Posts Tagged ‘tom ammiano’
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Have you heard of opposition to the push for marijuana legalization in California sponsored by San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano? I hadn’t, until now.
Read all about it:
“California religious and community leaders, who have witnessed first hand the ravages of drugs on impressionable youth as well as the homeless, sick and mentally ill, gathered today at a press conference to speak out against legalizing marijuana sales and use in California.
More than 150 members of a faith-based coalition, representing numerous faiths and religious denominations, were joined by community activists and former drug addicts and dealers to dispel the myths perpetuated by a San Francisco legislator who they contend is bent on sending society down the wrong path with a misguided piece of legislation.
Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) has introduced AB 390 to legalize marijuana sales and use in California as a cure to resolving the state budget woes and reducing the overcrowded prison population. Those from the religious community say the measure is full of mistruths and ill-gotten facts.
“I know from personal experience the devastation that occurs in one’s life and community as a result of drug abuse that began with marijuana,” said Bishop Ron Allen, founder and president of the International Faith Based Coalition (IFBC), one of two organizers of the press conference.
More deets, after the jump
(more…)
Tags: AB 390, assembly, Assembly Public Safety Committee, cadfy, california, Californians for Drug Free Youth, committee, IFBC, International Faith Based Coalition, John Redman, legalization, marijuana, Public Safety, sacramento, San Francisco, tom ammiano
Posted in crime | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
Pity poor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – tonight he crashed the annual San Francisco Democratic Party Fundraising Gala and Auction at the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill and he was rewarded with a loud round of booing.
Poor guy. Did Assemblymember Tom Ammiano spontaneously yell, “You lie” at Arnold, ala Congressman Joe Wilson? Haha!
The evening captured via Francis Tsang’s BlackBerry
Per SF FYI Net:
When: October 7, 2009 – Wednesday
5:30 p.m. Cocktails and Auction
7:00 p.m. Dinner and Program
Where: The Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street, San Francisco
What: San Francisco Democratic Party’s Annual Gala Fund Raiser. Many voices – one vision. Funds raised at the gala will directly support voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities to ensure that we elect a Democratic governor in 2010. $150.
Tags: 261, Aaron Peskin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, assemblyman, associates, association, Barack Obama, Barbary Coast, bay area, Benefactor, bevan dufty, BMWL, board, Bob Dockendorff, boo, booed, booing, california, carmen chu, Chair, Chartered, Chris daly, city attorney, club, congresswoman, Consulting, Contributor, david campos, David Chiu, Dean Florez, debra Walker, democracy action, democratic, Democratic Clubs, Democratic Women's Forum, dennis herrera, district, District Attorney, Emerald Fund, Emerge California, eric mar, eric potashner, Fairmont, fairmount, former, friend, Governor, hms, hotel, house, ILWU, jackie speier, james, jewish, Jim Meko, Joe Julian, joe wilson, john avalos, Jose Cisneros, juim, Kamala Harris, Laborer's, Laura Spanjian, Leader, leland yee, linda post, local, Local 16, Lynne, Majority, mark leno, Mary, Meagan Levitan, Melanie Nutter, Michael goldstein, Michael Silver, nancy pelosi, Newhouse, Northern California District Council, nurses, partners, party, platinum, president, rafael mandelman, Raoul Wallenberg, richmond, Robert Friese, San Francisco, Sean Elsbernd, Segal, senate, Senator, sffyinet, sophie maxwell, speaker, Sponsors, Stearns, Supporter, Table Host, Theatrical Stage Employees, tom ammiano, Treasurer, Union labor, United Educators of San Francisco, William Coblentz, willie brown, you lie, Young Democrats
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Thursday, July 16th, 2009
This was the scene yesterday on the steps of San Francisco City Hall yesterday. What did people make of this Assemblymember Dave Jones for State Insurance Commissioner rally? Read on.
A friendly knuckle knock (“or a fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?“) from Supervisor Chris Daly amuses both Dave Jones and Julian Davis. Click to expand:
Luke Thomas interrogates Candidate Jones as Aaron Peskin and the Chronicle’s Marisa Lagos listen in:
First of all, who showed up? San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, Supervisors Chris Daly, Ross Mirkarimi, John Avalos, David Campos, and Eric Mar, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Assessor Phil Ting, Board of Education President Kim-Shree Maufas, Democratic County Central Committee Chairman Aaron Peskin, as well representatives from the offices of Senator Mark Leno and Assemblymembers Fiona Ma and Tom Ammiano. Add those people to the list of endorsers, which also includes State Senate President Darrell Steinberg and State Controller John Chiang.
And what did the media have to say?
