Support for Dufty's Halloween plan
Gary Virginia and Deana Dawn's gratuitous attack on District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty's plans to downsize Halloween in the Castro ["Scary plans for Halloween," Guest Opinion, October 5] reveals how disconnected they are from the neighborhood. Virginia and Dawn prefer catering to dangerous thugs from outside the Castro – many from outside the city – rather than addressing historic problems experienced by residents and merchants. They are either woefully ignorant of the past or prefer slandering Dufty for political reasons.
Halloween in the Castro has been dangerous for years, which is why the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence stopped sponsoring it. City officials traditionally regarded it as a "spontaneous" occurrence and provided insufficient police protection. In 2003, Dufty made Halloween an official city event and increased resources needed to prevent trouble. The violence in the Castro on this year's Pride Day, which resulted in injuries to Special Police Patrol Officer Jane Warner and others, convinced him that packing 300,000 people into the neighborhood, including many homophobic hoodlums determined to attack gays and lesbians, was inviting disaster. He thus took action and demonstrated the leadership people expect from elected officials.
Virginia and Dawn repeatedly refer to "relatively" safe celebrations. The man stabbed and seriously injured at 18th and Castro streets during one Halloween didn't think it was "relatively" safe. People along Beaver Street who endured homophobic threats after asking drunks not to urinate or defecate on their front steps didn't feel "relatively" safe. Residents along 14th Street whose garages were blocked by cars, preventing their leaving or being reached by emergency vehicles, didn't feel "relatively" safe.
The Entertainment Commission supports Dufty's plan as does Mayor Newsom, who has directed that city departments commit unprecedented resources to keep the event safe. Police Chief Heather Fong has promised 500 uniformed officers, supplemented by members of the sheriff's department. At 11 p.m., the Department of Public Works will begin removing the tons of litter and filth left by vandals who trash our neighborhood – the people whom Virginia and Dawn make their primary priority. Contrary to their assertion, the event's perimeter will be expanded to encircle areas several blocks away from Castro and Market streets.
Zero tolerance for dangerous behavior and inappropriate alcohol consumption, which is part of Dufty's plan, sets the right tone. One stage, rather than three, may discourage outsiders from attending. Regarding financial losses to businesses, something Virginia and Dawn lament, Patrick Batt, a Castro merchant and past president of Merchants of Upper Market and Castro, said at a public forum, "Most merchants are willing to forego profits for the good of our community." His sentiments are far more representative of Castro businesses than those of Virginia and Dawn.
A huge segment of our community feels besieged and avoids this event. Dismissing groups backing Dufty's plans for a safe Halloween as "laced with privileged, not-in-my-back-yard residents," is offensive. We represent the Castro's diversity: gay, lesbian, straight, renters, homeowners, business owners, employees, seniors, children, individuals of all social and economic classes. We are united by the horror that Halloween in the Castro has become and are grateful to Supervisor Dufty for acknowledging our tangible concerns and taking appropriate action.
Herb Cohn, President, Castro/Upper Market Community Benefits District
Paul Moffett, President, Merchants of Upper Market and Castro
Richard Magary, Steering Committee Chair, Buena Vista Neighborhood Association
Gustavo Serina, Secretary, Eureka Valley Promotion Association
Aim is off
If I were going to attack someone regarding his performance I'd likely choose a subject with which I had some experience. This seems not to be the case with Gary Virginia and Deana Dawn's "Scary plans for Halloween" piece in the October 5 B.A.R.
For more than eight years I have been intimately involved with all aspects of planning for Halloween in the Castro. This includes attending numerous meetings, dealing with all manner of city departments, raising money for Port-A-Potties, walking the neighborhood until the wee hours, as well as answering inane questions from "bridge and tunnel" folks regarding how they might get home from the Castro on the night of Halloween.
It appears the only time either of the authors of this piece attended any meetings was Gary Virginia's late arrival to and early exit from a July 26, 2006 neighborhood meeting called by Supervisor Dufty to discuss the community's input for planning for Halloween. Had Mr. Virginia been more involved he would have discovered the following:
1. The neighborhood is overwhelmingly opposed to Halloween as an event.
2. Halloween is not and has not been for some time a gay or even queer celebration.
3. That night, for many businesses, is a total financial disaster.
It might behoove Mr. Virginia and Ms. Dawn to practice their aim before attempting to throw rocks at someone.
Patrick Batt
San Francisco
Not 'progressive' to dismiss neighborhood
It's not hard to understand the motivation of the authors of a guest opinion supporting a Castro Halloween free-for-all, when the authors tip their hand in the fifth paragraph: "[Supervisor Bevan] Dufty is asking bars to close early on one of their highest-revenue nights of the year," complain Gary Virginia and Deana Dawn.
And therein lies the real motivation for the proponents of an unbridled, late-night party: not having it would cost bar owners money.
