Table of Contents
Dates
With Alice
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Election Day
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
VOTE VOTE VOTE
and
Get Out The Vote!
See Alice's Endorsements below.
Alice Membership Meeting
Monday, February 11, 2008
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
LGBT Community Center
1800 Market Street @ Octavia
Special Guest: Supervisor Sean Elsbernd
Alice February Field Activities
Alice continues our tradition of aggressively supporting our endorsed candidates with a strong beginning for 2008. This will include tabling opportunities to register voters and get signature-in-lieu forms signed for Mark Leno for state Senate.
Alice will table in the Castro on the following weekends:
Saturday, February 9, from 10am-2pm
Sunday, February 10, from 10am-2pm
Saturday, February 16, from 10am-2pm
Sunday, February 17, from 10am-2pm
Please email info@alicebtoklas.org to sign up for a shift
or for more information.
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February Co-Chairs' Report
Thank you for the confidence and trust that you've placed in me by electing me co-chair for 2008. Alice has done amazing things, and I am very excited to work with Julius, the dedicated members of the Alice BOD and Emeritus Board, and the Alice membership to expand upon Alice's tradition of leadership and contribution to the political life of San Francisco. A little bit about what's been happening in Alice Land . . .
Early in January, Julius and I joined other representatives of LGBT community organizations, the local Democratic Party and our elected officials in a meeting with Speaker Pelosi about the Democratic Leadership's chosen approach to the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA. Responding to the voices of her constituents, the Speaker convened the meeting with the stated purpose of speaking with us directly about the LGBT community's dissatisfaction with the Democratic Leadership's strategy for ENDA. Robert Haaland, a Labor/LGBT activist and dedicated Alice board member, spoke eloquently about the devastating impact Leadership's chosen strategy of advancing a non-inclusive ENDA has had upon him as a transgender person. Supervisor Bevan Dufty informed the Speaker that neither HRC nor Representative Barney Frank had conferred with anyone else in the community-including Kate Kendell, who has for years has represented the interests of the community as leader of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and about the strategy or notified community representatives that greater education about gender identity was necessary. Assemblymember Mark Leno informed the Speaker that a non-inclusive ENDA would not even protect those it intended to protect because it allowed discrimination based upon gender identity and expression, giving the example of how an effeminate man could, under a non-inclusive ENDA, still be legally fired-or not even hired-if an employer felt that he wasn't masculine enough. Lesbians remain similarly vulnerable under a non-inclusive ENDA. Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center, provided the Speaker with data illustrating the harsh economic realities that face every transgender person and pledged TLC's help in doing the heavy lifting required to educate legislators and their constituents about what it means to be transgender. The rest of us spoke in various ways about the damage Leadership's ENDA strategy has done at the grass-roots level as well as to ideal of a civil society that is pledged to provide Justice for all of its members. The meeting, which had been scheduled by the Speaker's staff to last 45 minutes, went on for one and one-half hours. At the conclusion of the meeting, Speaker Pelosi spoke passionately of her commitment to enacting a fully-inclusive ENDA and pledged to work with all of us to achieve fully-inclusive legislation as soon as possible. We pledged to work with her to provide the political work, education and communication necessary to meet this goal.
On January 21, ten Alice board members came together to purchase a table and attend the Martin Luther King Labor and Community Breakfast-an annual celebration of the birth of Dr. King and the modern civil rights and labor movements. For the last 23 years, the breakfast has been a tradition among San Francisco elected officials and community members. While we well know that lesbian, gay, bisexual and gender-nonconforming people have always been active in, and at the forefront of, the civil rights and labor movments-and while Mark, Carole, Bevan, Tom and other LGBT electeds have had tables at the breakfast each year- to my knowledge, no LGBT community or political organization had ever before been present at the breakfast. With the board members at the Alice table, we had the L, G, B and the T represented at this significant community labor and civil rights event. And we had a fabulous time doing it.
The coming year is an unbelievably exciting one that offers us a chance to alter inequitable and unnecessarily exclusive social and political strategies, to change "the way it's always been done." The primary on Tuesday, February 5th 2008 will go down in history as a major step down that road. Let's each of us live up to our responsibilities as citizens and vote and make certain that our friends and families do the same. Vote for the person you believe is best poised to lead us in creating change. And let's all get ready to work hard to elect whomever our Party chooses as our nominee.
Susan Christian
Alice B. Toklas Co-Chair
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Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
February 2008 Endorsements
| San Francisco Propositions |
For descriptions and full
legal text of these propositions,
click here.
