Redistricting Process Comes Down to Portola

BeyondChron has a really good article on what's going on with regard to redistricting and the Portola.

Email comments to the redistricting task force at rdtf@sfgov.org

"I Heard That": Thanksgiving at Velma's Place

Rochelle Metcalfe at BeyondChron writes,

LET’S DO IT AGAIN! San Francisco Bayview merchants and sponsors came together for “The Second Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner - Turkey Your Way”, at Velma’s Place - the heart and soul venue of the community, located on Jerrold Avenue, where it all began last year! VELMA LANDERS, long time District 10 resident, opened her club three years ago; which serves not only as a nightclub (that has featured named musicians), but the community as well.

Read more at BeyondChron

On the perils of 'Instant Runoff' voting - SFGate

Ah, the Chronicle, going to press with inaccuracies.  For the record, Lynette Sweet had the most first place votes (2137, 12.07%), not Kelly. He came in second (2095, 11.83%), Cohen third (2083, 11.77%), a mere 12 votes behind Kelly.  What John Diaz of the Chronicle seems to be saying is that Cohen's victory with "less than a quarter of all votes cast" (24.4%) is somehow better than a Sweet victory with 12.07% of first-choice votes cast (with no runoff).  Either that, or, during a runoff between Sweet and either Cohen or Kelly (there surely would have been a recount for the #2 spot), we somehow would have gotten the 17705 people back to the polls to vote again.  In fact, as Richard DeLeon of BeyondChron points out, 

In December 2001, San Francisco paid approximately $3 million to hold a runoff election in which 70,000 voters, only 17 percent of those registered, turned out to elect the city attorney. Turnout plunged all over the city, especially in minority precincts.

In this 2010 election, 60% of registered voters voted.  17% of registered voters in a December runoff this year would have been 5000, and the winner would have taken the seat with presumably about 50% of that, more or less, which is 2500.  2500 is only 14% of the total number of people who voted in the November general election, and not much better than having no runoff at all.  As it is, Cohen took the seat with 4321 votes in the end, which is almost double that which the winner would have received during a December runoff.  

Read more at SFGate and BeyondChron

“I Heard That”: Bravo to 3 Dynamic Women - Beyond Chron

Rochelle Metcalfe writes:

"Cohen is a San Francisco native, has worked for Mayor Gavin Newsom, and as a policy analyst for the federal government. This young woman has a bright future. Active in the Democratic Party; received major endorsements in her first run for political office (the youngest to run in Dist. 10)."

Read more at Beyond Chron

Election News

Public Supports Ranked Choice Voting - BeyondChron

Local News and Events

Mmmmm.... Magnolia Brewery & Restaurant - 7x7

Awesome! Bayview Tutoring Program gets $1M grant - SFAppeal


Hunters Point Shipyard Public Art Youth Program (click on flyer at right for details)



Portola Neighborhood Steering Committee community meeting
November 18th
6:30 to 8pm
Palega Rec Center
Dinner Provided
Contact Shirley Chen for details. Meeting agenda can be found here.

The Ultimate in Repurposing - SFGate

Election News

Leland Yee announces exploratory committee for SF Mayor

How ranked choice voting elected Malia Cohen - BeyondChron (h/t Eric Smith)

Winners of SF Supervisor Seats Still Uncertain - SF Examiner

D10 Cliffhanger - BeyondChron

District 10 Cliffhanger - BeyondChron

Rochelle Metcalf at BeyondChron addresses the elephant in the room regarding the community candidates who've come close to shooting themselves in the foot with regard to electing a Black Supervisor.

Election Predictions

It's all a parlor game until all the votes are counted.

BeyondChron

Dear Bay Area Newspapers

HEY!!! Over here, in D10!! Yeah, I know you see us cuz I hear you talking about us.

There are 21 candidates in this race, so why are you all (SFBG, Bay Area Reporter, Beyond Chron, and the Chronicle) only talking about five or six of them? Why has only the Examiner actually mentioned ALL of the candidates by name and offered profiles of each of them? Oh, and over at the Potrero View, a very handsome reporter has given us info on the ten candidates who've qualified for city matching funds.

Do your job, media, be responsible, and above all, fair, to help people make up their minds in this confusing election.