LeagueVoice

As the primary season hopscotches across the country causing
a flutter of excitement in first one state and then another, Californians may
feel completely left out. Our primary election doesn’t come until June 5, so it
is quite likely that the presidential candidates for both major parties will be
determined by that time. Still, there are other races coming up on our ballot
and also two local ballot measures and two state measures.

Candidates for office

Just to keep things complicated, there will be two formats
for the primary ballot for candidates. Following the requirements of Proposition
14, passed in 2010, voters from all parties will receive a ballot listing all
candidates from all parties for most positions EXCEPT the candidates for
president and for the political party central committees. In other words,
voters who registered as Republicans will receive a ballot with all the
Republican candidates for president listed and all candidates for the
Republican Central Committee. Their ballots will also list all of the
candidates from all parties for the offices of U.S. Senator, U.S.
Representative in Congress, and for the State Senate and Assembly as well as
the Superior Court judges. Democrats and members of other parties will receive
comparable ballots with their candidates listed.  Is that confusing enough?

Ballot measures—San Francisco

The Ballot Simplification Committee worked this week to
prepare the ballot measures for the June voters’ pamphlet. The final titles are
not set yet, but the wording of both measures has been approved.

One proposition is an initiative that deals with Garbage Collection and Disposal. At the
present time, one company holds contracts to collect trash, recyclables, and
compostables from residential and commercial sites in the City. Under the
proposed initiative, the City would competitively award five separate
agreements: one for residential collection, one for commercial collection, one
for the recovery and processing of recyclables and compostables, one for
transportation to disposal sites, and one for the actual disposal. Each
agreement would be for a ten-year term and would be citywide. No single company
could provide both recycling recovery services and garbage disposal services.   The
Board of Supervisors would be required to approve the maximum rates that
residential and commercial customers would pay. The Supervisors would also be
empowered to make amendments to the ordinance without further voter approval to
advance the purposes of the measure.

The second ballot measure is a Declaration of Policy concerning
Coit Tower.Coit Tower was built in 1933. It is located
in Pioneer Park at the top of Telegraph Hill. The murals inside the tower were
painted as part of a WPA depression-era project and offer a vivid picture of
the City during the Great Depression.  (If you haven’t visited
Coit Tower and seen the murals, you should set a date to do that. They are one
of the glories of San Francisco.) Coit Tower and Pioneer Park are managed by
the City’s Recreation and Parks Department. The City’s Arts Commission is
responsible for maintaining the murals. A private company runs concession
operations at Coit Tower including a food and beverage stand, gifts store, and
the right to operate the elevator and special events. The City allocates the
money from this concession to the Parks and Recreation Department. Recently the
Department has allocated $250,000 to the Arts Commission as well as setting
aside one percent of gross revenues from the tower for mural preservation and
restoration.

The proposition would make it City policy to strictly limit
commercial activities and private events at Coit Tower and to use funds the
City gets from the Coit Tower concession for preserving the Tower murals,
protecting and maintaining the building and beautifying Pioneer Park around the
Tower.

Further information about the city ballot measures will appear on the local League of Women Voters website sfvotes.org as it becomes available.

Ballot Measures—California

There are two state ballot measures that will appear on the June 5 ballot. You can find a brief description of the state measures on
the Secretary of State’s website . Further information about the ballot measures will soon be available at the California League of Women Voters site at cavotes. org

For the second year in a row, renowned writer and activist Maya Angelou celebrated Black History Month by hosting a special aired on public radio stations across the nation. The San Francisco Bay Area’s KQED aired the program, which embraced African American achievements from civil rights to popular culture, the evening of February 29, 2012 – a fitting end to Black History Month, which was blessed with an extra day in 2012.

Highlights of the program included interviews with prominent figures that have impacted history and continue to fight for justice for all people. Guests included: Poet Nikky Finney, recipient of the 2011 National Book Award for poetry, who shared excerpts from her evocative poem about Rosa Parks, “Red Velvet;” artist Mary J. Blige, who spoke of the years she has spent preparing to portray legendary jazz singer Nina Simone on film; Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young, who spoke of how throughout his life and career he has linked the black struggle for equal rights to “the movement of all human beings to be free all over the world;” and Dr. Julianne Malveaux, an economist and educator, who recalled protesting over the absence of Black Studies in San Francisco public schools.

