Next Thursday, December 15, controversial Oakland mayor Jean Quan will come to our side of the pond to take part in a panel discussion at The Commonwealth Club called Occupy: What Now, What Next. (If last night's fizzy reoccupation of Justin Herman Plaza is any indication, not a hell of a whole lot.) Quan will be joined by George Lakoff (a cognitive linguist and professor at UC Berkeley), Justin Wedes (organizer of Occupy Wall Street), and moderator Melissa Griffin (exceptional columnist at San Francisco Examiner and co-host of Necessary Conversations).

Quan, if you recall, faced critical opposition after her decision to violently clear out Frank Ogawa Plaza during the Occupy Oakland movement. The response by OPD resulted in tear gas, brutality, and a shout-out on The Daily Show. Quan's top legal aide resigned over the brouhaha, and Democratic Party funder Keith Olbermann called for her ousting.

Next Thursday's panel discussion should be a touchy one. Not to be missed, folks.

What: Occupy: What Now, What Next
Where: SF Commonwealth Club, 595 Market (at Second Street)

Time: 6:30 p.m. check-In, 7 p.m. program, 8 p.m. breakout discussion groups, reception and report back
Cost: FREE (Consider a $12 donation to help support the nonprofit Commonwealth Club for they are a city treasure.)