As it happens, I disagree with Bevan Dufty on nearly everything he does as a supervisor. I share Virginia's and Dawn's concerns about Ellis Act evictions, displacement of seniors, the disabled, low- and middle-income people, and young queers. But it's hard to understand how a late-night Halloween party, at which suburban homophobes get drunk, gawk, harass queers, and vandalize property, promotes the safety of the Castro's most vulnerable residents. In a dig at Dufty's new parenthood, the authors claim to support "family values." When the city is closing schools and suffering an epidemic of teens shot dead on the streets, how is it "family values" to suggest that the city spend more on police and monitors for a late-night party so bar owners and merchants can sell more liquor?
Alix Rosenthal, Dufty's opponent, has embraced Virginia's and Dawn's position on Castro Halloween. She's taken some thoughtful and progressive positions. This is not one of them. It is not "progressive" to dismiss the concerns of a neighborhood out-of-hand, in favor of bar owners and liquor vendors. Unfortunately, Rosenthal has a history of saying whatever her constituency of the moment wants to hear, dating back at least to the instant runoff voting controversy. Back then, acting as a voice of Downtown, she obstructed the will of the voters as president of the Elections Commission – a position she recants, now that she is trying to run as the progressive alternative to Dufty. I wanted someone to oppose Dufty, but I had hoped for someone with enough integrity and leadership to point out when her opponent happens to be right.
Paul Quick
San Francisco
From fun to disgusting
To Gary Virginia and Deana Dawn: If you don't live on the blocks adjoining the Halloween event, STFU.
I have lived at ground zero since 1979, several years before this event began. I have watched Halloween in the Castro go from a safe place to celebrate Halloween to a disgusting spectacle of drunks, loud mouths, and others with no interest in the neighborhood or its residents.
As far as the bars closing early, contrary to popular belief the bars in the Castro are not the only businesses in the Castro and are by no means its most respected residents. The neighborhood bars frequently skirt fire laws by overcrowding, and lower the living standards of the neighborhood by blasting music out onto the streets until 2 a.m. Not to mention the gagging cloud of smoke provided outside each bar by their smoking patrons.
The Castro Halloween is known all over Northern California as the best place for underage kids to get served alcohol. High school teens come from Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, and Salinas to get drunk in the Castro. Ask teachers in those communities – they can tell you all about the Castro Halloween.
Last but not least, who is going to pay for Halloween in the Castro? The cost to the city must be staggering and comes at a time when the city faces service cuts to the poor.
K.L. Mosberg
San Francisco
Dangers of the closet
I would like to compliment the B.A.R. for its "fair and balanced" coverage of disgraced congressman Mark Foley ["Foley resigns amid scandal," and "Foley fallout," Editorial, October 5]. As a gay Republican I was expecting the B.A.R. to deliver a full-frontal liberal hit piece on Foley and, like the mainstream media, exploit this tragedy as PR for the Democrats.
The newly sainted Rahm Emanuel and George Stephanopoulos (formerly known as sleazy Clinton apologists) were especially disgusting on This Week, propping up Foley as an easy proxy for attacks on all things Republican. I mean, why explain real Democrat positions during this election season – higher taxes, cut and run defense policy, maniacal defense of terrorists' supposed civil liberties – when there is a once-closeted gay Republican to kick around?
Although I am certain that the entire editorial staff of the B.A.R. is desperate to see Democrats regain control of Congress I was heartened that the B.A.R. appeared to recognize that the story of the Foley tragedy is the frustration and damage suffered by gay people in a world only microscopically safe outside of the closet and life-draining and dangerous for the vast (Democrat and Republican) closeted majority inside of the closet.
Joseph Lovestone
San Francisco
Congrats to new parents
My partner and I want to congratulate San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty and co-parent Rebecca Goldfader on the birth of their lovely daughter Sidney ["And baby makes three!" October 5] .
It is not an easy road for us as LGBT folks to develop families that include children. It takes great planning, hard work, and oftentimes many hurdles. We face issues not normally faced by heterosexual couples who are able to just have sex and here comes baby.
We applaud Dufty on his role as an openly gay politician. By publicly setting an example with Goldfader, they have shown those who would believe that gay and lesbian people have no business becoming parents that we can do the job quite well.
My partner and I are in the middle of an exhaustive process to become licensed foster/adoptive parents. We hope that the general public and our gay brothers and sisters begin to see this as more "normal." We hope that the Castro will begin to accept and welcome this idea. It will be a great day when we can all be embraced as parents who have chosen to take on this role with open arms and hearts.
Johnny Glorioso and Steve Wells
San Francisco
Thanks for the picture – not
In regards to the picture on the front page of the October 5 B.A.R., "Castro fair action": I congratulate the editorial staff for challenging gender, sexuality, and race in one picture.
