Mayor Faulconer … a ‘Dine Out’ waiter!

Almost every major city has a Dine Out For Life day when local restaurants and bars give a percentage of their receipts to HIV/AIDS agencies. In the past San Diego’s mayors have participated but Mayor Kevin Faulconer will be the first to actually wait on customers on Thursday April 24 during lunch at Harvey Milk’s American Diner in Hillcrest.

Council President Todd Gloria and School Board President Kevin Beiser will be waiters during the dinner shift and I and other San Diego personalities will join them as bus boys, waiters, hosts etc. Mayor Faulconer will also host a “townhouse” meeting at The LGBT Center, April 22.

Cole, Cate and Zapf for City Council

San Diego City Council races are non-partisan and that’s the way they should be. Myrtle Cole won a special election in District 4 and has earned a full solid term as she has always been a fighter all her life for the African Americans and Latinos who make up the majority of her constituents,

Lorie Zapf has proven to be a hard-working and intelligent councilmember who likes to be out in the neighborhoods and connecting with the citizens of our city. We need her voice back on our City Council and I urge her re-election.

District 6 is an open race and the former president of the San Diego Tax Payers Association, yes, Chris Cate is the clear choice.

I predict a very bright future for this 31-year-old native San Diegan who is bright, compassionate and knowledgeable. Chris Cate reminds me of Todd Gloria, as they both love public service and are a new generation of leaders for San Diego.

That’s Myrtle Cole, Lorie Zapf and Chris Cate for City Council.

Mr. Szakalski: I am the mayor of Hillcrest!

A Richard Szakalski wrote a letter to the editor recently questioning that I wasn’t really the honorary “mayor of Hillcrest” and had I made it all up. Well Mr. Szakalski, I actually received an official city proclamation naming me the mayor of Hillcrest and among the officials witnessing the granting of this honorary title were the police chief, sheriff, district attorney and mayor … thank you very much.

I also was officially named a San Diego city commissioner for life by the 35th mayor of San Diego as well as having another proclamation by the mayor and city clerk of San Antonio, Texas officially appointing to the office of mayor of La Villita, Texas one Nicole Murray Ramirez. Also I have the keys to the cities of West Hollywood, Portland and, yes, San Diego and was made an “Honorary Texan For Life” by the late Gov. Ann Richards. I also have a video of the late 91-year-old gay icon and World War II veteran Jose Julio Sarria crowning me “Queen Mother of the Americas.”

So you see Mr. Szakalski, these are honors, awards and titles not made up, but officially presented to me. If you would like to see them yourself, just contact me. It also seems in your letter you think my views are “tiring.” Well here is my advice to you Mr. Szakalski, when you come to my column just turn the page and don’t read it! Thank you.

SeaWorld is a San Diego treasure

Happy anniversary SeaWorld and thank you for bringing millions of visitors to our city and for the hundreds of jobs you provide San Diego and the millions of dollars you generate for our city. And thank you for always giving back to our communities and causes including the GLBT community.

Yes, Happy 50th anniversary SeaWorld!

Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 45 years. In 2013 Murray Ramirez was named “Mayor of Hillcrest” by a City proclamation. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com