Bah to the time change.

I’ve been here a month now. I know this because I’m supposed to drop the rent check off tomorrow. Sometimes I wake up in shock, like, wait, I live here. Other times, it seems like I’ve been here forever, drinking Fat Tire at The Boys’ and having the world at my fingertips.

Yesterday I didn’t feel intensely motivated to work in the morning, so I took the bus into San Francisco to get my fast pass for November and mail some things. I ended up ambling around the City for almost four hours, soaking in the chaos of the Financial District on a Monday.

It struck me while I was looking at the work on the Citi Bank building that not many people bother to look up. There’s all this amazing architecture and everyone hurries along at its feet without looking up at these soaring buildings. Some of them have spectacular Art Deco facades with intense sculpture that only the pigeons, rats of the sky, seem to be enjoying. Cap’n Raspberry was remarking the other day that he thought it was kind of sad how we don’t ornament our buildings anymore. It used to be that buildings reflected what they did, with women bearing sheaves of corn on the merchantile building and odalisques leering down from fancy apartments. Now it’s glass and steel and cold edges wherever you go.

I wandered quite a way up Market, and popped into the Westfield Centre for a moment. It’s not that I wanted to buy anything in there, but merely that I find it an amazing cultural experience. I can only tolerate it for about 10 minutes before the intensity drives me insane, so I wandered around on the third floor and watched overdressed skinny women dragging around overdressed sad looking men. Outside, union members picketed. It’s a pretty cool building, the Westfield, to be fair. They have a big glass deal over the centre and the whole building is kind of structured around it. The floors are excellent. I felt dizzy looking down through the elevators so I took a piss and left.

Then I went to Cody’s, where my friend Tyler works. It’s become a running joke to me that every time I stop by Cody’s to see if he’s working, he’s not there. I was beginning to think that he was only pretending to work at Cody’s, as a front for his sizeable escorting service. Or something. Anyway, I was looking at Volume 0 of Transmetropolitan and heard his voice so I barrelled around the corner to say hello. That was nice.

Then I cruised over to Chinatown to pick up sesame oil and hot chili sauce, which disappear at an alarming rate in our house. Puff almost picked up some sesame the other day but I said I’d go to Chinatown and get a tin, so I did. Thirty dollars later I had enough frozen dim sum to fill the entire freezer, along with three pounds of tea, a pound of incense, four packets of thai noodles, and an assortment of other vitally needed goods.

Walking through Chinatown reminded me of coming to San Francisco as a child with my father. He would always take me to Clement Street and Chinatown, and we would eat at the Hang Ah and get an assortment of cheap Asian ingredients that we had no hope of obtaining in Fort Bragg. I missed him, almost viscerally, while I walked through the chaos of little old Asian ladies, tourists, piles of fruit, and bicycles. For a moment I thought I was eight or nine again, swinging a Roald Dahl and trailing in my father’s wake.

The best cure for feeling maudlin is wandering the adult clubs along Market, so I did. My groceries were heavy, though, so I hopped a bus for the Transbay, and home.

Going back across the Bay Bridge, I read What to Eat and wondered about the wisdom of self righteous food columnists. I think I liked Food Politics better.

The sun came out at the end of the day, fighting to be seen over the clouds and creating a streaky orange sunset, the fog settled in on the Financial District like a fat lady hovering over a toilet, and then the roommates came home and the house was alive again.

The inaugural game of Scrabble was played on Treasure Island last night, between myself and one of the roommates, who will henceforth be known as Puff to distinguish her from La Chiquita, the other roommate.

So Puff and I played some Scrabble. It was a close game. If I hadn’t ended up with all the high scoring letters, I think she probably would have won. Fun times were had by all, while we watched Run Silent, Run Deep and ate snickerdoodles.

Next time, there will be an interhousehold challenge, in which we will severely beat The Boys six ways from Sunday.

[Scrabble]

Dim Sum Sunday this week, alas, has no photographic accompaniment because we went to Kabuki for a tub first. The public tubs are assigned to women on Sundays and one of the roommates and I decided to go check it out. It was quite a pleasant experience.

It’s kind of challenging to find hot tubs in San Francisco that aren’t, er, geared towards other service options. Kabuki gets around that by having sex segregated tubs and no private rooms. Kabuki also offers a variety of massage and body treatments although we didn’t try any of those out today. Having been to the spa for tubs, I’m sure I’ll be back for other services. I was very impressed with our whole spa experience, and when it comes to spas, I get around.

