Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu, Mayor Ed Lee of San Francisco and Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington DC. Tell Sister City, Seoul, South Korea, That We’re Opposed to the Torture and Consumption of Dogs and Cats. Seoul became sister city with Honolulu in 1973, San Francisco in 1976, and Washington DC in 2006. Yet Seoul, South Korea is responsible for the horrendous dog and cat meat trade. In South Korea, the home of global companies such as Hyundai/Kia, Samsung, LG, Daewoo, SK, POSCO,…, an estimated 2 – 2.5 million dogs are tortured and slaughtered every year because of the greed of dog eaters and the dog meat industry. And one of the largest markets in South Korea that sells dogs dead and alive for meat is the infamous “Gyeongdong Market” in Seoul Metropolitan City. If you have ever wondered what a hell would be like, just take a visit or watch the videos on Gyeongdong Market. This place is a “Hell on Earth” with innocent man’s best friends in cages after cages waiting for the heartless customers to order them to be slaughtered on the spot by electrocution, hanging, beating,…and thrown into boiling water sometimes while they are still alive. Dogs are being killed in full view of other dogs terrified in cages, in public and in broad daylight. Thousands of dogs tortured all their lives in unimaginable misery and agony in dog farms around the country meet their tragic ends at this market. Also, many abandoned former pets end up in this market as meat giving shame to the human race. Based on a recent news article (South Korea’s dog meat clash http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/542514.html), there are 8 slaughterhouses around Cheongnyangri residential area near Gyeongdong market alone. There are laws in South Korea against selling dogs and cats for consumption yet these laws are blatantly ignored. Seoul Metropolitan City is indeed a “Heartless, Lawless World”! Please watch this undercover video by animal rights activists in South Korea:  http://youtu.be/3uR8R8Mu70Q ; Please inform Mayor Won-Soon Park that citizens of Honolulu, San Francisco and Washington DC and their friends insist that they issue an official document mandating that the following existing laws be enforced: Livestock Product Sanitary Control Act, Article 2, Item 1 which governs the raising, slaughter and disposal of livestock and the processing, distribution and inspection of livestock products, does not categorize dogs as livestock that can be processed as food.  Therefore this makes the dog meat industry technically illegal.  Food Sanitation Act, Article 7, Clause 1, Korean Food Standards Codex specified by the Food and Drug Administration, does not include dogs in the list of raw materials that can be processed and cooked as food, therefore making raising and slaughtering dogs for consumption illegal. Animal Protection Act: ARTICLE 3. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR PROTECTION OF ANIMALS Each person shall endeavor to observe the following principles in raising, caring for, or protecting an animal: 1. Each person shall ensure that an animal maintains its natural behavior and original physical shape to live an ordinary life; 2. Each person shall ensure that an animal does not suffer from thirst, hunger, or malnutrition; Each person shall ensure that an animal is free to express normal behavior without experiencing discomfort; 4. Each person shall ensure that an animal is free from pain, injury, and disease; 5. Each person shall ensure that an animal is free from fear and distress. ARTICLE 8. PROHIBITION OF ANIMAL ABUSE ① No one shall commit the following acts toward animals: 1. Act of killing by brutal methods, such as hanging 2. Act of Killing in public or in another animal’s presence ③ No one shall commit the following acts toward abandoned or abused animals: 1. Act of capture and sell or kill. 2. Act of trade or purchase knowing that the animals are abandoned or abused. ARTICLE 9. ANIMAL TRANSPORTATION ① Anyone transporting an animal that has been selected by decree from the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries must make an effort to abide by the following: 1. Ensure that the animals are properly fed, watered and drive carefully so that animals are not shocked or harmed from sudden departures or stops. 2. The vehicle used for transportation must be built to prevent any harm during transportation and to minimize any pain due to poor ventilation or sudden changes in temperature, etc. 4. Avoid any possible injuries while moving an animal and minimize any pain or discomfort, such as sudden changes in body temperature or difficulty in breathing. ARTICLE 46. PUNISHMENT ① Anyone who violates Article 8, Clause 1 through 3 shall be punished with up to one year in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million Korean won ($7,000 USD). Ministry of Environment's Conservation of Water Quality and Ecosystem Act,  Article 15 Clause 1 Item 2 and Article 78 Item 3, the act of discharging excrements, livestock wastewater, animal carcass, waste materials or sludge into public water is punishable by up to one year in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million Korean won ($7,000 USD). Livestock Safety Management Act, slaughterhouses are only authorized to slaughter animals they are registered to handle. No slaughterhouse is registered to slaughter dogs because dogs are not subject to slaughter under this law. We believe these demands are in line with the goal of sister cities to establish friendly communications in the areas of tourism, commerce, cultural exchange and public health. International and Korean media coverage of the brutal dog and cat meat trade in South Korea has stained Seoul, South Korea’s image and severely tarnished your city’s sister city relationship. The time to end this tragedy is now. Thank you for taking swift action. PS:  Click here to find more ways to contact the Mayors of Honolulu, San Francisco and Washington DC.  http://koreandogs.org/contact-mayors-of-seoul-sister-cities/ It's very quick and simple.   http://koreandogs.org/

