WITH CATHERINE RAUSCHUBER

Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

Rosenthal fundraiser wins Burning Man
founder endorsement

By Catherine Rauschuber

October 8, 2006

Last Wednesday current and former supervisors, djs, performers, and an icon of the San Francisco counterculture threw a party supporting Alix Rosenthal’s campaign for District 8 supervisor.

Supervisor Chris Daly, District 8 challenger Alix Rosenthal
and former Board President Matt Gonzalez.
Photo(s) by Catherine Rauschuber

Larry Harvey, founder of Burning Man, spoke about "special interests" in politics, describing why one does not have to be a part of the traditional political scene to have a strong impact on outcomes in races. Larry doesn’t usually endorse in local elections, but told me he made the exception for Alix as he did only once before - for Matt Gonzalez’s mayoral bid in 2003. Alix attends Burning Man and currently sits on the advisory board of the Black Rock Arts Foundation.

Matt Gonzalez, Andy Blue and Larry Harvey.

Former Supervisor and Board President Matt Gonzalez reminded the audience that the Castro was once represented by Harvey Milk, an icon for progressivism in San Francisco. He explained how the Supervisor representing that district today should still be a progressive leader, voting alongside supervisors from districts 5, 6, and 9 on issues relating to tenant protection and supporting efforts to prohibit autos from Golden Gate Park on weekends. Given Matt won District 8 in the last mayoral election, running on a progressive platform, he beleives such a return to progressive ideals is possible.

DJ's and performers included a line-up of Alix’ close friends, all well-known in the San Francisco music scene: Syd Gris heads up Opel Productions which throws some of the best dance events in the city. Tamo and Viajay, fashion designers and dj's of the all female ensemble Angels of Bass. Smoove, a dj whose breakbeat sets are known far outside of San Francisco. And beatbox icon Kid Beyond.

Wednesday’s event for Alix was one of the better fundraising parties I’ve been to in years, at least for my tastes. Cocktails, house parties, and fancy dinners are okay, but those get old. Wednesday was the mixing of politics with a scene that perhaps usually stays out of the local electoral fray, or at least stays out until it feels moved by an individual like Alix to jump in.

Smoove’s email that went out promoting the night read in part: "Now, it’s not really my place to tell you what to think or whom to vote for. But I will say, if you’re happy with the way things are going, stay home tonight. If not, get off your ass and come down to Mighty a to support Alix Rosenthal as she begins her quest into San Francisco politics… I can personally attest to the appropriateness of her IM’s and e-mails. They’re always consensual and with persons whom are of age."

The crowd was a mix of City Hall and Burning Man folks, with quite a few straddling both worlds. I enjoyed running into Alix and her partner Steve Jones, San Francisco Bay Guardian City Editor, as well as at least a dozen other City Hall and political types, who also attended Burning Man this year.

Catherine Rauschuber and Steve Jones

Not to be too redundant with the themes in an earlier piece I wrote about Lovefest, Wednesday night was interesting in that it showed that such a merging of worlds is natural for some candidates – and a hell of a lot of fun too. The only weird thing was leaving Mighty, where the dancing usually lasts hours past last call, before eleven…

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San Francisco Peoples' Organization
celebrates one year anniversary

By Catherine Rauschuber

October 2, 2006

San Francisco is a city that embodies the progressive values of diversity, equity, justice, opportunity and optimism. San Franciscans should be proud that people across the country and the globe look toward our great city for leadership and inspiration for how a city can embrace these values in its public policies.

Saturday at St. Mary’s Cathedral, the San Francisco Peoples’ Organization (SFPO) held and celebrated its second annual convention. Founded in June of 2005, SFPO is a coalition of local community-based organizations, unions, advocacy groups, and residents working to put San Francisco progressive values into practice.

Saturday’s event included caucus elections for board seats, speakers, a supervisorial candidate forum, and issue workshops on topics important to SFPO membership, such as anti-gentrification, immigrant rights, education, and violence prevention. The day’s speakers included SFPO President Jane Kim, former Supervisor Matt Gonzalez, Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Tom Ammiano, Reverend Norman Fong, and the Labor Council’s Tim Paulson.

SFPO President School Board candidate. Jane Kim.

Former San Francisco Board of Supervisors President, Matt Gonzalez.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, David Grant (Senior Action Network), Labor Council Executive Director Tim Paulson and Supervisor Tom Ammiano.

As a board member representing the Women’s Caucus, I have been honored to be a part of the first year of this fledgling organization that is tasked with a very difficult charge – to construct a coalition that provides a forum for the diverse voices of the left to work together, while simultaneously respecting their differences. San Francisco’s progressives have frequently come together and rallied behind causes or personalities, but we have too often been unable to carry this unity forward. Through disbanding and reforming, we lose some of our potency and ability to build on the successes of the past. The focus of SFPO is to foster progressive unification and spirit beyond the fleeting nature of election cycles. Although we progressives may not always agree, it is important that we maximize our power when we do.

At Saturday’s convention SFPO celebrated some of its achievements from its first year. SFPO worked in close partnership with the Alliance for a Better California to defeat Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election measures in November 2005. SFPO assisted in the development and passage of Supervisor Ammiano's Worker Health Care Security Ordinance, creating universal health care for local residents.

SFPO also advocated to increase mandatory levels of affordable housing in new housing developments, took a leadership role in uniting communities of color and progressives to fight for Proposition A's homicide and violence prevention efforts, played an active role in the UNITE-HERE Local 2 contract campaign, attending pickets, planning meetings, and participating in civil disobedience, and launched an e-mail dispatch that reaches over 5,000 constituents and highlights local progressive issues, campaigns, and events.

