On Monday, February 5, at 2PM, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
will meet to discuss whether or not to place an initiative on the
November Ballot to create a Municipal Utilities District. This is a
good idea, although way overdue. The fact of the matter is that our
electricity bills are going to go up by 9-11% this month, and could
go up by as much as 90% by next January, which is when this
initiative will go into effect, should it pass at all.

However, the Board of Supervisors COULD act right now to lower our
power bills by as much as 40%. They would have to declare a state of
emergency in San Francisco and use eminent domain laws to take over
the distribution system presently operated by PG&E. Then electricity
could be provided directly to San Franciso form the Hetch Hetchy Dam.

Something that not everyone knows is that there are already consumers
who get their electricity directly from Hetch Hetchy at 40% less than
the rest of us. These consumers are Downtown big businesses.

You can make a difference by joining the members of Socialist
Alternative and the Campaign for Public Power now at the Board of
Supervisors this Monday, to support the MUD initiative but also
demand more immediate action in the form of declaring a state of
emergency, taking over the PG&E distribution system, and working with
an elected committee of PG&E workers and consumers to provide public
power to San Francisco.

PLEASE RESPOND AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME. WE WILL MEET MONDAY,
2/5, AT 1:45 PM AT THE CARLETON B. GOODLETT PLACE ENTRANCE OF CITY
HALL.

Thanks,

Abel

--- Garrett Jenkins <garrettjenkins@...> wrote:
> Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 10:17:08 -0800
> Subject: Press Advisory-SOMA HOUSING
> From: "Garrett Jenkins" <garrettjenkins@...>
> To: SF_DISTRICT6@..., TAC_SF@...,
> DISTRICT6INSANFRANCISOC@EGROUPS.COM
>
> PRESS ADVISORY
>
> CONTACT:
> Garrett Jenkins, Chair
> S.F. Neighborhoods Alliance for Political Awareness
> Neighborhoods Advisory Council to the Mayor of San
> Francisco
> 415/820-7525
>
>
> BELOW MARKET HOUSING PROGRAM IN JEOPARDY
> SOUTH OF MARKET STAKEHOLDERS FEAR LOSING THEIR HOMES
> TO CORPORATE RESIDENTS
> AND INVESTORS
>
> San Francisco, Feb 2 – The Neighborhoods Alliance
> for Political Awareness
> will hold a press conference this Friday after
> conducting a briefing
> for Mayor Brown on affordable housing issues.  The
> press conference will
> be held outside the Mayor’s office on the second
> floor of City Hall after
> the briefing at approximately 6:15 PM on Friday,
> February 2nd.
>
> The Alliance is asking the Mayor to increase
> stability for tenants in
> affordable housing programs by directing program
> managers to avoid large
> and sudden rent increases and rules changes that
> would bring about displacement.
>  The group also wants the City to ensure affordable
> housing programs
> are maintained on a long-term basis.
>
> The Alliance will cite the Below Market Rate (BMR)
> Program at Rincon
> Center as a once model program that is going bad.
> More than half of
> the apartments are now being removed from the
> program that is only 11
> years old.  Rincon tenants are also protesting new
> rules and regulations
> that are suddenly jeopardizing their homes.  They
> were specifically promised
> by those implementing the program that the program
> provided stability
> and rules would not change.
>
> David Osgood, a spokesman for the Rincon Tenants
> Association, said tenants
> object to new owners being able to change the rules
> under which residents
> keep their homes.  “After all,” Osgood said, “the
> center could have been
> sold three months after it opened.  It could be sold
> again three months
> from now.  Tenants cannot be wondering if they are
> going to be forced
> out every time some new out-of-town corporation
> invests in the place.”
>
> Rincon Center was developed and originally owned by
> Perini Construction
> and Tutor-Saliba.  It then went to Citicorp.  The
> current owners include
> the Blackstone Group, based in New York, and
> Glenborough Realty Trust
> of San Mateo.  The BMR Program was designed by and
> is administered with
> the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency.
>
> Additional information about the Rincon program is
> available at www.davidosgood.com/rincon
> # # #
>
>
>
> --
> Garrett Jenkins
> garrettjenkins@... - email
> (415) 820-7525 - voicemail/fax
>
>


=====
ALLIANCE FOR A BETTER DISTRICT 6
P.O. Box 420782; San Francisco, CA 94142-0782
(415) 820-1560 Voice/Fax
http://www.geocities.com/sf_district6/
a non-partisan, not for profit, civic education organization devoted to
increasing low and very low income particpation in elections and government, is
conducting voter education in various neighborhoods of District 6.

__________________________________________________
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35
a year!  http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Hey Abel, what a great idea! I cannot make it on Monday but I want to be
involved in the campaign. So please keep me posted of future actions. thanks

Nancy Ippolito
----- Original Message -----
From: <abelmouton@...>
To: <FrontlinesNewspaper@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 3:04 PM
Subject: [FrontlinesNewspaper] SF Supervisors to Tackle MUD Initiative on
Monday 2/5


>
>
> On Monday, February 5, at 2PM, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
> will meet to discuss whether or not to place an initiative on the
> November Ballot to create a Municipal Utilities District. This is a
> good idea, although way overdue. The fact of the matter is that our
> electricity bills are going to go up by 9-11% this month, and could
> go up by as much as 90% by next January, which is when this
> initiative will go into effect, should it pass at all.
>
> However, the Board of Supervisors COULD act right now to lower our
> power bills by as much as 40%. They would have to declare a state of
> emergency in San Francisco and use eminent domain laws to take over
> the distribution system presently operated by PG&E. Then electricity
> could be provided directly to San Franciso form the Hetch Hetchy Dam.
>
> Something that not everyone knows is that there are already consumers
> who get their electricity directly from Hetch Hetchy at 40% less than
> the rest of us. These consumers are Downtown big businesses.
>
> You can make a difference by joining the members of Socialist
> Alternative and the Campaign for Public Power now at the Board of
> Supervisors this Monday, to support the MUD initiative but also
> demand more immediate action in the form of declaring a state of
> emergency, taking over the PG&E distribution system, and working with
> an elected committee of PG&E workers and consumers to provide public
> power to San Francisco.
>
> PLEASE RESPOND AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME. WE WILL MEET MONDAY,
> 2/5, AT 1:45 PM AT THE CARLETON B. GOODLETT PLACE ENTRANCE OF CITY
> HALL.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Abel
>
>
>
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: FrontlinesNewspaper@egroups.com
> Subscribe:
> FrontlinesNewspaper-subscribe@egroups.com
> Unsubscribe:
> FrontlinesNewspaper-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> URL to this page: http://www.egroups.com/group/FrontlinesNewspaper
>
> To read the latest issue of the SF Frontlines newspaper, go to:
> www.sf-frontlines.com
>
> INVITE A FRIEND TO THE LIST!
>
>
>
>
>

