Bylaw update, June 18 2015

Thank you to everyone who was able to come to our happy hour and meeting on Thursday.

The bylaw changes required by the California Democratic Party were approved by the membership.

The bylaws as amended are available here.

Thursday venue for happy hour: Soluna in Civic Center

The location has been set for our happy hour!

We welcome our friends - all of you - to join us for happy hour.

It's also important to impress the state party with our member list. If you're not already dues-paid for the year, please consider joining or renewing using the PayPal button in the sidebar or by bringing $35, cash or check. The student and senior rate is just $15.

We'll be collecting at Soluna in Civic Center about 6pm. For dues-paid members, the bylaw vote will be held at 7:30pm. View the existing bylaws and the proposed changes.

Not a member? Please come anyway, whether early or late - the more the merrier!

Where: Soluna Cafe & Lounge, 272 McAllister St. near Larkin
When to meet: Thursday 6/18 at 6pm, or whenever a drink beckons.
When to vote: 7:30pm; members, please be available at this time.
How to get there: Half the Muni lines in The City stop nearby, and there are ample parking choices.

Save the Date: June 18 Mixer and Bylaw Amendment

Happy Hour With the City Democratic Club

On Thursday, June 18, the City Democratic Club plans to meet for happy hour with its friends and members. We hope that you'll come join us in raising a drink and welcoming summer, such as it is in our fair City.

Details of location and time are to come, but the date of 6/18 is firm.

Proposed Bylaw Amendment

Also at this event, we will vote on a bylaw amendment sponsored by Recording Secretary Michelle Parker and President Michael Ho.

You can view the existing bylaws here. 

The proposed amendment is driven by the California Democratic Party, which expects clubs to standardize on the term "Member in Good Standing" where we currently use "regular member." An additional section also is added at its behest.

Some typographical errors are fixed, as well as clarification on the requirement to hand absentee ballots physically to an Executive Board member.

You can view the markup of the changes here.

This vote will occur at 7:30pm. The Executive Board will gather at this time and will have been circulating to find members for the vote.

We welcome earlybirds and hope that many of you will stay with us into the evening.

Meet Julie Christensen, D3 Supervisor, at our March meeting

City Democratic Club is proud to welcome Julie Christensen, new supervisor for District 3, to our March meeting.

Ms. Christensen, a 35-year resident of San Francisco, has worked closely with neighborhood associations in North Beach, where she has lived for 21 years, and beyond.

Her work has included advocacy for an extension of the Central Subway, redesigns of Helen Wills and Joe DiMaggio playgrounds, work on the North Beach Library, Pool and Clubhouse, and streetscaping throughout D3 with an eye toward pedestrian safety.

She has an extensive, successful background in product development and design for major companies including Corning, Maytag, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Samsung and Whirlpool, encompassing household name brands like Gillette, KitchenAid and XBOX.

Ms. Christensen is on SPUR's Advisory Board and is a founder of the SFNexTstop advocacy group promoting extension of the T-line through North Beach to Fisherman's Wharf.

Please join us in welcoming our City's newest supervisor.

When: Thursday, March 19th, 7:30pm
Where: Chancellor Hotel, Clipper Room (433 Powell St. between Sutter and Post)
How: Adjacent Muni lines: 3, 8X, 38, 30, 45, cable cars. The Powell Street BART/Muni station is a 10-15 minute walk away, as are Market and Mission street lines.

Officer elections for 2015

In March, we will vote on Executive Board positions for the year 2015.

At February's meeting, the following nominations were moved: President, Michael Ho; First Vice President, Kat Anderson; Second Vice President, Jim Reilly; Recording Secretary, Michelle Parker; Corresponding Secretary, Clay Harrell; Treasurer, Steve la Plante; and at-large members Michael Breyer and Heidi Machen.

Additional nominations can be made in March and the membership will vote at this time. One must be a dues-paid member to participate in this vote; however, new members can vote immediately with no 28-day waiting period.

Membership

City Democratic Club brings you year-long programming and advertises your voice, through our endorsement process, to the entire City. Your membership supports our joint desire for leadership with a pragmatic approach and a city-wide view. Many of you have already renewed, and the club's thanks go out to you.

Membership rates remain unchanged for 2015, still a bargain at $35, with a discounted rate of $15 for seniors and students.

To join or renew, you may:

• Send a check, made out to City Democratic Club, to us at 621 LaSalle Ave., San Francisco, 94124. Please write your email address on your check.
• Bring a check or cash to the next meeting.
• Use the PayPal button in the sidebar to pay dues with your credit card.

About City Democratic Club

We're the City Democratic Club. Not for a district, not for an issue -- for the City.

Established in 1980, we are dedicated to careful review and analysis of the issues from a pragmatic, balanced, good-government perspective.

