happy birthday to me...

my birthday is on thursday so i'm using it as an excuse to raise money for my cause.

the 3rd annual san francisco walk against rape is on april 26th and i'm $1465 short of my $2500 goal. if you have a few extra bucks to share, please send it my way. you can donate here.

thank you!!!

3rd Annual SF Walk Against Rape

Hi friends,

I’m participating in the San Francisco Walk Against Rape again this year and I’m hoping to raise the most money again. Last year I raised $1400 on my own, so this year I’ve put together a team and we hope to raise $2500 or more. The walk isn’t until April, but I’m starting the fundraising now to make sure we reach or (hopefully) exceed our goal.

Support me by donating here: BFFteam

Although rape is a very serious and painful issue to think about, the walk is a really exciting, empowering, fun, feminist, community building event and everyone is welcome. If you’d like to join my team or just walk along with us, you’re more than welcome. Or you can just open your wallet and support us from afar.

Every little bit helps and will bring us that much closer to our goal and all proceeds will go to benefit San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR), SF’s only community based rape crisis center.

Thanks in advance for your support!
xoxo, jared

Support me by donating here: BFFteam

From my inbox...

From: SF Tenants Union
Date: Nov 1, 2007 2:11 PM
Subject: Rent Control Repeal Alert!
To: active@sftu.org

We need your help now to save rent control from being repealed in California!

Wealthy landlords are placing a measure on the ballot to repeal all rent control in California. We understand they already have enough signatures to get it on the June ballot. They are trying to hide the rent control repeal as part of an eminent domain reform measure, knowing that homeowners want reform of eminent domain laws (following a US Supreme Court decision allowing the taking of property through eminent domain and then transferring the property to a private developer). The measure unambiguously repeals and prohibits any form of rent control. The measure would also repeal inclusionary affordable housing laws.

A key part of the strategy to defeat this dangerous measure is to have a competing eminent domain reform measure on the same ballot. Tenant and housing groups have been collecting signatures on a competing measure, which simply prohibits using eminent domain for residential housing and then transferring ownership to developers. The competing measure also contains language invalidating the entire rent control repeal measure (if this competing measure gets more votes). Polling indicates that if this competing measure is on the ballot then the rent control repeal measure loses flat out. We're close to getting the competing measure on the ballot but need help in the 3 remaining weeks we have (November 20 is the deadline).

Please help us in the next few weeks to get this measure—which stops rent control repeal—on the ballot. We will be holding signature gathering mobilizations, where you can get petitions and then go get signatures, the next 3 Saturdays.

Saturday, Nov 3, 11 AM to 1 PM at SF Tenants Union, 558 Capp St (at 21st)
Saturday, Nov 10, 11 AM to 1 PM at SF Tenants Union, 558 Capp St (at 21st)
Saturday, Nov 17, 11 AM to 1 PM at SF Tenants Union, 558 Capp St (at 21st)

Please try to come by and get some petitions and then get your family and friends and co-workers to sign or take them to a location we can assign you and get people to sign. This is very important–all our homes are at risk.

Also, please join tenants, seniors, labor, elected officials, and environmentalists (it also repeals some environmental protect regulations) at a rally where San Francisco will show unified opposition to this measure:

Rally To Save Rent Control
Wednesday, November 14, 12 Noon
State Building (Van Ness & McAllister)

Juror #3

I'm breaking my blogging boycott to share this news because it was cool.

I just finished serving on a jury. It was my first time and it was actually pretty cool. Did you know there was a time (not even that long ago) when women weren't ALLOWED to serve on juries? Yeah, I knew that you did.

It felt good to do my civic duty and to be part of the justice system. Unfortunately, I voted with the minority and so the case was decided against the defendant when I voted in her favor. One other guy voted with me as well. In civil cases only 9 out of 12 have to agree though, so it was a really quick case. If it had to be unanimous I'd have kept us there for weeks!