In a message dated 2/3/01 8:07:49 PM, abelmouton@... writes:

<< LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME >>

Abel - I don't think this item is on the agenda until Feb. 12th. - Doug

Yes, as I discovered today. Nonetheless, Eight people came to support this proposal and five of them spoke during the public comment in favor of it. Can you come next Monday?

Abel

From: Doug Comstock

Altho I was out of town yesterday and couldn't make the meeting, please
include me in your email updates.
What was the outcome of yesterday's meeting?

jlh
-----Original Message-----
From: abelmouton@... <abelmouton@...>
To: FrontlinesNewspaper@yahoogroups.com
<FrontlinesNewspaper@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Saturday, February 03, 2001 7:40 PM
Subject: [FrontlinesNewspaper] SF Supervisors to Tackle MUD Initiative on
Monday 2/5


>
>
>On Monday, February 5, at 2PM, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
>will meet to discuss whether or not to place an initiative on the
>November Ballot to create a Municipal Utilities District. This is a
>good idea, although way overdue. The fact of the matter is that our
>electricity bills are going to go up by 9-11% this month, and could
>go up by as much as 90% by next January, which is when this
>initiative will go into effect, should it pass at all.
>
>However, the Board of Supervisors COULD act right now to lower our
>power bills by as much as 40%. They would have to declare a state of
>emergency in San Francisco and use eminent domain laws to take over
>the distribution system presently operated by PG&E. Then electricity
>could be provided directly to San Franciso form the Hetch Hetchy Dam.
>
>Something that not everyone knows is that there are already consumers
>who get their electricity directly from Hetch Hetchy at 40% less than
>the rest of us. These consumers are Downtown big businesses.
>
>You can make a difference by joining the members of Socialist
>Alternative and the Campaign for Public Power now at the Board of
>Supervisors this Monday, to support the MUD initiative but also
>demand more immediate action in the form of declaring a state of
>emergency, taking over the PG&E distribution system, and working with
>an elected committee of PG&E workers and consumers to provide public
>power to San Francisco.
>
>PLEASE RESPOND AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME. WE WILL MEET MONDAY,
>2/5, AT 1:45 PM AT THE CARLETON B. GOODLETT PLACE ENTRANCE OF CITY
>HALL.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Abel
>
>
>
>
>Addresses:
>Post message: FrontlinesNewspaper@egroups.com
>Subscribe:
>FrontlinesNewspaper-subscribe@egroups.com
>Unsubscribe:
>FrontlinesNewspaper-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>URL to this page: http://www.egroups.com/group/FrontlinesNewspaper
>
>To read the latest issue of the SF Frontlines newspaper, go to:
>www.sf-frontlines.com
>
>INVITE A FRIEND TO THE LIST!
>
>
>
>
>

Communique' from the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee -
General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
Mexico.

January 24, 2001.

To the People of Mexico:
To the Peoples and Governments of the World:

Brothers and sisters:

The CCRI-CG of the EZLN is releasing the details of the route it will be
following to Mexico City during the months of February and March, 2001. As
you will see, the route will take in the territory of 2 more states of the
federation: Guanajuato and Guerrero. This is at the express request of
organizations and groups from those states. For the same reason, the
arrival dates in the Federal District have been changed.

These are the dates and points of the zapatista delegation's travels during
their trip for the constitutional recognition of indigenous rights and
culture:

Saturday, February 24, 2001. - Gathering of zapatista delegates in the
city of San Cristo'bal de Las Casas, Chiapas.

Sunday, February 25, 2001. - The zapatista delegation leaves San Cristo'bal
de Las Casas, Chiapas, heading towards the city of Juchita'n, Oaxaca. It
will pass through Tuxtla Gutie'rrez, Tapanatepec and La Ventosa. Central
event in Juchita'n, Oaxaca. The delegates will spend the night in this
city.

Monday, February 26, 2001. - The zapatista leave Juchita'n, Oaxaca, heading
towards the state capital. They will pass through Tehuantepec and Villa de
Mitla (crossroads). Central event in Oaxaca, Oaxaca. They will spend the
night in this city.

Tuesday, February 27, 2001. - The zapatista delegation leaves Oaxaca,
Oaxaca, heading towards the city of Puebla, Puebla. They will pass through
Tehuaca'n (Puebla) and Orizaba (Veracruz). Central event in Puebla, Puebla.
They will spend the night in some, as yet unconfirmed, community, close to
this city.

Wednesday, February 28, 2001. - The zapatista delegation leaves Puebla,
Puebla, heading towards the municipality of Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo. They
will pass through Tlaxcala (Tlaxcala), Emiliano Zapata (Hidalgo), Ciudad
Sahagu'n (Hidalgo), Pachuca (Hidalgo), Actopan (Hidalgo), Francisco I.
Madero (Hidalgo), Tepatepec (Hidalgo). Central event in Ixmiquilpan,
Hidalgo. The delegates will spend the night in the community of Tephe',
municipality of Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo.

Thursday, March 1, 2001. - The delegates leave Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo,
heading towards the Purepecha community of Nurio, Michoaca'n. They will
pass through Quere'taro (Quere'taro), Aca'mbaro (Guanajuato), Zinape'cuaro
(Michoaca'n), Morelia (Michoaca'n), Patzcuaro (Michoaca'n) and Uruapan
(Michoaca'n). Central event in Nurio (Michoaca'n). The delegates will spend
the night in this community.

Friday, March 2, 2001. - The EZLN delegation will participate in the work
of the 3rd National Indigenous Congress in Nurio, Michoaca'n.