The public tubs are, in short, gorgeous. The whole spa is very well appointed and the staff are courteous and helpful. But the public tubs feature a big dry sauna, cold plunge, warm pool, and a steam room. I spent most of my time on the top shelf of the sauna, sprawled out and enjoying the heat. I popped into the cold plunge as well and spent some time in the steam room. The spa staff keep the tubs very clean and pleasant, with the floors staying relatively dry for such a flock of ladies, stacks of fresh towels to use, and well appointed amenities.

It was a great space to be in. I mean, I didn’t have my glasses on because I didn’t want to damage them, so I couldn’t really see anything, but what I did see was very well appointed. The spa also had cool water for us to drink, fresh fruit to eat, cucumbers for our eyes, and sea salt to exfoliate. It was a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere with a variety of women of all shapes and sizes. And some really, really nice tattoo work. I have a feeling this is going to become a frequent expedition…

It really reminded me of visiting ritual public baths in Europe, with the tile and low murmer of water and padding feet and thick towels. The roommate and I exchanged maybe four words while we there—it was a very tranquil and hushed environment, and I found myself sinking into meditation in the sauna. A great healing space, and a warm and pleasant establishment to visit.

Dim sum? Awesome, as always.

My fortune: share happiness with others in bed.

[Kabuki Spa]

So I staggered awake around noon today because some gormless little shit was ringing my doorbell repeatedly and then running away. I unscrewed the infernal device so it wouldn’t ring anymore but I figured as long as I was up I should probably check the news, before returning to the blissful folds of my sheets.

I was astounded to read this article in the Chronicle. Now, as we know, I’m not a big party girl, but even I can see that this looks like a terrible, terrible idea. Halloween in the Castro is a time honored tradition for many, some of whom are traveling great distances to partake in the joyousness. A poorly publicized plan to shut down the party early is going to end in tears before bedtime.

To begin with, I find any sort of campaign where people are encouraged to go to other districts of the City somewhat tasteless. The argument for trying to shut down Halloween in the Castro is that it’s disruptive and dangerous…wouldn’t these qualities hold true in other parts of the City as well? Why should the Mission, the Haight, or anywhere else be forced to deal with displaced revelers from the Castro? This kind of not in my backyard attitude is foolish.

Secondly, disrupting a forty year old tradition is going to ruffle some feathers. Ruffling feathers, especially drunk ones, is not a good plan. While the Castro reveling does get exuberant, if the claim of 300,000 people last year is correct…that’s going to be a lot of angry, drunken people who are not going to be pleased about an attempt to shut down by 10:30.

It’s preposterous to try to shut down an event which is, in many ways, a spontaneous street gathering. Over the years, Halloween in the Castro has been streamlined, in an attempt to deal with the heavy volume of people—all of whom would be there either way, because it’s tradition. Short of creating a police barricade, people cannot be kept out…and that seems like a dangerous waste of City funds. And an awesome way to piss off the voters before the election. Good going, kiddos!

I wasn’t sure about going to the Castro party this year, since it includes several things I strongly dislike: groups of over three, drunk people, and pay toilets. But now I feel obligated to go, because I have a sense this is going to be quite the fiasco…

[Halloween in the Castro]

Loki is feeling gothic this afternoon, presumably consumed with guilt about the eight thousand six hundred and ninety four spider bites I got last night while he was sleeping on the job.

All I’m saying is that risk of being eaten alive by spiders was not covered in the lease agreement, and I for one feel very unprepared. I am so suing the Navy for all they are worth. Bastards.

[cat blogging]

The following list of active cleanup sites on Treasure Island is taken from a fact sheet distributed by the Navy, current as of August 2006. Almost fifty percent of the sites identified on this fact sheet have been cleared, representing significant effort on everyone’s part. I am only listing the sites for which action still needs to be taken, or for which a decision of no further action has been reached.

At issue are a variety of unpleasant substances which have less than favourable effects on the human body.

Arsenic: arsenic is a common element which was used in wood treatment and other industrial applications. Arsenic can lead to a sore throat, irritated lungs, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, darkening of the skin, formation of skin nodules, abnormal heart rhythm, and ultimately death.