For more information, contact us:

Facebook: City Democratic Club
Twitter: @CityDemSF
http://www.citydemocratic.club/
Email: citydemclub@gmail.com
Tel: 415-335-9143

February meeting recap

David Latterman on the pulse of the City

The club extends its thanks to David Latterman, Principal of Fall Line Analytics, for his insightful view of City demographics and voting trends. One key takeaway was how the campaign cycle is moving earlier and earlier because of a steadily increasing percentage of mail-in votes.

Although 2015 should be a quiet year, David previewed 2016, a Presidential election year that features the odd-numbered Supervisors as well as State and Federal Representatives and State Senator, a race that includes some of the southern suburbs.

A lively Q&A for David focused on the concept of San Francisco as a "donut" - a central core that gets significant attention and investment, and the edges that often feel underrepresented and underfunded.

D3 Supervisor Julie Christensen

Our March speaker, Supervisor Julie Christensen, also came and gave us a fascinating teaser of her upcoming presentation. She previewed the challenges and responsibilities of representing one of the most demographically varied districts in the City, one that includes North Beach, Chinatown, and Telegraph Hill. Please join us for her full presentation on Thursday, March 19. We'll again meet at 7:30pm at the Chancellor Hotel; see our March meeting announcement for complete details.

Our meetings are well-attended. Come early to get a seat that's to your liking.

Help drive turnout higher with #BoostTheVote

Members and friends, 

Please find attached information about a campaign being run by our friends in L.A. The cause is critical: How to reverse the trend of lower voter turnout. We hope you'll give serious consideration to this issue affecting nothing less than the future of democracy.

Dear Democrat,

LACDP is thrilled to throw its support behind Secretary of State Alex Padilla's #BoostTheVote campaign. 

After an election with the lowest voter turnout in more than seventy years, Secretary Padilla has created a forum to solicit the best ideas on how to get more voters engaged in our democracy and to make sure that the voices of all people in California are heard.

Civic participation begins with us, and who better than the Democratic Party to revitalize voter participation in our government?

To begin this undertaking, Secretary Padilla has asked all of us to share what we would do to increase voter turnout through social media, using #BoostTheVote, or by going to www.alex-padilla.com/boost-the-vote, to share our ideas. I implore all of you to contribute to this important effort.

 Democratically yours,

Eric C. Bauman

Chair, Los Angeles County Democratic Party

Vice-Chair, California Democratic Party

Paid for by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party  

3550 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1203, Los Angeles, CA 90010

www.lacdp.org     FPPC#744554 - FEC#C00300731 

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

City Democratic Club had a wonderful holiday party on Thursday the 18th. Many others within our circles also had gatherings at the same time -- a constant danger of the season. We thank all of our members and friends who came out to join us, and especially those who made time for us in the midst of busy evenings.

The Noir Lounge in Hayes Valley was our venue. They have a full bar as well as a growing food menu.

The club wishes you a happy holiday season. Join us for an exciting 2015: more speakers, more parties, more camaraderie.

Holiday party!

December Holiday Party: Thursday 12/18

It's time for our annual holiday party! This year we'll be in Hayes Valley on our usual third Thursday, the 18th. Celebrate the season with good cheer and the company of your favorite political enthusiasts. Bring your friends, bring your partner, bring a can for the Food Bank.

When: Thursday December 18, 6pm until exhaustion
Where: Noir Lounge, 581 Hayes St. at Laguna
How:

• 21-Hayes (Laguna St.)
• 5-Fulton (Laguna St., <5 mins)
• 47/49 Van Ness lines (Grove St., <10 mins)
• F/J/K/L/M/N Market Street lines (Van Ness station, 10 mins)
• Performing Arts Garage, 360 Grove St. at Gough (5 mins)
• Street parking in this neighborhood is unpleasant.

The club has reserved the large communal table in the back from 6-8pm. Many of us will stay longer, of course.

We continue our tradition of support for the San Francisco Food Bank. Please join us in bringing a can, or a check for the Food Bank, to the party.

Renew for 2015!

Be sure your voice is heard within the club and throughout the city. This fall, San Francisco elects the citywide offices of Mayor, City Attorney, District Attorney, Sheriff and Treasurer. Ballot measures are likely as well.

Regular dues are still $35, discounted to $15 for students and seniors.

Bring your check to the holiday party, send it to us at 621 LaSalle Ave., San Francisco, 94124, or pay regular dues by credit card using the PayPal button in the sidebar at right.

We'll also accept cash at the holiday party.

Endorsements for November 2014 general election

Upon vote of the membership at its September 18 endorsement meeting, the City Democratic Club announces its endorsements for the November 2014 general election.

State/Federal Offices

Nancy Pelosi for U.S. House of Representatives, District 12.
Jackie Speier for U.S. House of Representatives, District 14.
David Chiu for State Assembly, District 17.
Phil Ting for State Assembly, District 19.

Daniel Flores for Superior Court, Office 20.