Dr. Angelou’s final guest, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, discussed his time as a leader in the civil rights movement and as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. His tale of participating in voting rights protests was particularly moving: on March 7, 1965, Lewis led some 6oo protestors that marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in protest of the laws which denied suffrage to black citizens. The protestors were met with State Troopers, who, when the protestors asked to stop and pray before being turned back, beat them with nightsticks and fired upon them with tear gas. What Lewis points out is that the media coverage of what promptly became known as “Bloody Sunday” resulted in protests at every college in the nation, and created the momentum necessary to pressure President Johnson to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, restoring the right to vote to millions of previously disenfranchised African Americans. As Dr. Angelou rightly pointed out, this is a story that is so important that it must be told over and over again.

This February, the League of Women Voters of San Francisco salutes the achievements of African Americans, and echoes Dr. Angelou’s final sentiments of the program: that in honor of those who have come before, that all of us, regardless of race, continue the journey for equality for everyone, beyond voting rights to include fair pay, job opportunities, and kindness, and that a life dedicated to this purpose is the noblest of paths.

League members, new and old, gathered with friends and supporters at our annual Gala on Thursday evening, February 9, 2012, to celebrate five distinguished “Women Who Could Be President.” The Mistress of Ceremonies (and former Women Who Could Be President Honoree) news anchor Cheryl Jennings kicked off the evening by introducing Karen Clopton, immediate past President of the League, and the woman responsible for bringing us the Gala for the past six years. “This award champions women working in all aspects of civic life who have the will, drive, and vision to create better communities,” Ms. Clopton stated. Hala Hijazi, the Event Chair and a 2011 recipient of the Rising Star Award, took the podium to declare, “Our honorees this year are stellar communicators and leaders.” Current League President, Tricia McGovern, also stated words of welcome and congratulations, before Ms. Jennings commenced handing out the awards.

This year’s five recipients of the Women Who Could Be President honor were united in their accomplishments and their graciousness. First to be honored was Rachelle Chong, the Regional Vice President of Government Affairs for California for Comcast, and formerly a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission and Commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission. Ms. Chong applauded her daughters, both present, to demonstrate that due to the accomplishments of today’s women, the next generation will face a world where they perceive no limits to their potential. Mary Huss, an editor with over 25 years of experience and currently publisher of the San Francisco Business Times, accepted the second award with great humility. The third honoree of the evening, María Antonieta Mejía, is the Managing editor of El Mensajero newspaper, the largest Spanish-language weekly in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ms. Mejia got a laugh when she shared that “Women Who Could Be President” is an award that is tricky to explain to your friends, and drew the audience’s attention to the fact that woman indeed already serve as the top leaders in other countries, particularly in South America. Pam Moore, an Emmy-award winning journalist and anchor for KRON4 News, accepted her award with humor and poise, emphasizing how as she has aged she has increasingly focused on everything in her life for which she is grateful. The final honoree, Janet Reilly, is President of the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. Ms. Reilly stated that this award is meaningful for her because the League bestowed it, and called the audience’s attention to the fact that although women do not run for elected office with the frequency of men, they do win at a proportional rate – so it is essential to encourage women to run!

After each recipient had been honored, Karen Clopton took the opportunity to acknowledge those past honorees who had returned in support of the League and the significance of the Gala. Among these were, in addition to our Mistress of Ceremonies, Cheryl Jennings, Elmy Bermejo, in from Washington D.C., where she serves in the Department of Labor as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, as well as Linda Crayton, Julie Castro Abrams, Lynn Bunim, and Barbara Rodgers – who was among the very first recipients of the award in 1992! President Tricia McGovern reflected that one of the things that make the League so special is that League leaders, including current and past honorees as well as members, defy stereotypes. “Powerful women have a stigma of being cold,” she said. “But it is just not true with this group of women. They are so warm-hearted.” The evening closed as Sarah Meakin, a talented contralto, took the podium to sing, as tradition dictated, Happy Birthday to the League, and all happily indulged in a champagne toast and delicious birthday cake. The 2012 Gala was a great celebration of women, their accomplishments, and the continued role that the League plays in reinforcing their potential. The League thanks all of the members and friends who joined us for a truly inspiring evening!

