San Francisco Gray Panthers Half-Year Report, Sept. 12, 2009

Health:

· We and Sacramento GPers were plaintiffs in a lawsuit that stopped California from cutting payments to Medi-Cal doctors, pharmacies, day-care centers etc. by 10%. (Calif. is already among lowest in payments and ratio of providers to patients.) We had a demonstration around a hearing, and Newsletter articles.

· We are also plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Calif. for terminating Medi-Cal “optional benefits”: adult dentistry, podiatry, vision and hearing testing, speech therapy, and others. We had a small demonstration at the first hearing, which we lost, but the Attorney General is involved in an expedited appeal.

· Members were active phoning, faxing legislature on threat to close all Poison Control Centers. Half saved.

· We have been active in CARA and Senior Action Network activities on SB 810.

· Discussing whether to go beyond single payer and endorse National Health Service.

Civil Liberties/Human Rights: Committee is restarted.

· Committee members are writing a short dramatic presentation on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and have incorporated the theme of the UDHR into leaflets protesting budget cuts, racial profiling of immigrants.

· We had a brunch benefit for Mumia, featuring his lawyer and a SF leader in the Free Mumia campaign. It turns out Mumia and Maggie Kuhn knew each other. Can we get National GP support for Mumia?

· We have attended court hearings of the SF8 (eight former Black Panthers being re-tried on murder and conspiracy charges that were dismissed 36 years ago because the confessions were elicited by torture in New Orleans.) All but one are essentially free.

· We played significant role in preventing SF Labor Council from backing down on support of SF8.

· We participated in the May Day march for worker and immigrant rights, and participated in demonstrations against homelessness.

· We, and national Gray Panthers joined a coalition against 287(g) programs, empowering local police to enforce immigration law, with gross racial profiling and unlawful detention, deportation.

Middle-East:

· Consistent articles in Newsletter and Blog

· We participated in March against Gaza Invasion

The Economy, Meltdown, Bailout, Joblessness

· Numerous Newsletter articles analyzing the financial meltdown, the bailout, etc

· Co-hosted meeting with Norman Solomon on economy, war, health care, spun off discussion meeting.

· We were members of Workers Economic Recovery Campaign; had one mass meeting, then fizzled out.

· Members participated in a march against the bailout of banks

· We have introduced theme of “Make the Bosses Take the Losses” in articles, speeches, banners, signs.

Budget Cuts

· We initiated a budget action in a previously untouched neighborhood with a car caravan with loudspeaker and leafleting on sidewalks.

· We were active in a Coalition against City health budget cuts,

· Numerous Newsletter articles and several monthly programs on crisis of safety-net cuts

· We were active in the campaign against the measure to cap the State budget in the Special Election.

· We participated in marches, rallies against the budget cuts.

Membership/Outreach:

· Spoke twice at retirement home where Santa Barbara Gray Panther had recently moved in.

· Community Access TV exposure should be increasing soon, as member is getting daily show.

· Again, membership growing slowly, but some new members are active. Activists some members knew while working are now retiring, and coming around.

· Again, more consistent contact with new contacts via e-mail and phone conversations.

· Phone tree is more organized, still successful in bringing people out.

· Internet activity:  website getting ~ 1,300 hits per day, down from ~2,000/day six months ago. News article blog is getting ~70 hits per day. URL is http://mlyon01.wordpress.com/