Saturday, March 3, 2001. - The EZLN delegation will participate in the
work of the 3rd National Indigenous Congress in Nurio, Michoaca'n.

Sunday, March 4, 2001. - The EZLN delegation will participate in the work
of the 3rd National Indigenous Congress in Nurio, Michoaca'n.

Monday, March 5, 2001. - The delegates leave Nurio, Michoaca'n, heading
towards the city of Toluca, in the State of Mexico. They will pass through
Morelia (Michoaca'n) and Zita'cuaro (Michoaca'n). They will spend the night
in an as yet unconfirmed community in the Toluca Valley.

Tuesday, March 6, 2001. - The zapatista delegation will leave Toluca,
heading towards Tepoztla'n, Morelos. They will pass through Cuernavaca
(Morelos). The delegation will spend the night in Tepoztla'n, Morelos.

Wednesday, March 7, 2001. - The EZLN delegation leaves Cuautla, Morelos,
heading towards the city of Iguala, Guerrero. Central event in Iguala,
Guerrero. The delegates will return to spend the night in Cuautla,
Morelos.

Thursday, March 8, 2001. - The EZLN delegation leaves Cuautla, Morelos,
following the route of Emiliano Zapata, heading towards Milpa Alta, in the
Federal District. Central event in Milpa Alta, DF. The delegation will
spend the night in Milpa Alta, DF.

Friday, March 9, 2001. - The zapatista delegates will remain in Milpa
Alta, DF.

Saturday, March 10, 2001. - The zapatista delegation will travel to
Xochimilco, DF.

Sunday, March 11, 2001. - The EZLN delegation will make their entrance
into Mexico City. Details of the route will be made available later.
Central event in the Zo'calo of Mexico City.

THE ZAPATISTA DELEGATION'S SCHEDULE IN MEXICO CITY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
LATER.

Democracy!

Liberty!

Justice!

  >From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast.
By the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee -
General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.
Mexico, January of 2001.

IS THERE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN MUD AND THE DEMAND FOR AN STATE OF EMERGENCY?

Introduction to the Debate:

Don Eichelberger, from the Green Party, sent us a letter trying to convince us
that the fight for MUD initiative to be put on the ballot is in opposition to
the demand for the Board of Supervisors to declare an immediate state of
emergency to solve the present energy crisis and protect workers at the
utilities and consumers.

There is not such a contradiction.  The MUD initiative will be on the ballot -
luckily - on the next November, 2001 ballot.  We ALL support that as the first
step in creating the conditions for Public Ownership of the utilities.  On the
other hand, we are experiencing an energy crisis that needs immediate action and
cannot wait until the November vote, followed by a period of a year or two of
discussions, public forums and implementation.

Following is the letter from Don interspersed with our response:

Don:

All-

The board of supes will vote on the MUD initiative on Monday, 2/12.
Everyone should be there to support that vote.

Frontlines:

We'll be there!

Don:

As for declaring an emergency, etc., that is a whole different tack that
has been considered by the coalition that has been working on this MUD
initiative for many months and are now close to finally getting the
initistive on the ballot. It is dangerous at this point to change tactics,
even though it seems crucial to do so soon.

Frontlines:

The coalition working on MUD, or at least the majority of its members understand
and support the proposal to demand the utilization of the state of emergency and
public domain to take immediate action against the blackmail tactics of PG&E and
the rate increases and the nergy crisis now being suffered by all workers and
consumers. They saw and do not see any contradiction between support for MUD and
the declaration of an state of emergency.

Don:

Doing this could open a lot of new challengeds and delays, and would not
likely be done overnight, as implied.

Frontlines:

This does not clarifies anything, but is an attempt to confuse the issues.  MUD
is one thing and should be voted and put on the ballot.  The declaration of an
emergency and the utilization of the public domain can and should be dealt as an
action in a paralell track.

Nobody stated that "could be done overnight" and the objections and delays that
can provoke - from PG&E and its political servants, no doubt - will have NO
EFFECT on the process of the ballot initiative on MUD.  The objection from Don,
trying to counterpose one against the other is an usual and damaging scare
tactic of those lacking or protecting those lacking (elected officials) the
political will TO FIGHT AND RESOLVE the questions at hand.

Don:

We have almost got an initiative on the ballot, and this is rare for the
thirty year fight in this city for public power.  Let's not jeopardize all
the hard work that has gotten us to this point.  There is new enabling
legislation on the horizon that aims to make establishing MUDs easier, and
we are watching for that as a possible way to speed the process.

Frontlines:

Again the scare tactics based on missinformation.  MUD will be on the ballot and
will follow its own track. The majority on the Board is there to do so and, in
the worst case scenario, there are already more than 4 Supervisors (the minimum
required)committeed to put the initiative on the ballot anyway. This will not,
and could not, be jeopardized in any way, shape or form by the demand on the
Board of Supervisors to declare an energy state of emergency and use public
domain laws to take over PG&E installations and guarantee jobs and the delivery
of energy.

Nobody, except Don, is proposing to counterpose one proposal with the other.
What the coalition and others are saying is that MUD should be combined with
that we should demand the immediate declaration of an energy state of emergency
and the taking over the PG&E utilities to guarantee a) the jobs of workers now
on the line; b) the uninterrupted provision of energy to consumers and c)the
squash of the recent rate increases AND future increases - now being planned.

Don:

Meanwhile, let's make the best decisions we can for the long term struggles
that lay ahead.

Frontlines:

The coalition already voted and took a decision democratically on demanding
action from the Board of Supervisors BOTH on the issue of MUD AND the
declaration of an state of emergency.  Don spoke and voted against at the
coalition and lost. His rationale and that of others was not to put the
Supervisors in a position to take these "radical" positions (State of Emergency)
knowing damn well that this is not that radical and that even Mayor Frank Jordan
(who nobody could accuse of being "radical" used it to cinrcunvent state laws
around health issues.

Now, he is trying to CHANGE a resolution democratically adopted.  Not a good
example for those of us who fight for a democratic control of the political
process and doesn't fit very well with the Green Party's and Don's rethoric of
defending grassroot democracy.

By the way, Don and other members of the coalition opposed a proposal to include
workers at PG&E in the democratic control of the utilities in favor of consumers
and working families.  Unfortunately that proposal was defeated at the
coalition, but promises to become a source of debate in the near future.

