AltWeeklies Wire
Bay Area Organizations Appear to be Part of a Secretive Group with a Bizarre Radical Pastnew
Knowledgeable sources say that the Physicians Organizing Committee is one of several Bay Area front groups set up to disguise a strange political cult. Although a representative for the committee denied the link, it has shared personnel with an alleged cult front group and received a grant from a nonprofit linked to the cult.
Politics are Crippling California's Services to the Disablednew
In addition to being a lifeline for needy disabled Californians, the state Department of Social Services' In-Home Supportive Services program is a cash cow for Democrats. The program's political status has made it a target for Republicans, who characterize it as a bastion of fraud and corruption, and thus ripe for $1.1 billion in cuts.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
10-28-2009 |
Commentary
Change Hasn't Come to San Francisconew
While the city's streets may have filled on the night of Nov. 4 to celebrate an electoral revolution against racial injustice, its famous left-wing politicians frequently ally themselves against African-American interests. And those politicians' most cherished dreams have no practical effect on improving city slums, stemming violence, or creating jobs.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
11-13-2008 |
Commentary
SEIU Boss Andy Stern Wouldn't Mind if McCain Gets Electednew
America's most powerful labor leader finds himself in an unusual and ironic position where his own political interests may run contrary to those of the labor movement itself. Stern could conceivably find himself harmed, rather than helped, by an Obama victory.
Gonzalez/Nader Hysterianew
Democrats' anger against Nader, and, by extension, Gonzalez, is misplaced in 2008 -- the likelihood that they could undermine the Democrats is doubtful. What's more, Gonzalez's futile-seeming move has a real upside. He says he'd like to use his new platform to prevent independent candidates from ever again undermining Democratic chances at victory.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
03-05-2008 |
Commentary
Demo Salenew
California Democrats are in real peril in the face of serious campaigns to end the party's gerrymandering privileges and redistribute the state's electoral college votes to benefit Republicans. Yet the state's two most powerful Democrats, Fabian Nunez and Don Perata, seem every month to make new headlines sneering at charges of party corruption.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
12-20-2007 |
Commentary
The End of San Fran's Progressnew
Art Agnos, one of the city's last remaining progressive hopes to confront incumbent Gavin Newsom in November's mayoral election, has determined San Francisco's become so twee a place that it's not worth his time and energy.
Governor Newsom?new
Aside from polls saying Gavin Newsom enjoys about two thirds voter approval and faces no viable opponent, the mayor's re-election campaign is unfolding disastrously -- that's because it is merely a preamble to his likely bid for the 2010 race for governor.
Profits for Developers Initiativenew
San Franciscans should take a closer look at this truly awful measure funded by Don Fisher before signing on.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
07-11-2007 |
Commentary
San Francisco's New 'New Deal': Privatizing Public Parksnew
Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposal to give up Harding Park and Lincoln Park in a long-term lease to a private corporation is a phony money-saving gesture that will end up costing the city millions of dollars more than it would save.
Lefty Factions & Phony Conventions Do Not an Effective Political Party Makenew
By holding a quasi-political convention under the meaningless and misleading rubric of San Francisco "progressivism," the Supervisor Chris Daly all but guarantees Gavin Newsom another four years on the job.
Gavin Newsom Yells Firenew
The mayor keeps talking about the terrible condition of San Francisco's public housing, but won't take action.
Somebody, Please Run for Mayor!new
Just six months before this November's mayoral election, Gavin Newsom is running virtually unopposed on a record as a near-absentee mayor who's governed via press release -- the time is right for Matt Gonzalez or Art Agnos to step into the race.
Let the Gaming Beginnew
Has a labor boss in trouble with the feds joined a high-powered Democratic lobbyist to merge Konocti Harbor Resort with Indian gambling?
Drive-by Reportingnew
A primer for out-of-town journalists flocking to the Pelosi power story.
