Candidate for District Supervisor Jane Kim. Photos by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
September 27, 2010
School Board President Jane Kim announced today her long-anticipated progressive endorsements in the race to succeed District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly.
Though not ranked, Kim has co-endorsed Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde and James Keys in the IRV (Instant Runoff Voting) race.
“It is critical for candidates who share similar philosophies to work together in any ranked-choice election,” Kim said in a statement released to FCJ. “Campaigns are about far more than one candidate or personality—they are opportunities for our community to come together.”
“Today, I am very happy to announce my endorsement of Glendon ‘Anna Conda’ Hyde and James Keys. I have gotten to know Glendon during this campaign season, and truly admire his independence and positive message for change. I greatly respect his community organizing and the way he has inspired young people to get involved in the political process.
“James Keys is also a strong community advocate who has worked on affordable housing and mental health issues for many years. James has empowered the SRO community and lower-income residents of District 6 in a meaningful way.”
Of the leading progressive candidates in the ranked choice race, a list that includes Keys, Kim, Jim Meko and Debra Walker, Walker is so far the only candidate to not endorse a fellow progressive candidate. She was the only D6 candidate to receive the powerful San Francisco Democratic Party endorsement.
Keys has co-endorsed Kim and Walker. Meko has endorsed Keys (second) and Walker (third). Hyde has endorsed Kim (second) and Walker (third).
The Great Prop B Debate
Though not confirmed, word has it San Francisco Labor Council Executive Director Tim Paulson will represent the house of labor in a public debate tonight with Public Defender Jeff Adachi over the merits of a controversial pension and healthcare reform measure on the November ballot.
“Tonight’s debate is an important component of our democratic process and an opportunity for the voters of San Francisco to decide how their tax dollars are spent without the interference of special interest groups,” Adachi, who sponsored the ballot measure, said in a press release. “In this time of severe recession, Prop B will immediately inject millions of dollars into San Francisco’s funding stream. These deeply needed funds can be used towards protecting services, saving jobs and getting our City fiscally back on track to meet the needs of all San Franciscans. ”
Public Defender Jeff Adachi.
If passed by a simple majority of voters, Prop B would mandate city employees contribute between 9 and 10 percent of their annual salaries towards their pension retirement accounts. It would also double city employees’ health care insurance contributions, a provision that has caused uproar and vociferous opposition from labor groups.
According to Adachi, the measure is aimed at reining in unsustainable pension and healthcare costs projected to exceed $1 billion by 2016 and would save as much as $170 million in the first year, monies that could be used to prevent layoffs and cuts to important city services. The City faces a $700 million deficit in the next fiscal year due to the recession and subsequent decreases in revenues.
Tonight’s debate will be held at West Twin Peaks Council, 381 Magellan Avenue, at 8pm.
Pelosi AWOL from District, or too afraid of political foot in mouth disease?
Nancy Pelosi.
Speaker of the House and Congressional District 8 Representative Nancy Pelosi doesn’t spend enough time in the District she represents to debate any candidates vying to challenge her 23-year reign, according to reports.
Republican challenger John Dennis happened upon Pelosi last week at a Young Democrats fundraiser held in Washington, D.C. During the encounter, Dennis asked Pelosi if she received his formal invitation for a debate and re-iterated his invitation in person.
According to Dennis, Pelosi told him a debate would be unlikely because “she has little time to return to the District.”
“She owes the voters of San Francisco an explanation for why she has reversed her position on many key issues involving the two wars, renewing the Patriot Act,” Dennis said. “Most important, a debate would force her to defend economic policies which have done little to address the economic downturn and dismal jobs picture. She has presided over a $1.5 trillion deficit that will burden our children for decades.”
GOP challenger John Dennis.
The last time Pelosi debated anyone for the seat was in 1987 when she ran to succeed the late Sala Burton.
Mirkarimi Earns NCPA Public Power Champion Award
San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi was recognized Friday during an annual meeting of Northern California Power Agency members for his efforts in championing opposition to Proposition 16, a failed measure on the June ballot sponsored by PG&E that would have all but eliminated public energy competition from local communities.
Mirkarimi, you’ll recall, attended the NCPA’s previous annual meeting in September, 2009 to ring alarm bells and to champion grass roots opposition to the monopoly-protecting measure.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi addresses NCPA members at its 2009 annual meeting.
Mirkarimi, a former Green turned Democrat, shared the “Public Power Champion Award” honor with former California Energy Commissioner John Geesman, a Republican.
Editor’s Note: Luke Thomas is a resident and voter in District 6. In the interest of transparency, he has provided photography services to the campaigns of Jane Kim, Jim Meko and Debra Walker.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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