We would like to also point out the Guardian, a supporter of MUD, is now saying
publicly that they are not in favor of taking over PG&E installations if public
ownership is achieved, but that they would consider PAYING PG&E or building NEW
distribution lines.  The Guardian and other supporters of MUD - with whom we
would agree in that campaign - are nonetheless AGAINST democratic control of the
utilities by workers of the utilities and elected representatives of the working
class consumers. No surprise here is one takes into consideration the union
busting practices of Bruce Brugman, owner of the Guardian.

Of course, while fighting together for MUD, Frontlines and others will continue
supporting the municipalization WITHOUT compensation of PG&E and other utilities
(their expenses were long ago offset by their huge profits) and for
workers/working class consumers control of those utilities.

Let's go massively to the Board of Supervisors next Monday. February 12 and
demand both the placing on the ballot of the MUD initiative AND  the declaration
of an energy state of emergency.


Frontlines Staff

Comments welcome:

progress@...

it's scheduled for 2/12 and i suspect will pass overwhelmingly but ain't
no state of emergency going to lower rates by any percentage Mr. Abel
Moulton's fantasies notwithstanding.

aaron

Frontlines comments:  Supervisor Aaron Peskin is obviously wrong.  The State of
Emergency can be used to lower our rates.  But at least we know what side he is
on this issue.

NextArts Foundation
www.NextArts.org
P.O. Box 192425
San Francisco, California 94119


For Immediate Release
February 9, 2001

Justin Herman Plaza
Free Concert and Art Festival
February 25, 2001
12Noon-6PM

Line-up:
Deborah Pardes
!Tang
Solstingr
The Sick
Swarm

Visual Arts by Joe Mama & Fireflies, Hoola King Louie and many more.

Over 10 local artists and exhibitors will display their work.

Background:

	 Given the current real estate market and the closure of so many artist
studios and performance spaces, the ability for artists and performers to
display their work to the general public has reached a low that is
unprecedented in our City's history.  The NextArts Foundation endeavors to
fill this gap by providing public venues and the equipment necessary at no
cost for outreach.

	 NextArts strives to find only the best of San Francisco's burgeoning
talent, and then empowers these artists and performers to reach their
audience.


Media Contact:  Anthony Imperial/ Casey Moreno (415) 468-7694
General Information:  NextArts (415) 468-7694
Our Fax:  (415) 508-0311

> > Virus Alert
> >
> > Do not open any e-mail with the subject Here you
> have, ;o), or launch the
> > attachment AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs. Delete any such
> messages immediately.
> >
>
__________________________________________________________________
> >
> > If you receive an e-mail with the subject field
> Here you have, ;o), do not
> open
> > it. An attachment entitled AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs
> contains a worm (virus)
> > program that will clog e-mail systems with
> thousands of messages. Please
> delete
> > the message at once without opening it or
> launching the attachment.
> >
> > Health Canada is not currently protected from this
> worm through our
> anti-virus
> > software, so you as a user need to be the first
> level of defence by not
> opening
> > this file.
> >
> >
> > Virus Characteristics:
> > This is a  mass-mailing worm/virus which comes in
> an e-mail with
> > the following characteristics:
> >
> > subject:       Here you have, ;o)
> > text:          Hi: Check This!
> > attachment:    AnnaKournikova

__________________________________________________
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A DISTINCT LACK OF CLASS

Thank you for the wonderful publicity confirming my
assessment of Frederick Hobson.  Anyone who would
reveal a vote from a secret ballot box must be
possessed of even less moral character than even I
imagined. So be it.

I did vote for Chris Dittenhafter -- not because I
actually supported him but to deny Chris Daly the
endorsement, since I assessed Daly to be my chief
rival in the race for a seat on the Board.  I was
confronted by Robert Haaland and Bill Barnes about my
vote and I did not deny it but evaded, regrettably,
giving a positive answer.

However, when the crucial vote came in December
run-off, Chris Daly got my vote unequivocally.

In retrospect -- and to be perfectly frank, -- I
should have known better than to vote at all in a
"democratic club" specifically set up to back Chris
Dittenhafter.

Frederick Hobson manipulated the endorsement vote so
that Daly did not even get one vote!  There was only
Daly and Dittenhafter on the ballot.  Even the
representative from the League of Women Voters was
shocked that she was a party to the count -- and she
swore never again to be a part of any of Hobson's
sleazy manipulations.

Mr. Murphy, your convoluted description of my proxy
letter in order to call me a liar actually missed the
whole point of my intent.

I trust your readers to understand that my ultimate
goal is to warn Supervisor Daly to be wary in his
dealings with Frederick Hobson and his pals of similar
dubious character and motivation.

This will be my last word on the subject!


Denise D'Anne



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Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
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Patrick Murphy,

I just do not believe the ideas you want people  to
believe.  First, the letter that Denise D’Anne
authored implies that Mr. Hobson (AKA District 6
Democrats and Miss Kitty) behavior is unwarranted and
reflects badly on those associated with him.

Mr. Hobson is quoted as leaving disturbing phone
messages. It seems Patrick Murphy is evading this
issue and leaving  Mr. Hobson (AKA District 6
Democrats and Miss Kitty) untouched.  Get real Mr.
Murphy, why did you leave out Joe O’ Donoghue’s name
off of the list of Mardi Gras Celebration sponsors
you published? Why, are you so quick to attack another
community leader such as Denise D’Anne?

And of course let’s not forget to mention the fact
that you (Patrick Murphy) will be attending this
fundraiser at no charge.

John Nulty
John33sf@...