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| A: Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond |
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| B: Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) for SF Police |
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| C: Acquire Alcatraz Island from the Federal Government |
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| California Propositions |
For descriptions and full
legal text of these propositions,
click here.
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| 91 - Transporation Funding |
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| 92 - Community Colleges |
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| 93 - Term Limits |
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| 94 - Gaming Compacts |
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| 95 - Gaming Compacts |
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| 96 - Gaming Compacts |
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| 97 - Gaming Compacts |
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| June 2008 Early Endorsements |
| State Senate District 3 |
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| State Assembly District 13 |
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Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
Where's Waldo?
by Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
When those "Where's Waldo?" books came out a while back and became some sort of weird pop phenomenon in the early 90's, I hated them. I was never one to enjoy looking for needles in a haystack. More to the point, I'm not one to see details when looking at a larger picture.
While the usual saying goes that one is weakened by not being able to 'see the forest for the trees.' I have the opposite psychosis, I really have to be shown the point of seeing the trees for the forest. Hence, my frustration with simply even caring to find Waldo. Waldo was a inconsequential tree in the midst of the larger group of people who all made up the more-important forest.
For me, it has always been the larger picture. So, when over the years we have struggled within our Democratic party in primary elections, I found that I didn't much care. The bigger and more important goal for me was winning the general election in November against the right-wing Republican establishment.
This was especially so in the 90's and early 00's when it seemed that the Republicans were winning election year after election year and any internal Democratic fighting seemed pointless and absurd. We needed to get over ourselves and stop the Republicans, I thought. As did many in our party. And we let a lot of our personal perspectives go to the wayside as we swallowed our pride, hid our feelings of disappointment, and fought for the larger goal of getting 'any' Democrat elected come November.
And then, sometime in the mid-00's, many of us changed. I changed. I realized I was wrong.
It's not letting go of our principles and cares of who will win our Democratic primary nominations that will win elections. In fact, it turned out we needed to find the strength to fight one another for who could carry the Democratic banner the strongest into November that mattered. Finding Waldo suddenly mattered.
Currently many of us are fighting over primaries. Is Obama, Clinton, Edwards, or someone else the best choice for our party? There is internal turmoil and frustration. Friends are fighting friends in the community over who is fully believed to be the best choice. Can't we all just get along?
But I've realized that the point is that we shouldn't all just get along to go along and crown one person just because we're supposed to do so. This doesn't mean that we can't and shouldn't get along for the larger good and come together in all other aspects, but it does mean that we should have the important political discussions that are needed to bring about the best outcome for us all as a community and a party.
I can imagine how just a few years ago we would have simply 'crowned' one person to lead the party. The primary would have been an easy coronation. And at the time we all believed that this was the best thing for the party because we didn't have the time to fight amongst ourselves when the real goal was fighting Republicans. But we were wrong.
Look at what has happened all across this nation as our internal struggles over who best to lead the party has brought out millions and millions of new voters interested in our party. Look at how polling places are overflowing and running out of ballots because people suddenly care to vote in the Democratic primary. Witness how young people are turning out in record numbers because they feel they actually have a real voice in picking the party's nominee.
No, I was wrong when I didn't care to look for Waldo. I was wrong to think that primaries didn't matter. It's the absolute opposite. Primaries, while difficult and complicated and frustrating among friends and colleagues, bring out the best for all of us in the party as a whole. The end result is that the winner of the primary will be all the more strong to carry on the banner to November. Whoever you are supporting in this presidential primary, and if you are working so extra hard for him or her, thank you. Thank you for taking the extra time to work for whom you believe to be the best and brightest and strongest for the leadership and future of the party. Your work is making the party stronger. And I know it isn't easy. But it's the best for us all.
Waldo is out there somewhere. I'm looking hard for him in the midst of the forest. Every tree matters now. The strength of the forest as a whole is in every tree. And I know that Waldo is thrilled that we're all looking for him now. He's been right there all along. And he'll be with us when we all win in November.
Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Editor
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Alice in the News and the Community
 Rebecca Prozan honored
From the Editor: Alice had an amazing month in January. On the 14th, Alice's new Board was elected by a packed house of members and leaders in the San Francisco LGBT community. Outgoing Co-Chair Rebecca Prozan was honored for her leadership and work over the last two years. Incoming Co-Chair Susan Christian joined current Co-Chair Julius Turman in ushering in the new year with welcomes and a fascinating political discussion led by San Francisco political consultant Eric Jaye.