Also notable Saturday was the release of SFPO's first report, a mid-term analysis of the policies and priorities of the Newsom Administration. According to the document, SFPO decided to review the current status of five issues – public safety, economic development, land use and housing, transportation, and homelessness. The 17-page report, prepared in conjunction with expert reviewers in the five issue fields, gives praise for things such as marriage equity, city greening efforts, and Project Homeless Connect, but also offers a critical analysis and puts forth SFPO’s vision and recommendations, adding a voice of social justice to the public policy dialogue in the city.

I believe we as a city are only as strong as our most vulnerable. At its heart, SFPO is about helping San Francisco to embody the progressive values it embraces and create a community that is welcoming and supportive of all its members, regardless of race, gender, lifestyle, age, or economic status.

SFPO is young and has a long uphill battle ahead of it if it wishes to become more influential in local politics. SFPO does not have the luxury of significant financial support, unlike some of its counterparts in local political organizing. Despite these challenges, SFPO members are hopeful, and this spirit was palpable at Saturday’s convention.

District 8 Congressional Candidate Krissy Keefer, Building Inspection Commissioner Debra Walker and Michael Goldstein

Kim-Shree Maufas, School Board Candidate, and School Board member Mark Sanchez.

Julian Davis, Catherine Rauschuber, jazz singer Judy B

Labor caucus

Community Based Organization caucus

Candidate Forum with District 8 Supervisoral candidate Alix Rosenthal, District 2 candidate Vilma Guinto Peoro, District 6 incumbent Supervisor Chris Daly, District 2 write-in candidate Dave Kiddoo, and District 10 incumbent Supervisor Sophie Maxwell.

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LoveFest 2006

Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Catherine Rauschuber

September 24, 2006

Thousands of people danced from the Embarcadero to the Civic Center to music booming from 22 floats, courtesy of some of San Francisco's, and the world's, finest dj's and dj collectives on Saturday. I showed up in time to catch the end of the LoveFest's parade on Market Street, before the floats parked themselves around the perimeter of the Civic Center plaza, providing a giant outdoor dance club from mid-day until past sunset.

Just as the floats were taking their positions around the plaza, a wedding party from inside City Hall emerged onto the Polk Street steps overlooking the festivities. The crowd of finely dressed guests stood in amazement, smiling hugely at the bouncing, cacophonous scene before them. I, smiling hugely at my friend Steve, said, "Well, I don't know about them, but this would be my dream wedding reception."

Now I'm biased about dancing. I grew up embedded in the ballet world, and it is just hardwired into me as one of my favorite ways to express myself. I also believe that events like the LoveFest, now in its third year in San Francisco, are important for the cultural and political vibrancy and sense of community in our City. Of course no one single dance event provides community, and some people might even believe that the LoveFest is nothing much more than hedonism and frivolity. But those who easily dismiss events like LoveFest as being silly obviously weren't there on Saturday taking a good look around.

Although there were plenty of raver and burner-types in attendance, I saw families, the elderly, tourists with fanny packs, and packs of kids from outside the city. There were also, of course, the usual festival-attending folks with political literature to hand out or signs to hold up. (Unfortunately, I didn't spot Frank Chu, but I am guessing he was there somewhere...)

One thing I find both interesting and refreshing about events like Burning Man and LoveFest (both of which represent subcultures that draw a lot of criticism for being shallow and frivolous) is that they are, in some ways, intentionally apolitical in their activities and presentations. The events are primarily about expression, participation, creativity, and community. However, I think it possible that their devotees may be more likely to engage politically, and with greater force, because of the sense of community and participation that these subcultures foster - especially if provided with issues and candidates that speak to them. San Francisco saw a glimpse of such a mobilization of young and countercultural citizens in the last Mayor's race, and the nation experienced a similar phenomenon with Howard Dean's candidacy for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination.

I love living in a place with events like LoveFest, as well as unconventional civic art installations like Michael Christian's beautiful and otherworldly sculpture Flock (which overlooked the Civic Center earlier this year and was made possible through the work of the current mayoral administration and the Black Rock Arts Foundation). I am proud to live in a community that celebrates art, politics, lifestyles, and activities deemed fringe by the mainstream.

While for another fringe subculture at the Folsom Street Fair, this weekend's fashion was more about black leather chaps, LoveFest revelers celebrated whimsy, donning things like faux fur, colorful wigs, crazy-patterned pants, and shimmery halter tops. In a fashion show during the VIP party in City Hall, I modeled a design by Tamo, a dj and designer I met recently. We "models" had to walk down the huge staircase inside City Hall. For me, it was amusing to descend the same stairs - wearing a brown corseted dress and black boots with teased hair - that I sometimes walk up for my work wearing a suit and heels. I realized later that it was also symbolic.

Fashion Designer Tamo (left).

San Francisco Bay Guardian's Steve Jones, District 8 candidate Alix Rosenthal (center),
and Kat Steinmetz from Kepi and Kat

Saturday symbolized some of the things I love most about San Francisco - the opportunity for social circles to intersect with political ones, the celebration of our creativity and diversity, and the unique expressions of civic participation, like giant dance parties in front of City Hall!

Catherine Rauschuber received her public policy degree from the Kennedy School of Government. She is active in local artistic and progressive activities and resides in the Misssion neighborhood. Email Catherine at cat_rauschuber@yahoo.com

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