Latest endorsements from PHDC

On September 1, 2015September 7, 2015 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
AÂ – 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 August 20, 2015September 7, 2015 By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elected official, Elections, Endorsements, Housing, Money in politics

TUESDAY, 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.Â PropsÂ A and C, whose only known opposition came from a lone Republican, had opposing arguments presented by PHDCÂ 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?Â 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 JosÃ© 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, May 5th: Calle 24; End-of-Life Option Act; Medicare’s 50th birthday

On April 27, 2015May 7, 2015 By potrerohilldemocratsIn Health Care, Housing, Income disparity, Uncategorized

Calle 24, the stretch of 24th Street running from Mission Street to Potrero Avenue, is known as “El CorazÃ³n de la MisiÃ³n”, or “The Heart of the Mission.” Calle 24 is also the name of the group of merchants and neighbors fighting for the heart and soul of the Mission.Â Erick Arguello and Edwin Lindo (right) described the widespread displacement of long-time residents & businesses by skyrocketing rents, and legislation introduced by Supervisor Campos earlier that day to place a 45-day moratorium on market-rate housing in the Mission. The club voted to endorse the “No Monster in the Mission” campaign, thereby joining the Plaza 16 Coalition.

SB 128 is the End-of-Life Option Act (Wolk, D-Davis, and Monning, D-Carmel),Â which would allow terminally ill Californians to request medication to bring about a peaceful death if their suffering becomes unbearable. Jacie Rowe (left), Northern California organizer for Compassion & Choices, discussed the bill. The club passed a resolution of support and will sign on to a letter to legislators.

There are plans afoot for preserving and expanding Medicare, America’s universal, public health plan for seniors age 65 and up, and actions to celebrate its birthday this summer. Jonathan Meade from SEIU 1021, part of Healthy California, a coalition of which PHDC is a member, invited PHDC to join the July 30th rally in Oakland.

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

Meeting April 7th: Smorgasbord of political issues

On March 28, 2015June 12, 2015 By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Housing, Military spending, Uncategorized

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.Â 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

Jan 6th meeting: reforming Prop 13, reining in Airbnb, & more

On December 30, 2014January 18, 2015 By potrerohilldemocratsIn Education, Housing, Uncategorized

PHDC started off 2015 with a couple of thought-provoking topics, both of which engendered very active audience participation.

Dale Carlson (left) of the Share Better SF coalition discussed a proposed ballot measure his coalition of affordable housing advocates and community organizations is creating. The intent is to continue to expose the impact of Airbnb and other illegal hotels, and to hold them accountable in San Francisco.

Since the initiative passed in 1978, Prop 13’s business-property loopholes have decimated California’s public education system. Now, Evolve – California has taken over the campaign to ensure that commercial property pays its fair share. Evolve organizer Emil Margolis described the campaign, which club members then voted to endorse.

Nominations for 2015 officers are open. The election will be held at the February 3rd meeting.

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St @ Southern Heights

Tuesday August 5th: An endorsement sampler – and more

On July 22, 2014August 5, 2014 By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Endorsements, Environment, Health Care, Housing, Money in politics, Uncategorized

Arguments pro and con for a varietyÂ 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,Â 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

Tuesday, May 6th: Housing crisis – discussion, updates, ideas

On April 23, 2014May 7, 2014 By potrerohilldemocratsIn Endorsements, Housing, Uncategorized

The housing situation in our fair City is dire and fast-changing. Housing prices explode; protests against evictions escalate; legislation is introduced at state and local levels; lawsuits are filed by the City Attorney.Â San Francisco leads the nation in income disparity. Participants in a thought-provoking discussion, which included plenty of audience Q&A, were:

Tim Colen,Â Executive Director,Â SF Housing Action Coalition
Sara Shortt, Executive Director, SF Housing Rights Committee
Calvin Welch, founder, Council of Community Housing Organizations

Brad Paul, Deputy Executive Director, Association of Bay Area Governments,Â moderated.

The above program was co-sponsored by our friends at San Francisco for Democracy.

At the start of the meeting, speaking briefly and toting campaign swag, were the endorsed campaigns ofÂ Yes on B – Voter Approval for Waterfront Development Height Increases (Tim Hester) ; Betty Yee for Controller (Jay Cheng); Derek Cressman for Secretary of State (Joni Eisen).

WHEN: Tuesday, May 6, @ 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro @ Southern Hts

Potrero Hill Democratic Club

Category: Housing