Category: Money in politics

Tues Aug 26th: Award-winning journalists discuss the City budget

On By Joni EisenIn Climate change, Journalism, Money in politics, Transit, UncategorizedLeave a comment

We are excited to feature at our next meeting Managing Editor, columnist and investigative reporter Joe Eskenazi (left) and data reporter Kelly Waldron of acclaimed independent local news outlet Mission Local. They will discuss the City budget: who kind of won, who really lost, and where that leaves us (hey, anyone notice the climate is still changing?). Moderator will be Boosters president and PHDC board member J.R. Eppler.

PHDC will join Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association, in-person on their regular 4th Tuesday instead of our  regular 1st Tuesday.

Potrero Boosters & Potrero Hill Democratic Club, Tuesday, August 26, 7pm

In-person: Dogpatch Hub, 1278 Minnesota St. Remote access available: Zoom link

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 Jan 8th: Cleaning it up with Tom Ammiano; reform with the CADem 17 slate

On By Joni EisenIn Elected official, Elections, Money in politics, Resistance, Uncategorized

On the second Tuesday of the month (instead of our normal first Tuesday because of the holiday), our headliner is former State Assemblyman, Board of Supervisors president, and School Board president Tom Ammiano, role-model legislator for decades of SF political history.  Tom chairs the campaign committee for the Sunlight on Dark Money Initiative, seeking signatures to get on the November 2019 ballot.  It would force disclosures of corporate PAC money in campaigns and limit pay-to-play campaign contributions, and close corporate and lobbyist campaign contribution loopholes.  With the elections coming up, we need these reforms more than ever.

The new year also brings elections for local delegates to the California Democratic Party, sorely in need of reform after the scandal-triggered resignation of the party’s chair in late November.  At Tuesday’s meeting, we’ll meet some of the candidates on the Reform Democrats for Labor & Equity slate.  The election for this set of delegates is coming up fast: Saturday, January 12, at 10 am at the Women’s Building, 3271 18th Street.  All registered Democrats in Assembly DIstrict 17 are eligible to vote! For information about the Party and the delegate election (including all candidate statements) click here. 

We’ll also hear from PHDC member Kelly Dennehy-Schumann, board member of the Women’s March Bay Area, with information about the Saturday, January 19th rally & march, 11:30am at Civic Center Plaza.

Also: nominations are open for 2019 PHDC officers.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 8th, 7:00 pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

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.

 

 

Meeting Tuesday, Feb 3: Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, CiriReport editor Larry Bush, electing PHDC officers, & more

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elected official, Elections, Money in politics, Uncategorized

Since the District 10 Supervisor, the City Attorney and the Sheriff are all our neighbors – and PHDC members – the Club decided to invite them all separately to address members and guests on their current and future projects. Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi appeared and gave a lively, informative and well-received talk, followed by audience Q&A.

Alas, the other two could not make it this time. Supervisor Malia Cohen submitted her goals and priorities for the next term via a summary document distributed at the meeting, and City Attorney Dennis Herrera agreed to appear before the Club on March 3rd.

Larry Bush, Friend of Ethics, columnist & editor of CitiReport,  joined us to talk about campaign finance and other ethics reforms called for in his Feb 2 op-ed in the Chronicle. Club members voted to send letters to the SF Ethics Commissioners, urging the Commission to consider and act on these reforms at its February and March meetings.

Executive Committee Members Bob Boileau and Loretta Lynch, respectively, presented updates on the Eden Foods boycott and reaching voters in large multi-unit buildings with the PHDC hand-delivered slate card.

Members elected the following officers for 2015:
President Joni Eisen
1st VP Membership Monisha Mustapha
2nd VP Political Action Loretta Lynch
Secretary J.R. Eppler
Treasurer Carlin Holden
Tech Officer John O’Neill
Officers-At-Large Bob Boileau, Kate Gaidos Eppler, Eliana López 

WHEN: Tuesday, February 3rd 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

Tuesday, August 6th: More sunshine at City Hall

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Money in politics, Uncategorized

Our July “meeting” took place in Dolores Park on a sizzling Fourth, campaigning for the CA DISCLOSE Act, registering voters, and watching the SF Mime Troupe’s premier performance. Then we were ready to return to our regular venue on the Hill.Bush, Chiu, Herrera, Eppler

City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu (center, r. to l.), having introduced a package of local ethics reform legislation, both appeared on a panel with Larry Bush (left), editor of CitiReport.com and a member of Friends of Ethics. The excellent, illuminating and thought-provoking panel was skilfully moderated by club secretary J.R. Eppler (right). Photo by Jo Elias-Jackson.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 6th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

 

Sunday Streets in the Mission, July 28th. Volunteers take a break from registering voters and campaigning for the California DISCLOSE Act. Photo by Linda Post.Sunday Streets in the Mission July 28

 

Tuesday, June 4th: Oil & Waterfront

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Money in politics, Uncategorized, Water Issues

Citizens Climate Lobby carbon fee slideshowOIL. The upper safety limit for atmospheric CO2 is 350 parts per million (ppm). We’ve just hit 400 ppm. Dave Massen (SF group leader) and Jeff Whittington of Citizens Climate Lobby (click here for recent NY Times article about CCL) want to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote transition to a green energy economy through carbon fee and dividend:  taxing carbon pollution from fossil fuels, and returning the proceeds to American households. This idea is an alternative to cap and trade, which now exists in California. After the presentation (photo above by Maulik Shah), Club members voted to sign on to a letter urging Congress to enact carbon fee & divArt Agnos and Rick Weltsidend legislation.

WATERFRONT. Is the proposed Golden State Warriors Arena development project for Piers 30-32 being rushed through without appropriate scrutiny? Former Mayor Art Agnos of the San Francisco Waterfront Alliance thinks so, and he told us why.  Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts joined Mayor Agnos with a different perspective. Many questions, much passion, a great meeting.
Photo by Linda Post

WHEN: Tuesday, June 4th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

Tuesday, April 2nd meeting: The future of our water

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Education, Environment, Gun control, Money in politics, Water Issues

With increased population growth, climate change, and the inevitable “big one,” securing San Francisco’s water supply will require creative and forward-looking plans. Attendees heard from experts about these and other water issues in our city and in the state, including: the dangers fracking in California; ways that San Francisco is slowly mitigating its practice of treating rainwater runoff as if it were wastewater; chemicals in drinking water in other parts of the state; taxing fertilizer to offset the contamination it causes. Conversation-starters Jennifer Clary of Clean Water Action, Ellen Levin of SF Public Utilities Commission, and Adam Scow of Food & Water Watch opened the program, followed by breakout groups and a final Q&A session. Earlier in the meeting, PHDC members updated the group on past topics, including the CA DISCLOSE Act, gun safety legislation, and saving City College.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 2 at 6:45pm (meeting at 7pm)
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St