Are you captivated by the tenacity of the Occupyers but  can’t quite see yourself at home at their General Assembly, wiggling your fingers?  Ease into activism, the League way. 

The League and Occupy share many core interests which can be described simply as government by the people for the people (all of us).  The League’s national, state, and local positions support activism and education in areas high on Occupy’s priority list:  campaign finance reform, the value of each person’s political voice, quality education, social services for the needy among us, a tax structure that provides for a civilized society, and more. 

So be part of the Occupy movement within an organization you already know.  For the San Francisco League, 2012 is shaping up to be an activist year and it needs you.  The annual planning meeting held on January 16 focused on brainstorming areas where members could take action.  A second planning meeting on February 11 will further identify topics of highest priority against which we can throw our thinking and our selves.   The floor is still open to ideas; your participation will make a difference. 

Come to the February 11 meeting (contact the office for more information and the location) and join other members resolved to do something constructive and productive now.  As for those wild, crazy, and often brave Occupyers, get to know them better by monitoring their media, starting at  www.sfoccupy.org. 

This is the final weekend of the spectacular exhibit “A Walk in the Wild: Continuing John Muir’s Journey” at the Oakland Museum. The exhibit is large and comprehensive, overflowing with information and interactive displays encompassing every aspect of John Muir’s life. A visitor may take a virtual tour of the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney, explore replicas of his living quarters, which included a view of Yosemite Falls, and learn about the terrain discovered and loved, and the wildlife and flora that he helped to document and preserve.

There is a reason that today John Muir is called the Father of the National Parks – in 1890, he petitioned the United States Congress to pass the National Parks bill, which gave California both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. In fact, Muir took President Theodore Roosevelt on a tour of Yosemite. Much of the magnificent natural landscape remaining in the Golden State today owes its preservation to John Muir, which is why so much has been named for him: Muir Woods, Muir Beach, and the John Muir Trail to name just a few.

Among of the most enjoyable aspects of the exhibit are the quotes from John Muir’s journals displayed along the walls, including:

“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”

“I wish I knew where I was going. Doomed to be ‘carried of the spirit into the wilderness,’ I suppose. I wish I could be more moderate in my desires, but I cannot, and so there is no rest.”

These lines not only resonate today, but help the visitor to imagine what John Muir was like as a humble man, hiking alone and writing down his thoughts, beyond the legacy that he has become.

This effect is only multiplied when the visitor stumbles upon Muir’s journals, featured in display cases, along with his presidential correspondence. The exhibit also showcases a few breathtaking paintings by William Keith, the fellow Scotsman and artist who accompanied Muir on many of his expeditions – Muir knew all the best vistas. Also not to be overlooked are various profiles on environmentalists and activists today, who carry on John Muir’s mission in their diverse fields. All in all, the “A Walk in the Wild: Continuing John Muir’s Journey” is a wonderful way for a modern-day Californian to learn more about, and grow in appreciation for, a man who long ago so valued the beauty of the natural landscape that he dedicated his life to preserving it, so that we may do the same today.

Guest Post by Elisabeth MacNamara, President of the League of Women Voters

As we pause to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember his lifelong passion and commitment to securing equality for all in American society. This year, it seems particularly appropriate to remember Dr. King’s crusade for the ballot. What would Dr. King have thought of the recent wave of restrictive voting laws sweeping the nation during this presidential election year? In a 1957 speech titled “Give Us The Ballot,” Dr. King spoke bluntly about the need for equal voting rights.

“So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind — it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact — I can only submit to the edict of others.”

