In the history of San Diego’s mayoral campaigns, there has hardly ever been a time when a candidate has held a GLBT news conference to talk about their civil rights record and their support for GLBT equality … with many of their GLBT supporters. Kevin Faulconer did just that last week underneath the rainbow flag and a few feet away from Harvey Milk Street (two community projects that Councilman Faulconer supported and voted for).
All of the major television news stations covered the news conference. Kevin Faulconer has been endorsed by such GLBT activists as Bob Nelson (past president of The LGBT Center), Dwayne Crenshaw (past executive director San Diego LGBT Pride) Susan Jester (founder, San Diego AIDS Walk), Johnathan Hale, Kaiden Blue Montana (San Diego Gender Coalition), Joe Mariscal (GLLO Latino), and former Marine captain and Bronze Star recipient, Jacque Atkinson (co-chair Sheriff’s GLBT Advisory Board) to name but a few.
Faulconer has held news conferences with African American, Latino, Asian and small business leaders also in neighborhoods across our city. The facts speak for themselves. Kevin Faulconer has a solid pro-equality voting record and it’s sad and, yes, dirty politics for some in our community who are trying to paint him as a right winger. Yes, I know and respect that the majority of our GLBT leadership has endorsed Kevin’s opponent, but many GLBT San Diegans will also be voting for Faulconer because both mayoral candidates are pro-equality but Kevin Faulconer is more experienced, has as better bi-partisan working record and is ready to lead America’s eighth largest city. Vote Kevin Faulconer for mayor. Thank you.
Alvarez loses La Prensa’s endorsement
I am proud of my Latino heritage and have been a Latino activist longer than my gay activism. La Prensa San Diego, our city’s oldest and most respected Latino publication, has for decades championed Latino empowerment and visibility. As the saying goes, no one knows you better than your neighbors and so La Prensa’s no endorsement in the upcoming mayoral election is a major defeat for David Alvarez. La Prensa refuses to endorse Alvarez stating, and I quote, “Alvarez has broken his promise to his district … has lack of experience as a leader … the mayor of San Diego is not an on- the-job training position … and he lacks business experience.” Now this Latino editorial is exactly what I have stated in my last columns. While I believe David is a nice young man, he is not ready or, has the qualifications to become our next mayor.
People, politics and opinions
Gay residents of ex-mayor Bob Filner’s downtown condo complex tell me he has been hitting the gym every day and getting a good tan by the pool and is getting in great shape and looking better. They also tell me that his ex-fiancé Bronwyn Ingram has been spotted at the complex numerous times. Personally, I wish them the very best.
Word is that prominent gay San Diegan Robert Gleason will soon be getting a new title and position.
The new president of Democrats for Equality will be all round nice guy David Warmoth and vice-president will be young Latino ex-Marine Will Rodriguez Kennedy … bravo! And, job well done to on-going President Doug Case.
The word is that after attending a Victory Fund national conference, our very own Dr. Joel Trambley is thinking about becoming a candidate for public office in the future.
A big shout-out and thank you to Congressman Scott Peters who joined other elected officials in writing a letter urging that gay icon Jose Julio Sarria be inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
I had dinner with Pride Executive Director Stephen Whitburn who told me there are some really exciting plans for San Diego’s 40th anniversary of our first Pride march in downtown in 1974!
Many San Diegans are looking for a candidate to oppose County Clerk Dronenburg for re-election and I am all in for this effort.
Big Mike’s charity birthday party drew such dignitaries as State Assembly Leader Toni Atkins, Interim Mayor Todd Gloria, School Board President Kevin Beiser, Councilmen David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer. More than $4,500 was raised for the Toni Atkins Women’s Health Fund which I founded almost two decades ago.
Controversial Linda Perine had the nerve and hypocrisy to show up after spending a week bad mouthing the benefit and making a fool out of herself.
Auntie Helen’s recently donated a badly needed van to Being Alive.
The Empress XLI race is looking very close between Toni Saunders and Pearl. The Coronation is Feb. 8 at the Lafayette Hotel.
Congratulations to Jeri Muse the new G.S.D.B.A. president.
Did you know that San Diego will be hosting the 18th annual prestigious United States Conference on AIDS from Oct. 2 – 5? Wow!
Speaking at the Creating Change Conference
The biggest GLBT national conference in America is the annual Creating Change Conference sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington, D.C. (I am a proud past national N.G.L.T.F. board member). Last year more than 3,000 activists and leaders attended in Atlanta and it was an exciting weekend that I spent along with Stuart Milk of the Harvey Milk Foundation. This year’s conference will be in Houston and I have been asked to speak at one of the conference’s plenaries. The last time I spoke at a Creating Change Conference was at their 10th anniversary. This weekend at the Houston conference, we will also be launching our national campaign to get a Bayard Rustin U.S. stamp. A full report next week.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last six mayors of San Diego. He is also a national board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation and chairman of the International Court Council of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com
Nicole M. R. : Please ask the object of your great political affections, Kevin Faulconer, to identify the thugs he apparently has hired to remove legal David Alvarez signs in San Diego. We have one on video caught in the act, and his Ford F-150 truck’s license plates. Many yard signs have been removed in Hillcrest, Mission Hills, North Park, South Park, University Heights and other areas by the same thugs in the white trucks. Faulconer refused to comment and also refuses to criticize the conduct : http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/01/alvarez-draws-democratic-stars-faulconer-attracts-reactionaries-who-tear-down-a-few-campaign-signs/
So Faulconer’s spouse makes $100,000 + a year negotiating special event permit fees with a sole city employee who has absolute discretion to charge whatever she unilaterally sees fit, and there are no rules ,guidelines, or objective standards for these fees.
Many of the permit applicants also donate to politician Faulconer.
The fees charges and the negotiation process for the fees are secret, not documented, not public, not transparent in any way.
Feed for comparable events range from ZERO to many thousands of dollars.
Does this pass anyone’s “Smell Test” ????????????????
Faulconer is profiting greatly from this secret process——-. This is the kind of government he wants. Deals deals made privately that profit him directly and his buddies in the hotel and restaurant business. No accountability. No transparency.
Send Faulconer an E Mail and tell him what you think :KevinFaulconer@SanDiego.gov.
Here is the link: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2014/feb/03/ticker-special-events-fees-and-mayoral-/?utm_content=buffera83a3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
This was the same Kevin Faulconer who couldn’t find the entrance for the LGBT Center on Thanksgiving Day even tho he parked right in front of the building in a reserved spot …. what a fluff