(11-10) 20:36 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday was successful in overriding Mayor Gavin Newsom's veto of legislation changing the sanctuary city ordinance.
Newsom, who said the ordinance conflicts with federal law, said through his spokesman that he would ignore the legislation - prompting the legislation's author to threaten a legal challenge to the mayor. The new law takes effect in 30 days, and Supervisor David Campos said the board may fight the mayor in court if no compromise can be struck.
Campos' ordinance - which garnered eight votes Tuesday - requires that undocumented juveniles be turned over to federal authorities for possible deportation only after they're convicted of a felony. Currently, under a policy enacted by Newsom last year, youth are turned over upon arrest.
"The law is pretty clear that when you have legislation that is duly enacted, the job of the executive is to implement and enforce that legislation unless there is a finding by the court the legislation is illegal," Campos said. "In this case, there isn't."
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has dropped out of the California Gubernatorial race, citing an inability to keep up with the work load.
"With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to - and should be - done,"said Newsom in a statement from his campaign office late Friday afternoon.
This leaves the Democratic ticket wide open.
God help us if we end up with that ebay woman (ed.)
San Francisco's Blue Angels recruitment drive was more excruciating than ever this year because it took place amidst daily reports on President Barack Obama's deliberations as to whether or not to put somewhere between 40,000 and 80,000 more troops on the ground, in the U.S.-Euro war for oil, natural gas, pipeline corridors, and the heroin trade.San Francisco's Blue Angels recruitment drive was more excruciating than ever this... more
I spoke with Cindy Sheehan, oh Cindy's Soapbox Internet Radio, on April 12, 2009, in San Francisco, about San Francisco's annual, all forces military recruitment drive, a.k.a., Fleet Week and the Blue Angels Air Show. Now, on October 4th, San Francisco prepares to host the recruitment drive from October 8th to 13th, as the world awaits Barack Obama's response to Admiral Stanley McChrystal's request for 40,000 more "boots on the ground" in Afghanistan.I spoke with Cindy Sheehan, oh Cindy's Soapbox Internet Radio, on April 12, 2009, in... more
In a move to cut costs and to reduce the amount of paper the city uses, Mayor Gavin Newsom (who is Gubernatorial candidate in California) is urging San Francisco residents to go paperless and to receive city and county mail via the Internet.
According to Newsom, "A paperless postal system represents a new opportunity for the City and County of San Francisco to reduce The City's overall waste stream and will help in our efforts to reach zero waste by 2020." City officials aren’t suggesting the online postal service will eliminate paper mail. Some residents don’t have access to computers and some mail needs to be hardcopy, said Mark Westlund, spokesman for the Department of Environment.
This is pretty cool - I predict the end of junk mail soon!In a move to cut costs and to reduce the amount of paper the city uses, Mayor Gavin... more
I think if the city starts promoting the hell out of the new program and the closures, it will get more people downtown, which will push some of the homeless out. It worked for Times Square in NY, and in Leeds in England. Why shouldn't it work here? I think it's better than doing nothing...
I don't think the area will gentrify, but it's a good push from the city to get business and citizenry (and not to mention tourists) out and about to see more of Market and the businesses that dot along it from 10th street on down.I think if the city starts promoting the hell out of the new program and the closures,... more
A completely off the grid building is being built in one of the most environmentally justice impacted communities in the San Francisco Bay Area meant to be a green and sustainable ecological classroom for the youth and community of Bayview Hunters Point.
From the producer:
Groundbreaking ceremony for the EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park. San Francisco's first completely off the grid building will generate its own energy, treat its own wastewater, grow a living green roof, and serve as a hands-on center of education in sustainable building practices, in the midst of an industrial but greening waterfront neighborhood.A completely off the grid building is being built in one of the most environmentally... more
Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today that the city of San Francisco will be putting up city government data online for public use. From crime to health, he hopes developers will have a field day with the information.Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today that the city of San Francisco will be putting up... more
How easy is it to use and abuse California's medical marijuana laws? Vanessa Wruble finds out.How easy is it to use and abuse California's medical marijuana laws? Vanessa Wruble... more
"I just watched San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's June 11, 2009 interview on Al Gore's internet Current TV, about what Current called his "Green Ticket," with a capital "G," gubernatorial campaign, even though the San Francisco Green Party ran Matt Gonzalez against Newsom in the 2003 mayor's race, and, has not endorsed [Gavin Newsome], to say the least.
