Category: Environment

Tues May 6th: In times of crisis, we persist.

On By Joni EisenIn Climate change, Environment, Money in politics, Uncategorized

Potrero Hill Democratic Club monthly meeting, Tuesday, May 6th @ 7:00pm on zoom

“Action is the best antidote to despair.” – Joan Baez

There’s so much coming at us, fast, furious. You might think, will anything I do really make a difference? We say yes! Things add up – good as well as bad. And if you do nothing, for sure you won’t make a difference. If you do something, you will at least feel better. And change some little thing for the better, even if you can’t see it.

Update:

In this time of multiple crises – with extreme budget constraints on everyone everywhere – some ideas nevertheless continue to move forward. The activists who spoke with us May 6th are keeping these ideas afloat and despair at a distance. If you were inspired to join them, or want to learn more, just follow the links.

  • Misha Steier from San Francisco Public Bank Coalition, spoke about establishing a non-depository lending corporation wholly-owned by the City, not private investors. View his slide presentation here. In 2021, the City created a Reinvestment Working Group to produce Public Bank Business & Governance Plans, which were completed and approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2023. Legislation to create a Gren Bank is expected in August. You can subscribe to updates on San Francisco’s progress creating a Public Bank. The San Francisco Public Bank Coalition’s next General Meeting will be Thursday, May 29 at 6pm. Register here.
  • Elena Engel and Sue Green from San Francisco Climate Emergency Coalition described pushing policymakers since the City declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 to act like it’s an emergency. They need to fund the SF Environment Department enough to implement the City’s excellent, comprehensive Climate Action Plan and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to net zero by 2040. To receive newsletter/action alerts – for Supervisor visits, public comment at hearings, letter-writing and phone campaigns, and more, join the Coalition, actually a group of individuals belonging to a variety of other groups, mailing list.
  • Dave Schmidt from California Clean Money Campaign is working to put SB 42, the California Fair Elections Act, on the 2026 ballot to let voters decide to repeal the ban on local public financing of campaigns. San Francisco and some other cities allow public financing – but it’s not allowed statewide. SIGN THE PETITION asking your legislators to vote “Yes” on SB 42 and coauthor it if they haven’t yet. The Campaign Kickoff for SB 42 will be Sunday May 19, 3:30 – 5pm in Berkeley.

Tues, May 7: Flip the vote, fix the climate, more

On By Joni EisenIn Climate change, Elections, Endorsements, Environment, Uncategorized

Hear from Flip the Vote, strategically working towards winning Democratic control of all three branches of the federal government by directly supporting carefully-researched, trusted partner groups in key swing states. And PHDC members representing SF Climate Emergency Coalition and Citizens’ Climate Lobby SF chapter will describe the critical work being done to promote climate action at the local level and beyond. We will continue to nominate officers (voting at June 4th meeting) and highlight upcoming endorsement events.

WHAT: Potrero Hill Democratic Club’s monthly membership meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, May 7, 6:30pm 

WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St. If unable to join in person, here’s the zoom link. In-person is much-preferred!

Tuesday June 14th: Budget Battles for City College & Climate Action

On By Joni EisenIn Climate change, Education, Elected official, Environment, Labor, Uncategorized

Please join us again at the historic, beautiful Neighborhood House in person. Masks and proof of vaccination are required to enter the building. Light snacks will be served.

  • WHAT: PHDC’s June membership meeting
  • WHEN: Tuesday, June 14th, 6:30 – 8:30pm
  • WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

We will hear two points of view about CCSF’s budget: AFT 2121 president Mary Bravewoman and Labor Council delegate Tim Killikelly will speak to us about opposing future cuts, and supporting an initiative to bring new revenue to CCSF. CCSF Chancellor David Martin will speak from the perspective of the administration, and may be joined by a member of the Board of Trustees.

We will hear what the Mayor has allocated for equitable – or any – climate action in her June 1st budget proposal: nothing! But it’s not over yet. Joni Eisen of SF Climate Emergency Coalition will describe how those who care about a livable planet for our children and grandchildren are turning to the Board of Supervisors, who will spend most of this month deciding what and how much to “add back” to the Mayor’s budget.

Tues April 2 – Green Dreams: Turning Them into Reality

On By colleen60821b8d81In Climate change, Environment, Social justice, Uncategorized

PHDC’s April membership meeting, co-hosted by San Francisco Tomorrow, is packed with ideas for reversing climate change.

Panelists include:

We’ll also hear an update from Thea Selby, SF Transit Riders chair and CCSF Trustee, on what is or could be happening with High Speed Rail

Finally, we’ll end with a quick presentation on how you can sign up for 100% renewable energy through CleanPowerSF.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:00 pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

Tues Feb 7th: Climate change, health care, & so much more

On By Joni EisenIn Environment, Health Care, Journalism, Social justice, Uncategorized

Two-plus weeks after the “inauguration,” we find that all the challenges we feared are coming at us, almost all at once.  So for the foreseeable future, our Club will focus on ongoing, practical resistance against the Republican agenda in Washington, and the corporate agenda in Sacramento and City Hall.  Each meeting will start with quick updates and specific upcoming actions, and then we’ll dive deeper into conversations with allies on specific subjects. This meeting featured:

• Combating Climate Change. Back in 2013, Citizens’ Climate Lobby appeared before the DemClub; as a result, we became the first organization in SF to endorse its proposed federal legislation, Carbon Fee & Dividend – which, considering the current climate (so to speak) looming in Washington DC, just might have a chance in today’s Congress (it’s both market-based and socially just). CCL volunteers Joni Eisen, Heath Massey, & Brendan Rhoan updated us on their progress, coupled with a call to action.