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Susan:

It seems it coulsd be correct. Looking in the
phonebook the phone number and address belong to:

Stanley Hilton, Law Office
580 California
(415) 439-4893

-Michael

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
--- Susan Bryan <suerose@...> wrote:
> From: "Susan Bryan" <suerose@...>
> To: NOMPC@..., lindamarie@...,
> sf_district6@...
> Subject: Fwd: (events 4/1) S.F. LANDLORDS' UNION
> MEETING TO REVOKE SF RENT CONTROL STATUTE
> Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 18:44:14
>
> Is this for 'real'?  Check it out but note
> the date.    Susan Bryan
>
>
> >From: froggg@...
> >To: craigslist.org community people
> <nobody@...>
> >Subject: (events 4/1) S.F. LANDLORDS' UNION MEETING
> TO REVOKE SF RENT
> >CONTROL STATUTE
> >Date: 10 Mar 2001 18:20:43 -0000
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >ON APRIL 1, 2001 AT 5 PM AT 580 CALIFORNIA ST.,
> SUITE 500, SAN FRANCISCO,
> >THE SF LANDLORDS UNION WILL MEET ON APRIL 1 AT 5 PM
> AT 580 CALIFORNIA ST.,
> >SUITE 500, SF.  OUR PURPOSE IS TO ORGANIZE
> POLITICALLY AND LEGALLY TO SEEK
> >TO OVERTURN  THE SF RENT CONTROL STATUTE.  A CLASS
> ACTION LAWSUIT IS BEING
> >MOUNTED TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE
> STATUTE, AND WE SEEK A
> >PETITION CAMPAIGN TO BRING TO A VOTE ON THE
> NOVEMBER BALLOT (PROPOSITION)
> >TO REPEAL  THE RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 37
> OF SF ADMIN. CODE.,
> >SIMILAR TO BERKELEY'S RECENMT REPEAL OF THEIR  RENT
> CONTROL LAW.
> >
> >IN THE MEETING WE WILL EXCHANGE IDEAS AND ORGANIZE
> TO GET RID OF THIS
> >UNCONSTITUTIONAL, ILLEGAL  LENINIST ORDINANCE WHICH
> VIOLATES OUR RIGHTS AS
> >LANDLORDS, DENIES US EQUAL PROTECTION AND DUE
> PROCESS AND DEPRIVES US OF
> >USE OF OUR PROPERTY WHILE SERVING NO VALID PUBLIC
> PURPOSE EXCEPT TO
> >BNROWN-NOSE THE TENANTS UNION.
> >
> >LANDLORDS ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN TENANTS,M YET WE
> HAVE DSTOOD BY TOO LONG
> >ALND LET THESE PARASIOTES ORGANIZE AS "TENANTS
> UNION," TO LOBBY POLITICOS,
> >TWIST THE FACTS AND PUT TENANTS IN A POSITION FAR
> SUPERIOR TO LANDLORDS.
> >  A MASTER TENANT CAN CHARGE ANY AMOUNT OF RENT TO
> HIS ROOMATES OR
> >SUBTENANTS, WHILE WE LANDLORDS ARE RESTRICTED TO A
> 2.7% ANNUAL INCREASE. IS
> >THAT RIGHT? IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT TO STAND FOR?
> BEING A PATSY SO LOCAL
> >LENINIST POLITICOS CAN SUCK UP TO THE TENANTS
> UNION?
> >
> >LETY US ORGANIZE AND UNITE TO FIGHT
> >FOR DETAILS CONTACT DR.  SG HILTON, ESQ., PRESIDENT
> OF SF LANDLORDS UNION,
> >AT  PHONE 415 439 4893
> >E MAIL ---   FROGGG@...
> >FAX 650 738 9483
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >phone 415 439 4893
> >
> >fax 650 738 9483
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or
> other commercial
> >interests
> >
> >
> >this is in or around 580 CALIFORNIA ST SUITE 500
> SAN FRANCISCO CA
> >
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> >
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To all our readers:

In the last few days we posted a number of new World's Reports.
Among them, the following:

24 March Where's the Cash in Global Warming?
24 March When bubbles burst
24 March Ukraine's gangster capitalists
24 March Problems for Jospin
24 March Scotland's March Against Drugs
21 March Kabila Jr Means Business for Western Powers
21 March Nice Aftershocks]
22 March How can capitalism be successfully overthrown?
21 March   MANDY RABIN of Maavak Sozialisti (CWI Israel) reports
21 March The warmonger returns
21 March Philippines rising
21 March SriLanka Vote Rigging and Violence
21 March Sweden's EU Protests

To read them, go to our online edition at:

www.sf-frontlines.com

and push the "World's Report" button

Enjoy them!

Frontlines Staff

To all Our Readers:

New Top Story at SF Frontlines online edition!

Kuk Dong Workers Establish Independent Union
Mexican Workers Exploited by Nike, Reebok

To read it, please go to: www.sf-frontlines.com

Enjoy it!

SF Frontlines Staff

Speak Out presents
An Evening of Art and Politics
Howard Zinn
in conversation with poet Aya de Leon
With Special Guests
Actor Brian Jones reincarnated as Karl Marx
and National Slam Champion Alix Olson

Friday, April 20, 2001, 7:30 p.m.
King Middle School
1781 Rose St. North Berkeley

Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Student group rates available. Call Speak Out for details. (510) 601-0182

For Advance tickets EAST BAY: Cody's, Black Oak, Diesel, Global
Exchange store, Walden Pond
SAN FRANCISCO: Global Exchange store, Modern Times
For tickets by mail: Send check or money order payable to Speak Out to
PO Box 99096, Emeryville CA 94662

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speak Out also invites you to a pre-event Dinner Reception with
Howard Zinn
at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. @ Ceder, Berkeley.
Friday, April 20, 2001 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm
RSVP required -Space is Limited. Call (510) 601-0182
Cost is $50 which includes dinner and a ticket to the event at King
Middle School .
Get up close and personal with one of our country's most beloved historians,
enjoy savory Brazilian dishes with a no-host bar and
help raise seed money for the People's History Exhibit,
a project to create a traveling mobile museum based on Howard Zinn's classic,
"A People's History of the United States."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What can I say that will in any way convey the love, respect, and admiration I
feel for this unassuming hero who was my teacher and mentor; this radical
historian and people-loving 'troublemaker'... Howard Zinn was the best teacher I
ever had, and the funniest."
			 - Alice Walker

If you want to read a real history book, read Howard Zinn's A
People's History of the United States. That book will knock you on
your ass."
			 - Actor Matt Damon in the film "Good Will Hunting"

"Movements have always been given enormous stimulus and inspiration
by art and artists."
			 - Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn is one of our country's most beloved and respected historians, a
playwright  and a passionate activist for radical change.  He is the author of
numerous books including the classic,  A People's History of United States,
which has gone into more than 25 printings. His recent works include You Can't
Be Neutral on a Moving Train, The Zinn Reader, and The Future of History. He has
also written three plays, Emma, Unsafe Distances and Marx in Soho all of which
merge art and politics.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Speak Out is the country's only national not-for-profit organization
that promotes progressive speakers and artists on campuses and in
communities nationwide. Committed to social, political, cultural and
economic justice, Speak Out encourages critical and imaginative
thinking about domestic and international issues through artistic and
educational forums. Speak Out works with 200 speakers and artists who
represent the breadth of social movements as well as
critically-acclaimed exhibits and films which inform and empower
young people to take action for positive  social change.
For a complete listing, send us your full mailing address.
Speak Out 	                   Phone: (510) 601-0182
P.O. Box 99096                           Fax:   (510) 601-0183
Emeryville CA 94662                  Email: speakout@...
On the Web: http://www.speakersandartists.org

Hold the date! Spread the Word! Sorry for any cross-postings...

