Weekend Woof #101: Men - Gay or Straight?

It's been too long since I shared a new video in this series. Happy to say I've been out and about filming various eye-pealing dudes, and now have the 101st edition of weekend woofies online.

Several of the fellas in this video disclosed that they're straight and had no objections to being filmed. Same goes for the gay guys, but I wonder if you can distinguish the sexual orientation of the men. Who do you think is gay or straight?

Not that it matters much since the important thing is all the dudes are very pleasing to my queer eye. Enjoy.

Sheriff Mirkarimi: 52 Completed Evictions in June

At the end of June, after requesting public information from the San Francisco Sheriff, the beleaguered Ross Mirkarimi, his office provided me with statistics showing a total of 3,158 evictions during his tenure up to the end of May 2015.

Today, I learned the deets on evictions for the past month:

"Hi Mr. Petrelis, Pursuant to your request for records I am providing the following: the Sheriff’s Department completed 52 evictions in June, 2015. The same number of properties would have been turned over to the owner or owner’s representative when the eviction was completed. Freya A. Horne Chief Legal Counsel"

Adding the 52 new evictions to the 3,158 figure, the new total number of evictions of tenants under Mirkarimi is 3,200. Freya Horne is pictured on the right in this photo.

We need an eviction moratorium.

Todco Group's $25,000 Paid for Mission Moratorium Measure

The further nonprofitization and housing corporatization of Plaza 16 and the effort to address various housing crises in the Mission was unveiled today with a filing at the Ethic Commission.

The Committee to Save the Mission, sounds like a Christian evangelical outfit but that's another matter, filed its first financial report it shows that San Francisco resident Gabriel Medina of MEDA, gave $100. Also contributing were Oaklander Sam Ruiz, executive of the Mission Neighborhood Center, $500, and Medina's political outfit the Latino Democratic Club, $500.

Biggest contribution came from the Todco Group, which gave $25,000. Nice chunk of change, wouldn't you say?

I'm getting up to speed on this entity and here is what they share on their web site about their mission:

"TODCO Development Co. (GP/TODCO A, Inc.) is the housing development division of the TODCO Group, the community-based housing/community development nonprofit corporation for San Francisco's South of Market Neighborhood.

"TODCO Development Co. plans and develops new and rehabilitated senior and SRO affordable housing, with 968 units completed in eight properties since 1977. The TODCO Group also directs asset management of its developments, provides resident services programs for its tenants, and undertakes a range of community development and community planning programs for South of Market communities."

So much for the Mission moratorium measure being driven from the district and by the community.

'Evict Ross, Ban Guns' Protest Sign at Mirkarimi's Shooter Presser

The sheriff of San Francisco held a press conference inside his office at City Hall this morning and I went to hear what he had to say since he's not announced a town hall meeting and held a Q & A with citizens about the tragic murder of Kathryn Steinle by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez.

I also wanted to get out a message against Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and the fact he's evicted more than 3,000 tenants since he took office four-years ago. There needs to be pressure on him and his reelection campaign to halt all evictions until credible solutions are implemented creating affordable housing.

My second message was against guns. Let's talk about banning them and ammo to finally begin a national conversation addressing our gun culture and laws.

Longtime progressive community photo documentarian Steve Rhodes was at the presser today and snapped this pic of me outside Mirkarimi's office. Thanks, Steve!

Here are photos I took of Mirkarimi addressing the gaggle of reporters and a shot of some of the cameras, photographers and scribes crowded into his office this morning.

Mission Moratorium Measure Misses Finance Filing Deadline

Stenographer to Mission Inc and San Francisco progressives, Tim Redmond of the 48 Hills site, delivered a few deets on the Committee to Save the Mission's efforts to get on the November ballot with a anti development measure on July 7. 

That was the day thousands of signatures were turned in to the Department of Elections and Redmond said $10,000 was raised so far.

According to Jarrod Flores of the Ethics Commission, which tracks fundraising and expense reports from candidates and committee, in a phone chat this afternoon, the committee's leaders were supposed to file a bi-monthly (every two months) statement on July 7 for all financial activity through June 30 but failed to do so. 

Flores said the commission has been in touch with the committee and been informed that the lateness is because of health issues with the treasurer.

Once the commission receives the electronic filing of the expense report, it will quickly be published to their site.

This the Form SFEC-113 from the Committee to Save the Mission submitted in June.

SFPD Withholds Suspect's Image in Gay Mural Arson Case

An LGBT mural on the outside of the wooden building that houses the Galeria de la Raza in the Mission was the target of arson on June 29th. The mural features images of queer Latino/as and has upset a few straight folks, leading to someone defacing the artwork before a small fire was set under it.

