Event: Wordfest at the Grotto

Come savor a smorgasbord of local literary talent – at our Oct. 14 fundraiser for ERIC QUEZADA, FOR DISTRICT 9 SUPERVISOR at the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto.

WHEN: TUES., OCT. 14, 6-8 PM
WHERE: 490 2ND ST. (NEAR BRYANT), 2ND FL.
WHO: A BEVY OF LOCAL WRITERS:

CHRISTOPHER D. COOK (Author, Diet For A Dead Planet)

ELIZABETH BERNSTEIN (Editor, Big Ugly Review, winner of the Bay Guardian prize for short fiction)

JAMES TRACY (Author, Avanti Popolo, Sparks and Codes, Civil Disobedience Handbook)

ALFONSO TEXIDOR (Mission District Poet Laureate, as far as we’re concerned.

MELISSA KLEIN (Author of Looking and Other Stories)

No one turned away for lack of class privilege, all others pay $25.00

Bill Ayers to Endorse McCain and Palin

October 13, 2008 (Chicago, Illinoize) William Ayers, former sixties radical associated with the organization “Weather Underground,” announced today that he is formally endorsing the candidacy of Republican John McCain for President. Ayer’s brief association with Democratic candidate Barack Obama has been at the center of a conservative allegations that Obama was “palling around with terrorists”.

“At this point, no one can fuck up the U.S.A. better than four to eight years more of Republican rule,” Ayers said at a press conference in Chicago “Weather in our heyday couldn’t have done such a good job. Obama is not prepared to fuck shit up, and Biden certainly is ill-qualified to do so as well.”

Speaking at a Indigenous People’s Day party in the backyard of his suburban Chicago home, Ayers remarked “You know, it only takes a single spark to start a barbecue, I really believe that. OK, maybe not just a single spark, but some lighter fluid, and some good starter coals too.”

McCain had this to say “This really touches me deeply. In some ways, Ayers and I are both war veterans. Did I tell you that I served my country bravely in Vietnam? That I was captured by the Vietcong and tortured? I’m a goddamn war hero, bitches! If you ever forget, ask Obama who always reminds people how much he respects my service to this country, you motherfuckers!”

Asked to comment, Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin remarked “John and I are sincerely surprised to receive Ayer’s endorsement. It is a sign of the depth of support in America for our campaign.”

And in other hot San Francisco political news:

District 9 Debate Wrap-Up-Victoria Theater

Truth-in-ranting disclaimer. I’m supporting Eric Quezada, always have. Since all of the candidates went to so much trouble to talk about how much they respect each other, I’ll try to infuse this post with all feel good mutual respect our allegedly post-partisan era requires. I’ll try to say something nice about everyone. Although I believe that Mark Sanchez is an excellent second choice and that David Campos isn’t the stealth machine politician I once thought he was, certain things are worth arguing about. I have friends working on all three of the front-runner’s campaigns, but it ain’t about personal warm feelings I have for each.

Last night at the Victoria Theater, seven community members all vying to replace Supervisor Tom Ammiano as District 9 Supervisor squared off in what might have been the most civil and too the point debate in San Francisco history. Seven candidates might seem a crowded field, but is mild by San Francisco standards. In 1999, the District 6 candidates, all eighteen of them squared off in the Saint Anthony’s Dining room, entertaining such brilliant public policy initiatives as hiring homeless people to build homes in a subterranean tunnel underneath Golden Gate park. Don’t forget four years ago in District Five with fifteen candidates, and mysterious, anonymous leaflets cropping up around the Western Addition alleging that then-candidate Mirkarimi and his supporters were nothing but closeted homophobes.

Ah, San Francisco.

So back to last night’s debate. First of all, as a lefty, I gotta implore other lefties to cut out that hissing bullshit in public forums. Did someone order self-righteous and annoying from Central Casting? That constant ssssss sound makes lunatic outbursts seem preferable. Perfect the King Louie-The-Snake-From Jungle-Book imitation at home.

Eva Royale. I would expect that someone who has Delores Huerta’s endorsement would have some concrete positions, but she seemed more than content to offer jabs and stabs at other candidates with the occasional distortion her opponent’s record thrown in for good measure. Quezada fended off her half-baked Home Depot line of attack like a pro, pointing out that Home Depot had pulled out of San Francisco and that the project would have killed small businesses throughout the City. She’s perfected the “your-so-stupid” eyeroll, the “I-implore-the-gods-to-kill-you” evil eye, comparable to Sarah Palin’s insidious wink.