One of the Mayor's first claims was that he'd finally taken action, that day, to stop the "trash poachers" who pluck redeemable bottles and cans out of the big blue cans labeled "recycling," before the city's trucks can come to pick them up off the sidewalks on garbage pickup days.
No wonder he's trying so hard to hike police and sheriff's budgets while slashing human services to all the most vulnerable people in San Francisco, including the trash poachers, many of whom are homeless.
Did he mention:
1) The pressure on California's ban on nuclear power power plant construction?
2) The pressure on California's ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling?
3) Assembly Bill 656, the proposed oil and gas severance tax to fund higher education, with emphasis on the science and technology of renewable energy?
4) California's hypocritical, polllution exports to the native Southwest, in the form of contracts for coal-fired power, purchased on the Southwest Grid, and, to Baja California, in the form of LNG Terminals and pipelines bringing natural gas to Southern California, and, possibly, in the future, in the form of LNG Terminals and pipelines in Oregon, California's less wealthy, and, mostly rural, northern neighbor, bringing natural gas to Northern California? Or, to Africa, Indonesia, aboriginal Australia, all of which host uranium mines, and natural gas wells which produce for export to California?"
5) The enormous quanitites of electricity, nuclear and hydroelectric power, most often in the Global South, required to smelt aluminum used to manufacture the electric cars that Gavin Newsom and Arnold Schwarzenegger both promote as the solution to global warming?
No, no, no, no, and no, though many environmentalists would say that pressure on the bans on nuclear power plant construction and offshore oil drilling, and, the oil and gas severance tax to fund renewables, are among the largest environmental issues in California.
Did he mention the environmentally destructive War on Terror, or the U.S. military, the world's largest consumer of fossil fuels, including coal-to-liquid (CTL) transportation fuel? Not on Current TV. And, if Gavin Newsom has ever said a word against the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, the Congo War, or any other front in the perpetual War on Terror, I haven't heard it and don't know anyone else who has.
In 2005, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to fly the U.S. flag over City Hall at half mast, in honor of the Iraq War dead, of whatever nationality, but Mayor Newsom would not allow it."From the article:
"I just watched San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's June 11, 2009... more
A few days after South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford returned from Argentina and publicly revealed his adulterous affair with a Buenos Aires businesswoman, a group of five video game creators are gathered in a small conference room in San Francisco to discuss politicians with a wandering eye.
"The point here is to take the opportunity of Sanford to look at something that seems to be happening a lot," declares Kate Connally, the only woman in the room, as the group reviews more than 10,000 Google News headlines on a plasma screen.
Guided by a reference document titled "Where's the Naughty Governor?" the discussion runs through a recent bumper crop of philandering politicos: Eliot Spitzer, Jim McGreevey, John Ensign, John Edwards, Antonio Villaraigosa, Gavin Newsom.
The agenda, as Joel Breton describes it, is simple: "We have to decide who's in this game."
Breton is the director of content at AddictingGames, a website owned by Nickelodeon that has carved out a unique specialty: Turning breaking news events into online video games.
In this case, the game, Where's the Naughty Governor?, launched Wednesday, is a series of five Where's Waldo? style puzzles in which players search for clues in a photograph before trying to locate the missing politician's face. For Sanford, those clues culled from the news include a hiking stick, a sexy Argentine woman and a reporter's microphone -- all hidden on a street scene from Buenos Aires.
The quintet quickly work their way through 15 politicians with slippery zippers before settling on five. Sen. Ensign of Nevada is labeled "kinda boring" and tossed out because he promptly admitted his infidelity; mayors Villaraigosa and Newsom don't have big enough national profiles; former Sen. Larry E. Craig of Idaho is set aside because his arrest for allegedly soliciting sex in an airport bathroom by tapping his foot could, Breton notes, deserve its own game.
Those making the cut: Sanford, Spitzer, McGreevey and Edwards.Dave Williams, senior VP of Nickelodeon's games group, even reaches into the past for one more addition.
"Could we end on Bill Clinton? He's the big boss!" he says with a laugh, using the video-game term for a final and most difficult opponent.
