OccupySF Prepares for Direct Action Rally to Restore Education, Social Services Funding

OccupySF Prepares for Direct Action Rally
to Restore Education, Social Services Funding

February 29, 2012 | 1 Comment

Local organizers declare that public education is a social good, and the cornerstone of a democratic society, a vibrant economy, and the social and intellectual development of every individual. Unwilling to rob Peter to pay Paul, the organizers believe that essential social services provide a crucial safety net for the most vulnerable members of society, and therefore serve as a measure of society’s moral standard. The broad-based coalition of members of the 99% demand that decision-makers in Sacramento tax the rich, pass the Millionaires Tax, pass the Oil Tax to Fund Education, and reject regressive taxes. Additionally, Occupy San Francisco is picking up the rising national call to forgive the student loan debt that threatens this country’s future.

Posted in Events, Politics

I Hate it When I’m Right

I Hate it When I’m Right

February 29, 2012 | 2 Comments

There are times you just hope you are wrong. Several years ago, I warned about parents needing to get more involved in their children’s lives, but it was not heard by enough people, whose voices just might have been able to prevent the recent murders of students at a school in Ohio.

Posted in Culture, Opinion

Corporation Pleads Guilty in Procurement Scam to Defraud City

Corporation Pleads Guilty in Procurement Scam to Defraud City

February 28, 2012 | 4 Comments

According to court documents, Cole Hardware is one of two city vendors and one of ten co-defendants to have engaged in a conspiracy to bilk the city out of at least $100,000 between 2003 and 2007. It is alleged that Donnie Alan Thomas, a former SFPUC supervisor who pled guilty last year for his role in the scam, worked in conjunction with Cole Hardware employee Elizabeth Bradford – who has not pled in the case and awaits a preliminary hearing – knowingly submitted fraudulent invoices to the SFPUC with false descriptions of items purchased. The false descriptions allowed Thomas to conceal that he was purchasing items for personal benefit.

Posted in News, Politics

Golden Gate Bridge Workers Picket First in Series of Anniversary Celebrations

Golden Gate Bridge Workers
Picket First in Series of Anniversary Celebrations

February 24, 2012 | 1 Comment

That was the takeaway question asked last night when as many as one hundred Golden Gate Bridge union workers picketed the Orchid Gala Benefit at Fort Mason, one of several celebratory events scheduled to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Posted in News

Occupy Oakland to Join Workers
in Fight at Castlewood Country Club

February 24, 2012 | 1 Comment

Club general manager Jerry Olson said the march is a sign the union is getting desperate. However, he admitted that many clients have canceled since the lockout, although he insisted the club has acquired new members and continues to turn a profit. He did not offer specifics.

Posted in News

Sheriff Mirkarimi Files Motion to Exclude Hearsay Evidence

Sheriff Mirkarimi Files Motion
to Exclude Hearsay Evidence

February 22, 2012 | 8 Comments

The opposition brief, filed by Mirkarimi defense attorney Lidia Stiglich, argues statements made to police by neighbors, Ivory Madison and Callie Williams, are inadmissible under rules of evidence because they are considered “hearsay” statements.

Posted in News, Politics

SWIFT Pressured to Ban Iran Over Nuclear Ambitions

February 22, 2012 | 2 Comments

SWIFT is the financial equivalent of the United Nations. It facilitates the bulk of the world’s cross-border payments. The member-owned cooperative has been described as the ‘glue’ of the global banking system with the value of daily payments using SWIFT estimated at more than $6 trillion. SWIFT is vital to international money flows, exchanging an average 18 million payment messages per day between banks and other financial institutions in 210 countries.

Posted in Opinion, Politics