Jerry Brown for Governor.
Gavin Newsom for Lieutenant Governor.
Betty Yee for Controller.
Alex Padilla for Secretary of State.
John Chiang for Treasurer.
Kamala Harris for Attorney General.
Dave Jones for Insurance Commissioner.
Fiona Ma for Board of Equalization, District 2.
Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Board of Supervisors

Mark Farrell, D2; Katy Tang, D4; Jane Kim, D6; Scott Wiener, D8; Malia Cohen, D10.

Board of Education

Trevor McNeil, Emily Murase, Shamann Walton.

Community College Board

Four-year terms: Thea Selby, Rodrigo Santos, Anita Grier.
Two-year term: Amy Bacharach.

At-Large Offices

Carmen Chu for Assessor/Recorder.
Jeff Adachi for Public Defender.
Nicholas Josefowitz for BART Board of Directors, D8.

Local Measures

Yes on Prop A, water bonds
Yes on Prop B, population-based indexing of Muni funding
Yes on Prop C, Children's Fund et al
Yes on Prop D, retiree benefits, former Redevelopment Agency employees
Yes on Prop E, soda tax
Yes on Prop F, Pier 70 development
No on Prop G, property transfer surtax
No on Prop H, prohibition on artificial turf
Yes on Prop I, permission of artificial turf
Yes on Prop J, minimum wage increase
No on Prop L, transportation priorities policy statement

The club has no endorsement on Prop K.

State Measures

Yes on Prop 1, water bonds
Yes on Prop 2, rainy-day fund
Yes on Prop 45, health insurance rate regulation
Yes on Prop 47, misdemeanor offense classification

The club has no endorsements on Prop 46 or Prop 48.

July garden party for David Chiu (photos!)

On a sunny Saturday in July, members of the City Democratic Club's executive board hosted a garden party and fundraiser for Supervisor David Chiu, whom the club has endorsed in the AD17 race. We had plenty of food, a wide variety of wine, and of course the guest of honor.

Below, photos from the party. Much fun was had by the club and its friends.

An evening with Supervisor Jane Kim

By Erik Cummins
First Vice President

Facing a capacity crowd of City Democratic Club members at the Chancellor Hotel in April, Jane Kim, the city’s Sixth District Supervisor, focused on four broad legislative agendas.

For starters, the district, which encompasses the Tenderloin, South of Market, Rincon Hill, Treasure Island, Middle Market, South Beach and Mission Bay, is experiencing rapid change. As evidence, she noted the new construction in areas like Mid-Market and Mission Bay.  Eighty percent of the recent development has occurred in 20 percent of the city, with the majority happening in her district. As a member of the board’s Land Use Committee, “I get to help shape some of our most emerging and newest neighborhoods,” Kim said.

At the same time the economy is propelling growth, District Six is still grappling with one of its enduring problems: the lack of neighborhood parks. In fact, the district has the fewest and smallest parks, with just 0.6 acres per resident. With a dearth of open space to develop, “We’ve had to be creative,” Kim said. That means rehabilitating existing parks, working with real estate brokers to acquire new land and considering unusual locations, such as the area beneath the Octavia Boulevard freeway off-ramp which is slated for a skateboard and dog park. Transbay Park, which will be above the now-under-construction Transbay Terminal, is another example.

Kim’s third priority is pedestrian safety. “More people get hit by cars in the district than in any other,” she said. Working with the Vision Zero project, the goal is to achieve zero fatalities in the next 10 years.

Finally, the former youth organizer said that the city is increasingly tasked with filling the state’s vast public education gap, at least locally, as California ranks 49th in the U.S. in per-pupil spending. To that goal, Kim is supporting a ballot initiative statement that would encourage the city to set aside a portion of its general funds to support schools.

Homelessness remains a major issue in District Six, so Kim recently spent a night in a neighborhood shelter to better understand the problem. “I didn’t anticipate the immense boredom,” she said. “There were no classes, no programming, no counselors.” The homeless population, she said, was also older than she expected: the vast majority were between 40 and 55 years old. Saying that shelters “should act as medical centers,” Kim recently helped arrange for two full-time nurses and an on-site yoga instructor.

Answering a question about lingering concerns over radioactive materials in Treasure Island, Kim said that she has been told that the island has no more contaminants than any other areas of the city. But given the concerns, Kim said the city is working with residents who want to relocate.

In her answer to a query about the Warriors’ recent purchase of a Salesforce property in Mission Bay for a planned stadium, Kim said the team was one of the few professional clubs “to purchase their own dirt” and that the new location – as opposed to prior plans for Pier 30-32 – should be “simpler and more straightforward” to execute.

Affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues facing the city, Kim acknowledged. Setting a 30 percent baseline for affordable housing units in future construction projects is one option and has been “sparking a wonderful debate.” Another option is for the city to purchase existing affordable housing so that “they don’t fall into the Ellis Act.”

 

City Democratic Club endorsements for June 2014 primary

Upon vote of the membership, the City Democratic Club announces its endorsements for the June 2014 primary election.