Eric Storey Move to the Marina motherfucker. His comments about low-income housing were basically just racist rehashes of myths of affordable housing creating crime. Bet this guy can’t wait to one day arrive at Reagan’s “shining white city on a hill” which thanks to folks like him, San Francisco is almost. The John McCain of District 9.

Tom Vatlin An honest, sincere liberal. He had the candor, but not the understanding of the issue, around the Sanctuary Ordinance. When he says he would support limits on Sanctuary, he’s voicing something that some of the other candidates believe, but dare not say. Choked up a bit when trying to say the words “People of Color”, but was spot-on when pointing out that the traditional environmental groups have been largely AWOL when it comes to the air poor communities have to breathe. There’s probably a City commission that would be well served by his presence on it.

David Campos Rhetorically, Campos was strong. Answered almost every question well. Tried to stick it to Sanchez about policing being absent from his crime prevention strategy, but attack fell flat. A Supervisor couldn’t keep the cops out of the mix if they wanted to. Just like Prostitution and politics, the police ain’t going anywhere. There’s lots to like here, especially his stand of immigration but: Why the hell did the SF Bay Guardian give their number one endorsement to a lawyer who worked so closely with former Superintendent Ackerman and her extortion and shakedown of the San Francisco Unified School District?

Mark Sanchez I have always liked Mark a lot as a person, but couldn’t believe how someone who says he is in support of holistic services for homeless people could support the Community Justice Center. The CJC, an alternative court just for quality of life crimes has plenty of good ideas like alternative sentencing that could simply be incorporated into existing alternative sentencing procedures. That way it wouldn’t drain much-needed money from existing effective programs, like Tenderloin Health, which I assume Sanchez supports. (The premiere HIV services program, TH is cutting its hours thanks to budget cuts). I’ll give Sanchez props though, he has a whole host of respectable positions that make his CJC stand all the more bizarre. He was also very willing, to talk with me directly about it afterwords.

Also, in the spirit of respect, I’ll hand it to Sanchez that his principled stand on Proposition V (anti-JROTC in schools) has front-loaded plenty of right-wing money against him in this race. Whether you agree with him or not, the choice wasn’t a clear cut political win for him. Also, it was interesting it watch Mark try to pin down Royale and Campos on their picks for the very-important slot of Board President. Neither one of them bit.

Eric Quezada I’m backing Eric because he has the knowledge around land-use and education that his district needs. he also truly understands that his candidacy is just a part of a larger movement for housing and human rights in the globalized cit. His best moments came when he took the gloves off called it like he saw it. Some moments were teeth-grinders, I was hoping that he would get those gloves off a little sooner. His record of building and preserving affordable housing speaks for itself.

About the only thing I can find wrong with Eric is that his victory will take a very talented and dedicated Community Organizer out of the mix. In a city where so many folks describe what they do as Community Organizing, it is always a pleasure to have someone out here who isn’t afraid of a old-fashioned door knocking and listening to the people. However, I suspect that if elected, Eric will reinvent and reorganize the office of the Supervisor itself.

Avanti Popolo!

September 1, 2008

Italian-American Authors and Poets Take on the Columbus Myth in Powerful New Collection of Writing

Avanti Popolo: Italian-American Writers Sail Beyond Columbus
(Paperback, 80 Pages, Manic D Press, October 1, 2008, ISBN-13: 978-1933149288)
by The Italian-American Political Solidarity Club

Italian American writers celebrate their hidden history in a literary tribute to fighting social injustice. With the current anti-immigrant sentiments filling up newspaper front pages, these writers respond with thought-provoking works that focus on breaking from mainstream tradition. On Columbus Day, instead of celebrating conquest, these poets and writers acknowledge those who stood up for justice and have fought for the rights of all. The book contains two sections: Avanti a set of poems with overtly political themes, and Popolo, whose poems celebrate Italian-American history and identity beyond stereotypes and whitewash.New Writing From:

Kim Addonizio
Gabriella Belfiglio
Giancarlo Campagna
Giovanna Capone
Rosemary Cappello
Michael Carosone
Thomas Centolella
Michael Cirelli
Leonard Cirino
Ed Coletti
Diane Di Prima
Lawrence DiStasi
Bliss Esposito
Gil Fagiani
Maria Fama
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Edvidge Giunta
George Guida
Annie Rachele Lanzilotto
Maria Lisella
Mary Ann Mannino
Nick Matros
Tommi Avicolli-Mecca
Cameron McHenry
Kim Nicolini
Michael Parenti
Jim Pignetti
Jim Provenzano
Linda Simone
Al Tacconelli
Tad Tuleja
James Tracy
James Vescovi
Angelo Zeolla

BOOK RELEASE PARTIES ON BOTH COASTS OCTOBER 13TH!