Carlos Chavarin Chavez
San Francisco
Fairly fabulous
I was sorry to read that Bill Horton found this year's Castro Street Fair "terrible," and was baffled by his "embarrassment" [Mailstrom, October 5]. I wonder whether we were at the same fair. The fair I attended was crowded but not mobbed and everybody seemed to be having a really good time. There was a wide variety of dance music. The cowgays were two-stepping, the tribal types were getting deep, deep, deep and the "Toxic" women were just too much. The artists down Sugar Valley way were sweet. The $4 donation � was a donation. No one was turned away, and everywhere I went and everywhere I looked everybody was smiling. Fleeced? The dollars collected went to the AIDS/Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, API Wellness Center, Project Open Hand, Instituto Familiar De La Raza, Lyon-Martin Women's Health Services, LYRIC and two dozen other charitable community organizations.
Next year? I'll see you at the fair!
Jordy Jones
San Francisco
Thanks, fair organizers
I am writing to thank the organizers of the Castro Street Fair. Not just for bringing us the event again this year but for taking such care to respect the residents as well as attendees.
I've lived at 17th and Hartford for seven years and this was the smoothest big public event I've seen during that time. The organizers even had people to help sort items going into trash containers to include recyclables and compost.
Also, and most notable to me, the person stationed at the containers outside my building encouraged people to use the public restrooms rather than the area outside my building. I am grateful for thus, as I have requested to have the stench of urine power-washed away by both my building's property management company as well as the public works department, to no avail. I have secretly suspected for years that the trees outside my building were in the Damron Guide listed as favorite place to pee in the Castro.
Thank you, Castro Street Fair, and all attendees for helping give our neighborhood the respect anyone would want for their own homes and communities.
Steven Kyle Weller
San Francisco
Saddened by marriage ruling
As Unitarian Universalists we are proud of our long legacy of support for full civil marriage equality for same-sex couples and their children. From our religious experience of worshipping and being together in community, we know that what unites us as families and as people is much greater that what divides us.
We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the action of the California First Appellate District Court of Appeal in its failure to uphold equality and justice for all as evidenced in its recent ruling against civil marriage equality for same-sex couples.
As people of faith we remain committed to continued engagement in the struggle for marriage equality, until the day when full legal and civic equality is a reality for all loving couples. We honor every person's inherent worth and dignity and are proud to stand on the side of love with same-sex couples and their children.
Linda Enger, Moderator, Board of Trustees
Reverend Gregory Stewart, Senior Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco
Ex-AIDS adviser responds
I would like to respond to the letter published about my service to the mayor [Mailstrom, October 5]. First, let me correct the misimpression that I was ever the "AIDS czar" – my official title was HIV/AIDS adviser to the mayor.
Why not AIDS czar? I believed at the time the mayor asked me to take up the position (I did not seek the appointment, by the way) that the expenditure of any funds toward this position was wrong at a time when federal and state budget cuts were causing real cuts in services and layoffs at the Department of Public Health and agencies of hardworking, dedicated healthcare and service providers. I also did not see a part-time volunteer role as one that could possibly fit such a grandiose title. And, I did not think it appropriate to make this role one that would be the boss of everyone working to fight HIV/AIDS in San Francisco, as implied by the word "czar." At any time, if the community wanted more, then the suggestion of where the money would come to pay for this position should have been made and someone else hired. Personally, I believe that we have an AIDS Office at the health department with a director who has staff and gets a nice salary, and that person should be held responsible.
And what was my advice over the last two years besides what you may have read in this paper?
â�" Produce leadership at the helm of the AIDS Office – if that requires a change, so be it.
â�" Take administration of the Ryan White CARE funds away from DPH and, like New York City, appoint a neutral nonprofit to administer the funds and let DPH compete equally with everyone else for the contracts. I discussed this with Sandra Hernandez at the SF Foundation and she indicated their capability, though without indication of desire to do so, but that convinced me of the feasibility.
â�" Move the AIDS Office from reporting directly to DPH's director to community health under Barbara Garcia, under whom the spectacular job of integrating diverse funding streams to create a unified model of care that we know as "supportive housing" has taken place. Housing, primary care, and behavioral health are all under this director and AIDS should be there, too so that a truly integrated service model can be best implemented.
â�" Combine STD control with HIV prevention and hire someone highly qualified who is not wiggy about HIV-positive people actually having sex to be in charge of the unit.
â�" With the easing of the budget crisis, rather than fill the "czar" position, expand on Brian Basinger's initiative looking at what housing for PWAs/HIVers is needed years down the road to also look at all of the services that will be needed and bring in external experts to produce the analysis. Community feedback should shape the final product, but we don't need another summit as a starting point.
â�" And, one that I am told is not feasible, but to me as a person with HIV morally necessary – change the city's lobbying position for Ryan White CARE Act renewal. That is, lobby for provision of healthcare and the services needed to succeed on therapy for all Americans with HIV, not simply for more money for SF.
My final point is that this was advice – good or bad – and no one should have the authority to make these kinds of wrenching changes by fiat. I certainly did not seek to do so and would not have accepted this position if it had that kind of power.
Jeff Sheehy
San Francisco