Today, let us honor Dr. King by demanding an equal path to the ballot for all Americans. In 1965, we were fighting to get the ballot. Today, it seems, we must demand that we keep it.

November 8, 2011: Election Day. It was a pivotal moment in the history of the city. With over a dozen candidates with diverse backgrounds, allegations of fraud followed by a demand for investigations into the incumbent’s campaign, and incessant press speculation as to the ramifications of ranked-choice voting, all signs pointed to an engaged citizenry poised to make heard their voice in deciding the fate of San Francisco.

Or so it appeared. However, early numbers from the Department of Elections (DOE) showed that a meager 39% of registered voters had exercised their right. This number, of course, represents a still lower percentage of the voting age population.

Then the numbers changed. The percentage of voter turnout slowly inched up, eventually landing at (slightly) more respectable 42.47%. In fact, we could have seen this change coming (many no doubt did). The DOE even issued a press release on November 3, 2011 advising voters that final numbers cannot be available immediately: while unofficial results would be periodically released as more data became available, final election results would be announced by a press release, to be issued no later than December 6, 2011.

This year, official results were released to the public on November 17, 2011. To address concern about the fact that unofficial numbers generally change, John Arntz, the Director of the Department, issued a statement prefacing the results under the befitting heading, “Why Election Results Change After Election Night.” Here, Arntz explains the three main factors which prohibit the DOE from finalizing results on election night: 1) vote-by-mail ballots received on election day; 2) provisional ballots (cast in the face of questions as to the voter’s eligibility, which will be subsequently determined); and 3) write-in votes. These categories seemingly made up about 3.5% of total votes this year.

Given society’s hunger for immediate information, it is no surprise that the DOE churns out what results it has, when it has them. But incomplete numbers can be misleading, and this year is as good a time as any to remember that when it comes to election results, patience is a virtue.

Still, 42% seems pretty low. The volatile economy and obdurately polarized domestic politics indicate that leadership in San Francisco could play a decisive role in determining our direction into the future – but a fateful, if somewhat grave, moment in history seems to have had little persuasive value on 58% of registered voters. Having previously lauded ranked-choice voting on these pages, contemplating this figure I shuddered to ponder if confusion over the new system could possibly have deterred voters. Was turnout this year lower than usual?

In fact, it was rather typical. (Whew.) When Gavin Newsom was elected in 2003, it was with a 45% voter turnout; for his reelection in 2007 that figure was 35%. To find a turnout in a San Francisco mayoral election above 50%, one needs to look back two more cycles to the start of Willie Brown’s term in 1995. This election rang in with just below 52% turnout, which was the highest percentage since incumbent Dianne Feinstein was elected in her own right after serving the remainder of the assassinated George Moscone’s term in 1979 (55% turnout). Mayor Moscone, in turn, was elected the term before with a relatively astounding 72% voter turnout.

This anomalous election aside, however, San Francisco sees its highest turnouts, unsurprisingly, during presidential election years. As the mayoral election has always been off of the presidential cycle, it seems San Francisco will remain unlikely to ride the boon of presidential campaign enthusiasm to spur participation in mayoral elections to come. The League of Women Voters strives to encourage the active participation of the citizenry in government, and it is saddening to see how little store the majority seem to set by their power as voters. Let us recall that democracy begins at home – and home means our neighborhood, our city, and our state, not just our nation. As we conclude our celebration of the Centennial of women’s suffrage in California this December, this election is a wake-up call that the right to vote is also a hard-won privilege; and one best exercised locally, fervently and often.

Natalya DeRobertis-Theye

Candidates for San Francisco’s Mayor, Sheriff, and District Attorney are all over town and on SFGovTV talking in what the politically weary would call soundbites.  With dozens of mayoral candidates, four candidates for Sheriff, and five people vying for the District Attorney position, the format for candidate forums tends toward one-minute response limits.  Mind you, the questions might go on for much longer, particularly the question is posed by a thoughtful, highly verbal constituent.  But responses tend to be restricted to one minute.  What can one glean about a candidate in one minute? 

