Category: Endorsements

Tuesday September 15th at 7pm: Endorsement meeting #3

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elected official, Elections, Endorsements, Uncategorized


★ Proving that Ed Lee is NOT running unopposed, Mayoral candidates Francisco Herrera,  Amy Farah Weiss, and Dan Kappler (write-in), discussed  issues vital to San Franciscans.

★ Actually unopposed candidate City Attorney Dennis Herrera spoke briefly about his accomplishments in office.

★ These props weree covered (click on titles for summaries):
B –  Paid Parental Leave for City Employees
G – Disclosures Regarding Renewable Energy
H - Defining Clean, Green, and Renewable Energy

Supervisor Katy Tang spoke in favor of Prop B, and a PHDC board member presented the lone Republican opponent’s arguments (this also happened for Prop H). Eric Brooks spoke against Prop G and in favor of Prop H.

★ Brent Turner gave an update on Open-Source Voting, endorsed some years ago by PHDC, which is about to come up before the Elections Commission.

The meeting ended with members voting to make the following endorsements:

  • AMY FARAH WEISS for Mayor
  • DENNIS HERRERA for City Attorney
  • JOSÉ CISNEROS for Treasurer
  • YES on Proposition B
  • NO on Proposition G
  • YES on Proposition H


WHEN: Tuesday, Sept 15th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St at Southern Hts.

Latest endorsements from PHDC

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elected official, Elections, Endorsements, Housing, Uncategorized

The club voted on the following endorsements at its September 1st meeting. Endorsements for propositions or candidates for a single office require at least 60% of votes cast.

San Francisco Propositions
A  – YES – General Obligation Bond Election – Affordable Housing
C – YES – Expenditure Lobbyists Ordinance
D – No position – Mission Rock
E – NO – Requirements For Public Meetings of Local Policy Bodies
F – YES – Short-Term Residential Rentals
I – YES -Suspension of Market-Rate Development in the Mission District
J – YES – Establishing the Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund
K – YES – Surplus City Property Ordinance

District Attorney
GEORGE GASCON

PHDC has already endorsed Ross Mirkarimi for Sheriff and Wendy Aragon for SF Community College Trustee.

Coming Sept 15th: endorsements for Props B, G, and H; Mayor, City Attorney, and Treasurer.

Two (2) September endorsement meetings: 9/1 Ballot measures; 9/15 Mayoral & other candidates, more ballot measures

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elected official, Elections, Endorsements, Housing, Money in politics

Prop F mini-debateTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 6:30pm. Housing and Good-Government night at PHDC. Props A, D, F, I, J, & K (housing) and C & E (good government) were covered. There were mini-debates on the more contentious propositions: D – Mission Rock, former Mayor Art Agnos vs. Jon Golinger; F – Short-Term Residential Rentals, Dale Carlson vs. George Marshall (photo at right); I – Suspension of Market-Rate Development in the Mission, Edwin Lindo vs. Jay Cheng.  Props  A and C, whose only known opposition came from a lone Republican, had opposing arguments presented by PHDC  board members. Props J and K, also apparently opposed by a lone Republican, actually had another Republican show up at the last minute to debate Supervisor David Campos and Fernando Marti respectively. Prop E’s proponent could not appear, so PHDC filled in. Also, District Attorney George Gascon spoke briefly about his tenure and (unopposed) campaign.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, 7:00pm. Ed Lee is NOT running unopposed! Serious candidates for Mayor who have thought long and hard about the issues that matter most to San Franciscans should be afforded the opportunity to share their ideas via public debates and policy discussions. Mayor Lee, are you up to the challenge?  Mayoral candidate debate/discussion, with Francisco Herrera, Dan Kappler (write-in), Amy Farah Weiss and others invited. We will also hear from two actually unopposed candidates: City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Treasurer José Cisneros (surrogate). We will hear about the three remaining ballot measures: B, G, & H.

Both meetings will take place at Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St at Southern Hts.

 

 

Tuesday, August 4th: Candidates duked it out!

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Education, Elected official, Elections, Endorsements, Uncategorized

CCSF candidate forum at PHDCThe Community College Board candidate forum included three of the five candidates running for one open seat (left to right): Wendy Aragon, Alex Randolph (appointed incumbent), Tom Temprano – brilliantly moderated by PHDC VP Loretta Lynch (at right).

Sheriff candidate debatte at PHDC

 

The Sheriff candidate debate featured all three candidates (left to right): John Robinson, Ross Mirkarimi (incumbent), Vicki Hennessy. Moderating that one – brilliantly of course – was PHDC Secretary J.R. Eppler (at right).

The Neighborhood House theater was packed to the rafters.  The candidates were all totally engaged, and engaging. After the meeting was adjourned, members turned in their ballots, and board members did the counting while candidates and audience kept the conversations going.

Voting results: Wendy Aragon for Community College Board, and Ross Mirkarimi for Sheriff!