I was under the impression that the Galeria had turned over surveillance video images of a person lighting the fire on June 29 to the cops and that a poster was created to help catch the perpetrator(s). My public records request generated this response:

"The San Francisco Police Department (“SFPD”) received your Immediate Disclosure request on July 7, 2015. You requested 'Copies in electronic format via email if images of potential suspects caught on surveillance tape from the Galeria that were provided to the police department, the SFPD’s more-info wanted poster or leaflet circulating in the neighborhood, details on your outreach to the affected community and how you are telling folks with info to contact the department, and a status update on the investigation.'

"In response to your request, please be advised that this case is an open and ongoing investigation and disclosure of the requested information at this time may endanger successful completion of that investigation. The case file records are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Govt. Code. Sec. 6254(f) as investigatory file records. SFPD investigators are actively reviewing all information and evidence that may lead to the identification or apprehension of the suspect(s) involved in the incident."

I'm not sure how the public can assist in locating the suspect(s) if the police won't release the images of him or her caught on videotape. The arson was carried out twelve-days ago and I fear any leads may grow cold as the days go by.

The Advocate site had this to say about the images:

"The police are reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of positively identifying the suspect, in addition to interviewing witnesses and other bystanders who might have seen the man. If police are unable to identify the vandal, they will be releasing surveillance footage to the media to seek the public's assistance, the SFPD spokesman [said]."

We'll have to wait and see if the police release the footage, and if this crime is ever solved.

IRS Asked to Probe MEDA & SF Moratorium Ballot Prop

Since I've never witnessed a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization opening its offices and putting its executives to work on behalf of a San Francisco ballot measure, I've requested a probe from the IRS regarding the Mission Economic Development Agency's effort to get a development moratorium on the November ballot.

Maybe it's allowable under Treasury Department laws that nonprofits can engage directly in electoral political activities such as what MEDA has done in the past few weeks, or not, but questions must be asked of and answered by the IRS. Here's the letter, images and links snail-mailed today to the feds at the IRS office in Dallas, Texas.

Dear IRS Exempt Organizations Complaint Desk,

I am requesting an investigation of the Mission Economic Development Agency, EIN 51-0187791, of San Francisco, California, to determine if this 501(c)3 nonprofit has followed all pertinent laws regarding exempt organizations and political activities.

In late June, this image was circulating on the web recruiting paid signature-gatherers to earn up to $50 an hour to help MEDA get a luxury housing moratorium measure on the San Francisco ballot in November. Petitions to meet the Department of Elections ballot requirements were available at MEDA's office located at 2301 Mission Street, 3rd Floor. Signature-gatherers were told to show up at that office for a fifteen-minute training.

On the Facebook page of Gabriel Medina, the public policy director at MEDA, he urged people to stop by the nonprofit's office to either sign the ballot measure petitions or drop off petitions.

The San Francisco Business Times reported on Medina's efforts to rally support via the web for getting MEDA's initiative on the ballot:

"But 'the Mission Luxury Housing Moratorium is necessary and winnable for the November 2015 election. The narrative is changing,' Gabriel Medina, policy director of the Mission Economic Development Agency, told moratorium supporters in an email obtained by the Business Times."

On July 6, Medina submitted the petitions to the Department of Elections at City Hall and garnered much media attention, including a story on NBC Bay Area 11 News. Medina was clearly identified as an executive of the exempt organization MEDA, not an ordinary citizen.

I believe there is clear evidence of MEDA's direct engagement with the electoral process and political engagement that

An immediate probe of MEDA and its political actions is needed. If you have any questions or concerns regarding my request, please contact me via email or snail mail.

Regards,
Michael Petrelis

White SF Cop Gives Black Man Pot Citation on Video

Allow me to be upfront. Maybe it was my lily-white ass that needed protecting from the black male youth smoking herb on Market Street, and that is why a white San Francisco police officer cited him.

This video is a prime example of Mayor Ed Lee and SFPD Chief Greg Suhr's "broken windows" approach to low-level quality of life criminal activities. It shows four black young men enjoying weed, not bothering a damn soul, and a middle-aged white male police officer going over and giving one of them a citation.

Thanks, Mr. Police Officer, for keeping me and the rest of San Francisco safe from the harms of young pot-smokers of color!

It's beyond obscene and ridiculous on so many levels - racial, political, "criminal" - that cops in the City that birthed Prop 215 which legalized medical marijuana and dispensaries at the ballot box, are citing folks to taking a bit of medicine in the public.