The matter was an eviction due to the defendant making a threat against another tenant. Neither I nor the other guy felt the threat was credible and we thought the rental people were only using that as an excuse to evict her for dealing drugs which would be more difficult to prove. Interestingly, or maybe not, the guy who voted with me also lives in the Tenderloin (it smells like pee!) and the majority of other jurors were home owners or lived in better neighborhoods.

Anyway, I was happy to be part of the process and I wish the defendant well and hope she finds a new place to live soon and that this doesn't send her spiraling downward.

Thank you Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells and Susan B. and all of the other amazing women who paved the way for us. I promise never again to take it for granted.

UPDATE: I found this 1927 article about women jurors very interesting.

I *heart* SFSPCA Cats...

It was crazy busy and I was there a lot longer than I expected so I'm kind of beat. It was a great turnout though and lots of sweetie babies found homes with lots of really lovely people. (Murdock's mommy, I'm talking to you!)

I'll post more deets on Monday coz I'll be back at the shelter tomorrow. It was my goal to get Tasha adopted today but she's still there so there's still work to be done.

I'm exhausted so I'm just going to copy and paste the Cat Behavior Group email and call it a day.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the event today. It was a great success with 34 animals finding new homes.

22 social kittens went home, as well as adults ELLIE, DUDLEY, TIFFANY and behavior kitties LENA, OZZY and TREASURE!
6 dogs also found homes today!

Congratulations to all the happy new guardians and adoptees!

Did ya feel that?

We had an earthquake this morning and poor Mabel nearly lost her shit. I think it was her first one.

It's good to know though, that when the big one comes, she clearly knows to duck and take cover. If I get crushed or swallowed up, oh well. It's every girl for herself in this house, I guess.

Save FUF's Budget!

From my inbox:

WE NEED YOUR URGENT ACTION TO PRESERVE FUNDING FOR SAN FRANCISCO'S URBAN FOREST! PLEASED CALL AND EMAIL THE SUPERVISORS LISTED BELOW! PASS THIS ALERT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES - IF WE LOSE, THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, $2.5 MILLION WILL BE GUTTED FROM THE CITY'S URBAN FOREST BUDGET.

WHAT'S HAPPENING:

San Francisco's urban forest funding has been eliminated in Supervisor Daly's sudden new budget proposal. Currently, Friends of the Urban Forest receives $162,000 from the City to plant & maintain street trees in San Francisco, and this entire sum will be cut from the budget in Daly's proposal, meaning FUF will receive nothing from the San Francisco city budget to plant and maintain trees in the coming year. According to a UC Davis study, San Francisco derives a $7.5 million environmental and socio-economic benefit from its street trees each year, but this proposal would contribute zero funds from the City for groups like FUF to continue to ensure that the City maintains this benefit.

ADDITIONALLY, $2.5 million will be cut from the City's own tree planting and maintenance program under this proposal. This means, for example, that the 1500 street trees planted earlier this year by the City will get no watering and maintenance, and will very likely die.

YOU CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING, BUT YOU MUST ACT NOW!

The Board of Supervisors' Budget Committee will vote on this controversial proposal this Wednesday, June 13 at 1PM. There are five members on the committee, including Supervisor Daly, and if three Supervisors vote for this proposal, all this money will be cut from the budget, and the full Board of Supervisors (all 11 members) won't even get the chance to vote on it. (All told, Supervisor Daly's proposed alternatives to Mayor Newsom's budget total $37 million).

Also, before the committee meets, there will be a rally opposing the cuts on the Polk Street City Hall steps at noon on Wednesday. Join us and show your support for San Francisco's urban forest!

We need your support at this time to:

·Call and email the Budget Committee Supervisors listed below telling them to vote NO on Daly's proposal (sample language below)
·Come to the rally in support of our urban forest and living, not dead, trees on Wednesday, June 13 at noon on the steps of City Hall (Polk Street side).
·Make public comment in support of the Mayor's programs at the Budget Committee on June 13 at 1PM, City Hall, Room 250
·Tell friends about this threat to our city's trees, and strongly encourage them to write and call too.
·Write a letter to the Editor in the Chronicle and Examiner.