Fog City Journal - Luke Thomas - 6 hours ago
“Assemblymember Jones’ candidacy for Insurance Commissioner has been endorsed by a wide spectrum of San Francisco elected officials,” Peskin said, …
… Wednesday to endorse Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, who announced last fall he would seek the seat. Former board President Aaron Peskin, …
Numerous city officials gathered this morning on the steps of City Hall to endorse Assembly member Dave Jones in his run for state …
San Francisco Chronicle - 19 hours ago
At a hastily thrown together press conference Wednesday — hosted by former board president Aaron Peskin, who is now chairman of the San Francisco …
… Dave Jones, D-Sacramento. One couldn’t help but think it was a rally against possible opponent Alioto-Pier. Peskin had long battled against her when he …
It’s not often you find such unanimity.
Tags: 15, 15th, 2009, 2010, Aaron Peskin, Assessor, Board of Education, board of supervisors, Chairman, Chris daly, city attorney, City Hall, civic center, commissioner, controller, County Central Committee, Darrell Steinberg, dave jones, david campos, David Chiu, dccc, democratic, dennis herrera, elecetion, endorsers, eric mar, fiona ma, insurance, john avalos, john chiang, julian davis, july, Kim-Shree Maufas, mark leno, Michela Alioto Pier, Phil Ting, president, race, representatives Assemblymembers, ross mirkarimi, San Francisco, senate, state, steps, supervisors, tom ammiano
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Just minutes after the news came down from the California Supreme Court this morning, a crowd of hundreds on McAllister Street started marching past City Hall towards Van Ness Avenue. (Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Minister of Information Nate Ballard can be seen Twittering the scene camera left):
“Prop 8 – A Modern Day Witch Hunt”:
The marchers ended up at Grove and Van Ness to block the intersection with the intent of some them doing whatever it takes to get arrested. Supervisorial candidates Debra Walker and Rafael Mandelman linking up to block the street:
After a while, the people blocking the intersection started to sit down…
…under the pouring sun
Interestingly, all the cops in with the crowd blocking the normally busy intersection were “liason officers” familiar with the Castro area and the No on 8 movement. That’s quite a different approach compared to the way the SFPD handled the White Night Riots of three decades ago.
Non “liason officers” standing guard outside of the scrum:
The California Highway Patrol was up in the sky – there’ll be no embarrassment for them today, unlike this situation from last year when they didn’t know what was going on at first. Orbiting low and slow with the flaps extended a bit. It’s a living…
All the while, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera was hosting a news conference inside City Hall:
The names of same-sex couples adorn this sculpture in the South Light Court:
Dennis Herrera with Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart:
See what they, and others had to say about today’s decision, after the jump
(more…)
Tags: 8, 8 eight, arrests, assembymember, attorney, blocked, california, city attorney, civic center, civil, court, debra Walker, decision, dennis herrera, department, dept., disobedience, gavin newsom, grove, intersection, leland yee, marraige, mcallister, police, prop, prop 8, Proposition, proposition 8, rafael mandelman, same-sex, San Francisco, san francsico, Senator, SFPD, street, Supervisor, supreme, supreme court, tom ammiano, traffic, van ness
Posted in law | Comments Off
Sunday, April 19th, 2009
As expected, there was a great turnout for the 42nd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown today. Sunny skies and the Grand Parade made today the busiest of the four-day festival. Let’s take a look at the staging area this morning.
Its Grand Marshall George Takei! Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu (born in San Francisco) is seen here hanging out with Heidi Cheung, Miss San Francisco’s Outstanding Teen 2009 and Crystal Lee, Miss California’s Outstanding Teen 2008.
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California President and Mrs. Masaaki Tanaka, Ambassador of Japan to the United States of America, H.E. Ambassador and Mrs. Ichiro Fujisajki, George Takei, and Consul General of Japan and Mrs. Yasumasa Nagamine:
The mise-en-scene in front of City Hall:. Click to expand:
My Melody, Hello Kitty, and Badtz Maru were pleased to be on the scene:
From Hawaii with aloha:
Photographer David Yu was welcomed by all, including this contingent from Los Angeles:
Miss National Asia Dow-An Kou is on the right:
Bevan Dufty chilling with local pageant winners.
Elizabeth Kress, Miss San Francisco:
And Little Miss San Francisco 2009, Alyssa-Marie Muna:
And now on with the parade:
Senator Leland Yee:
Frosty Senator Mark Leno:
Assemblymember Fiona Ma with Bob Twomey:
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano:
Board of Supervisors President David Chiu:
And his ride for today:
Supervisor Bevan Dufty and company:
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi with the Japanese Ambassador and Consul General:
Supervisor Eric Mar:
Richard Hashimoto, President of the Japantown Merchants Association:
Thought this was an electric Tesla Roadster at first. Actually, it’s the similar (but lighter) gas-powered Lotus Elise. (Horrible Tesla Motors is long on promises, certainly, but just because a toy car is expensive and is powered by electricity, that doesn’t mean it’s a desirable product, that doesn’t mean it represents “the high end.” Just ask Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who ended up giving his Tesla Roadster back. Go ahead and buy one if you want, though. While you’re at it, why not buy an impractical electric Ultra Motor A2B bike and an impractical electric Segway Scooter as well.)
