Yesterday, we talked to you about Schwarzenegger's clever missive to Asm. Tom Ammiano, where the governor tossed him a good ol' fashion "fuck you" while informing him that he vetoed his Port of SF bill. SFBG editor Tim Redmond called the governor's press office to ask about the now famous veto message with a little something special. Redmond reports: more ›

The fine folks over at SFBG did a little sleuthing over Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent vetoing of Assemblymember Tom Ammiano's AB 1176, a simple bill that involved the Port of San Francisco and some sort of financing issues. Basic stuff, really. According to SFBG Editor Tim Redmond, "It’s the kind of bill that legislators offer on behalf of their cities all the time," the kind of bill that is routinely passed. more ›

Oh geez. more ›

This is why getting violently ill sucks. You miss wonderfully uncomfortable stuff like this. See, at last night's Democratic County Central Committee gala at the San Francisco Fairmont, a surprise guest showed up. Who, you ask? None other than Governor Schwarzenegger, making a surprise appearance to speak to the left-leaning crowd. After being introduced by former SF Mayor Willie Brown, Arnold was "greeted by an awkward combination of polite applause, hisses, and shouts." more ›

From the weekend answering machine of Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, after helping deliver the finalized state budget: more ›

Can you feel it? It runs thick in the air. The 2010 election is coming. And with that comes the deluded hopes and dreams of many a wonk who think that this next election will solve all of their problems. (See: Obama) But here's something most all of us can look forward to: the legalization of marijuana. According to NBC Bay Area, "State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, introduced a resolution Monday urging the federal government to end medical marijuana raids in California." The measure, if passed, would also "let people 21 and older possess an ounce and grow plants as long as the 'garden' is no bigger than 5 by 5 feet." Counties would then be able to tax and regulate it. This comes on the heels of Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's bill to further legalize mary jane. Ammiano's office tells SFist that they hope to have the bill heard either later in the fall or at the beginning of next year. more ›

With support from Supervisor David Campos, CA Superior Court Judge James P. Gray, and SF Sheriff Mike Hennessey, Tom Ammiano held a frenzied press conference at the State Building this morning. more ›

California is one step closer to getting Prop 8, the same-sex marriage ban that passed in November, overturned. Hopefully. A judiciary committee passed House Resolution 5 today (care of one Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco), which states that "a revision is a substantial change to the underlying principles of the California Constitution, or to the structure of California's basic governmental plan." more ›

So, you've got nothing to do on a Tuesday? Well, Equality California has just the thing. Head on over to Sacramento to participate in 2009 Marriage Lobby Day, an opportunity for concerned citizens to nag their elected officials about fighting the good fight against Prop 8. more ›

Senator Mark Leno and (new!) Assemblymember Tom Ammiano will introduce measures that prove Proposition 8 is "an improper revision of the California State Constitution," according to reports. The measure, which should be announced today during the second day of the 2009-20101 legislative session, is sponsored by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Prop 8, if you recall, could ban same-same marriage, effectively altering the California constitution to allow discrimination. more ›

Weep no more, my lady. He's going on to bigger and brighter things, free from the Board of Supervisors. more ›

Due do the recent smattering of murders plaguing the Mission district -- e.g., since August 22 the hood has played host to seven murders -- city supervisor Tom Ammiano "sent letters to each city department, including Police Chief Heather Fong, District Attorney Kamala Harris and Mayor Gavin Newsom," in efforts reduce the bloodshed. While Fong has deployed more fuzz to parts of the hood "known for gang presence and drug sales," Ammiano claims that most of the new police presence has been "deployed only in front of the trendy neighborhood shops on Mission and Valencia streets." In his letter, Tommy also asked for an explanation from the DA's office for the "disturbing lack of suspects, arrests." (CBS 5) more ›

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Undergoing a procedure to erase 30 years from its face, the Castro neighborhood is going retro, circa 1978, for the filming of Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk biopic, Milk, which starts shooting this week. Already the Castro Theatre, right, and boutique shop Given, formerly Milk's camera store / campaign headquarters, are being renovated to get that '70s vibe. Rumor has it that Castro Street between 18th and 19th streets (i.e., the staphicenter) will be closed on Thursday. We'll update with more info as it comes in. more ›

Obama '08 is coming your way. more ›

Today's rally at City Hall in support of Bike Plan implementation more ›

Photos from the San Francisco Bike Coalition's Winterfest more ›

We got word today from an anonymous source that two residents of Bernal Heights -- including a former President of Golden Gate Audubon Society -- spotted a burrowing owl a block from their house on the southeastern side of the hill. The (sub?)species was confirmed by another Audubon-er. more ›

-- Alameda County judge tells Berkeley tree squatters, like the scrappy Ninjah and Stork here, to climb down. For good. [SFGate] more ›

Tom Ammiano announced a plan yesterday to give city IDs to those who don't have IDs, mainly immigrants-- legal or otherwise. The idea, pushed by immigrant advocates, will allow those without an ID to be given access to a whole range of city services they would not normally be open to, including health care, library privileges, and the ability to use municipal golf courses. Ammiano also said he's going to work with financial institutions to let people use the Ids to open accounts. more ›

Oh, Michela Alioto-Pier! Our favorite absentee supervisor finally straggled on in to an actual committee meeting, only to find out that the code of conduct she's proposing for the supervisors has loopholes big enough for a Mack truck to drive though. more ›

Oh No, Chris Daly! We don't even know what to say right now. We'd been hearing rumors all day (thanks to those hard-working folks over at the SFist Tips line) about a fight between District 6's rebearded progressive bad boy and the more moderate and clean-shaven Bevan Dufty of District 8, but didn't get confirmation of it until the Chron went live with their story. more ›

Oh No, Chris Daly! We don't even know what to say right now. We'd been hearing rumors all day (thanks to those hard-working folks over at the SFist Tips line) about a fight between District 6's rebearded progressive bad boy and the more moderate and clean-shaven Bevan Dufty of District 8, but didn't get confirmation of it until the Chron went live with their story. more ›

Rally at St Luke's Hospital in the Mission more ›

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--Gavin Newsom angrily denies Chris Daly's cocaine allegations, calls them "sleazy," and calls for everyone in the Board of Supes to condemn them. Tom Ammiano says he thought it was one of Daly's better speeches. [The Chron (and audio clip), CBS 5 (with video of Daly at the meeting and Newsom's denial), ABC 7 (also with video), Fog City, Beyond Chron, Examiner, SF Sentinel. Watch the video from SFGov here, around item 36.] more ›

Nothing too new to report on the Ed Jew got arrested front this morning, but the Chron did survey all the other Board of Supervisor members for their reactions. Let's go in order! more ›

10:30 p.m.: We went out to dinner and missed Ed Jew's surrender to the authorities.... in Burlingame!!! Awesome. Hey, that way he could just go straight home afterwards. Jew posted bail and was released on his own recognizance. His first court appearance is scheduled for July 16. more ›

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Now here's a story we haven't mentioned in awhile, the poor saga of Amy Lee. Lee, if you remember, was the former head of the Building Inspection Department who was opposed by Joe O'Donaghue and his Residential Builders Association gang. During her confirmation hearing, members of the RBA got down and dirty and criticized her for all sorts of things, including the fact that she was pregnant and had "pregnancy brain." more ›