Asbestos: created from various fibrous minerals, asbestos was widely used for insulation, tile manufacture, and other applications, because of its long, strong, flexible, and heat resistant fibers. Asbestos affects the lungs through inhalation, and will cause cancer.

Copper: copper is a widely distributed metal which is not harmful in small concentrations. In fact, trace amounts of the metal are needed to maintain human health. However, in larger concentrations, copper can cause irritation of the nose and throat, nausea, vomiting, liver and kidney damage, and death.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): DDT was at one point widely used for insect control in the United States. After bioaccumulation issues resulting in serious harm to wildlife, it was outlawed here, although it is still manufactured and used in other countries. For humans exposed to DDT, tremors, seizures, liver damage, reproductive damage, nervous system damage, and hormone confusion can result.

Dioxins: dioxins are created through incomplete combustion. Birth defects, endometriosis, cancer, liver damage, skin problems, and diabetes have been linked to dioxin exposure in humans.

Lead: lead is a metal which can be found in small concentrations in the Earth’s crust. It has been used in a variety of human endeavors, ranging from paint to movable type. Lead will cause heavy metal poisoning, which is linked with damage to the nervous system joints, liver, kidneys, brain, and reproductive systems. In addition, lead is linked with increased risk of miscarriage and changes to blood pressure and heart rate.

Mercury: mercury is a naturally occuring metal which was used in a wide variety of applications before health problems were associated with it. It can wreak havoc on the central nervous system, which is extremely sensitive to heavy metal poisoning. Lung damage, cancer, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin damage, eye irritation, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate have also been linked with mercury poisoning.

Polychlorinated bipenyls (PCBs): PCBs were developed in the 1930s for extensive use in the electronics industry. After realizing that the harmful substances bioaccumulated, manufacture was halted in the 1980s. They appear as mostly colourless oily liquids and solids which have no discernable taste. Skin conditions, liver damage, anemia, impaired reproduction, mental changes, immune damage, and cancer have been associated with PCBs.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): PAHs are formed through incomplete burning, like dioxins. They often appear as soot, or charring, and some are commercially manufactured for a wide variety of uses. Animal studies show links with immune system damage, skin problems, reproductive damage, birth defects, and weight loss. The Department of Health and Human Services has linked them with cancer in humans.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH): many fuels and other crude oil products fall into this heading. Central nervous system effects, numbness, reproductive harm, damage to the eyes, blood, immune system, kidneys, lungs, and liver have been observed. Several TPH compounds are cancerous.

Site 6
Location of the former Navy fire fighting school, located on the Northeast Corner of the Island. Possibility of chemical contaminants is at issue, and a remedial investigation report is being prepared. Known contaminants include petroleum, asbestos, volatile organic compounds, and mercury. The Navy is also monitoring the groundwater.

Site 8
Located on the Eastern tip of Yerba Buena Island, was the sludge disposal area for eight years. By sludge disposal, the Navy means that effluent from the waste treatment plant was dumped there. At issue are biological contaminants as well as some chemical pollution related to waste treatment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may be present. A remedial investigation report is being prepared.

Site 9
The location of the former foundry, between the clipper hangers on the southern side of Treasure Island. Solvents, lead, and petroleum products are present as part of the metalworking process. A proposed plan and record of decision are being prepared.

Site 10
Was the bus painting shop, located near Site Six on the Northeastern corner of the Island. Semivolatile organic compounds and pesticides are present, presumably related to the paint mixtures used by the miliary. The pesticides are as a result of storing pest control chemicals at the site. A proposed plan and record of decision are being prepared.

Site 11
On the southern side of the east approach of the Bay Bridge on Yerba Buena Island. It was used as a landfill by the Navy, and contains volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metal, and total petroleum hydrocarbons. A remedial investigation report is being prepared.

Site 12
The old bunker area, site of current housing on the Northern portion of Treasure Island. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, arsenic, lead, and debris are present. A remedial investiation report was prepared and presented, and the site is currently in a comment period while alternatives for cleanup are proposed.

Site 21
On the Southeastern corner of the Island, where oil was recovered from ships and separated from contaminants. Volatile organic compounds and total petroleum hydrocarbons are present at the site, where the remedial investigation report is in the process of being finalized following an initial treatabilty study in late 2005.