Speak Out and the University of San Francisco present
the award-winning motion picture
"Follow Me Home"
Followed by a post-screening discussion with the film's
director-writer Peter Bratt

WHEN: Thursday, May 10, 2001, 7:00 pm
WHERE: Galaxy Theatre, 1285 Sutter @ Van Ness, San Francisco CA
TICKETS: $7 Youth and Students; $10 General Public
To benefit the People's History Exhibit, a project to create a
traveling mobile museum based on Howard Zinn's classic book, "A
People's History of the United States."

ABOUT FOLLOW ME HOME
* WINNER Best Feature Film Audience Award 1996 S.F. International Film Festival
* OFFICIAL SELECTION 1996 Sundance Film Festival
* BEST DIRECTOR 1996 American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco
Starring Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Steve Reevis
and Calvin Levels.

PETER BRATT (Quechua) wrote and directed  FOLLOW ME HOME, a defiant,
humorous, poetic tale exploring race and identity in America while
embracing Native, Latino and African spiritural dimensions. The
full-length feature film tells the story of four artists (Benjamin
Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Steve Reevis and Calvin Levels) and their
journey across the American landscape. They are joined by Evey (Alfre
Woodard), an enigmatic African American woman on a journey of her own.

"Few American films, past or present, are as important or powerful as
Follow Me Home...a work of genius."
          	 - Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize and American Book
Award-winning author

"This is an incredible movie: The first American film emerging direct
from the heart and the headset of the New American Majority."
        	  - June Jordan, award-winning African American poet, essayist
& political activist

"Follow Me Home is a dazzling film that not only confronts the
nightmare of today's dehumanized,  racist society, but also suggests
how we might build a different world."
	 - Elizabeth Martinez, award-winning Chicana writer, activist
& professor

""Follow Me Home is a wonderful gift...it is a breathtaking journey
through the present, the past and toward the future...to whatever
extent 'American" fits into--or collides with--your identity, you
must see this film."
	 - Angela Y. Davis, author, activist, professor

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Speak Out is the country's only national not-for-profit organization
that promotes progressive speakers and artists on campuses and in
communities nationwide. Committed to social, political, cultural and
economic justice, Speak Out encourages critical and imaginative
thinking about domestic and international issues through artistic and
educational forums. Speak Out works with 200 speakers and artists who
represent the breadth of social movements as well as
critically-acclaimed exhibits and films which inform and empower
young people to take action for positive  social change.
For a complete listing, send us your full mailing address.
Speak Out 	                   Phone: (510) 601-0182
P.O. Box 99096                           Fax:   (510) 601-0183
Emeryville CA 94662                  Email: speakout@...
On the Web: http://www.speakersandartists.org

To all our readers:

We just posted a new top story, THE POWER CRISIS DEEPENS, by Abel
Mouton.  To see the whole story, go to www.sf-frontlines.com

This is just the introduction to the article:


POWER CRISIS DEEPENS
By Abel Mouton

On March 19, 2001, electricity was withheld from hundreds of
thousands of Californians. The rolling blackouts represent millions
of dollars in lost wages to workers in the state. The blackouts
hampered the operation of schools and hospitals, to say nothing of
the mess caused by the failure of traffic signals and streetlights.
Public schools report that their unforeseen huge power bills could
produce budget crises in the next semester.

Establishment economists call the direct effect of the energy crisis
on general prices of consumer goods, "significant, but relatively
small." However, none of them deny that virtually every business in
the state has had to raise prices to cover their utility bills, and
costs of some foodstuffs have jumped by as much as 20%.

And on March 27, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
approved a new 30% rate increase for consumers and made a "temporary"
10% increase adopted in January permanent, allowing Pacific Gas and
Electric (PG&E) and SoCal Edison, to charge consumers an extra $4.8
billion a year.

President George W. Bush used the 'energy crisis' as an excuse to
call for more devastation of the environment to help his oil, gas and
electricity fund raisers. California Democratic Governor Gray Davis
and his Democratic Party-controlled legislature rushed to propose
billions of bailout dollars for big corporations. After rhetorically
opposing big rate increases, Davis now says that he will support
making consumers pay for the utilities-provoked disaster.

Davis told the media that, "While I have opposed rate increases, if
it becomes clear that a rate increase is absolutely necessary for the
good of the state, I will support one that is fair and do my duty to
convince Californians of its necessity." Democratic legislators,
however, clarified to the press, that Davis was, "no longer
discussing not raising rates, but how much they should be raised."

TO READ THE COMPLETE STORY GO TO:

www.sf-frontlines.com

A few comments.

I work at Mirant's Potrero Power Plant as a Control Operator. I've held this
position for the last 17 years. I'm somewhat familiar with this industry.

Mouton's article is generaly accurate...but there are a few errors and some
questions not poised...

On the generation capacity. Mouton questions why generation capacity
increased so little. Before dergulation, PG&E prosed to build or repower
existing power plants, but only minimally, and then quickly withdrew the
applications. PG&E did project the increase in load...and there was from 1985 to
now if taken in this 15 year period. They simply didn't want to invest in power
plants they knew they could only recover "15%" via CPUC mandated rate
increases. They placed their confindence in deregulation...which they helped
disign along with Duke, Enron and Southern Energy.