Find more information about the proposed cuts here.
Daly's Amended Motion, These Cuts Detailed, Questions about Daly's Process

Please email and call immediately to the Supervisors and especially to the Budget Committee -- Supervisors Dufty, Elsbernd, Mirkarimi, Daly, and Ammiano. Here's a list of e-mails and phone numbers:

Dist. 5 Ross Mirkarimi
554-7630 Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org

Dist. 6 Chris Daly
554-7970 Chris.Daly@sfgov.org

Dist. 7 Sean Elsbernd
554-6516 Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org

Dist. 8 Bevan Dufty
554-6968 Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org

Dist. 9 Tom Ammiano
554-5144 Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org

Sample letter and calling language (please re-draft in your own words):

Dear Supervisor _______________,

I strongly support a thriving urban forest in San Francisco. You must reject the proposal to slash the City's urban forest budget and eliminate funding of Friends of the Urban Forest. Without this funding, 1500 trees planted in San Francisco in 2007 will die, and FUF's efforts to continue to build community and enhance our city's urban environment will be severely restricted.

Thank you.

IMPORTANT: If you live in the district of the Supervisor you are writing to, please be sure to tell him!
Supervisors District Map

Sincerely,
Friends of the Urban Forest

I'm a big fan of FUF and a long time volunteer so I really support what they do and encourage you to do what you can to help save their budget. The city wouldn't be the same without it.

Thanks!

Today Is National Hunger Awareness Day...

The San Francisco Food Bank is still one of my favorite nonprofits even though they didn't hire me way back in the day. Their executive team is a little testosterone heavy, but they do good work:

Summer is an especially difficult time for working famililes with children. When school lets out for summer vacation, childcare costs increase and children lose access to school meals and snacks, increasing the burden on the family's finances.

Please help today - make a donation equal to the amount you normally spend on lunch - or what you spend for a whole week. Each $10 donation allows us to provide meals to 40 children - that's more than an entire classroom of kids! We ask you to donate today and forward this link to your friends so they can contribute too.

Here are some more ways you can help – and have fun at the same time!

Go shopping!
Make a $5 donation to the Food Bank at any San Francisco Macy’s store on June 5 and receive a 15% off savings pass for the entire day.

Enjoy dinner with a friend
Go to Kuleto’s on June 5 and order the special Hunger Awareness Day three course prix fixe dinner at Kuleto’s restaurant in San Francisco and the proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank. Call 415-397-7720 to make a reservation.

Take a cooking class
Learn how to make a gourmet Italian dinner at Sur la Table with Chef Bob Helstrom of Kuleto’s on June 5, Hunger Awareness Day. All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the Food Bank. Call Sur la Table at 415.732.7900 for details and tickets.

Visit Union Square
Join us from 12:00 – 1:00 on Hunger Awareness Day to learn more about the issue of hunger and how you can run a food drive, volunteer or advocate for an end to hunger in San Francisco.

Every day, 1 in 5 San Franciscans lives with the threat of hunger. We need your support to give them the food they need to survive and thrive. Thank you!

Please give today!

More on declawing...

My friend Dolly and I are writing to Ross Mirkarimi and Chris Daly to see if they will support us by drafting some anti-declawing legislation. Apparently, West Hollywood is the only place in the country where it's illegal and we want to add San Francisco to the roster.

UPDATE: I was mistaken. West Hollywood passed legislation in 2003 but was sued in 2005 by a bunch of capitalist veterinarians who'd rather make a buck than not torture animals with senseless amputation. I'm not sure what the status of the legislation is now but I'll keep you posted on what I find out.

Maybe if we can get a law passed here and garner some publicity, more cities will join the fight to end this cruel and inhumane procedure.