Philadelphia
Robin’s Bookstore
108 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, 19107
Rosemary Cappello, Tad Tuleja, Maria Fama, Al Tacconelli, Dr. Mary Ann Mannino

New York
Brecht Forum
451 West Street
(between Bank & Bethune Streets, New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 242-4201
Gil Fagiani, Maria Lisella, Jim Pignetti, Linda Simone, Nick Matros, Angelo Zeolla, Jim Vescovi

San Francisco
City Lights Bookstore
261 Columbus, San Francisco, CA
Phone: (415) 362-8193

Diane Di Prima, Kim Nicolini, Cameron Mc Henry, Giovanna Capone, Ed Coletti
MCS: Tommi Avicolli Mecca and James Tracy

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Dispatches Against Displacement

:

From the Global Economy to the Eviction Notice
Edited by Guadalupe Arreola, Alicia Schwartz,
James Tracy and Tom Wetzel
To be published by AK Press, 2009

Summary
In nearly every major U.S. city, the displacement epidemic is destroying communities and reshaping the urban landscape into zones of exclusion and elitism. An avalanche of eviction notices and redevelopment efforts fractures working class neighborhoods, particularly those of color. The causes lie far beyond bad landlords and poor public policies. Twenty-first century displacement is intricately tied to shifts in the global economy, where de-industrialized cities must continually re-invent themselves as high-end construction temporarily replaces the vanished factory, and forced migration and displacement intensifies.

Within this, politicians and policy makers also rely on displacement as a method of policing, thinning, and managing low-income people and the surplus population. Yet every action has its reaction, and people’s organizations challenge and confront the real estate industry. Together, these campaigns call into question exactly who has the “right to the city” and suggest an alternative urban life rooted in economic and racial justice.

Dispatches Against Displacement examines the struggles for the city and asks how they might be combined, strengthened, and critically examined in order to forge an agenda for land-reform within the United States.

Saving the City

On May 21st, 2008 over 500 people marched through the streets of San Francisco’s Central City to protest Proposition 98, a measure that would destroy Rent Control. The march and rally was one of the most spirited and alive political events I have witnessed for at least five years; and an honor to co-organize. I always hesitate before I use the term “diverse” as the right-wing has learned how to mis-use that word. It was obvious however that the key organizations: Community Housing Partnership, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, and Chinatown Community Development Center had reached deep inside their base communities, activating the passions of everyday people. At times, the march resembled more of a street party. A resident from the Senator Hotel brought his drum and the crowd collectively remixed the chants, which eventually morphed into Spanish and Chinese.

Chant #1: Save, our city, save our state: vote no on 98!

The next generation of freedom-fighters.

Norman Fong (CCDC) and Lashawndra Price (CHP) MC’d the event. This was Lashawndra’s first time as an MC for a demonstration and she rocked the house. Supervisor Peskin is in the background.

RIP-Michael Griffen

I’m only five months late here.

Back in January, Michael Griffith of Bellingham Washington DC died. Michael was a violinist and noise-maker of the finest caliber-performing with the improv duo Noggin and the hardcore band Behead the Prophet No Lord Can Live.

In the early nineties I had it in my head that I would either make it as a rock-star or a show promoter. Michael’s bands would tour often and I would book them around the SF Bay Area.  Audiences were always amazed by watching this senior citizen running around like a maniac performing with young punkers less than one-third is age. When I brought my bands (Family Home Evening and Space Masons) to the Northwest his door was always open to us. Mike’s house in Bellingham had the most amazing music room I’ve ever seen–dozens of instruments, many homemade.  In that room his love of fun, improvisation, chaos and collaboration seemed to create a timewarp. He could switch gears from frentic noise terrorist to mellow philosopher. I believe he was the one who introduced me to the writings of Freire and bell hooks.

I last saw him years ago at a show at the Cyclone in San Francisco. There’s not a whole lot else to say except that in a world where few understand the true value of play and joy, Michael got it and passed it on.