Offices

Nancy Pelosi for U.S. House of Representatives, District 12. (19 in favor, no opposition)
Jackie Speier for U.S. House of Representatives, District 14. (19 in favor, no opposition)

Fiona Ma for Board of Equalization, District 2. (18 in favor, no opposition)
David Chiu for State Assembly, District 17. (17 in favor; David Campos, 1)
Phil Ting for State Assembly, District 19. (19 in favor, no opposition)
Daniel Flores for Superior Court, Office 20. (13 in favor; Carol Kingsley, 6)

Jerry Brown for Governor. (18 in favor, no opposition)
Gavin Newsom for Lieutenant Governor. (16 in favor; no endorsement, 2)
Betty Yee for Controller. (16 in favor; John Perez, 1)
Alex Padilla for Secretary of State. (14 in favor; Derek Cressman, 3)
John Chiang for Treasurer. (17 in favor, no opposition)
Kamala Harris for Attorney General. (18 in favor, no opposition)
Dave Jones for Insurance Commissioner. (17 in favor, no opposition)
Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction. (18 in favor, no opposition)

Measures

Yes on Proposition A (16 yes, 2 no)
No on Proposition B (2 yes, 17 no)

Yes on Proposition 41 (18 yes, 1 no)
No on Proposition 42 (6 yes, 13 no)

2014 Executive Board

The 2014 Executive Board composition was ratified by the membership as follows:

President - Michael Ho
First Vice President - Erik Cummins
Second Vice President - Heidi Machen
Recording Secretary - Jim Reilly
Corresponding Secretary - Clay Harrell
Treasurer - Steve la Plante
Members at large - Kat Anderson, Michael Breyer, Michelle Parker

The club extends a special welcome to new board members Kat Anderson and Michelle Parker.

Future meetings

There will be no general meeting in May. Details of upcoming meetings will be announced as they become available.

Membership

To be eligible to vote in the November endorsement cycle, new members must join and pay dues at least 28 days before the endorsement meeting. While the fall schedule has not been set, the endorsement meeting could come as early as August 21, which would mean a July 24 cutoff.

To join by credit card or check, see the "Membership" section in the sidebar at right.

Supervisor Jane Kim and June primary endorsements, Thursday, 4/24

The club's endorsement meeting will be Thursday, April 24.

We're proud to host Supervisor Jane Kim, who has represented District 6 since 2010 and who will stand for re-election this November.

After the Supervisor's presentation and Q&A are complete, the club will vote on endorsements for the June primary. Recommendations from the Issues and Endorsements Committee are listed below.

The club also will vote to seat its 2014 Executive Board. The nominated slate for the Executive Board is listed below.

When: Thursday, April 24th, 7:30pm
Where: Chancellor Hotel, Clipper Room (433 Powell St. between Sutter and Post)
How: Adjacent Muni lines: 3, 8X, 38, 30, 45, cable cars. The Powell Street BART/Muni station is a 10-15 minute walk away, as are Market and Mission street lines.

About our speaker, Supervisor Jane Kim

We're pleased to welcome Supervisor Kim to our April meeting. Supervisor Kim was elected as District 6 supervisor in November 2010. Her district includes many eastside neighborhoods including Civic Center, South of Market, Mission Bay, the Tenderloin, Treasure Island, and Yerba Buena Island.

She is chair of the City & School District Committee, vice chair of the Land Use Committee, and a member of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority. She also chairs the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), which has responsibility for the new Transbay Terminal.

The Supervisor's policy priorities include land use, affordable housing production, homelessness, pedestrian safety (#VisionZero), public education, economic justice and development, and building capacity for nonprofits and neighborhood organizations in her district.

Supervisor Kim is past President of the SF Board of Education. Previously she was an attorney at Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and was a community organizer at Chinatown Community Development Center.

She received a dual B.A. from Stanford, in Political Science and Asian American Studies, and received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall.

Eligibility to endorse

Those who were members in 2012 or 2013, but haven't yet paid 2014 dues, can renew their memberships at the meeting. Standard dues are $35 with a $15 discounted rate for students and seniors.

We accept cash and checks at the meeting. You also can renew securely by credit card using PayPal using the buttons in the right-hand sidebar.

Issues and Endorsements Committee recommendations

The recommendations of the Issues and Endorsements Committee are listed below.

These are recommendations of the committee only and do not constitute club endorsement. Club endorsements will be issued after member ballots are counted.

Offices

The committee unanimously recommends:

Nancy Pelosi for U.S. House of Representatives, District 12.
Jackie Speier for U.S. House of Representatives, District 14.
David Chiu for State Assembly, District 17.
Phil Ting for State Assembly, District 19.