Speaking of cars, here’s part of the NUMMI contingent all the way from Fremont. It’s the only car factory in the West that’s still operating. Union labor, FYI
Nihonmachi Little Friends:
And your reward for making it all the way to J-Town? Yummy chicken and rice balls from O-Izakaya Lounge at 1625 Post Street.
See you next year!
Tags: 1625 Post Street, 2008, 2009, 2009 Crystal Lee, 42nd, a2b, Alyssa-Marie Muna, Ambassador, America, and electric, annual, Arnold Schwarzenegger, assemblymember, Badtz Maru, bevan dufty, bike, board of supervisors, Bob Twomey, california, Cherry Blossom, City Hall, Consul General, crystal lee, David Chiu, David Yu, Dow-An Kou, elise, Elizabeth Kress, eric mar, Festival, fiona ma, Fujisajki, George Takei, Governor, grand marshall, H.E., hawaii, Heidi Cheung, Hello Kitty, Hikaru, Ichiro, japan, Japanese, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, japantown, Japantown Merchants Association, leland yee, Lieutenant, Little Miss San Francisco, los angeles, lotus, lounge, mark leno, Masaaki Tanaka, Miss California's, Miss National Asia, Miss San Francisco, Miss San Francisco's, Mrs., My Melody, Nihonmachi Little Friends, Northern California, NUMMI, O-Izakaya, outstanding teen, pageant, parade, Photographer, post, president, Richard Hashimoto, roadster, ross mirkarimi, San Francisco, scooter, segway, Senator, street, Sulu, tom ammiano, ultra motor, union bank, Union labor, United States, Yasumasa Nagamine
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Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Well this was the scene today at San Francisco’s annual Cesar Chavez Parade and Festival on Mission Street. Read Linda Post’s account here at SF FYI.net and see a slideshow here.
Supervisor David Campos and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano were in the vanguard. Click to expand:
Newly-elected David Campos:
Hey look, it’s David Miles, Jr. and his rollerskating friends.
It’s the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU):
And now, time for some lowriders. Impala:
The Spirit of 76:
415 XOR:
Trunk art:
Buick with external air conditioning unit:
Royal Cruisers NOR CAL:
WIKID 63:
And the Chevy Impala again:
See you next year!
San Francisco
Cesar E. Chavez
Holiday Parade & Festival 2009
Commemorate & Celebrate
the Life and Work of
Labor & Civil Rights Leader
Cesar E. Chavez
March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993
Saturday, April 4, 2009
11 a.m. – Assemble for Parade
Dolores Park – 19th St. / Dolores
12 noon – Parade
Grand Marshal Jose Montoya
and the Royal Chicano Air Force
Danza Azteca Xitlalli
24th Street Fair
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
24th Street / Harrison-Bryant
Kids Arts & Crafts, Music, Entertainment
Community Service, Information,
Arts & Craft Booths
Classic Car Show
Featuring The Dukes – SF Finest
Music by Louie Romero Y Su Grupo
Mazacote
“Manzo” & Members of Malo
Native Elements
Tags: 2009, 9th, ammiano, assembly, assemblymember, campos, cars, Cesar Chavez, david, david campos, district, Festival, lowriders, member, mission, mission district, ninth, parade, photographs, photos, San Francisco, Supervisor, tom, tom ammiano
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Sunday, March 15th, 2009
It’s not entirely obvious, but San Francisco’s Van Ness Avenue (fka Marlette Street) is part of famous U.S. Route 101 - that means it gets lots of traffic from drivers who would prefer to be on a freeway. So much so, that we now have Pedestrian Safety Double Fine Zones for the bulk of its length.
The problem is that you have drivers who are impaired, or who don’t know what they’re doing, whizzing by you, just standing on the corner waiting for a green pedestrian signal. As this recent accident near City Hall illustrates, you can go from being a happy camper to a collision victim in less than a second:
Click to expand:
The solution? When waiting for a light on the sidewalk, just stand behind something big like a fire hydrant or a tree. That way, traffic will have a chance to slow down a bit before hitting you. Just think to your self, “They’re trying to kill me,” and you’ll be fine.
The More You Know…
Stay safe!