• Supporting Real Investigative Journalism. Michael Stoll and Daphne Magnawa of San Francisco Public Press, a local nonprofit, noncommercial news organization, described some of their work producing high-impact in-depth reporting projects on a wide range of topics.

• Saving Health Care. Carolyn Barden of California Nurses Association and Jonathan Meade of Healthy California discussed expanding health care, not cutting it, and why now is the time to move forward in California with Single-Payer legislation:  Medicare for all.

For your ongoing convenience, find links to overall resistance info, and particular actions, in our current newsletter.

Tuesday, January 5th: City College, schoolyards, pin-the-issue-on-the donkey, more

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Education, Elected official, Environment, Uncategorized

City College Trustee John Rizzo, recently returned from testifying in DC against the deservedly disgraced accrediting commission, gave an update on the situation at CCSF. With the help of PHDC’s mascot. Photo: John O’Neill.

District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell discussed the Shared Schoolyard Project, which he revamped in 2012 to open playgrounds to the public on weekends, with the goal of expanding it to 80 schools. Club members voted to endorse the program.

PHDC Executive Committee member Audrey Cortes gave her impressions of the Paris Climate Change Conference, which she attended with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff. PHDC president Joni Eisen talked about the Voters Right to Know Act and collected signatures to help put it on the November ballot.

Nominations opened for 2016 Club Officers (election to be held in February).
donkey dots
Members pinned dots on the donkey to vote for the topics & issues they would most like the Club to take on or revisit.  Top dot-getters (in alphabetical order): affordable housing crisis, Black Lives Matter, homelessness, income gap, labor issues, overturning Citizens United, preventing gun violence, voter education via endorsement meetings.

PHDC meets at the Yankee: Tuesday, November 3rd – Election Night!

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Environment, Uncategorized

Doorhanger frontDoorhanger backVOTE!!! Since our regular venue, the Neighborhood House theater, will be used as a polling place, PHDC will hold its monthly meeting in the back room of the Connecticut Yankee. After you vote – and get out the vote – come enjoy snacks on us, no-host bar, camaraderie and a couple of brief presentations:

  • SF PUC with an update on CleanPowerSF
  • A representative from BART to talk about the Better BART Initiative

Then, rest assured we will have a selection of election-night parties for you to head out to.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 3rd at 7pm
WHERE: Connecticut Yankee (back room), 100 Connecticut at 17th

Coming Tuesday, Oct 6th: The drought and climate change

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Uncategorized, Water Issues

droughtWhat is the impact of the worst drought in 1300 years on San Francisco, its residents and the Bay environment? Are we doing enough? Come hear and question the experts on anything related to the current (and future?) drought. The panel:

  • Jennifer Clary, Water Program Manager, Clean Water Action
  • Barry Nelson, Bay Conservation & Development Commissioner; Principal, Western Water Strategies
  • Adam Scow, California Director, Food & Water Watch

 

Moderator: Loretta Lynch, former president, CA Public Utilities Commission

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro at Southern Heights

Meeting April 7th: Smorgasbord of political issues

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Housing, Military spending, Uncategorized

smorgasbord


Sue Vaughan spoke in opposition to AB 61, introduced in the State Assembly by Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, which would grant legal authority to local transit agencies to allow private shuttles to use public bus stops. Here’s an SF Examiner article about AB 61. The Club voted to send a letter of opposition to the members of the Assembly Transportation Committee, as well as our legislators. The Transportation Committee hearing in Sacramento is Monday, April 27.

Sue Vaughan also asked for support of SB 47 (Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo), a bill that would enact a 2-year moratorium on tire-crumb artificial turf to allow further study. Members passed a resolution of support, which was then sent to Senator Hill. SB 47 goes before the Senate Appropriations Committee Monday, April 13.

Sue Hestor discussed the questionable actions of the ever-expanding entity known as the Academy of Art University. Read an article about it in the SF Business Times: “After years of flouting city rules…” Members signed up to attend the hearing for the draft EIR next Thursday, April 16.  The Planning Commission meeting starts at noonin Room 400 of City Hall, and this is first on the agenda after staff reports.

Tom Gallagher presented a resolution against further U.S. aggression in or over Iraq. Read the resolution here. After a a debate with a club member and a discussion, the motion to pass the resolution was tabled.

PHDC held a special election to fill a new position; Audrey Cortes was elected as the fourth Officer-At-Large on the Executive Committee.

 Members passed a 3-part amendment to the Bylaws.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 7th at 7pm
WHERE: 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