The committee recommends, without opposition except where noted:

Jerry Brown for Governor.
Gavin Newsom for Lieutenant Governor (8 of 9 votes).
Betty Yee for Controller.
Alex Padilla for Secretary of State.
John Chiang for Treasurer.
Kamala Harris for Attorney General.
Dave Jones for Insurance Commissioner.
Fiona Ma for Board of Equalization, District 2.
Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction (7 of 8 votes).

The committee recommends:

Daniel Flores for Superior Court, Office 20 (4-3 over Carol Kingsley).

Measures

The committee recommends as follows:

Proposition A: Support (6-2)

Earthquake Safety & Emergency Response Act - Bond measure to allow $400 million in new bonds to finance the construction, acquisition, improvement and seismic retrofit of neighborhood police and fire stations and the emergency firefighting water system, and the retrofit of other facilities, including the Medical Examiner, Police Department Traffic Company and the Police Department Forensic Services Division.

Pro: Legitimate public safety need that justifies issuance of City bonds. 

Con: Would increase City debt load and property taxes.

Proposition B: Oppose (7-0, one abstention)

Waterfront Height Limit Right to Vote Act - Initiative ordinance. Would not allow developers to exceed any current height limits on the city waterfront unless the proposed height increase has been approved by the voters. 

Pro: Ensures citizen voice in waterfront planning. The 8 Washington project demonstrated this need. 

Con: Any planning issues are systemic, not endemic to waterfront. Blunt instrument that hits the wrong nail.

Proposition 41: Support (7-1)

California Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act - Bond measure. Would amend the Veterans' Bond Act of 2008 to reduce the amount of authorized bonds from $900 million to $300 million. At the same time, it would authorize $600 million in new bonds to provide multifamily housing, such as apartment complexes, to low-income veterans and supportive housing for homeless veterans. The cost would average about $50 million annually for 15 years.

Pro: No net increase in bond-issuance authority. Reallocates unissued bonds for a previously approved and valid public goal.

Con: Would increase annual costs to state General Fund.

Proposition 42: Oppose (7-0, one abstention)

A Constitutional amendment that would require local agencies to comply with the Public Records Act.  This requirement would be exempt from the Constitutional prohibition on unfunded mandates. 

Pro: Open meetings and open access are obvious public benefit that deserve extension to localities. 

Con: Explicit creation of new unfunded mandate is troubling. Impact to local governments unknown.

2014 Executive Board

At its April meeting, the club will consider the following nominated slate for its 2014 Executive Board:

President - Michael Ho
First Vice President - Erik Cummins
Second Vice President - Heidi Machen
Treasurer - Steve la Plante
Recording Secretary - Jim Reilly
Corresponding Secretary - Clay Harrell
Members at large - Kat Anderson, Michael Breyer, Michelle Parker

SFPD Chief Greg Suhr, a "Cop's Cop," Addresses City Democratic Club

By Erik Cummins
First Vice President

Club Treasurer Steve la Plante (left) on
SFPD Chief Greg Suhr: "A cop's cop"

San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr doesn't need a public relations person. Or at least he didn't need one when he met with the City Democratic Club February 20.

(For that matter, he doesn't need a driver, since he drives himself, or a security detail. It would be hypocritical, he said, to suggest that he couldn't be safe in a town that he's tasked with keeping safe.)

Speaking at the historic Chancellor Hotel near Union Square, Chief Suhr was gregarious, candid, well informed and, at times, blunt. He spoke with a distinctive brand of humor, sometimes poignant and occasionally hard-edged. This was a detail-minded administrator whom longtime club officer Steve la Plante introduced as a true "cop's cop."

A tough time to start

Suhr, a native San Franciscan whose great-grandfather founded Tadich Grill, joined the force in 1981 as a beat cop in the Tenderloin. In 2011, after making his way through the "chairs," Mayor Ed Lee appointed him Chief. Suhr allowed that it was a "tough time" to start. He inherited a poor reputation in the community, a high crime rate, a multi-million-dollar budget gap, an FBI investigation, and the need to let go of 300 officers.

With the recession over, Suhr said that now "it's hard to believe we had [a budget gap]." He cut $2.4 million from the top, eliminating some legal and upper civilian positions and negotiating a staggered system of employee raises with the Police Officers' Association.

Relearning responsiveness

Next, he made the department start answering to the people.

He stripped out the Byzantine phone tree that protected the SFPD from callers.

He broke down the doors, literally. The SFPD's space in the Hall of Justice was a maze that Suhr deemed reminiscent of the 60s TV show "Get Smart." Suhr ordered the doors blocked open.

And he brought the department into the 21st century. At Suhr's 2011 appointment, Facebook was already top of the heap, but the SFPD didn't even have email. Suhr established email -- "It took a signature," he quipped -- but kept going, handing smartphones to all officers and connecting them to criminal-justice databases that allow real-time research in investigations. Now, instead of being last in tech, the SFPD was first in California.

(The phones aren't always for finding perps. Once an officer responded to a blocking-driveway tow call. The officer ran the plates and saw the vehicle registered next door. He knocked on the owner's door. It was a genuine mistake; car moved, tow avoided.)