No and Yes

This week, debate about kicking the ROTC off of campuses has reached an interesting fever pitch. Here in San Francisco. As my friend, Marc Norton reports in Beyond Chron:

The San Francisco school board voted in November 2006 to end JROTC in San Francisco schools this June. Last December, the school board extended JROTC for another year, until June 2009. However, the JROTC Must Go! Coalition continues to press the board to end JROTC now. (See “JROTC Must Go Now” in the May 14 Bay Guardian

The JROTC Must Go! Coalition represents a shift in strategy for many in the anti-war left. Discouraged by large mobilizations, groups such as these have focused on the local arena: bringing creative tactics to challenge military recruiting at ROTC programs nationwide. These groups succeed in bringing essential information recruiters aren’t going to tell your kids before they sign up. Little details such as the real limits on accessing college funds, fiscal hardships, and of course risks. I have known many an ex-service person who wished they were gotten the other side of the story.

Any sports fan can tell you that any strategy only has a limited life-time. Unless it is remixed and revised, the play just dies. The other side runs interference, having studied its opponents strengths, and learning how to beat back its advances.

This well could be happening to the counter-recruitment movement in the near future. The problem is that every single ROTC program could be shut down, and kids would still turn to the military out of sheer economic necessity.

The ways in which race, class and now gender are intertwined are extremely clear in the case of military service. Approximately two-thirds of service people are working-class white people from rural areas. This is a reversal of the Vietnam-era statistics where working-class people of color from urban areas dominated. Movements such as the Chicano Moratorium and the massive GI Resistance efforts helped to reverse this, which held for many years. As the War on Terror became a disaster even by terms of US Imperial interests, the military has had to ramp up its efforts to recruit in cities, and in communities of color. Young women are being recruited into the military like never before.

So I’m wondering, if cities like San Francisco, Berkeley, and others are really interested in curbing military recruitment–why stop just saying no? What are economic strategies that would provide life-changing alternatives for young people considering military service? Should they create Urban Peace Corps where participants are paid as well, or better than soldiers? Should the anti-war movement be pushing for universal access to four-year education? Programs such as these probably would only put a dent in the conditions caused by the global economy, yet should be explored fully.

One popular left-wing slogan is “One No, Many Yesses,” yet sometimes the demands and complexity of organizing leaves us in the “no” gear for a long-time. This November, it is very possible the liberal president will be elected. This president will be able to sell incursions into Iran and other countries, even as s/he nominally ends a war in Iraq. With this at stake, it is time for us to start figuring out what we’re going to say yes to.

Those People Are Defiling Marriage!

Some thoughts on the Gay Marriage thing….

Godamn right, those people are defiling the institution of marriage!

Or maybe I should say, those straight people…us straight folks?

Two days ago, the California Supreme Court ruled that a right offered to some must be offered to all. That means that this is going to be the summer of love for hundreds of thousands of people who deserve the right to express their love in whatever way they see fit.

The right-wing talk shows were a buzz. You couldn’t turn on the television without hearing the phrase “defiling marriage,” (or similar) every few minutes.

The terrible secret is that the institution of marriage has been defiled for quite sometime now. A normal heterosexual marriage is one of the easiest places to uncover horrible acts of incest, adultery, violence, and good old fashioned dishonesty and unhapiness.

So to the GLBT community—if you can make something more of this failed institution, great! Maybe only those who have been systematically shut out can really appreciate it, reinvent it, nurture it. Heteros have handed you such a damaged, beaten and bruised prize that none of us are qualified to criticize.

I remember when my favorite Aunt and her partner had to move three hours outside of San Francisco due to an eviction. They truly had a love that did not need to be bound by church and state. However, the difference between the rights and respect granted to them in San Francisco County was virtually non-existent in Lake County. This was especially evident when her partner fell ill and needed the “system” to recognize her most loved one’s judgment and place in her life.

In the end, the gay marriage decision will make a big difference in a lot of individual’s lives, and the simple expansion of the freedom of choice is reason to celebrate. The fact that a bunch of people who have built careers on hatred and intolerance (some of them closeted gays anyhow) are reeling in their big dfeat is gratifying in and of itself.

And, as long as we’re living in a system where all human relationships get boiled down to the market place, I’d say…the smart money is on Pottery Barn stock this summer.

Estanislao, Esteva, Sinister, and Tracy 5/22

THURSDAY MAY 22nd, 7:00

GILMAN STREET PROJECT, 922 GILMAN

SPOKEN WORD NIGHT

OPEN MIC AND FEATURED READERS

Rupert Estanislao from Eskapo
Ananda Esteva author of Pisco Sours on Civil Defense Poetry

Bucky Sinister author of All Blacked Out and Nowhere to Go on Gorsky Press
James Tracy  author of Sparks and Codes on Civil Defense Poetry