Mike Acree was having trouble posting this for some reason, and asked me
to send it along.
I would only add that, while Josh seems like a decent guy, perhaps his
Libertarian uncle can inculcate some practical sense before he is elected.
(-:
Some thoughts on Josh Wolf's campaign platform planks...
(1) I am fascinated by Josh Wolf's pledge to wear a video camera while in office. If he hasn't said, I am curious whether he considers things like meetings with donors to be "official business," whether he would require representatives from his office to also wear cameras when appearing in his stead, how the feed would be handled, whether he would oppose and seek to overturn any city codes or other laws requiring city meetings to be confidential, and whether he would put this promise with details in writing and pledge to immediately resign if he were to renege. If he does make a substantive, airtight pledge, this would be a substantial positive move that should be commended and taken seriously by the LPSF.
(2) Address crime by increasing foot patrols? Not too much of substance here. Most of the city already supports foot patrols -- the real question is, what steps will you take to ensure that the SFPD follows through in following the wishes of the citizens and city officials, and is otherwise accountable to the voters, the law, and the public in such matters as not making arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana, issuing police reports promptly to all persons involved in reported incidents free of charge, appointing a police chief who will testify in Sacramento in favor of legislation overturning the court ruling allowing police conduct hearings to be kept secret from the public, etc.
(3) Another "town hall meeting" on homelessness? Sigh. How about getting in touch with former mayoral candidate and building contractor Jim Reid about making homeless people into homeowners by getting some of his 12-square-foot, $6000, single-person houses built on public land and given to the new owners? For less than the amount of a single year's city budget for programs and services to the homeless, every homeless person in SF could be given one of these small homes and gotten off the street. What's more, private companies could probably be tapped to provide much or all of the materials for these houses for free.
(4) Before making a sweeping proposal for a new tax on vehicles in San Francisco, there should be a cost-benefit analysis to determine the impact on small businesses and poor residents who live or work in areas not adequately served by transit and rely on their cars to get to work and run vital errands. Also people with small children, elderly persons with serious disabilities, and others for whom transit is impractical. What about allowing privately-operated jitneys to service areas that MUNI does not service, or which are underserved?
(5) Bravo! I couldn't agree more! The federal government uses its stolen money to lord it over San Francisco and enforce priorities that local residents oppose. Let's cut the purse strings and seek to decrease federal taxes so that more of San Franciscans' money stays in SF without making us beholden to the wishes of Washington politicians.
(6) Again, right on! Issuing county marriage licenses is an interesting idea that should be looked into. Along with same-sex couples, Josh should also pledge to issue such licenses to polyamorous groupings of three or more persons who wish to tie the knot.
(7) What's needed with regard to medical marijuana is the will to have a "zero tolerance" police for the SFPD to cooperate with federal law enforcement on the enforcement of drug laws. SFPD personnel found to be in violation should be immediately fired or if that proves impossible, suspended without pay pending disciplinary hearings. Medical cannabis education and sensitivity training should also be incorporated into police academy training, and existing officers required to attend classes. SFPD should be dispatched to protect local cannabis clinics against the federal thugs when there is a raid.
(8) More bike lanes - good. But first how about getting rid of the backlog of streets that need repaving? As someone who uses a bicycle as my main form of transportation, I would take smoothly paved streets over more bike lanes if I had to choose one or the other. And can we do these things without socking it to the public, for a change? I would cut city salaries in order to pay for them. Speaking of which, what would you say to capping city salaries, including the mayor's, at $99,999 a year Josh? I don't think any local politicians need to be making six-figure salaries at public expense when there are members of the public living on the street and struggling to pay for the bare necessities, do you?
(9) The Halloween plan to have celebrations in each neighborhood isn't bad as far as it goes. I'm glad you are not just saying "get Halloween out of the Castro" as so many anti-fun politicians seem to be doing. But these things happen better when they happen organically, rather than as centrally-planned initiatives from City Hall. One thing that the city can do to help more parties and festivals happen organically is get rid of or cut the excessive fees for permits, and allow the events more flexibility as far as hours of operation, merchandise and alcohol sales, etc.
(10) Making San Francisco independent or at least more self-governing is an idea worth promoting, especially if it's done as part of a broader plan to cooperate with other areas around the country and the world where people are seeking greater autonomy or independence -- Vermont, New Hampshire, Alaska, Hawaii, the state of Jefferson (northern CA and southern Oregon), Kurdistan, Khalistan, Tibet, etc. People everywhere deserve the right to self-determination. See www.Secession.org.
Eric Dupree, if you're reading, what are your positions on these issues? Will you make a similar guarantee in writing to wear a live streaming video camera for all official business if elected? If you're willing to do so, it could get you some press. Have you filed papers to run yet, by the way? When will we see a platform?
Love & Liberty,
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