Site 24
The former drycleaning facility, in operation for over 35 years. It is slightly South of the middle of the Island on the eastern side. Petroleum, oil, lubricants, and chlorinated solvents have been found at the site. A remedial investigation report and feasabilty study are being prepared, following treatment of a groundwater plume in 2005.

Site 25
The seaplane maintenance area is on the Southern side of the Island next to Clipper Bay. Petroleum, oil, and lubricants are all present, resulting in continued groundwater monitoring.

Site 27
The Clipper Cove Skeet Range, operated between 1978 and 1987 on the Southern shore of the Island. Lead shot, lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are present at the site, while a feasibility study is on hold. Additional investigation of the sediment is required before action can be taken.

Site 28
The West side on/off ramp, where lead from paints and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been identified. A remedial investigation report is being prepared.

Site 29
The East side on/off ramp, facing similar issues as the West ramp.

Site 30
Site 30, the former daycare center, is roughly in the middle of the Island, slightly to the west. Dioxins, lead, and copper have been discovered. The area was not developed until the mid 1980s, and it is suspected that burned debris was used to backfill utility trenches there. The remedial investigation report was finalized in February and a feasability study is being prepared.

Site 31
The former South storage yard is nestled next to Site 12, and may contain polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, copper, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and dioxins. This storage area was used, clearly, for all sorts of material. In July 2006, the remedial investigation report was finalized. A feasability study is being prepared.

Site 32
The former training and storage area is on the Northeast corner of the Island, and likely has polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons, dioxins, and pesticides. In addition to being used for tear gas training, hazardous materials were stored there. Currently, there’s a large transformer pad, likely source of the polychlorinated biphenyls. A remedial investigation report is being prepared.

Site 33
Extensive historical repairs to this waterline on the Southeastern side of the Island revealed significant debris. Dioxins and metals are at issue, and a remedial investigation report is being prepared.

Pipeline Sites
Inactive fuel lines scattered around the Island are laden with petroleum. The water board has agreed that no further action should be taken on these sites.

Underground Storage Tank Sites
Underground petroleum tanks have also resulted in a concurrence between the Navy and other organizations that no further action be taken.

[Treasure Island]

As some of my readers may be aware, there is presently a harebrained scheme to open the Island to development, and several ideas have been put forth by a firm which wants to turn the Island into a yuppie ecotopia, complete with high rises, green space, controlled access, and a private ferry. I’ve always been opposed to this, only more so when I moved here, so I try to keep tabs on the Treasure Island Development Authority. I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds a deep sense of irony in building a ecodevelopment on a dump.

Frequent meetings are held on the Island to talk about cleanup, development, and other community issues. On Tuesday, there was an informational meeting about the proposed cleanup in area twelve, where we live. The leasing company sent out menacing letters about relocation, so Cap’n Boysenberry and I, as house mothers of our respective residences, decided to go and get the scoopage.

It was a field trip well worth taking. Despite my profound dislike of meetings, it was very…informative. It started out with a poster display, where we could amble around talking to people. I got a chance to talk with people from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Navy, John Stewart Company, and the firm handling the cleanup. I also got a complete list of contaminated sites on base and their cleanup status. Oh yes. Then we got to watch some powerpoint. The military loves powerpoint. Afterwards, the floor was open to public comment.

The first and most important thing that we learned is that development on the Island isn’t going to happen for at least ten years. It’s been painted as happening much earlier, but when I talked to the General Manager she assured me that it wasn’t as big a worry. I also asked her about a buyout option, where existing residents on the Island could buy out their homes. She said that wasn’t possible because our houses are going to be destroyed, but that we would have an option to lease or buy in the proposed development.

I am still profoundly unhappy with the idea of development. I love the Island as it is, and I think it would be fun to restore the buildings to their former glory, and live here as a low income pirate rebel community. We are still not ruling out the idea of leading more aggressive action to resist the development, as it may price most of us out of homes, despite the claims of the company. But it was assuring to know that we aren’t going to be voted off the Island any time soon.

What we learned is that they are going to do some “environmental remediation” on the housing behind the scary green fences. The plan is to cleanup the area to the point where it would be safe for habitation, potentially usable as additional housing. I also learned that the place we scavenged our screens from is called, I shit you not, Halliburton Court.