Quite a lot.  Particularly when the candidates present their public selves in a series of single minutes.  Of course the responses are scripted.  These people have been making their case to the voters for years (that’s you, Phil Ting and Leland Yee) or at least months.  As smart, talented people with experienced advisors, the candidates have developed messaging that is well-tested.  That is good news:  this close to the election, voters are seeing the candidates at their best. 

And how do they sound at their peak?  How consistent are a candidate’s positions in terms of civil liberties?  Compassion?  Who seems to have a sense of the real world (listen to answers to questions about the homeless).  Who understands that fulfilling a City’s responsibilities requires funding (listen to the many – but not all – non-answers to this one).  Who repeatedly emphasizes endorsements and who races to describe extensive, relevant experience before the one-minute Stop sign is raised.  Who answers Yes or No to the lightning round question about your hot-button issue, such as the death penalty or the Chinatown subway.  Note how questions for mayoral candidates are pointed to the men, and decide whether the women should be voiceless and ignored – or that you will look closer at these candidates by spending quality time at their websites or participating in one of their solo-appearance Q&As around the City. 

See for yourself that a one-minute statement can be a meaningful statement, particularly when it is part of a series.  Watch the candidate forums now playing on SFGovTV.  I predict you will develop a sense of the individual candidates as they will perform for San Francisco if elected.  Then delve deeper for those whom you hear may have the City’s best interests at the forefront, all things considered.  Look more closely, too, at those who create a disquieting feeling in you for whatever reason. 

This election – choosing Mayor, Sheriff, and District Attorney – is a defining election given the times we face.   Let’s give however minutes it takes to listen, learn, reflect, and cast an informed vote.  Voter registration ends October 24.  You must re-register if you have moved since the last election.

October 10, 2011 marks the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in California. Needless to say, the League of Women Voters owes everything to the committed women who, one century ago, worked tirelessly and creatively to earn this most basic and essential right.

To honor the occasion, the League of Women Voters of Oakland co-sponsored the Oakland Centennial Suffrage Parade. A team of co-sponsors, organizations, and women and men of all ages gathered Sunday, October 2nd at the Lake Merritt Bandstand for the event. I interviewed my mother, Michelle DeRobertis, a member of the League of Women Voters, Oakland, to learn what the celebration was all about.

League of Women Voters of San Francisco: Why did you want to be a part of the Oakland Centennial Suffrage Parade? What made it special?

Michelle DeRobertis: I wanted to participate due to the historical significance of 100 years of women’s suffrage in our state. It was a particularly appropriate event due to the fact that Oakland, where I’ve lived for thirty years now, was the site of the very first Women’s Suffrage parade in California. On August 23, 1908, 300 women marched down Harrison Street to the Republican National Convention to petition that they include women’s suffrage in their platform. They were turned down.
LWVSF: What a legacy! I understand that the Bay Area as a whole was not very supportive of women’s suffrage at the time?

MD: That’s correct. In fact, despite the early commitment of local Suffragists, in 1911 Alameda County voted against women’s right to vote by a margin of 10,600 – 12,800. San Francisco County also shot it down, 21,900 to 35,600. It is actually the rural counties and Los Angeles County that we have to thank for passage of women’s suffrage in 1911. Apparently, the major cities were concerned that women would enforce prohibition.

LWVSF: And we now know how that noble experiment turned out. What was the crowd like Sunday?

MD: There were a ton of organizations present. The League of Women Voters, of course, but also the American Association of University Women, the Oakland Heritage Alliance, labor organizations, Girl Scouts, some in vintage uniforms, and many more. There really were girls and women of all ages. Many women were dressed in period clothing to honor the original Suffragists, complete with the iconic purple sashes. There were quite a few men as well.

LWVSF: Who were the speakers and distinguished guests?

MD: There were quite a few female elected officials many of whom gave brief speeches. Congresswoman Barbara Lee from California’s 9th District, Mayor Jean Quan of Oakland, California Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, and Oakland Councilmembers Jane Brunner and Libby Schaff. They were proud to announce that women are now a majority of Oakland’s City Councilmembers! I think that having this many successful women politicians present was so inspiring to all of the young girls there. Nate Miley, President of the Alameda County Supervisors, also spoke to show his support on behalf of his sex.

