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Barbara Boxer's New Nemesis: Superman Producer

Brock Keeling — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:45:35 GMT

While amazon techie women from Silicon Valley could rule California after the November election, if recent polls are any indication, there's a new contender taking aim at Sen Barbara Boxer: Hollywood producer Brian Quintana, responsible for the 2011 release Superman: Man of Steel. Looking to slide into the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, which is unlikely given Boxer's popularity, Quintana "says he would be the first 'person of color' to represent California in the senate."

Quintana's campaign narrative, however, as original. It's called "Take California Back." And his platform? Creating jobs, cutting spending, improving schools, etc. [via LA Weekly]

Sotomayor Gets Confirmation, 68-31

Brock Keeling — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:29:44 GMT

Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be sworn in as the Supreme Court's 111th justice and first-ever Hispanic judge and third xx-chromosome carrier. With a Senate vote of 68-31, Sotomayor was also the first nominee by a Democrat in a long 15 years. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will administer the oath of office on Saturday. Associated Press reports, "the Senate chamber was heavy with history as senators took the rare step of assembling at their desks on for the vote, rising from their seats to call out 'aye' or 'nay.'"

Most telling of all was when 91-year-old Robert Byrd of West Virginia, in "frail health following a long hospitalization," wheeled in the room to vote in Sotomayor's favor. Aw.

Read more about Sotomayor's confirmation, as well as bizarre and unfounded allegations of racism by certain members of the Senate, here and here.

BOS Meeting: Muni Budget, to Pass or Not to Pass

Brock Keeling — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:59:52 GMT

In a meeting filled with local online notables -- that is to say, Streetsblog, the Guardian, SF Weekly, former D6 candidate Paul Hogarth, your mother -- the Board of Supervisors plans on voting on the Muni budget, which is white hot with interest. So far that solar thing is the topic on-hand, with Eric Mar, D1 supe saying, "I did my homework and... this is a good deal for the city... for the interest of our city's climate change plans. I'll be supporting the project as is, and not supporting any delays." New papa Ross Mirkarimi quipped, "We should not be seduced by eco-chic proposals ... [The cost] of renewable energy, will come down precipitously." And Chris Daly talked about Steven T Jones and something French. They should get to the SFMTA item soon. Hopefully. Anyway, through it all, one thing is for sure: the Board of Supervisors feel very, very important today. So, give them a moment of your time by checking out SF Appeal, who are live blogging today's BOS meeting right now. Update: "It's just been continued! To later in the meeting!" SFMTA budget = eleventh hour song.

All that Olympic Torch Brouhaha Pays Off, Newsom Launches ChinaSF

Brock Keeling — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:20:19 GMT

Team Newsom recently kicked off a nightclub-sounding economic development initiative called ChinaSF. The "public/private" partnership will help connect businesses in China to San Francisco and the Bay Area, helping cash-rich Chinese companies looking to invest or set up shop in North America. So far, SF has scored sweet deals with Trina Solar, a global solar-power company of note, and China Daily, a state-run English-only paper in China. Looks like that Olympic torch mess and human rights violation cheek-tuning San Francisco saw earlier this year was all worth it, right?