Community policing

As for his much-publicized community policing efforts, Suhr hates it. Not the work, but the term itself. "It's just policing," he stressed. "It's just people."

His marching orders: "Do more talking." As a result, he said with a grin, officers are "becoming more and more charming." The public is responding. Now chats with neighborhood people yield bonds, yield trust, and sometimes yield information relevant to cases.

Suhr also has worked to break down barriers among expert disciplines.  Likewise, he has distributed the force's motorcycles and dirt bikes from the Hall of Justice to the areas where they are most needed, like Golden Gate Park.

Stay in school, stay out of prison

A key way to reduce crime, Suhr said, is to get kids to stay in school, high school in particular. Engaging youth is a primary focus of his and one that he extends to the force. He expects his officers to spend time as adult mentors to kids in boys and girls clubs. He cites a strong statistical correlation between crime and high-school dropout rates.

Suhr noted that since the state began to move inmates from state to local facilities -- from where many are released into communities -- property crimes are up 20 percent. But thieves have moved into the 21st century as well.

"Open air street narcotics are way down because the bad guys are stealing cell phones," he said. A stolen phone can be worth $200 cash. Phone theft now makes up 2/3 of robberies. The SFPD has been lobbying, with other groups, to provide a "brick" button, making a stolen phone useless, forever, once reported stolen. The carriers are resisting this.

Walking on the streets of San Francisco

There have already been four pedestrian deaths this year. It is February.

"It's a super crowded city," Suhr said. The City has gained 125,000 residents in 20 years and 96 percent more bicycles since 2000, many of whom are checking Facebook on the street.

"Inattention is a big problem," Suhr said, both for drivers and pedestrians. As kids, we were taught to look both ways -- and we don't. California law gives pedestrians the right of way in nearly all circumstances. To those who see this as carte blanche for crossing anywhere at any time, Suhr cautions: "You might be right, but you could be dead right."

Sleeping on the streets of San Francisco

The last comprehensive census of the homeless was ten years ago and counted 6,500 homeless. Since then, the City has housed 10,000 people and given another willing 8,000 the transportation costs to return them home. In the last census, we still had 6,500.

Despite helping 18,000 people, Suhr said, the headlines blared: "City does nothing on homelessness." But it's no wonder critics think the City is doing nothing, he said, looking grimly at the top-line number.

Making the future brighter

"You're going to see a lot more officers walking around," Suhr said. "Technology is getting better." Improved technology, for instance, has helped the department to clear more homicide cases this year than have occurred. Officers can search case files and look up license plate numbers from their smartphones. Suhr said phones are an officer's best friend -- not only the officer's own phone, but also the one that a suspect was carrying.

Suhr was encouraged by the number of young officers who want to live and work in San Francisco. Having local officers is important, he said. "The best police officers anywhere have to have some skin in the game." On the other hand, he noted that having non-local officers isn't a real security risk for the City, provided staffing is done intelligently.

Call me, definitely

Don't be concerned about "bothering" us with calls, Suhr said. It's the department's job. "We're never too busy to take a phone call."

At the meeting, Suhr took specific concerns from the membership, wrote them down, and promised to have them investigated.

The room nodded its belief.


The City Democratic Club thanks SFPD Chief Greg Suhr for making the time to speak to us.

Club President Michael Ho (left), Second Vice President Heidi Machen, and SFPD Chief Greg Suhr

Thursday 2/20: SFPD Chief Greg Suhr, Chancellor Hotel, 7:30pm

February speaker: Chief Greg Suhr

The club is honored to welcome SFPD Chief Greg Suhr as speaker on Thursday 2/20.

When: Thursday, February 20, 7:30pm
Where: Chancellor Hotel, Clipper Room (433 Powell St. between Sutter and Post)
How: Adjacent Muni lines: 3, 8X, 38, 30, 45, cable cars. The Powell Street BART/Muni station is a 10-15 minute walk away, as are Market and Mission street lines.

Mayor Lee appointed Greg Suhr as Chief in 2011. During his tenure, crime has dropped in the City. Chief Suhr has a strong focus on community policing; another of his key efforts is to create a 6th Street Substation in Central Market.

Suhr joined the SFPD in 1981 as a patrol officer at Tenderloin Station. He later became Captain for Bayview and Mission stations as well as Deputy Chief of Field Operations. His many other roles have included leadership in the Narcotics Division and the SFPUC.

Chief Suhr has worked to engage San Francisco's youth, starting sports programs in both the Mission and the Bayview to promote community outreach and to reduce and prevent gang violence. He also helped implement Safe Corridor, a Mission program to reduce violence and gang activity. He serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of SF and the Bayview YMCA.

Chief Suhr is a graduate of USF and has a certificate in the Counter-Terrorism Executive Program from the University of Southern California.