The majority of the contamination is in the houses along the seawall, because waste was dumped there in previous years. The issue is that shit is buried in the ground. Shit like lead, PCBs, and PAHs. The Navy wants to get it out or at least minimize exposure, and the meeting was held to propose some alternatives for cleanup.

One and Two are known as shallow excavation, where the soil would be dug up and removed to a depth of two feet and backfilled with clean soil before being landscaped over. Alternative one leaves the existing hardscape in place, while alternative two calls for removing it. We’re looking at around eight million dollars for either of these.

Three and Four, deep excavation, involve removal of soil four feet deep and backfill, and would cost around twelve million. Three works around the hardscape, while four will remove it.

Option five is to pour concrete over the whole deal and call it good.

I favor option four, because it sounds like the deepest clean. Of course, as the authorities admitted, these plans will only work for the existing housing, which means that if and when these houses are demolished…another cleanup effort will have to be undertaken in area 12.

The cross section of people at the meeting was interesting. The large population of youth and African Americans was very poorly represented. There were a few people who seemed genuinely clueless about the fact of standard military practice around waste disposal, like the woman who was shocked that there was lead in her yard. And there were a few people who were riled up about temporary relocation.

If anyone actually bothered to read their lease agreement before signing it, they could see full disclosures about dangerous levels of toxic metals and chemicals in the ground here, for which the leasing agency will bear no liability. In addition, part of the terms of the lease with the Navy is that the Navy can relocate people temporarily for environmental cleanup. It’s annoying, sure, but don’t move to a toxic dump if you can’t take the heat, and read your damn lease agreements, kids.

32 households are going to be directly affected, although ours isn’t one of them. Some of the public comments were very astute. Cap’n Boysenberry asked about landscaping after the work was done, and what sort plans there were there. Some residents seemed more concerned about how long the interruption would be than how good the cleanup was, which was a little sad to see.

The Navy has already undertaken significant cleanup action—I’ll post a list of still active sites tomorrow. It is interesting to be living here during this phase, where things are changing rapidly and very, very intriguingly. I still do not rule out the possibility for violent revolution, is all I am saying. (Just kidding James Sullivan, Navy BRAC PMO West!)

I’m actually giving Navy props for the cleanup effort, for all my critiques. But I also think it’s important for people outside Treasure Island to understand what’s going on here, and the issues and controversies that we deal with as residents…issues which are very far away from citizens of the rest of San Francisco right now, but might become more all encompassing if the land passed into the ownership of the City, because these expensive problems are going to be passed along with the land.

[Treasure Island]

I knew you wouldn’t believe me when I said my ballot for San Francisco was huge. That’s five legal sized pages, two sided. They are even color coded so that I don’t get confused.

State Wide Races

Governor: Phil Angelides
I really struggled with this, because I like Peter Camejo better. However, I don’t think we need Arnold to continue as governor, and therefore I encourage you to cast your vote for the majority party candidate, even though it pains me sorely to admit it.

Lieutentant Governor: John Garamendi
He has done an alright job as state insurance commissioner, and I think will do alright by us. He’s also been endorsed by a large number of California newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times.

Secretary of State: Margie Akin
I have a soft spot for anthropologists, it’s true. But Dr. Akin also recognizes that there is a need for major technological reform in California to ensure equal access for all. As Secretary of State, I believe that she will make needed improvements and bring a balanced, scientific mind to Sacramento.

Controller: John Chiang
He has a strong record on the State Board of Equalization, and comes endorsed by a wide variety of newspapers.

Treasurer: Bill Lockyer
As Attorney General, Mr Lockyer has a fairly balanced record. He clearly knows California law well, and is dedicated to serving the citizens. I think he will be a good balancing force to look out for our interests.

Attorney General: Jerry Brown
Mr. Brown is clearly going for the celebrity vote. He also, however, has a progressive record. He has served the environment in Oakland well during his time there, and also knows the reality of day to life for many California professionals. As Attorney General, I think he will represent well.

Insurance Commissioner: Cruz Bustamante
As Lieutentant Governor, Bustamante has a strong record, especially when it comes to protecting minority Californians.

State Board of Equalization First District: Betty Yee
I support Ms. Yee in this election because she’s already anm acting boardmember, and is obviously familiar with the ways and means of the board. She also represents minority Californians, especially Asians and Pacific Islanders. She supports youth programs and education, two things I feel strongly about.