"The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights is opposed to cosmetic surgeries and to those performed to correct 'vices.' Declawing generally is unacceptable because the suffering and disfigurement it causes is not offset by any benefits to the cat. Declawing is done strictly to provide convenience for people. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR)

Some veterinarians have argued that some people would have their cats killed if declawing was not an option. We should not, however, allow ourselves to taken 'emotional hostage' like this. If a person really would kill her or his cat in this case, it is reasonable to question the suitability of that person as a feline guardian, especially when there are millions of non-declawed cats living in harmony with people."

I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Here's a current list of the countries which have outlawed declawing:

England * Scotland * Wales * Northern Ireland * Germany * Austria * Switzerland * Norway * Sweden * Netherlands * Denmark * Finland * Brazil * Australia * New Zealand

I think the United States should join them.

It's that time again...

Finally!

Pride is just around the corner which means DYKE MARCH!!!!

June is gonna be a busy month and it's just getting started with Frameline Volunteer Orientation at the LGBT Center tonight.

I can't even begin to tell y'all how psyched I am to be surrounded by a whole bunch of dykes for the next six weeks.

I've yet to meet the girl of my dreams at any of these events but I haven't given up hope. Surprisingly, (obviously?) radical feminists aren't too popular with the lezzies either, (in my experience) but like I said, I haven't given up hope.

Anyhoo, I'm sure they still need volunteers for Frameline 31 so get your butt down to the Center tonight at 7pm. I'll see you there!

Update:
Just wanted to bring this out of the comments and into the light of day since it's also going on through the end of June: National Queer Arts Festival. Suh-weet!

See? Lots of people in my neighborhood are activists!

I missed it coz I was at work but I'm glad so many other Tenderloin residents marched to end violence in our neighborhood. I read a flyer that said we'd had 4 murders and over 100 assaults in April alone.

I totally don't remember it being that violent when I moved here three years ago so it must just be getting worse and worse. I hope we can nip it in the bud and build a stronger, safer community.

This is what community building looks like:


Calling for an end to Tenderloin Violence

According to the San Francisco Police Department, in the past 90 days alone there have been four homicides, six forcible sex offenses, 113 robberies, 270 assaults and 875 drug crimes.

Some of the demonstrators believe the Tenderloin is a so-called containment zone, where city officials tolerate crime to prevent it from spreading to nicer neighborhoods.

Andre Williams, Tenderloin Resident: "Being safe should be a right instead of a privilege because you should be able to walk anywhere you need to walk without being harassed."

Amen, brother.

The Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. is another one of my pet non-profits.

"TNDC's mission is to provide safe, affordable housing with support services for low-income people in the Tenderloin community and be a leader in making the neighborhood a better place to live."

Feel free to toss 'em a few bones if you can spare it.

(via SFist)

My May Day Project Version 4.0 - Done!

It was a hot, busy day, although there's not really a lot of variety in my photos. Unfortunately, lots of them were blurry or the composition was boring so this is the cream of the crop I had to work with. Oh well, there's always next year and version 5.0.

You can view the whole set here.

I'm #1!

The numbers are in and I was "far and away" the highest individual fundraiser in the 2nd Annual San Francisco Walk Against Rape. I couldn't have done it without you!

With your help, I managed to raise $1400 ($150 over my goal!) and all together the walk raised more than $17,000 for SFWAR.

My goal next year is $1500 so look for more begging in the not too distant future...

We did it!

It was hot and we were sweaty but we made it all the way to the end. I'm not sure what the total amount raised was but I'll keep you posted.

It was a beautiful day in San Francisco and we felt strong and brave and amazing and we were inspired by all of the wonderful folks who walked with us. Next year it'll be even BIGGER!

You can see the fabulosity for yourself right here.

Tomorrow's the big day!

I'm moving this to the top coz, Yay Me!

I can't seem to stop bragging that I managed to raise $1400 this year, nearly twice as much as I raised last year. I really hope I'm the highest individual fundraiser. We don't win any prizes or anything, I just want them to love me the most. Hee!

No matter where I land in the fundraising spectrum though, I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks so much to everyone who donated and to everyone who has encouraged me and given their support. San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR) is an incredible organization and they've helped a lot of people. (It will be a beautiful day when their services are no longer needed though.)