The contrast between popular video-game series such as Halo and AddictingGames' self-described "news games" couldn't be plainer: The former take years and tens of millions of dollars to produce, dozens of hours to play and sell for at least $50. News games typically take a couple of weeks, cost less than $10,000 and are free to anyone with an Internet connection and a few minutes to spare.
Such inexpensive, simple online games are becoming increasingly prevalent on a host of websites, some run by media giants such as Yahoo and Disney, others by independent designers.
Most of AddictingGames' content is submitted by individual users, but since it was acquired by Nickelodeon parent Viacom in 2006, the site has produced more original titles aimed at teenagers -- even if the games aren't exactly suitable for the cable channel's kid audience.
A majority are simple puzzle, shooting or sports games. A small but growing number, however, tee off the headlines that generate huge buzz on the Web and Twitter.
"If you want to make fun of something in politics or culture, games are now a great way to do it," says Connally, the VP in charge of AddictingGames.
More @ LinkA few days after South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford returned from Argentina and publicly... more
On Sunday (06-28-09) was the 36th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade.
The gay community gathered on a joyful march along Market Street in the spirit of its celebration theme: "In order to form a more perfect union…"
Mayor Gavin Newson e other local authorities participated on this event to show their support and commitment to preserve everyone's civil rights.
This event that usually attracts a joyful crowd this year seemed to have motivated everyone to come out. It felt like the rainbow was attracting everyone to show their support to marriage and family equality.
Prop. 8 gave the gay community a sense of union that is beyond the aspect of civil union. It made us realize that denying lawful recognition to longtime commitment among same gender couples affects the lives of their children as well.
The thought that children of same sex gender grew up by under the social stigma of their illegitimacy status, it's enough reason to recognize that Prop. 8 is extremely unfair!
Meanwhile, gays everywhere shall stand up and keep on shouting out loud: "homophobia got to go!"On Sunday (06-28-09) was the 36th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade.
The gay... more
Jerry Day is a civic and cultural event that celebrates one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time and San Francisco native son - Jerry Garcia. This event captures the true spirit of Jerry Garcia as we celebrate his legacy, the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, and recognize his Excelsior roots. By uniting the diverse communities of San Francisco through Jerry's music, we are creating something extraordinary for Jerry's childhood neighborhood - the Excelsior District, McLaren Park, and the City and County of San Francisco. Happy Jerry Day to all!Don't miss the 7th annual Jerry Day in SF.
According to Mayor Gavin Newsom:... more
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about the new recycling and composting laws. The question was chosen by Huffington Post Green, and submitted by asherp. Newsom spoke to land fill diversion, zero waste, water bottle bans, plastic bag bans, landfill diversions, the garbage police, community gardens, composting, and the influence of Bill Bill McDonough and the cradle to cradle theory.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about the... more
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about the pitfalls of new green technologies. The question was submitted by Megkem. Newsom spoke to wifi, energy storage and management, tidal energy, lithium batteries, reducing consumption, LED lights, and banning T12 lights.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about the... more
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speaks with Leah Lamb of Current Green on his run for Governor and his take on how to talk green.The question was posted by NelsonJS and asked about Schwarzenegger's decision to close 220 State Parks. Newsom spoke to growing up in Mill Valley, tourism, California's economy, and how to be an influential activist.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speaks with Leah Lamb of Current Green on his run for... more
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speaks with Leah Lamb of Current Green on his run for Governor and his take on how to talk green.The question was posted by SteveDenver and selected by Treehugger.com. Newsom spoke to environmental education, connecting with youth, leed certification, and green building standards.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speaks with Leah Lamb of Current Green on his run for... more
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb on his run for Governor and his take on solar energy. The question was submitted by sbove, topics covered included: solar incentive programs, solar map, solar installation, urban wind task force, solar portfolio, green renewable energy.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb on his... more
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about his run for Governor and environmental initiatives. Questions were submitted by the Current Green community, alongside a few picks from our pals at Treehugger, Grist, Huffington Post, Chelsea Green, and Good Magazine.
Don't have 60 minutes to watch the entire interview: not to worry, check out the segments below:
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about wind and wave technology. The question was chosen by Huffington Post Green, and submitted by beachpoet and selected by Grist. Newsom spoke to mini wind components, San Francisco's urban wind.task force, sfsolarmap.org, solar foot print, environmental justice, wind generation, AB32, and rolling back CO2 emissions.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about... more
