The ballot for the November 4th Presidential election will be a whopper. Tuesday, August 4th was our first endorsement meeting for that election. We had outside speakers pro and con for the more controversial state propositions, and club members gave overviews and recommendations on other measures. Members had a week to turn in their ballots; results are on the right. A useful reference for anyone pondering how to vote is the Secretary of State’s website.

City candidates and ballot measures will be dealt with at TWO September endorsement meetings, Sept 2nd (local candidates) and Sept 9th (local propositions).

Continue reading “12 California Propositions on the November ballot” →

At our July 1st meeting, back in our usual room at the Neighborhood House, we featured speakers from the Proposition 13 Reform Task Force, a group concerned about the continuing adverse impact of Proposition 13 on California government. They drafted a resolution as a prelude to passing a ballot initiative to change California’s property tax laws by removing non-residential commercial property from Proposition 13’s tax shelter. They say that this change would produce billions of dollars in revenue that could be used for local needs.

Continue reading “Revisiting Proposition 13” →

By all means help get out the vote for your favorite candidate or campaign. Then grab a drink, salad or dessert to share and head on over to 824B Carolina – behind the Neighborhood House this time, since our regular venue is being used as a polling place. Pizza’s on us.

Special guest Barry Hermanson will speak about the need to reduce military spending. More details about the meeting are on our calendar.

Continue reading “Election Night: PHDC Potluck Meeting & Party” →

These were the topics covered at our May 6th meeting. Below, Superdelegate Alicia Wang shares insights about Party machinations.

Continue reading “Superdelegates, Clean Money, Helipad” →

At our meeting Tuesday, April 1st, there were 8 local and 2 state ballot measures to consider. These included two pairs of competing measures: one about development in the Bayview, the other about eminent domain in California. There were candidates to consider, too; State Senator isn’t the only contest on the ballot. At the Neighborhood House for speakers and Q&A, members and guests enjoyed an informative evening of civic engagement. Check out the Club’s endorsements.

Continue reading “Endorsements: The REST of the June 3rd Primary Ballot” →

March 4th was the date, The Nabe was the place to be when Police Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese, Assemblyman Mark Leno, Senator Carole Migden and former Assemblyman Joe Nation vied for your vote. Philip DeAndrade moderated this leg of California’s hottest legislative race. Around 90 people showed up – our biggest event yet. Click on Blog at left to read an article about the event in the Bay Area Reporter.

Members voted as follows: First round IRV, counting 1st choices only: Leno 21. Migden 14, Nation 3, No Endorsement 2, total 40 votes cast. 2nd round: Eliminating the votes for Nation and No Endorsement, those voters’ second choices added 1 each to Leno and Migden, and 2 to Alioto Veronese (one voter had no 2nd choice). Since Alioto Veronese, like Nation and No Endorsement, got less than 15% of the vote, his votes were eliminated.

Final count: Leno 22, Migden 15. 24 votes were needed to make the 60% endorsement threshold. So the Club’s official position is: No Position. You can still click on the candidates’ photos at upper right, except for the one who dropped out, to go to their web sites.

Continue reading “Senate Primary Debate and Endorsement Vote” →

Our regular February meeting coincided with the Primary Election in California – and 23 other states! After voting, members, neighbors & friends gathered for a potluck at the Nabe to watch the returns. We also elected officers for 2008. Below are scenes from the event, which was held in the downstairs game room; our regular meeting room was being used, of course, as a polling place.

Photos: Linda Post

On January 8th, 2008, the Club held its endorsement meeting for local and state propositions that will be on the February 5th California Presidential Primary ballot. Here are our endorsements. Read about what the speakers had to say in the minutes of the meeting.

With such a strong field of candidates, no one thought our Club would be able to endorse just one. Twenty-seven members (out of 42 eligible) cast their ballots using ranked choice voting at our December 4th Party Endorsement Party. After several rounds Edwards remained the front runner, exceeding the 60% threshold when he and Barack Obama were the only two left standing. (Interested members are encouraged to volunteer by contacting the SF John Edwards campaign). Below are scenes from the event, including the reps from six presidential campaigns.

The California Presidential Primary is February 5, 2008, just two months away. Please join us for an exciting and festive Tuesday night meeting, at 7PM at the Neighborhood House. Speakers have been invited from all eight Democratic Primary campaigns to present and take questions. Written questions are being accepted now. Club members’ votes will be tallied at the end of the evening. For more details, please check our calendar.