Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Falling through the cracks: Budget cuts leave no safety net for San Francisco’s chronically...

It has often been said that prevention is the best medicine. But there are many obstacles in life which prevent this age-old truism from being put into practice – ignorance, laziness and something of an entirely different order – budget cuts.

Mayor Lee announces support for fully funding GoSolarSF program

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has made the announcement that clean energy and green job advocates in the Bay Area and beyond have waited nearly 12 months to hear: He supports full funding for the landmark GoSolarSF incentive program, which has helped over 2,000 homeowners, tenants, businesses and nonprofits install solar panels since 2008.

Poor people need your help to survive corporate greed’s heat wave and fees

Help transform more people from houselessness to Homefulness in East Oakland, where there’s room for four straw-bale houses, the first to be built in any city in the country, but the cost of building permits is sky-high. PG&E wants a total of $42,000, with the first $8,000 due in TWO WEEKS, and East Bay MUD wants $38,000. An effort to persuade the utilities to reduce or waive the fees and “sponsor” this historic project is underway, but the $8,000 must be raised now to keep the project alive. To offer help of any kind, contact Tiny at deeandtiny@poormagazine.org.

Grind for the Green: an interview wit’ organizers Ambessa and Zakiya

The dynamic duo of the Bay Area’s “green movement,” Ambessa and Zakiya, have been organizing the Grind for the Green Festival for a few years in an effort to get Black and other youth of color interested in “sustainable” living practices. Mixing the music industry with environmental politics seems to be the ticket on how they have managed to get hundreds of youth from all over the Bay to be their captive audience. Past guests have included Bicasso of Living Legends, Charlie 2na, and Dj Backside. This year the keynote speaker will be M1 of dead prez. Check out what Ambessa and Zakiya have to say about this year’s Grind for the Green conference, which kicks off July 18th at 10am in San Francisco.

Stop Wells Fargo from foreclosing, evicting Kathryn Galves

The Occupy the Auctions and Evictions Campaign has put out an urgent action alert to the public to help stop Wells Fargo’s eviction of 63-year-old African American foreclosure and eviction fighter Kathryn Galves, her elderly sister and their dog from her San Francisco Noe Valley home at 1164 Church St.

Never cease to explore!

When a comrade is impassioned, dedicated and committed we notice, and as humans, recognizing the gifts of one that permeate and uplift our community, the desire to bestow acknowledgement and honor is undeniable. Accepting the UCSF School of Medicine Alumni of the Year Award 2021, Ahimsa Porter Sumchai, shares her gratitude for and experiences with those who supported her journey.

Organizing to win Guaranteed Health Care

How bad do we want it? The combined efforts of a coalition could be successful in identifying enough votes to get Guaranteed Health Care for All on the ballot in 2022.

Frisco 500 occupy City Hall to demand Mayor Lee fire Chief Suhr

In solidarity with the Frisco 5 hunger strikers, the Frisco 500 have reclaimed City Hall for the people of San Francisco who demand justice for the Black and Brown victims of the murderous SFPD. They will shut San Francisco down unless Mayor Lee fires Chief Suhr. The Frisco 500 held their ground inside City Hall until they were finally forced out by police after a long, loud, wild shoving match at 10:30 p.m. May 6. Our numbers are growing and we will no longer support a City Hall that puts profit over people. Watch interviews with Equipto and Sellassie on May 5, Day 15 of their hunger strike.

Legal lynching: The blatant, boastful murder of Oscar Grant

The execution of Oscar Grant was a painful reminder of the "legal lynchings" that have been taking place for centuries.

Capitalism killed Mamahouse

I was served with a rent increase of $700. And so me, my son and the other poor mamas and children who lived together in Mamahouse no longer dream, think, rest or live there. I work so hard in my mind and heart every day to not take my son through this sorrow.

Jeff Adachi for Mayor: Jobs, jobs, jobs – and summer school too

Malcolm X, one of my heroes, believed that “[o]ur objective is complete freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary.” I am asking for your support in this election so that we can reach this objective together.

Local Hire doing its job as San Francisco’s landmark legislation enters second year

These are clear signs that we can use the City’s local hiring policy to get more local workers onto public projects and break cycles of poverty in our most disadvantaged communities while continuing to save taxpayer money on construction. Our local hiring law is a new model for how community groups and labor can work together to rebuild cities.

Parents to Supervisor Wiener: Our families are an appropriate use of transit funds

Dozens of parents and youth advocates testified before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Government Audits and Oversight Committee supporting Municipal Transportation Agency Director Ed Reiskin’s proposal to apply recently awarded regional funds to implement the free Muni for youth pilot program. The MTA board will vote on this proposal Dec. 4.

EOYDC offers stability for families in the community

A community center gives young people the space to be able to continue to engage with their peers and have more opportunities and resources outside of their school context.

Congressman John Lewis in Oakland: Civil rights legend takes center stage

Excitement filled the sanctuary as five generations sat in the audience waiting to hear a legend speak. Oakland’s Beebe Memorial Cathedral was packed from the main floor to the church balcony. The congregation jumped to their feet and clapped for over five minutes when the moderator said, “Tonight we will hear from Congressman John Lewis!”

AIDS group’s Castro billboards with Dr. King’s image have whites-only feel

Report after report reminds and warns the Black community that AIDS is not yet under control for the Black population. However, when I saw several new 6-foot-by-4-foot billboard ads in the Castro district of San Francisco this past week with the image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. under the heading, “AIDS is a civil rights issue,” I first thought, “Well, that’s a stretch.”

Nube Brown at the Inauguration Day Rally Against Fascism

“All power to the people. It is US, the people. It's US, period. We're in the fight for our humanity. Are we really seeing each other? Are we hearing each other? There's no proving to them that we are worthy of being seen.”

‘Fired up, can’t take it no more’

The place was the historic Black Dot Café in West Oakland; the event, a "Town Bizness" town hall meeting hosted by the Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC) with the presence of Chairman Fred Hampton Jr.

Oscar Grant’s family thanks supporters as killer cop’s hearing begins

"Our success here to secure justice for Oscar Grant will no doubt be that line in the sand that will say to all police officers, ‘If you kill or break the law, you will go to jail,'" wrote Oscar Grant's Uncle Bobby, Cephus Johnson, in a message of thanks to supporters. Watch Davey D's video on the week's events. Oscar Grant's family asks supporters to return to the courthouse next week.

Blacks demand parity as construction season begins

The new Bayview Library must be built by the people it serves. No more exclusion of Blacks as with Third Street Light Rail. Bay View publisher Willie Ratcliff's company, Liberty Builders, is competing to build it with a team of top Black construction professionals committed to hiring from the community. Come to the Bay Area Black Builders meeting Saturday, April 10, 12 noon, at 1099 Sunnydale, Vis Valley, San Francisco.