“Mayor Matt”

Yes, S.F. newspapers are now starting to refer to Green mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez as “Mayor Matt”. The latest news is outgoing African-American Mayor Willie Brown implying Gonzalaez is racist, followed by  Gonzalez getting endorsements from several more African-Americans. I guess Willie is getting desperate, as his hand-picked candidate to succeed him, Gavin Newson, is trailing in the polls.

‘Mayor Matt’ topped off by Brown’s milliner

A day after Mayor Willie Brown reportedly slapped him down as a bigot and chauvinist, Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez announced the endorsement of Mayor Brown’s milliner, Ruth Dewson, an African-American woman know as “the Mayor of Fillmore Street.”

She also read a statement of support from actor and progressive activist Danny Glover.

“I support Matt Gonzalez because of his effective leadership in supporting Proposition L, the minimum wage increase, Proposition H, police reform and accountability, and public power,” Glover’s statement read. “Matt’s progressive values resonate with me and his leadership and integrity make him the only acceptable choice for the next mayor of San Francisco.”

A friend, a senior level Democratic operative in California, is generally condescending when referring to Greens, seeing them as laughable and insignificant. I mentioned the Gonzalez campaign to him a few days ago. He’s not laughing any more. The California Democratic Party, is, and should be, seriously worried about the high probability of a Green defeating a Democrat and becoming mayor of San Francisco.

First Arnold, now Matt. Bad days for California Democrats.

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Perishables are scarcer at some supermarkets

The supermarket union got a boost Monday, when 8,000 Teamster drivers and warehouse workers agreed not to cross warehouse picket lines.

The stores say they haven’t missed a beat, using replacement workers to make deliveries and staff warehouses.

Ralphs spokesman Terry O’Neal said Friday that the company had brought on 300 drivers and 1,400 warehouse workers, and was looking to hire more.

 “It’s our intention, as long as strikes last, to continue to operate our stores, serve our customers and provide them with the quality product that they are accustomed to,” O’Neal said.

Whoa Terry, let’s whip our Mr. Calculator and run the numbers. 8,000 Teamsters on strike. You’ve hired 1.700 untrained scabs, so that puts you 6,300 people short. I’m guessing your shelves will be nearly empty soon.

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Grocery strike forced store shutdown on Thanksgiving

Nearly 860 Southern California Vons, Ralphs and Alberstons were closed on Thanksgiving as a direct result of the strike.

And you know that’s got to hurt the grocery chains! Plus, soon enough, they will have little in their stores, due to the Teamster solidarity strike that has shut down the food distribution centers. It’s important to note that Teamsters include many more occupations than just truck drivers. In this case, the entire work force in the distribution centers are Teamsters, not just the drivers.

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Citizen captures police act of racism on camera phone.

Via Smart Mobs

“For anyone following the social impact of camera phones and the role played by Citizens as camera phone reporters, this was a story just waiting to happen and brings to mind the Rodney King beating, videotaped by an amateur.

A blatant act of racism by the Portland police was snapped by a “citizen reporter” armed with a camera phone. The story and the photos were published in the Portland Tribune and broadcasted on television. “

Police offers parked their car outside Ringlers restaurant with a stuffed gorilla attached to the car’s grill last Tuesday night, - where a largely black crowd had gathered for a weekly hip-hop show hosted by disc jockey Mello Cee.

“This is the kind of thing you expect to see in the South, like a Confederate flag. They might as well paint their faces black with white lips,” said Mello Cee.

“Resident Calvin Washington who said he took the photos around 1 a.m. outside Ringlers restaurant said when he realized what was happening, he grabbed his cell phone camera and walked outside to take pictures. “I went out and flicked a few pics. The police couldn’t tell what I was doing because I had the phone in my hand. They couldn’t tell what it was,” he said.

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