State Assembly District Thirteen: Mark Leno
A strong supporter of workers rights, youth programs, and education, he has a strong proven voting record. He cares about hunger, the environment, homelessness, and health access for San Franciscans.

Federal Candidates

Senator: Dianne Feinstein
Although I have reservations about her, she has been a strong voice for California in the Senate. She actually shows up for work and votes most of the time, which is more than I can say for some senators.

Representative District Eight: Nancy Pelosi
We will take over the House. And Nancy Pelosi will be our voice.

Remember kids, voting is sexy!

[California election]

…or meloukhia’s quick and dirty voter’s guide. Remember, smart voters independently research, rather than blindly following one person’s advice or recommendations. If you disagree with any of my recommendations on the propositions, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Also: voting is sexy.

This is a really long post, because there is a lot on the ballot in San Francisco. I am probably going to break it up into multiple sections, actually, because otherwise it will just get out of hand. Following are the propositions and after that the ballot measures specific to San Francisco. (Note: if you are one of my Mendocino County voters, please vote yes on Measure Y. Thank you.)

State Wide Propositions

Proposition 1A: Transportation Funding Protection—NO
Prop 1A, on the surface, sounds pretty sweet. I’d like to lock transportation funding in too. The only problem is that there may be changes in budgetary needs, and rendering that money in accessible may hurt education, libraries, and other vital public needs. California spends a lot of money on roads, allegedly, anyway. The question is: where is it all going?

Proposition 1B: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006—NO
I hate bond acts.

Proposition 1C: Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006—NO
Great cause, I hate bond acts. Furthermore, systemic change is needed in California to address homelessness and emergency shelter needs, not more money for crappy shelters.

Proposition 1D: Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006—NO
See “bond acts” above.

Proposition 1E: Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Act of 2006—NO
Again with the bonds. Also I live on an Island, so when the disaster strikes I’m going to die anyway. There is government funding available for this kind of thing. And while you’re at it some insurance reform to force agencies to cover people in flood damaged homes would be awesome.

Proposition 83: Sex Offenders—NO
While our existing system for the handling of sex offenses is far from perfect, I fail to see how an expensive GPS monitoring program will help. It’s already difficult for sex offenders to find homes, and these restrictions will make it virtually impossible. Look. I’m not a fan of raping the children, but rehabilitated sex offenders are people too. Let’s focus on proper care for those likely to commit crimes again, not on severe restrictions of civil liberties for all.

Proposition 84: Water Quality &tc—NO
Bond act. Again. With the bonding.

Proposition 85: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of a Minor’s Pregnancy—NO
NO, NO, NO, for the love of God, NO. This Prop might get its own post, because I’m so furious about it. Short story: this proposition will not help to reduce abortion rates. It may help to increase the deaths of teens and infants, if teens are afraid to seek rapid and proper care for themselves, up to and including abortion. Let’s not return to the era of back alley abortions, ok guys? Establish a relationship with your teenage children that creates clear lines of communication…or be a fundamentalist asshole and don’t, but don’t try to control her body. This prop is WRONG on so many levels that it doesn’t even deserve to be on the ballot.

Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes—NO
I know this comes as a surprise for a lot of my readers, given my long established loathing of cigarettes and all that comes with them. However, I don’t see why even more money should sneak into the pockets of the rich disguised as as something helpful. If the state really thinks smoking is bad, why not fund smoking cessation programs?

Proposition 87: Alternative Energy, &tc—NO
Cool prop, right? Wrong. Let’s play a little game I like to call “follow the money.” Where is this revenue going, and how will be it be used? If you said “to developing alternative energy,” you’re wrong.

Proposition 88: Real Property Parcel Tax—NO
Let’s educate the children! Let’s reform our education funding first, so that all children benefit equally from propositions like this, instead of the children in already wealthy school districts.

Proposition 89: Political Campaigns—YES
More campaign spending limits sounds like a good idea, as well as equalizing funding. I say yes, but this is one that I’m still a little on the fence on. Someone with more information who wants to weigh in should really do so.

Proposition 90: Government Aquisition &tc—NO
On the surface, this proposition protects homeowners, but this is not actually the case. In fact, it limits protections, and governmental abilities to regulate land use.