One by one, we are making a difference and I thank each and every one of you for the courage and inspiration I derive from you daily. We really are fighting the good fight, TOGETHER!



Although I've reached my goal, you can still donate if you'd like to, or join us on the walk. Everyone is welcome and encourgaged to show your support and solidarity with women. Hope to see some of you there!

More "compassionate" conservatism in action...

President Proposes to Eliminate CSFP...Again!

Almost 10,000 San Francisco low-income seniors to lose food boxes!

Last year, the President tried the same thing. Your calls and letters helped convince Congress to fund the program and protect low-income seniors, moms and kids. Although CSFP wasn’t eliminated in 2006, Congress did approve cuts to CSFP funding that required San Francisco to cut 1,000 seniors from the program.

The Program: CSFP is a federal food program that provides a nutritionally balanced food box to nearly 10,000 seniors, moms and kids in San Francisco with incomes below $1,100 a month. Each box is filled with high-protein items like canned tuna or chicken, grains, milk, canned fruits and vegetables, juice and cheese. These boxes cost the U.S. Department of Agriculture approximately $15.85, yet have a retail value of almost $50.

CSFP is not only a cost effective program – it’s a lifeline for thousands of San Francisco seniors,” said Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco Food Bank. “At a time when hunger is on the rise both locally and nationally, taking food away from our elderly neighbors and other vulnerable people is a truly unconscionable act.”

3 Things You Can Do:

1. Call Your Senator or Congress Member TODAY!
Call Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Representatives Pelosi and Lantos – tell them we must save CSFP, restore the thousands of people cut from the program last year and expand CSFP to serve more people in need by fully funding the program at $157 million.

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s number 415-393-0707
Senator Barbara Boxer’s number 415-403-0100
Congressman Tom Lantos’ number 415-566-5257
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s number 415-556-4862

2. Write a letter to your Senator or Congress Member!
Sending a handwritten letter is an incredibly powerful message! Make it easy - write one and send copies to all the elected officials. Click here (PDF) for a sample letter.

3. Join the Food Bank’s Advocacy Network to receive up-to-date information and actions about the cuts.

More information can be found on the SF Food Bank website.

About last night...

I went to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Boo and Christina and it was fantastic!

The acting was incredible and seemed so effortless, with perfect, seemless timing. And of course, Kathleen Turner is just amazing. I even preferred her to Elizabeth's Taylor's version. I haven't seen the movie in a few years, but I felt more empathy for Martha this time around and Kathleen Turner brought a lot of humor and vulnerability to the part that I missed in the movie version. I'm not entirely sure whether that's because of Kathleen Turner's spectacular performance or because my politics and feminism have evolved and I was better able to see Martha's humanity and pain despite her bitter words.

It's a bit pricey (to say the least) at $50-80, but really worth it. I haven't enjoyed a performance that much since The Black Rider a few years back.

If you get a chance, you should check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Another fundraising plea...

Before I forget - I'm now only $200 shy of my $1250 goal so if you'd like to sponsor me in the 2nd annual SFWAR Walk Against Rape, you can make a donation here: firstgiving/msjared2

The Walk Against Rape is on Saturday, April 28th so I've only got a few more weeks to raise the rest of the money. Anything you can spare is greatly appreciated!

(And thanks SO MUCH to everyone who's already donated!)

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's gonna be a day at the beach with Marisa, and reveling in the beauty of San Francisco and the joys of aging gracefully. Also, the twin joys of cheesecake and champagne for dinner. Aww yeah!

Instead of gifts I'm requesting donations to the Walk Against Rape. You can donate here if you'd like. I'm only $375 shy of my $1250 goal. (Thanks to everyone who's donated already!)

Have a wonderful day!

friday do-gooding plug...

i had an old boss who had plugs. it was way weird and totally noticable. aaaannyhoo...

so far i've raised $500 for the SFWAR walk against rape. if you'd like to sponsor me (and i know that you would!) click here to use your credit card and support this worthy cause!


thanks for your support!