July-August 1999

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JULY

Thurs., July 1 10:00­3:00 p.m.

Board meeting at the office. All welcome!

Sun., July 4 2:00 p.m.

Stern Grove Festival, San Francisco Opera.

Sat., Sun., Mon., Music starts 1:30 p.m.

July 3, 4, 5 Show starts at 2:00 p.m.

San Francisco Mime Troupe, Dolores Park.

Sun., July 11 2:00 p.m.

Stern Grove Festival, Diana Krall.

Tues., July 13 1:15 p.m.

AARP meeting. Old First Presbyterian

Church. 1751 Sacramento St. at Van Ness.

Sat., July 17 Music, 1:30; Show 2:00 p.m.

San Francisco Mime Troupe, Glen Park.

Sun., July 18 2:00 p.m.

Stern Grove Festival, Oumou Sagare, Janis Ian, Mary Jane Lamond.

Sat., July 24 Music, 1:30; Show, 2:00 p.m.

San Francisco Mime Troupe, Mosswood Park.

Sun., July 25 12:30. Show starts at 2:00 p.m.

General meeting to enjoy the San Francisco Mime Troupe and picnic with friends.

Washington Square Park (Union and Columbus Streets). Bring the family!

Sun., July 25 2:00 p.m.

Stern Grove Festival, Tower of Power.

Sat., July 31 Music, 1:30; Show, 2:00 p.m.

August Calendar

Sun., Aug. 1 2:00 p.m.

Stern Grove Festival, San Francisco Ballet.

Sun., Aug. 1 Music, 1:30; show, 2:00 p.m.

San Francisco Mime Troupe, Yerba Buena Gardens, 3rd and Mission.

Thurs., Aug. 5 1:00­3:00 p.m.

Board meeting at the office. All welcome!

Fri., Aug. 6 2:30 p.m.

Hiroshima Commemoration. Abolition 2000 End the Nuclear Threat! Livermore Nuclear

Weapons Labs. Info 510/832-4347.

Sun., Aug. 8 2:00 p.m.

Stern Grove Festival, Merola Opera, TheItalian Girl in Algiers.

Sat., Aug. 28 Music, 1:30; show, 2:00 p.m.

San Francisco Mime Troupe, Pioneer East­

Golden Gate Park , behind deYoung Museum.

Home CARES Recyclers Needs Your No­Longer­Needed

Health Care Equipment

Home CARES accepts donations of reusable home healthcare equipment and, in turn, gives these items to individuals who otherwise would have difficulty obtaining them.

Canes, walkers, shower chairs, portable commodes, crutches, wheelchairs, chucks, briefs, ostomy supplies, bandages, liquid nutrition, urinary suppliesall are available free to those needing them. (Cash donations cheerfully accepted.) Call 415/487-5405 for questions, pickup and info for drop-off.


Whither Muni?

Two very persuasive gentlemen were the speakers at out June meeting: Andrew Sullivan of Rescue Muni and John Hirten from SPUR and the Mayor's Task force. Both favored an independent commission to be appointed by the Mayor for fixed terms and to be held accountable for fixing Muni's scheduling, safety, courtesy and maintenance problems.

Both men opposed any move toward privatization and both supported some contracting out. The chief difference between them centered on how to handle the labor forcewhether the unions will negotiate with and be under city contracts or be a separate unit for Muni negotiating with the new commission, whether there will be merit pay, who will be included in the bargaining units (middle management?) and what happens with "miss-outs."

Unfortunately the other invited speakers expected to offer different perspectives than these, failed to show up or send replacementsrepresentatives of the Transport Workers Union and

Southern Alameda Hosts Regional

Four Gray Panther Networks were the guests of the southern
Alameda network at the Northern Gray Panthers Regional
Meeting in May.

Topics discussed for joint action included proposed laws in Washington and Sacramento, the status of Social Security and Medicare, and the upcoming Gray Panthers national convention in October. The agenda included a report and critique of the Senior Rally in Sacramento and a hearty thank-you to the Sacramento network for coordinating Gray Panthers lobbying.

Doris Copperman of Contra Costa, secretary-treasurer of the National Board, reported on national activities, particularly plans for revitalizing the campaign for single payer universal health care on a state-by-state basis, and preparations for the convention.

As usual among Gray Panthers there was general agreement on all issues, although not necessarily any unanimity on what to do and what to emphasizeuntil someone raised the bombing of Yugoslavia. Suddenly a lively argument broke out about of what was going on there, reflecting the widespread confusion and disagreement in the country. Nor was it ever resolved, again mirroring society.

The next regional meeting will be in August in Marin. Anyone who wants to come is welcome. Info at office, 415/552-8800.

the San Francisco Neighborhood Alliance for Political Awareness. Presumably they were at Mayor Brown's mayoral re-election kick-off rally.

The audience in attendance reacted favorable to both speakers. More accurately, most of thse who spoke were not so much in agreement with the speakers as angry and frustrated with Muni.

Since our meeting, the parties involved in negotiations in the Mayor's office have agreed on a single ballot proposal for the Fall elections. According to press reports, Rescue Muni got most of their demands, including the bargaining unit and merit pay. Now the public will have to study what that proposal says and decide whether to pass it or pass on it!


Snail's PaceProgress on SB 480 Health Care Coverage

Universal health care (in California) is being debated, berated

and obfuscated by our legislators in Sacramento.
Though the Senate Appropriations Committee finally voted in favor of Senate Bill 480, the purpose of which is to report to the Legislature concerning "options for achieving universal health care coverage" and to declare that it is the intent of the Legislature to develop legislation to "implement universal health care coverage," there's still a long road ahead.

The next stumbling block will be the Assembly. The Assembly Appropriations Committee may hear the bill in August and it could get to the floor of the Assembly in September. NOW, now is the time to start lobbying the Assembly members.

Carole Migden Kevin Shelley

Phone 415/673-5560 Phone 415/885/1212

e-mail: carole.migden@asm.ca.gov kevin.shelley@asm.ca.gov

To Our Alienated Kids

What is the answer to feeling despised?

Where's the example of those who survived?

Look to your parents who blamed the Commies

Or the blacks or the whites or the Jews or the Tommies.

Look to the Prez who sends bombs to end genocide;

Look to the fuzz who shoot migras on sight.

Look to the right who kill gays and abortionists;

Look to the wealthy who'd like more matrixes.

Going postal is quite the rage.

Staying the course is middle age.

Youth will have its say

And those who survive will pray for/prey on

the rest of us. Astrid


The Newsletter of the San Francisco Gray Panthers is published each month, and distributed free of charge to members and friends of this nonprofit organization.


Editorial Board: Rebecca Hirshleifer, Mitzi Raas; Publisher, Astrid M. Spector; Art Director, Fannie Biderman; Proof, Lurilla Harris; Circulation: Harold Greenblatt and Mary Francis Smith. Printed by Graffik Natwicks; Webpage design: Barry Simpkins




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