Tags: 1, 19th, accident, ambulance, area, ave. park presidio, avenues, ca 101, california, City Hall, civic center, crossover, department, double, drive, fine, highway, leland, lombard, pacific coast, police, richmond, San Francisco, Senator, SFPD, state, street, sunset, tom ammiano, turk, van ness, yee, zone
Posted in streets | Comments Off
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
The full text isn’t available online yet, but it looks like the San Francisco Bay Guardian will be pleased with the latest Assembly Bill to sprout up in Sacramento. AB 312, first proposed last month, will bring changes to the BART police force. Read all about it:
“Following the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant on New Year’s Day by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) introduced much anticipated legislation today (AB 312) that would create a civilian oversight body for the BART police force.”
Senator Leland Yee and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano working together once again:
Click to expand
“The shooting of Oscar Grant is a sad and unfortunate reminder that the BART Police needs additional oversight as exists for other law enforcement agencies. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a young person has been shot and killed by an on-duty officer with BART. There have been other deaths and untold numbers of cases of brutality”, said Ammiano. “The BART Board’s proposed internal subcommittee to review BART police practices, while appreciated, is simply not enough. A young man was killed and the community is justifiably outraged, it’s long overdue for civilian oversight.”
“BART currently lacks adequate public oversight and accountability of its police department,” said Yee. “Complaints and grievances against BART police officers have been investigated and adjudicated internally without any independent review. This is a classic case of the fox guarding the hen house. Our legislation will finally end this untenable situation.”
Several major police departments in the state, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, have civilian oversight bodies, but BART police do not despite the fact that BART covers four Bay Area counties.
Tags: (BART), 312, ab, ab 312, ab312, assembly, assemblyman, assemblymember, Bay Area Rapid Transit, district, iii, Johannes Mehserle, leland yee, officer, oscar gratn, senate, Senator, shooting, shot, taser, tom ammiano
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Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
Comes word today from Quintin Mecke of Assemblymember Tom Ammiano’s office about a non-budget related vote in Sacramento. Of course Prop 8 passed by a fair margin in 2008 but judging by the pack of hyenas on the attack in 2009, it might not be around for too long a time.
Just saying. Here’s the latest:
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSES RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROP 8
Ammiano Measure Supports Equal Rights
Today the members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee passed House Resolution 5 (Ammiano, D-San Francisco) by a vote of 7 to 3, which resolves that the Assembly opposes the implementation of Prop 8. H.R. 5 states that Prop 8 is an improper revision of the California Constitution.
On the job (on a State Holiday) in San Francisco, not too long ago.
“I am proud of my colleagues and their unequivocal support of equal treatment for all Californians. This resolution speaks directly to the fundamental rights of same-sex couples to have equal protection under the Constitution, rights that cannot be taken away by popular vote. I am confident that the Assembly will support the repeal of Proposition 8 and confirm the basic rights of all Californians,” said Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), author of HR 5.
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, added “The Legislature again affirmed the rights of the minority to have equal protection under the Constitution. If Prop 8 is upheld, it would have a devastating effect on the hard won rights for women, minorities, and the disabled. We look to the court to extend equal protections of the law to all as the Legislature had done with the passage of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.”
The resolution points out that a revision is a substantial change to the underlying principles of the California Constitution, or to the structure of California’s basic governmental plan. As a result, pursuant to the California Constitution, the Legislature must initiate a change of this magnitude; it cannot be accomplished through the initiative process.
A similar measure, Senate Resolution 7, has been introduced by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). That measure resolves that the California State Senate also oppose Prop 8 on constitutional grounds. It will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.
The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the legality of the state’s gay marriage ban on March 5. On January 15, sixty-five current and former state legislators, including Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, filed a friend of the court brief seeking to invalidate Proposition 8 because it circumvents basic protections required by our Constitution and eliminates a fundamental right for a minority of Californians.
To be continued…
Tags: 8, City Hall, eight, equality, Gay, march, market, marriage, no, prop, proposition 8, protest, San Francisco, tom ammiano, yes
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Friday, February 13th, 2009
Let’s see here, who showed up to Assemblymember Tom Ammiano’s Open House in San Francisco’s State Building yesterday? Well, Linda Post of San Francisco FYI net for one. Here’s who she saw:
Attorney General Jerry Brown, Supervisors David Campos, Bevan Dufty and Eric Mar, Debra Walker, Ina Dearman, Jane Morrison, Anita Sanchez, Norm Rolfe, Rink, Roma Guy, Michael Goldstein, Maggie Rubenstein, Libby Denebeim, Roma Guy, Marie Jobling and Dennis Kelly.
So many people came that a traffic jam occurred at the metal detector station in the lobby.
District Director Kimberly Alvarenga and Tom spoke with constituents of the 13th Assembly District:
Click to expand.
Good luck, Tom!
Tags: 13th, assembly, california, district, fyi net, linda post, San Francisco, state building, tom ammiano
Posted in Uncategorized, politics | Comments Off