San Francisco Specific Propositions

A: School Modernization—NO
I am opposed to bond acts. I have seen San Francisco’s schools, and I agree that they are in vital need of refurbishment. However, I’ve also seen what happens to contracts like the Bay Bridge, and I am not satisfied that $450,000,000 in bonds would go to the schools and not to line a fat cat’s pockets.

B: Family Leave Policy—YES
Family leave is important, and this is a policy which allows City board and commission members to work from home while pregnant, nursing, and dealing with a new baby. While I do not like children, I also don’t like the way new parents are treated in this society, and I think this proposition is a great idea.

C: Salary Equalization—YES
Our City officials should make the same as those in other counties. I think salaries should be standardized across the state, adjusted for regional inflation, personally.

D: Security of Private Information—NO
There’s a similar law already on the books: I don’t think we need two.

E: Parking Tax—YES
It’s already impossible to park in San Francisco because of the level of cars. Perhaps this will encourage people to ditch the car and use public transit, helping to reduce the growing traffic load. I wish the money would be better accounted for, however.

F: Paid Sick Leave—YES
Some of my readers who are employers may want to weigh in on this one. I feel that paid sick leave is a great idea for the following reasons: one, employees who are sick will stay home instead of infecting everyone else. Two, it will increase worker productivity by ensuring that people are healthy, able to go to the doctor, and able to take care of themselves. Three: San Francisco is setting a lot of labor law standards, and I think it’s a good thing to go on record as supporting. However, my small business owner readers probably feel differently, because like most feel good legislation, it puts a greater strain on small employers. Any thoughts?

G: Restrictions on Formula Retail Stores—YES
Chain stores are choking small mom and pops, driving up their operating costs immensely. Chain stores are hateful and impersonal. They have cheaper stock because they are growing like filthy weeds everywhere, something which we can restrict by not allowing them to proliferate in such numbers. Down with the chains! Up with the wierd funky corner stores!

H: Relocation Payments—YES
In the case of a no fault eviction, like one which occurs when tenants are forced to move because a building is sold, relocation payments are entirely reasonable. This proposition specifies that tenants who are evicted because of illegal activity will not be subject to this proposition.

I: Attendance at the Board of Supervisors—YES
I know the mayor is awfully busy going to parties and stuff, but it would be really awesome if he would show up at least once a month to meetings of the Board of Supervisors, to like talk about public policy and do his job and shit.

J: Impeachment—YES
Hell fucking yeah!

K: Housing Needs of Disabled Adults and Seniors—YES
All you old farts should vote yes on this one especially, because there are going to be growing numbers of you. Let’s make sure that you get adequate care, yeah?

Tomorrow: State Wide Races

[California Election]

We ate last night at Roy’s, a Hawaiian fusion restaurant with branches all over the United States. I’ve eaten at the flagship in Honolulu and found my meal there very excellent—I was not disappointed here either. The venue in San Francisco is relatively small, and was majorly crowded due to the Oracle convention in town, but we snagged a quiet corner table to eat in.

I started with the blackened ahi, which was superb. So rare that there was just a thin crust on the outside, and served with a bright soy mustard sauce. The sauce had a nice kick which went well with the seared fish, and fish was tender melt in your mouth fresh. Simple, small, delicious. My partner led with lobster wontons, which were also superb. Of course, I’m a sucker for anything deepfried.

For the main course, my companion had macadamia encrusted mahi mahi, which was excellent, and I had grilled ono (oh no!) with a mild curry and tender young green beans. It was fabulous. The curry was creamy and rich, with a focus on the flavor instead of pure spice, and it was a nice follow-up to the ahi.

For dessert, I had butterscotch panna cotta and the partner in crime went for the chocolate souffle. Both were excellent, not least because of my panna cotta fetish. Mmm…panna cotta.

The service was excellent, attentive without being invasive, and the dessert chef stopped by to ask us how our desserts were. The wine meu was decent, though not overwhelming, and the decor very pleasant. My only complaints, really, were that the menu didn’t source the fish, and that the towels in the handicapped bathroom were too high. If I’d been in a wheelchair, I would have been screwed for the hand drying.

Not sourcing the fish was a bummer. Eating at Roy’s is all about the seafood, and it would have been silly not to. But I had a moment of deep hesitation as I wondered where the fish came from, who caught it or raised it, and how they were treated. I tried to relax and let myself enjoy the meal, and I did. Pure excellent.

[Roy's]