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SFist Interviews: Bevan Dufty
It says a lot about the state of San Francisco politics that an openly gay politician has a baby with an openly lesbian friend and the openly gay politician is considered not progressive enough. But there you have it. Dufty has come under criticism for being too conservative for his progressive district and earned the enmity of the progressives for allegedly being anti-tenant and for his vote against Healthy Saturdays initiative. The Progessive Voter Index even breaks it all down by numbers. But despite the criticism, the District 8 race between Bevan and Alix Rosenthal hasn't quite achieved the level of vitriol and craziness that marks the District 6 election. Part of it is that both Alix and Bevan-- to their credit-- appear to be acting like adults. And part of it is that even Bevan's critics seem acknowledge the fact that Bevan is a really nice guy and does a good job of servicing his district.
I guess the first question should be is what is your reaction to critics who say you don't vote progessive enough for a progessive district?
Many people view the Board of Supervisors in the context of a 7-4 split. For me, I try to evaluate each issue and make my own judgment or decision.
In many cases I have been the swing vote which determines whether the Mayor can oppose a measure.
On the landmark Universal Health Care Plan, I came out strongly for the plan once the Universal Health Care Council issued its recommendations on merging Supervisor Ammiano's employer mandate legislation with the Mayor's Health Access Plan. The combined measure is far stronger in offering access to 82,000 individuals without health coverage rather than the 16,000 covered with simply employer-mandate.
When Labor and Health Advocates had my support it changed the dynamics for the issue and ultimately led to a great measure that was supported by all eleven Supervisors.
There have been other issues such as planning controls on Chain Stores, and Matt Gonzalez' roommate legislation where my support put it beyond a veto. I think the Mayor is doing a great job but I speak and vote my conscience on issues.
Did you know what kind of reaction your proposed new policy on Halloween was going to create and what made you decide to move ahead with it?
After witnessing and calling #911 following violence on the Sunday of Pride weekend (ten young women arrested, including one for having a gun, another with a baseball bat) and then the assaults on six people following this year's San Diego Pride -- I was not willing to be complacent with the direction of Halloween.
People's safety matters more than me taking heat from some individuals. I see this as a transitional year where we hope to scale back the volume of the event so that it can be reinvented in a way that is more fun and draws more people from the neighborhood and LGBT Community.
Alix seems to be going for the "freak" vote. How freaky are you?
No comment, thanks.
And finally, how's fatherhood?
Every day Sidney shows me something new. My Co-Parent Rebecca is an amazing Mom and friend. I am a Zen Master at "Swaddling". And Pete Wilson will not be asked to babysit.
Name
Bevan Dufty
Introduce yourself in one sentence
"All about the neighborhood"
Age and Occupation
51 and holding, San Francisco Supervisor
Home Town
NYC
How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where
Mom moved us from NYC in 1971 and I graduated from Menlo-Atherton H.S. then went to Cal and worked in S.F. for a federal agency part-time. Left in '76 for DC and worked on Capitol Hill and then lived in LA for a few years, returning to SF in 1993 for good.
Favorite place to spend time online
By necessity answering my e-mails at bevan.dufty@sfgov.org --
Favorite local business
Love them all but if it's breakfast chances are I'm at Squat & Gobble in the Castro
What I'm currently Reading
Christopher Bram's new book, 'Exiles in America'
Favorite mode of transportation
Running
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Carol Channing
Favorite Bay Area Stereotype, and whether or not you buy into it
That LA is a giant Mall. No, although I could never live there again.
Favorite local hangout
Drunk n' Horny at Underground SF if it's an upscale night
SF has the BEST
People and natural setting
You've never lived in SF until
You tell people you really don't like warm weather
Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
D'Army Bailey
Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
If I heard that Actress Rosario Dawson was single I'd text him.
You can tell someone is a local here IF
They ask where you went to high school
Best Burrito
La Corneta in Glen Park or Don Ramon's in SOMA
Best Restaurant
If it's a first date, LeZinc in Noe Valley on 24th Street or Catch in the Castro
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
High Anxiety by Mel Brooks
Favorite artist to come out of the bay area
Paul Wonner
Favorite author to come out of the bay area
Armistead Maupin
Place you always tell visitors to check out
Dim Sum at Yank Sing, 49 Stevenson
Favorite Bridge in the area
I serve with Tom ammiano on the Board of Directors for the Golden Gate Bridge District, so it's an easy answerr (although we both want the suicide barrier as quickly as possible)
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Go to Medium Rare and listen to a zillion songs from the R&B, Disco era and beyond and then make a purchase
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
Nope
Tell Us A San Francisco Story
I met my Baby's Mama at Gold's Gym Brannan in a 6:30 a.m. Step Aerobics class 7 years ago. Go figure.