2014 Executive Board nomination and voting

The club's 2014 Executive Board will be elected in April. The board currently consists of a President, two Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, as well as members-at-large. The bylaws also provide for a Parliamentarian, which currently is not assigned.
At the February meeting, the current board will propose a slate for 2014 and strongly encourages nominations from the membership. Only current, paid members for 2014 may nominate, stand for office, or vote in the officer election.

Renew now to make sure the 2014 Executive Board reflects your views.

March dark, April meeting

There will be no meeting in March. Stay tuned for April programming, which will include board elections.

Retain eligibility to vote: Join or renew for 2014

Renew now to make sure your voice is heard for election endorsements and board composition. Regular dues are still $35, discounted to $15 for students and seniors.

To be eligible to vote in an endorsement meeting:

• Members in 2012 or 2013 must renew at or before the endorsement meeting.
• New members must join at least 28 days before the endorsement meeting. For June primary endorsements, the new-member cutoff is estimated at March 20 but is subject to change until the meeting date is set. 

To vote or nominate for the 2014 Executive Board, or to stand for office, dues must be current. The 28-day rule does not apply for board elections.

Regular dues can be paid securely using the PayPal button in the sidebar. Or send checks to us at 621 LaSalle Ave., San Francisco, 94124. We're unable to accept cash through the mail.

November 2013 Endorsements

Friday, September 20, 2013 - Club members voted yesterday to endorse Propositions A and D, and Katy Tang, Carmen Chu and Dennis Herrera for local offices.

Propositions B and C are No Endorsement.


Local Offices

Katy Tang for Supervisor, District 4.
Carmen Chu for Assessor-Recorder.
Dennis Herrera for City Attorney.

Due to a typographical error, the Treasurer race was omitted from the club ballot. José Cisneros is running unopposed in this race. The club has no position on this office because of the error.


Measures


Yes on A, Retiree Health Care Trust Fund.
No endorsement on B, 8 Washington - Initiative.
No endorsement on C, 8 Washington - Referendum.
Yes on D, Prescription Drug Purchasing.

"No endorsement" means that neither Yes nor No reached the 60% threshold required to endorse. The club's position is to not support either side on Propositions B and C.


Thank you!

The club extends a warm thank-you to our presenters from the Proposition B and C campaigns and to the membership for its careful consideration and its votes.


Key dates

Mark your calendar for these key dates and deadlines:

October 7: Early voting begins at City Hall

October 21: Last day to register to vote. City voter registration info on sfgov.org

October 29: Last day to request a mail ballot

November 2-5: Mail ballots can be dropped off at curbside collection stations at City Hall

November 5: Election Day. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Next Up
Projections for upcoming club meetings:

November: After-work happy hour, most likely the 21st (third Thursday).
December: Holiday party.

2014: We're lining up great speakers for the spring. Stay tuned.

June 22: Summer garden party

Meet Supervisor Katy Tang.

Mingle with fellow members.

Luxuriate in a palatial backyard. 

Life give you lemons?

City Democratic Club continues its longstanding tradition of hosting a summer garden party. (Nobody seems to remember exactly when it started, so it must be longstanding.)

This year's party is Saturday June 22, starting around 2pm in Heidi's recently renovated backyard.

Our special guest is D4 Supervisor Katy Tang, who joined the Board to fill Carmen Chu's vacancy. Supervisor Tang served as Supervisor Chu's legislative aide for more than five years, drafting legislation to make life easier for City businesses and harder for City criminals. As it should be.

The garden party is a member benefit for which your dues need to be current. If you're not a member at the moment, we're making that extra easy -- see "Membership at the door" below.

When: Saturday, June 22nd, 2pm(ish)
Where: Heidi's backyard, near Church Street Station and Duboce Park
How: Adjacent Muni lines: All light rail F/J/K/L/M/N; 6, 22, 24, 37, 71. Bike-friendly neighborhood.

RSVP: Please respond to our Facebook event. While you're there, become a fan of our page if you're not already!

About our featured guest

D4 Supervisor Katy Tang, like roughly 40 percent of D4 voters, is Chinese-American. She speaks Mandarin and grew up in San Francisco, attending Lowell High School.

She received her bachelor's degree from UC Davis.

Her prior experience includes the Office of Public Policy and Finance, during Mayor Gavin Newsom's tenure, leading neighborhood involvement efforts in the development of the City's first Community Justice Center.

Lettuce party!

Membership at the door

The garden party is a member benefit. Admission is free to all current members. 

Club dues are $35 a year, but since the year's half over, $20 at the door gets you event admission and membership for the rest of 2013. Valid for both new and returning members, but only at the door.

Students and seniors can renew or join for $10 at the door.

We accept cash or checks made out to City Democratic Club.

Where is this again?

The garden party is in Heidi's backyard. It's the lushest one in San Francisco.