LWVSF: How was the parade?

MD: We marched down Grand Ave., complete with a motorized cable car to escort those unable to walk and excited children. After returning to the band stand, the guests were invited to the Veteran’s Memorial House for a traditional Ice Cream Social, underwritten by Assemblymember Skinner and Oakland’s own Fenton’s Ice Cream.

LWVSF: My lifelong favorite. How fun. Do you think that it is important that we celebrate the milestones of women’s suffrage?

MD: Absolutely. And I think that the lesson to take from the entire occasion is a reminder of just how difficult it was for women to earn this most basic right. There was one man at the parade in period dress with a sign reading: “DANGER: Women’s Suffrage is a Menace to the Home and Men’s Jobs!” This not only added historical flavor, but it served as a reminder of what the Suffragists were up against. Although we take it for granted now, the right to vote is a right for which our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and for the younger generation, great-great-grandmothers, really had to fight. It was also an appropriate time to be reminded that the Equal Rights Amendment has still not passed. It reads simply, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States of by any state on account of sex.” So although there is much to celebrate, the fight continues.

LWVSF: Thanks, Mom.

Natalya DeRobertis-Theye

(This interview has been edited and condensed)

Headlines around the world this week announced that women in Saudi Arabia will finally be granted the right to vote—in 2015. Waiting four years to have a chance to vote in municipal elections does not seem a huge victory to California women who have had the vote in local elections for 100 years. It is a step toward democracy, but how much will it change life for women in Saudi Arabia? As all of the news stories have been reporting, they are still not allowed to drive a car and cannot venture outside their home without a male relative to chaperon them. Will having a limited vote (when it finally comes in 2015) change Saudi women’s lives? Since its beginnings, the League of Women Voters has concentrated on the importance of women using their vote to change their societies, but the organization does not have blind faith that voting is the only route to democracy. The New York Times reported last week that faith in the power of voting is dimming in many countries as young people see that true democracy does not necessarily occur because people can vote. To truly bring democracy, a society must listen to the voices of all its citizens and ensure that democracy is protected in local, regional, and national governments.

One of the most valuable programs the League runs is the Global Democracy Program which, over the years, has brought together groups from all over the world to work with League members in promoting true democracy on a global scale. As explained on the League’s website:

The Global Democracy Program is the League of Women Voters’ program for activists and nongovernmental organizations worldwide. Working with groups abroad to increase their voice in stressing transparency, accountability, and good governance in their societies, the League assists in expanding community influence in public policy-making processes while helping citizens build leadership skills through interactive, hands-on training and citizen exchange programs.

Through this program, the League has sponsored exchange trips to countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Countries as different as Azerbaijan, Russia, Tajikistan, Colombia and Brazil have been visited by groups of League members who meet with grassroots organizations and nonprofit groups to discuss ways to solve various social problems. This year the League expanded  action to North Africa and representatives met with women’s political organizations in Cairo and Alexandria in anticipation of the November 2011 elections.

It is not just League members who are junketing around the world.  Groups from many of these countries have also been hosted on trips to the United States where they stay in members’ homes and are given the opportunity to observe and participate in local civic and government groups.  They have opportunities to meet with academics, lawyers, municipal leaders, and journalists to exchange ideas about how grassroots democracy can be nurtured and how women throughout the world can be encouraged to assume leadership positions.

As we read the news from overseas and hear more about the growth of democracy in parts of the world where it has been in short supply, it is nice to know that the League has been a part of the effort. Women in Saudi Arabia may still be denied the right to drive, but at least the world is inching forward. As the League’s familiar motto says, “Democracy is not a spectator sport”. Even though most of our work may be concentrated on local elections and regional concerns, it is important for us to remember that we are also part of a global movement struggling to make life better for all people. So today let’s salute our sisters in Saudi Arabia and cheer their efforts to move toward freedom—it’s a long road, but at least they are headed in the right direction.