If you're pissed off, vote for me in November. I'm running as a write-in candidate for mayor. Until then, watch my video:

Roberto Hernandez's Carnaval = $1.1 Million in City Funds

Sunshining, looking at government records and sharing them online, is one form of activism we need in San Francisco's Mission district as public polices are debated and created by a small circle of unofficial community leaders, policies average folks have to live with.

This week, I've shed light on Maria Zamudio, a paid organizer with Causa Justa who's also a coordinator of Plaza 16, and Luis Granados, the executive director of MEDA which has a controlling interest in Plaza 16, pointing out that both live in Oakland. When we discuss potential social solutions for the Mission, the residency of where "our" leaders live must be part of the community's transparency principles.

Another Mission honcho is Roberto Hernandez, who's seen by many as the Mayor of the Mission and lives in the district. Among his various roles is running the fabulous two-day Carnaval Parade and Festival every May, that's a whole lotta fun and also builds community, and just like with the LGBT movement's SF Pride, is and should be receiving City funds.

BTW, SF Pride received $58,400 in 2013 and 2014, while in 2015 the amount went up to $64,200. Use these figures as a comparison when considering how much City funding goes to Carnaval.

It is the San Francisco Grants for the Arts program, funded by the Hotel Tax Fund, that doles out public money to parades. Here are the numbers for Hernandez's stewardship of Carnaval:

2003 / $103,900
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_03_04.pdf

2004 / $103,900
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_04_05.pdf

2005 / $103,900
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_05_06.pdf

2006 / $103,900
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_06_07.pdf

2007 / $103,900
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_07_08.pdf

2008 /   $93,500
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_08_09.pdf

2009 / $103,900
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_09_10.pdf

2010 /   $78,600
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_10_11.pdf

2011 /   $78,600
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/sfgfta_annual_report_11_12.pdf

2012 /   $78,600
http://www.sfgfta.org/etc/annual%20report%2012_13.pdf

2013 /   $70,700
http://www.sfgfta.org/etc/13_14%20Annual%20Report.pdf

2014 /   $70,700
http://www.sfgfta.org/docs/2014-15%20Annual%20Report%20WEB.pdf

2015/    $79,700
http://www.sfgfta.org/program_information/funding_allocations/parades.php

Add the annual amounts together and they total $1,173,000 over thirteen-years. That figure has generated millions more in money spent in the Mission during each two-day celebration, and brought together diverse folks to enjoy a great party and a dose of political engagement.

This video of Hernandez ranting at the June 4th Board of Supervisors meeting, when they were considering a development moratorium for the Mission, illustrates his concerns and agenda for his Mission domain. I've heard this stump speech of his before in which he list complaints and stats from questionable sources.

While he's good at throwing a party, I'm not convinced he's an effective political leader, one with the ability to offer realistic solutions and mobilize beyond his Latino base, but at least he lives in the Mission.

Mission Nonprofit Leader Lives in Oakland: Luis Granados

The Mission Economic Development Agency is a nonprofit with a huge political and social footprint in San Francisco's Mission district.

MEDA's most recent IRS 990 tax file for 2014 shows it had revenue of $8.5 million, of which $7 million was from government grants. That money makes the nonprofit a big boss when Mission housing crisis issues are debated and potential solutions considered.

Several Mission residents, people who actually live in the district, have complained in the past year that MEDA speaks and looks out for itself primarily and is not a transparent organization. There are no regularly scheduled weekly or monthly meetings with MEDA leaders, but they are always at the table and sitting in on closed-door meetings where Mission community business is decided.

An example of this is MEDA's huge influence on the Plaza 16 steering committee, which I allege is a nonprofit front-group in desperate need of openness.

I recently pointed out that Plaza 16 steering committee member and co-coordinator of the group, Maria Zamudio who works at Causa Justa, lives across the bay in Oakland yet sets the Mission housing activist agenda. She is not the only East Bay resident with such privilege.

Luis Granados, the executive director, also lives in Oakland and commutes into San Francisco to wield great influence at City Hall over policies that actual Mission folks have to live with, yet have little control over.

The California Secretary of State's campaign finance search engine turns up two donations from Granados, $750 to David Campos' run for assembly and $100 for Mark Leno's state senate effort, and reveals that he lives in Oakland.

In my view, there is a deep need for a Mission activist and advocacy organization free of control by nonprofits, Democratic Party hacks and East Bay residents. An organization with open meetings and honest transparency, allowing for new leaders to emerge and fresh ideas to be implemented. Enough with the Plaza 16 and nonprofit charade of these folks dominating the Mission Agenda.