to bring attention of her ensemble.

So here is news of San Francisco’s connection to the presidential race:

Presidential candidate Ralph Nader and his running mate, former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez will speak at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11 at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St. There is a request for a $10 contribution and $5 for students or low-income people, but nobody will be turned away.

For our East Bay readers, Nader will be in Berkeley at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, to speak to the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, at 1924 Cedar St.

Matt Gonzalez will address the Commonwealth Club of California at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 at 595 Market St. in San Francisco. Commonwealth’s tickets are $20 (unless you are member, then it’s $10). You can purchase them at Commonwealth Club’s website.

Supervisors Peskin and McGoldrick were attendance. School Board members Eric Mar, Mark Sanchez, Jane Kim and Kim-shree Maufas were in attendance. Community College Board John Rizzo was also there.

Assemblymember Mark Leno and former Mayor Willie Brown were also at the kickoff. Leno has never endorsed a Green, so it must have been a campaign stop.

I use the opportunity to ask President Peskin on why the Hope Slate had so few women (and people of color) for the DCCC races in the 12th and 13th Assembly District. He acknowledge the lack of gender balance and divesity, and noted that it was decided to enter the race two days before the deadline. Peskin did note that as the Board president, he had made great efforts in getting more diversity on various boards, including the Planning Commission, Board of Appeals and the Building Commission.

Others in attendance included Hayes Valley activists Gail Baugh, Jim Smith and Richard Johnson, Green Party activists Matt Spencer, Bruce Wolfe, Pat Gerber and Sue Vaughn, solar businesswoman Kimia Mazani, and Bay Guardian city editor Steve Jones.

Mirkarimi’s staff was present-Rick Galbreath, Valle Brown and Boris Delepine, along with former staff member Regina Dick-Endezzi and key volunteers Razzu, Donna Linden and Rich Stone.

One of our callers, Terry Norbury reached someone in Leland Yee’s office who also suggested calling specific Republicans. Bob Twomey, another aide in Fiona Ma’s office (and former School Board candidate) talked to Carol Kochivar.

We also had a film crew from San Jose State who filmed the calling as part of a documentary on the grassroot efforts to fight the cuts.

You too can call and complain to our state legislators, asking them to “flunk the budget.” One thing to know-Mark Leno is the Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Fiona Ma is also on the committee.

Mark Leno, Assemblymember of AD-13
(916) 319-2013
(415) 557-3013
Carole Midgen, State Senate District 3
(916) 651-4003
(415) 557-1300
Fiona Ma, Assemblymember of AD-12
(916) 319-2012
(415) 557-2312
Leland Yee, State Senate District 8
(916) 651-4008
(415) 557-7857

Assembly Appropriations Committee
Mark Leno, Chair
Mimi Walters, Vice Chair, (from Laguna Hills), (916) 319-2073
Fiona Ma is also a member on the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

State Senate Appropriations Committee
Tom Torkalson, Chair (from Contra Costa), (916) 651-4007
Dave Cox, Vice Chair (from Roseville), (916) 651-4001

Assembly Education Committee
Gene Mullin, Chair, (South San Francisco), (916) 319-2019
Martin Garrick, Vice Chair, (San Diego), (916) 319-2074

Senate Education Committee
Jack Scott, Chair (Pasadena), (916) 651-4021
Mark Wyland, Vice Chair (Carlsbad) (916) 651-4038

Republican Assemblymembers that Fiona Ma Wanted Us to Call
Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield), 916-319-2032
Michael Duvll (R-Anaheim), 916-319-2177
Roger Niello (R-Carmichael), 916-319-2005

Reminder—help save rent control and get the NO on 98 word out in the Marina Saturday, May 10, 11 AM. Meet at the Marina Library, 1890 Chestnut (at Fillmore) to get literature and a precinct map.

There’s less than 25 days left to election day, so we need your help to save rent control!!

Date: Friday May 9, 2008
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: McAllister Conference Room
at 555 Franklin Street

Grab a potluck dish and your cellphone and head on down to 555 Franklin on Friday, May 9 to remind our legislators that they MUST Flunk The Budget!

This coming Friday evening, the Second District PTA is coordinating a Potluck Protest against the Governor’s plan to drastically reduce funding for education. This is another URGENT reminder to Sacramento as they prepare to work on the 2008-2009 Budget.

We will provide you with phone numbers of our legislators and those that are on the appropriations committees as well as a suggested script.

Come on down to help out, even if just for a 1/2 hour. Parking is available in the lot on McAllister Street.

Please RSVP to 415.290.2708. Unfortunately, childcare is not available.