Seconldy, it's true than overall load (demand for power) does, more or less,
equal generation in the state. But every power system IN THE WORLD needs
excess capacity up to 15%. These are normal engineering standards for any
grid. At 0% generation over load...we're in deep shit. First, there is NO WIGGLE
ROOM if a plant trips off line. During the very first rolling blackout, I was at
the controls of Potrero when we had to take the unit off line for a tube
leak...I
woke up the next day to read that an "unamed" power plant unexpectedly
came off line causing this first black out. Hmmm....I went back to sleep... Now,
about 15% to 30% of the power plants are off line at any given time, and this
percentage increases over time as the older plants start failing at an ever
increasing rate. This is the case with my plant and that is why the plants need
to be replaced.

Thridly, Mouton is wrong to state that most of our power is Hydro. Yes, during
parts of the year when the recipicol power agreements with the Pacific
Northwest are in effect, much, but not all, our power is from hydro. Our own
hydro in the state is only about 20% ("only" but it's this number is the highest
in the country). Hyrdo is only good when it snows/rains. We're in a drought as
is the Northwest...ergo hyrdo plays less of a role than it could in nomral
years.

Mouton takes a political leap with his demands for "nationalizaiton under
workers control". Yes, wouldn't it be nice...but the workers in the utility
industy, always behind the class struggle  because of the ultra-cozy
relationship of the unions and the utilities, are not at that stage yet when
such
transitional demands actually play a 'transitional' role. We're just now trying
to
win over our brothers and sisters to support public power. The concept of
workers control, completely undefined, and eminating as it does from a
newspaper article and not from the workers themselves in the industry, is
clearly only a 'feel-good' statement for people already won over to the idea of
socialism. While it's correct to discuss this issue, it would be a HUGE
sectarian
error to actually try to build a movement with this as it's central
demand...right now at least without the workers mobilized even around public
power, let along "...under workers control."

On the unions...Mouton correctly chastizes the AFL-CIO for their woosy position
on the crisis...but eyes should be focused on "our own" State AFL-CIO which
came out with a terrible, gobbildy-goop position that calls for bailing out the
utilities and only suggests taking over the power plants as their last point in
an
otherwise confusing position. The Labor Task Force for Public Power, of which
I'm a member, is dedicated to reversing this reactionary position of the
"official" labor movement and winning over locals and othe labor organzations
to support both Public Power and local initiatives like the SF&BMUD proposal
for the November ballot in San Francisco and Brisbane.

Lastly, unless I missed it, a serious oversight by Frontlines, a
...newspaper?...
that has had exceptional coverage and analysis on local SF issues, doesn't even
mention the MUD proposal, which is the ONLY ballot proposal in the entire
state attempting to take back the power from the monopolies and the
"Confederate Cartel".

David Walters,
member, IBEW 1245
Power plant control operator,
Labor Task Force for Public Power

David:

Thanks for your points of information.  Some comments on your comments:

David:

>Thridly, Mouton is wrong to state that most of our power is Hydro. Yes,
during
>parts of the year when the recipicol power agreements with the Pacific
>Northwest are in effect, much, but not all, our power is from hydro. Our
own
>hydro in the state is only about 20% ("only" but it's this number is the
highest
>in the country). Hyrdo is only good when it snows/rains. We're in a drought
as
>is the Northwest...ergo hyrdo plays less of a role than it could in nomral
years.


Frontlines:

The article makes the point on the drought and says "Most of the power in
the State is Hydro".  Should have said "Much of the power ...."  Also, I
understand that in certain periods of the year - because the comtination of
offline units and the increase in the seasonal availability of Hydro,
constitute "most of the electricity used in the State."  The 20% you mention
is the average during the year, but constitute over 50% seasonally, isn't
it?  But, in any case, your point is well taken and the word should be
"Much" and not "Most".

On the other hand, the State had the potential of having most of of its
power generated by Hydro, especially in Northern California.

David:

The concept of workers control, completely undefined, and eminating as it
does from a newspaper article and not from the workers themselves in the
industry, is
>clearly only a 'feel-good' statement for people already won over to the
idea of
>socialism.

Frontlines:

Nothing of the sort.  The proposal of democratic workers control and
management flows from the OBJECTIVE needs of the situation, not from an
article.  The fact that it is not emanated from the workers themselves does
not minimize its need one iota.  Even though this is not completely
accurate, because Frontlines spoke with workers on the ground who are
raising the issue.  This is a job cutout for you and others in the industry
to start educating other workers on the issue.

Without democratic workers control and management of the utility industries
by elected committees of workers in the field - who knows the ins and outs
of the production and delivery - and of working class consumers, we are
leaving this proposal of public ownership in the hands of the Democrats and
Republicans.  It will be public ownership in the hands of the employees -
the politicians - of the parties of the corporations.

Now, workers on the facilities we talked to showed no hostility about the
proposal. It is make sense to many of them.  As it makes sense to an
increasing number of workers the idea of public ownership.  Now, you
recognize that more education is necessary to win over the majority of
workers to the idea of public ownership ... why not also raise the question
of democratic control in the form of an educational campaign and a debate in
the movement?

Of course, the demand of democratic workers' control and management should
not be raised as an ultimatum or condition to push forward the question of
public ownership, but certainly needs to be raised in the movement.

David:

  While it's correct to discuss this issue, it would be a HUGE sectarian
>error to actually try to build a movement with this as it's central
>demand...right now at least without the workers mobilized even around
public
>power, let along "...under workers control."

Frontlines:

The movement would start and develop on immediate demands and issues that
reflect the present level of understanding of workers.  But would you agree
that we also need the debate on the issue of democratic workers' control and
management?


David:

>On the unions...Mouton correctly chastizes the AFL-CIO for their woosy
position
>on the crisis...but eyes should be focused on "our own" State AFL-CIO which
>came out with a terrible, gobbildy-goop position that calls for bailing out
the
>utilities and only suggests taking over the power plants as their last
point in an
>otherwise confusing position.

Frontlines:

We pointed out repeatedly the fact that the unions - or some of them -
supported the rate increases.  It is also useful, as we did repeatedly in
the past AND present that union members should raise it at the local and
State level in their organizations.  But the AFL-CIO cannot be left off the
hook fro two reasons: the question of the nationalization of the energy
industry is a national issue and affects workers and working class families
nationally and that is the role of the AFL-CIO and the State AFL-CIO wil
most likely put under pressure if the question of nationalization is put on
the national level.  The State unions also use the issue that "well, the
production of electricity comes from out-of-state producers and is nothing
we can do about it at the State level."  A phony argument, of course, but
one that also points to the need to exercise pressure on the national
AFL-CIO.

