Sunday, February 26, 2012

Feinstein, Frank, Newsom & Pelosi
Must Refund Wells Fargo CEO's Donations


(Screen grab from SF Ethics. Click to enlarge.)

Until this weekend, I had no inkling that the head of Wells Fargo lives here. A very focused action took place yesterday addressing housing and economic disparities and inequities, at his home on Russian Hill:

Occupy Bernal, Occupy SF Housing, ACCE, and other organizations held a feisty protest today at the home of Wells Fargo CEO, Chairman, and President John Stumpf, at 1090 Chestnut St, in San Francisco. In a bit of street theater, foreclosure fighters from Bernal and other neighborhoods read a foreclosure notice for the CEO, then the protestors auctioned off his home.


Sounds like it was a fun and effective action. Let's hope the protesters repeat this sort of fabulous street theater over and over, until Wells Fargo implements rules that benefit ordinary folks.

My curiosity was piqued about any political donations made by Stumpf at the local level, and campaign finance records show he gave $1,000 to Gavin Newsom's mayoral campaigns, and $500 to Hydra Mendoza for her successful school board run.

Newsom currently serves as California's lieutenant governor and Mendoza is vice president of the school board.

On the federal level, Stumpf donated $2,000 to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, $1,000 to Rep. Barney Frank and $1,000 to Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

In my view, all of these Democratic Party politicians should send Stumpf and Wells Fargo a strong message against their predatory banking practices, and refund his donations. Better yet, how about they make a contribution in the amount from Stumpf to a worthy group fighting Wells Fargo's many foreclosures and anti-consumer policies?


Photos from Saturday's protest show a damn good turnout of people and some cool signs. Credit for the images goes to Occupy Bernal.

No comments: