July 9, 2007
Josh Wolf At Noe Valley Farmers' Market

Recently announced mayoral candidate, activist Josh Wolf, began his quest for enough signatures to get on the ballot sans fee at the Noe Valley Farmers' Market on Saturday. It wasn't a great day for it weather-wise, but he was meeting and greeting nonetheless.
We chit-chatted with him a bit, and he committed to doing an "official" interview with us in the near future. Highlights of our conversation included both mild criticism of the last piece we wrote about him -- "when you reduce the 10 items down to just descriptions, they have no real substance" -- which is probably fair, though he did understand our position that we couldn't reprint them wholly (we did link to the original list for readers interested in the whole plan). He indicated appreciation for the reader feedback that was left as well.
While his idea to video-stream his life on the job would indeed shed sunshine on mayoral activities, we posited that the constituency could be better served by an open, valid forum for feedback (one that's actually easily accessible, read by mayoral staff, and taken seriously). Mr. Wolf had a good idea about promoting that sort of interactivity: an online forum with ranked commentary, so folks could "vote" good ideas to the top of the page, and thus the city's attention.
Mr. Wolf did not specifically make this point to us -- it just came up in conversation -- but we thought it would be important to note to our readership: he, indeed, has a day job. (Much of the negative response to him has been in the spirit of "get a job"). He works at a community college television station as its outreach director. Any campaigning he does is strictly around that schedule; whatever else you may think, his activities candidacy-wise are purely a spare-time effort. He's no trustafarian or professional politician; he needs to pay the rent like the rest of us. For that, he's got our respect. For more specific details on his ideas, to help you make up your minds about the validity of his candidacy, keep your eyes peeled to SFist (and, yes, we'll be approaching Chicken John, Tony Hall, Gavin, and anyone else that officially declares for mayor as well).


I have two questions for all Mayoral candidates - Will you raise taxes or reduce services to pay the estimated $4.9 billion in retiree healthcare benefits promised to current and retired City and County of San Francisco employees? Will you change the amount of time City and County employee must work before they are promised healthcare benefits in retirement from 5 years to something closer to 20 years of service?
who gives a hoot? he's just needing more attention now that he's out of jail and his own work is mediocre at best. so he has to do stunts.
maybe he can get those anarchist protesters he loves so much and whom owe him big time to help tear down his opponent's signs and bully voters!
I thought that anarchists don't vote???
Having said that kudos to anybody who runs for office. I would not vote for him in a million years, but would be happy to sign his or anybodys petition to get on the ballot, (candidates not initatives, I hate them).
No.
Stop the presses! SFist posts about non-rich candidate and refrains from completely dismissing them out of hand for not being serious or some other bullshit.
Sfist,
I'm so disappointed with your inconclusive, incomprehensible "chit-chat." You did not ask the most important issue that is burning up the hearts of commenters citywide...
JOSHIE B HAVIN FIXIE OR GEARS?
Frankly, I would rather have a real reporter like justin.tv give us the scoop about what it is like to be the mayer. Now just how many signatures do you need to be declared a serious candidate for wanker?
Oh my god, I just realized he looks like Roz from Monsters Inc.
This kid is such a joker. I wish you'd stop giving him coverage.
I agree - in theory - with #3, but to give every slappy who fecklessly runs for public office a pat on the back is a waste of time and a mockery of the system.
In truth, he looks like they'd eat him up alive in a SOMA motorcycle/leather/bear bar. Josh if you decide to walk on the other side, you'd make a hot little cubby.