If you'd like a reminder of the address, please drop us a note on the club Facebook page, on the Facebook event, or (slowest) email or call us. See the sidebar for email and phone.

Beverages and Heidi's famous vegan fare are included.

An Evening With D7 Supervisor Norman Yee, Thursday 4/18

Carrying on its tradition of hosting new Supervisors, City Democratic Club is pleased to present an evening with Supervisor Norman Yee. After two terms on the Board of Education, ultimately serving as its president, Yee was elected to the Board of Supervisors last year and seated in January. While he's often regarded as a progressive, he stands for fiscal solvency, supports economic growth, and recognizes that small businesses drive our economy. Yee is a third-generation San Franciscan and a product of San Francisco public schools. He has lived in Westwood Park, near City College, for 25 years. He and his wife have two daughters, also public school attendees. When: Thursday, April 18, 7:30pm Where: Chancellor Hotel, Clipper Room (433 Powell St. between Sutter and Post) How: Adjacent Muni lines: 3, 8X, 38, 30, 45, cable cars. The Powell Street BART/Muni station is a 10-15 minute walk away, as are Market and Mission street lines.

Board elections: Are your dues current? The membership will also vote on the club's Executive Board for 2013-2014. In order to vote, dues need to be current. For those who were members last year, dues can be paid up to, or on, the date of the meeting. As always, we accept checks made out to City Democratic Club, 621 LaSalle Ave., San Francisco, 94124. We also accept credit cards through PayPal. Just click Pay Now to join or renew securely for one year at the standard rate of $35. Students and seniors are eligible to choose the discounted rate of $15.

Looking ahead The club will be dark in May, but we have something exciting in the works for a June weekend. Stay tuned for details.

About City Democratic Club Now in our fourth decade, we are one of San Francisco's longest established Democratic organizations. We are dedicated to careful review and analysis of issues important to San Francisco voters from a balanced, good-government perspective. We strive to maintain a balanced and pragmatic endorsement process in order to inform San Francisco voters on issues and candidates. For more information, contact us: Facebook: City Democratic Club Email: citydemclub@gmail.com Tel: 415-335-9143

March - No meeting; upcoming for April: board elections

MARCH NEWS

Meeting look-ahead

The Club won't have a meeting in March. Programming resumes in April. Our next newsletter will confirm the date, time and location.

Board elections in April

At the April meeting, the membership will vote to approve the club's executive board for 2013.

The board slate recommendation was formed and announced at the February meeting: President - Michael Ho
First Vice President - Erik Cummins
Second Vice President - Heidi Machen
Recording Secretary - Sarah Singer
Corresponding Secretary - Clay Harrell
Treasurer - Steve la Plante
At-large - Michael Breyer

In order to vote or make motions to change the slate, your membership dues need to be current. (It's easier than ever! Just click the button.)

Membership season

Time to re-up membership in your favorite club! As always, we accept checks made out to City Democratic Club, 621 LaSalle Ave., San Francisco, 94124.

The club is also experimenting with online membership. Click the button at right to renew or start your membership for 2013. Or send a check to the address above.

Report any online payment problems to us at citydemclub@gmail.com. Please be gentle. It's our first time.

February 2013 - Supervisor Scott Wiener & Board Nominations

Supervisor Scott Wiener Featured This Thursday 2/21 The club is honored to have Supervisor Scott Wiener as its February guest. A fifteen-year Castro resident, Scott has represented District 8 on the Board of Supervisors since 2010 and is a four-term member of the Democratic County Central Committee. Before his election to the Board of Supervisors, Scott was a litigator in the City Attorney's office, representing the City in a Supreme Court case. Previous private-sector experience includes commercial litigation and pro-bono work on behalf of asylum seekers and low-income tenants facing eviction. A leader in San Francisco's LGBT community, Scott co-chaired the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, co-chaired BALIF (the Bay Area's LGBT bar association), and served on the national board of the Human Rights Campaign for a decade. Scott also co-chaired the LGBT Community Center and played a key role in building the Center. When: Thursday, February 21, 7:30pm Where: Chancellor Hotel, Clipper Room (433 Powell St. between Sutter and Post) How: Adjacent Muni lines: 3, 38, 30, 45, cable cars. The Powell Street BART/Muni station is a 10-15 minute walk away, as are Market and Mission street lines. Board elections are coming! Nominate and re-up now At the club's following meeting -- to be confirmed, either March or April -- the membership will vote to approve the club's executive board for 2013. Nominations will be taken from the membership in February and will be considered when forming the board slate. In order to nominate, be nominated, or vote, your membership dues need to be current.

Membership Season: Time to re-up membership in your favorite club! In addition to conferring voting rights, your dues make it possible for us to host great speakers like Supervisor Wiener. As always, we accept checks made out to City Democratic Club, 621 LaSalle Ave., San Francisco, 94124. We also accept credit cards through PayPal. Just click the PayPal link in the right-hand column to join or renew securely for one year at the standard rate of $35.