The club also passed a resolution in support of saving Rincon Park (site of Oldenberg’s “Cupid’s Bow” on the waterfront) from being shaded by new towers, and amended the Bylaws about endorsing candidates in multi-seat races (threshold lowered from 60% to 50%).

WHEN: Tuesday, August 4th at 7pm SHARP
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St @ Southern Heights

Tuesday, Nov 4th: No PHDC meeting. GOTV then party!

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Endorsements

The first Tuesday of the month is our regular meeting night, but this Tuesday is Election Day. Our beautiful meeting space will serve (beautifully) as a polling place. Club members are urged to spend some time and energy getting friends and neighbors to the polls. Turnout will be everything. Pick a campaign to help with, then, hopefully, go to election-night parties to celebrate. Here are some of our top picks: David Campos for Assembly. Tony Kelly for Supervisor. Yes on E – support the soda tax. Yes on F – Pier 70 height increase, with benefits.  Yes on G – stop the evictions. Yes on H, No on I – save Golden Gate Park. Yes on J – raise the minimum wage. No on L – no on gridlock. No on 2 – bad for kids. Yes on 45 – put the brakes on rates.

Oct 7: City College; endorsed candidates & campaigns

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Education, Elections, Endorsements, Uncategorized

The meeting was mostly devoted to actively promoting PHDC-endorsed candidates and campaigns, like those of David Campos for Assembly, Tony Kelly for Supervisor, Daniel Flores for Judge, John Rizzo for Community College Board, and Shamann Walton for School Board. They, and reps of several Proposition campaigns, came to say a few words, distribute campaign swag and invite volunteers. We also signed people up to staff the PHDC table at the Potrero Hill Festival Oct 18th, and to walk precincts with our slate card/door hanger. Truly grassroots democracy.

In addition, AFT 2121 President Tim Killikelly (at left) gave an update on the effort to Save CCSF, asked audience members to take a survey, and submitted the CCSF Bill of Rights for Club endorsement (done).

WHEN: Tuesday, October 7 at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St @ Southern Hts  

Two Tuesday endorsement meetings in September

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Endorsements, Uncategorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Tuesday, Sept 2 ballot measure endorsement meeting were state and local ballot measure speakers pro and con, with Q&A of course. We covered local propositions A, B, D, J, & K and statewide propositions 1, 2, 45, 46, 47 and 48. Club endorsements for November are here.

The Tuesday, Sept 9 candidate endorsement meeting featured forums for candidates for Board of Education (photo above, with moderator Sara O’Neill at left) and  SF Community College Board of Trustees. Candidate questionnaires received from these folks may be viewed online here. The club revisited candidates for both SF Superior Court Judge and for CA Assembly District 17 – since the primary vote was a tie for both races. Now, months later, after getting to know the candidates better, members voted to endorse David Campos for Assembly and Daniel Flores for Judge.

At the end of each meeting, regular members in good standing voted, and ballots were tallied. To be endorsed, a proposition or candidate must get 60% of votes cast.

Both meetings took place at Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St @ Southern Heights.

Tuesday August 5th: An endorsement sampler – and more

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Endorsements, Environment, Health Care, Housing, Money in politics, Uncategorized


Prop H vs. Prop IArguments pro and con for a variety of measures on the November 4th ballot made for an engaging evening of mini-debates. There was a literal turf battle (at right, Mike Murphy & Donald Collins argue real vs. fake grass in the parks), the Pier 70 development height limit increase, an attempt to “balance” transportation priorities (oh, pity the poor cars!), the sugary beverage tax, a question about an amendment to overturn Citizens United, an anti-speculation tax, a fund for children and youth. In short, something for almost everyone.

Club members voted at the end of the evening. Results of the vote: PHDC endorsed YES on Props C (Children’s Fund), E (Sugary beverage tax), F (Pier 70), G (anti-speculation tax), H (natural grass in Golden Gate Park), and 49 (overturning Citizens United).

PHDC endorsed NO on Props I (artificial turf) and L (Transportation priorities policy). Endorsement requires 60% of votes cast.

The Club also voted to support the Eden Foods boycott (featuring another Hobby Lobby-esque owner suing to foist his own religious beliefs on employees).

WHEN: Tuesday August 5 at 7:00pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St @ Southern Heights

Wednesday July 2: DEBATE!

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elected official, Elections, Endorsements, Uncategorized

Candidates for District 10 Supervisor shared their ideas, expertise, and love for the neighborhoods of District 10 Wednesday at the Neighborhood House in an intense debate, ably guided by moderator Marisa Lagos of the SF Chronicle. All five official candidates held the standing-room-only audience rapt. Candidates, left to right: Ed Donaldson, Marlene Tran, incumbent Malia Cohen, Tony Kelly, and Shawn Richard. An amazing turnout with lots of energy and enthusiasm. Every candidate had important and insightful information on how Potrero Hill and District 10 can best be served by the city of San Francisco.

At the end of the evening, after first-choice votes were counted, Tony Kelly won the Club’s endorsement.