Julius Turman sworn in to San Francisco Human Rights Commission
Photo by Bill Wilson
Also in January, the Alice leaders met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi on LGBT issues in Congress, Co-Chair Julius Turman was appointed and sworn in by Mayor Gavin Newsom to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, Alice was written up in the local press several times, co-sponsored a presidential forum with other Democratic clubs in town, and participated in a number of community events. It's the beginning of an exciting year for Alice and the community.
From the Bay Area Reporter: "Political Notebook: Alice Club
elects second black co-chair"
From the Bay Area Reporter: "Political Notebook: Pelosi holds
sit-down with SF LGBT leaders"
From Gay.com: Former Alice Co-Chair Laura Spanjian is highlighted in the article: "LGBTs want more from candidates"
Alice PAC Co-Chair Jeff Soukup represented the John Edwards campaign before the Alice-co-sponsored presidential forum
Photo by Bill Wilson
Alice table at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor and Community Breakfast
Photo by Bill Wilson
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Alice Board of Directors and Emeritus Board, 2008
Co-chairs:
Julius Turman and Susan Christian
Immediate past co-chair:
Rebecca Prozan
Treasurer:
Michael Costa
Secretary:
Alex Randolph
PAC committee:
Luke Klipp & Jeff Soukup (co-chairs)
Mark De La Rosa
Daniel Frattin
David Augustine
Justin Louie
Membership committee:
Francis Tsang (chair)
Shane Caya
Bentrish Satarzadeh
Bridget Bane
Program committee:
John Newsome & Myong Leigh (co-chairs)
Lisa Williams
Cecilia Chung
Owen Stephens
Michael Bell
Sara Wright
Finance & Slate Card committee:
Charles Sheehan (chair)
Julian Chang
Rebecca Prozan
Events committee:
Jason Chan (chair)
Brett Andrews
Kevin Cheng
Field committee:
Rodney Clara & LaMontè Bishop (co-chairs)
Larry Handerhan
Newsletter:
Reese Aaron Isbell (chair)
Technology/website:
Kirk Oatman (chair)
Nathan Purkiss
Brian Leubitz
Derek Turner
Special Projects:
Jeff Anderson
Policy Advisors:
Laura Spanjian
Robert Haaland
Scott Wiener
2008 Emeritus Board:
Dan Bernal
Andrew Bryant
Carole Cullum
Anna Damiani
Dennis Edelman
Greg Flores
Jerry Fuller
Dean Goodwin
Paul Hogan
Jim Illig
Fran Kipnis
Martha Knutzen
Rich Kowalewski
Jim Maloney
Rafael Mandelman
Matthew Rothschild
Tom Runge
Theresa Sparks
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Inaugural Address Pledges: San Francisco to "Lead the Way"
from Mayor Gavin Newsom
Four years ago I had the distinguished honor to be elected mayor of this
incredible city. I am indeed thankful to all to my friends, family and
supporters who helped me reach my dream of serving the good people of San
Francisco and providing a government to you that is efficient, responsive
and innovative. Being a model 21st century city and leading the way for
the rest of the country require nothing less. As I enter my 2nd term as
Mayor, I am again honored and sincerely thankful for the privilege to serve
as your Mayor and for a city I love so dearly.
This place, our people, make up the finest city in this nation. There are
bigger cities. But there are simply no better cities. Serving as your
mayor is the greatest honor I could ever imagine.
In the past four years, I have looked at best practices throughout this
nation. And I've learned - with both a growing pride and a profound sense
of responsibility - that the nation is also looking back to us.
Beyond our city limits and as the nation looks on, our struggles may fuel
the back story but it is our results that shine as a beacon. Most are
inspired. Some are threatened. But undoubtedly, America knows that San
Francisco is leading the way.
In the next four years I pledge to continue San Francisco's leadership on
those critical issues facing our city and our nation. As excerpted from
my recent second term inaugural address, I have outlined below some of the
most important issues of the day that reflect the city's accomplishments
and progress as I enter into my second term as Mayor.
Health. The city anticipates 40,000 more residents will be enrolled in
the universal health care program-Healthy San Francisco.
Environment. City government is on track to be carbon neutral by the
year 2020.
Education. We are mandating a community service requirement in all
high schools and encouraging retiring Baby Boomers to mentor public
school students.
Homelessness. We are expanding sobering centers and redesigning
homeless shelters into one-stop shopping for job training and drug
treatment.
Housing. We will continue to expand affordable housing prospects and
offer greater housing and opportunity to Bayview Hunters Point.
Safety. To fight homicides in San Francisco, we will hire 250 new police
officers. Additionally, a new police commander is on board to be
responsible solely for public housing.