David:

The Labor Task Force for Public Power, of which

>I'm a member, is dedicated to reversing this reactionary position of the
>"official" labor movement and winning over locals and othe labor
organzations
>to support both Public Power and local initiatives like the SF&BMUD
proposal
>for the November ballot in San Francisco and Brisbane.


Frontlines:

Good.  But lobbying the leadership of the State AFL-CIO is just one of
several strategies to be pursued and, certainly, not the central one.  The
central strategy is the movement from below among workers and building a
movement that will embrace workers at the facilities, working class
consumers, environmentalists, etc  It is great potential for that.  Now, the
question of the local MUD is important and SF Frontlines support the
initiative and they are involved in it.  But it needs to linked to the
question of nationalization of the producing, distributing and delivery
services.  Otherwise, we ran the risk of creating a local public ownership
system - which is good -   that will cotinue depending on the production and
delivery lines owned by the big national corporations.  There are already
several municipally-owned systems that suffered from the rolling blackouts
and were forced to appeal to rate increases as well.


David:

>Lastly, unless I missed it, a serious oversight by Frontlines, a
...newspaper?...
>that has had exceptional coverage and analysis on local SF issues, doesn't
even
>mention the MUD proposal, which is the ONLY ballot proposal in the entire
>state attempting to take back the power from the monopolies and the
>"Confederate Cartel".


Frontlines:

We published articles on MUD before and we will continue doing so in the
runup for the November elections.  We are also involved in the campaign
supporting MUD and we will continue doing it.  And we will raise the issue
of democratic workers control in the election cycle and through supporting
actively those candidates for MUD Board who support that.  And yes, this
newspaper will continue paying much attention to local issues.  We are
presently in a process of re-organizing the operation and soon will strike
back at the heart of the local political machine.

Sincerely,

Tom Benois
Frontlines Staff

YOU CAN ALSO READ THIS ARTICLE IN OUR ONLINE EDITION:
www.sf-frontlines.com


Dueling Proposals: Different Takes on Ending the Power Crisis
By Abel Mouton

President George Bush recognizes the energy crisis as a national
problem. He should know. His close personal friend and advisor
Kenneth Lay of Enron has made a killing trading electricity in the
last few months. Last August, California paid $395 per Megawatt Hour
(MWH) for electricity. This was peanuts compared to Arizona, who was
paying $535 per MWH in some markets. Bush's solution? Allow his oil
buddies to drill in wildlife preserves and lower emission standards
for everyone in general and power plants in particular.

California Governor Gray Davis wants consumers to use less
electricity, build environmentally insensitive plants to operate
during peak periods and bailout the utilities. He would prefer to use
public money in the form of bonds to do so, but the utilities have
him over a barrel, and he will likely be offering Californians some
kind of sugary expectorant this summer to help them cough up huge
rate increases.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is keeping quiet, waiting for
November when a proposal for the formation of a Municipal Utilities
District (MUD) will appear on the ballot for voters to approve or
deny. This would have been an excellent prophylactic against the
effects of the power crisis on SF's working families, but even die-
hard MUD supporters like SF lawyer Neil Eisenberg observe that upon
approval, it will take between 1.5 to 6 years to implement.
Meanwhile, utility rates will climb by as much as 80% over that time.
We support the MUD, but must point out that were it to declare a
state of emergency, the Board could take over PG&E property and start
selling SF electricity at stable rates in a matter of weeks, and
would likely enjoy massive public support for this move.

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a legislator for 31 years, and
speaker of the California State Assembly for 14 1/2 of them, says,"
"I'm learning a lot more than I thought I'd ever want to know about
power. I am paying close attention to what I should have paid close
attention to 15 or 20 years ago, along with all these other elected
officials. We should have never allowed power to go out of the hands
of the public." In that same interview, with Edward Epstein of the SF
Chronicle, Brown outlined his plan to undermine the MUD. He's trying
to create a Bay Area power authority along with Oakland Mayor Jerry
Brown, Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean and lots of power industry experts
that could build power plants, some with private partners, or buy
power on the open market. Seeing as how Brown's private partners are
likely to include his long time campaign financers PG&E and
electricity will have to be bought off the spot market from the Enron-
Duke-Reliant-Dynegy cartel responsible for the huge increases in
energy prices nationwide, it is safe to say that Brown's idea will
have little or no effect on stabilizing rates for Bay Area energy
consumers.

At its state conference on March 11, the California Federation of
Teachers approved a resolution supporting statewide public ownership
of utilities. The leadership of the real force for public utilities
in California, the AFL-CIO and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers adopted a list of seven vague principles for the
State and Federal government to observe to alleviate the power
crisis. Considering that the AFL-CIO and the IBEW have only raised
token statements against deregulation and opposed public power for
years, these should be recognized as positive steps. They are,
however, along way from the initiative that these mass organizations
should take to protect working families both in and out of their
unions.

To the SF Board of Supervisors, elected in opposition to the policies
of Mayor Brown, we say: Exercise your mandate! Declare a State of
Emergency and use its powers to repossess SF's huge hydroelectric
generator from PG&E control! Work with an elected committee of
electrical workers and consumers to stabilize utility rates and set
an example for the rest of the state.

The state of emergency should also be declared at a state level. This
measure makes all federal law inapplicable until the resolution of
the crisis. All rate hikes should be repealed, the utility companies'
assets should be seized, and a rebate should be given to California's
ratepayers for the billions squeezed from them since last summer. The
rolling blackouts must stop.

To the unions we say: use your organized might to defend the welfare
of the unorganized workers of California! Lead the charge to
nationalize the production and distribution of electricity under your
democratic control! That way lies the solution to society's greatest
illness: the illness of capitalism.

Tom,
  Thank you for your reply. It is both well argued and well thought out. I
will continue to post here any new items from the Labor Task Force for
Public Power that may be of interest to the users of this forum.

David Walters,
IBEW Local 1245