Government Reform. We support new campaign finance laws that will
prevent those who seek action from the government from contributing to
politicians' campaigns.
Technology. We will expand 311 to text messages and the internet and to
rapidly complete a redesign of the City's website.
Planning. We will streamline the planning process and create one-stop
shopping for obtaining permits.
Transportation. We will continue to improve Muni and support
"congestion pricing" to reduce pollution and traffic.
Fiscal Discipline. We will continue to work toward reforming the city's
retirement system. Additionally we plan to raise the payroll tax
exemption and closing the "partnership" loophole that allows big
businesses to escape paying taxes.
Economic Development. We will train more workers for green-collar
jobs, create a "China Desk" to coordinate economic outreach to China,
and give tax breaks to companies that hire military veterans.
Children and Families. We plan to create a "Baby Savings Bond" that
will deposit on birth $500 for every new resident born in San Francisco.
The bond can be used for college or first-time home ownership, but
access to the funds will be limited to those who complete a community
service requirement.
The above serves as just an example of my commitment to provide the
residents of San Francisco a quality of life that you expect and deserve.
On the most important issues of the day, San Francisco is providing
leadership for our nation and the world.
The challenges ahead are certainly great. But I know that we will not fail.
We will not stop making this city an inspiration and an example for others.
I have taken the oath of office with an appreciation born of experience. I
don't just expect that this is the best job any San Franciscan could ever
have, I know it. And you have given me the most extraordinary opportunity
not just once, but now twice.
I cherish this opportunity to lead. And I will work with all of you to make
every single one of these most precious days ahead count.
Again, thank you very much. I am ready to get back to work!
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On the Mark in Sacramento
by Assemblyman Mark Leno
Dear Alice Friends,
What an amazing year we have before us. Never before in our nation's history has there been a more honest representation of our diverse population on the presidential campaign level. Women, African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, members of different faiths, ages, colors and creeds, are running strong campaigns to serve in the highest office in our land. Our diverse candidates make a strong statement of how far we've come and offer hope for our future as we continue to our work toward economic, social, racial and gender equality.
This type of historic achievement could have never been possible without the strident work of those who came before us. The many men and women who struggled for civil rights, gender equity, religious freedom, and greater respect for diversity have shattered glass ceilings and given rise to opportunities never thought possible. These milestones in our nation's history make celebrating African-American History Month and Women's History Month all the more meaningful.
February and March are dedicated to recognizing the tremendous contributions that African-Americans and women have made to our nation and to honoring the heroes who have fought to realize the ideals our country was founded on. What better way to honor the memories of our great American civil rights heroes than to continue their work so that, in the in the immortal words of Martin Luther King Jr., "children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
We celebrate African-American History Month and Women's History Month through school curriculum, church programs and community events. It allows us the opportunity to focus on learning and celebrating the lives and achievements of African-Americans and women, past and present. It also awakens our collective social conscience to the importance of giving our children a complete and accurate record of their country's history.
During this time, I encourage you to participate in the many celebratory events that will occur in our City. I am honored to cosponsor several events including the Black History Month Kickoff Program and Reception with the San Francisco African-American Historical and Cultural Society on February 1st at City Hall. Further upcoming activities in February and March are still in formation; please feel free to contact my office for more details. Additionally, our San Francisco libraries will be holding various opportunities to celebrate, and have information on other local activities. Find out more by visiting your local branch, calling (415) 557-4400 or online at http://sfpl.lib.ca.us.
I am truly inspired to see diverse leadership on the national scene. During the months of February and March, it's important to reflect on how far we've come and resolve to continue the work of visionary leaders who have helped pave our way. I hope you will join me in the celebrations.
Mark Leno
www.MarkLeno.com
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Alice
Membership Form
Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
1800 Market Street PMB#18
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415-707-2010
www.alicebtoklas.org
Alice Reports Editor: Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Month of January: Membership Meeting, Febuary 11
You can now join online www.alicebtoklas.org/abt/joinonline.asp,
or fill out the application below
Membership Application
Yes, I want to join the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club!
__$35 Regular
__$100 Supporter
__$250 Sponsor
__$500 Champion
__$20 Special Needs
__Other
__I am renewing my membership __I
will be a new member
__I am a registered Democrat
Name ______________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________State: ______Zip: _____________
Phone: Day __________________________Eve: _____________________________
Email: _________________________________________
Please send checks payable to “Alice B. Toklas
LGBT Democratic Club” and mail to:
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
1800 Market Street, PMB#18
San Francisco, CA 94102
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