  On July 13th 2011 in San Francisco, Alex Benshimol and Doug Gentry, a married California couple, will face every same-sex binational couple’s worst nightmare: a deportation hearing. As anyone following this issue knows, for years there has been little hope for same-sex binational couples seeking to reside together in the US. Many are legally married like Alex and Doug, but are still treated as legal strangers in the eyes of our own government. For many years, and certainly since DOMA became law, our families have been discriminated against.  At best, our foreign partners and spouses have managed to stay in the US with temporary visas related to work or study, but are deprived of access to a “green card” on the basis of their relationship. These couples cannot build a future together and live with tremendous insecurity. Far more often we are forced to live apart in different countries; exiled to one of the more than 20 countries in the world that respect our families; or forced to live in the United States in the shadows with constant uncertainty; fear of deportation and ruin hanging over our heads. This destroys marriages, and tears apart our families. It is a humanitarian crisis that must come to an end. Alex came into the U.S. 12 years ago from Venezuela and overstayed a tourist visa, an immigration violation that straight binational couples can easily remedy once married; as a gay married couple, Alex and Doug do not have that option. We believe the political will of our elected leaders must be directed at this issue so that DOMA is repealed quickly. All American citizens deserve the right to pursue life and happiness with the liberty and equality guaranteed us all by our Constitution. We need our elected officials to show leadership and resolve on this issue. The Obama administration has the power to protect couples like Alex and Doug so they are not torn apart by deportation.  Join us in declaring that the cruel discrimination that has been inflicted on us by unjust laws MUST finally come to an end. Please join Out4Immigration, Stop the Deportations, GetEQUAL, Marriage Equality USA, and your fellow citizens in urging President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano to take action to recognize Doug and Alex’s marriage and prevent another family from being torn apart!  

The establishment of the comfort women statue will bring about inaccurate views on history. Additionally, this comfort women statue could bring disharmony within different ethnicity groups. We, Peaceful Community for Children, are taking actions to stop the establishment of the comfort women statue in San Francisco. Peaceful Community for Children strives to protect the future of children through educating on proper historical perspective. サンフランシスコの公有地に慰安婦記念碑（像）を建てるのに反対します。 正しい歴史観によって子ども達を教育し、国境を越えてお互いを理解しながら子供達の未来を守る　Peaceful Community for Children Issue of Comfort Women In recent years, the Japanese Army’s system has been accused of coercing young women, the “comfort women” issue, to work as prostitutes in army field brothels. Source: page 4 of IWG reporthttp://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf However in 2007, the IWG, Interagency Working Group, embarked on gathering data and analyzing data in regards to the comfort women issue and Japanese War crimes. Over 8.5 million pages of records related to Japanese and Nazi war crimes have been identified among Federal Government records and opened to the public. In all, the IWG estimates that the implementation of the two Disclosure Acts cost taxpayers $30 million. Extensive and thorough research has been done but the evidence of the Japanese Army coercing Asian women into sex slavery were not found. Below are research document regarding the report:Introductory Essayhttp://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group Final Report to the United States Congress April 2007　　 http://www.archives.gov/iwg/reports/final-report-2007.html　 2007年に公表されたIWG（ナチス戦争犯罪と日本帝国政府の記録の各省庁作業班）のアメリカ議会宛て最終報告に明記されているように、7年近くかけて約3000万ドルをつぎ込んだ調査の結果、「慰安婦問題の犯罪性や性的奴隷化の証拠はどこにもない」旨がアメリカ議会にも提出されています。「日本軍が20万人のアジア女性を強制連行して性的奴隷にした」という主張はまったく根拠がありません。    

The establishment of the comfort women statue will bring about inaccurate views on history. Additionally, this comfort women statue could bring disharmony within different ethnicity groups. We, Peaceful Community for Children, are taking actions to stop the establishment of the comfort women statue in San Francisco. Peaceful Community for Children strives to protect the future of children through educating on proper historical perspective. サンフランシスコの公有地に慰安婦記念碑（像）を建てるのに反対します。 正しい歴史観によって子ども達を教育し、国境を越えてお互いを理解しながら子供達の未来を守る　Peaceful Community for Children Issue of Comfort Women In recent years, the Japanese Army’s system has been accused of coercing young women, the “comfort women” issue, to work as prostitutes in army field brothels. Source: page 4 of IWG reporthttp://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf However in 2007, the IWG, Interagency Working Group, embarked on gathering data and analyzing data in regards to the comfort women issue and Japanese War crimes. Over 8.5 million pages of records related to Japanese and Nazi war crimes have been identified among Federal Government records and opened to the public. In all, the IWG estimates that the implementation of the two Disclosure Acts cost taxpayers $30 million. Extensive and thorough research has been done but the evidence of the Japanese Army coercing Asian women into sex slavery were not found. Below are research document regarding the report:Introductory Essayhttp://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group Final Report to the United States Congress April 2007　　 http://www.archives.gov/iwg/reports/final-report-2007.html　 2007年に公表されたIWG（ナチス戦争犯罪と日本帝国政府の記録の各省庁作業班）のアメリカ議会宛て最終報告に明記されているように、7年近くかけて約3000万ドルをつぎ込んだ調査の結果、「慰安婦問題の犯罪性や性的奴隷化の証拠はどこにもない」旨がアメリカ議会にも提出されています。「日本軍が20万人のアジア女性を強制連行して性的奴隷にした」という主張はまったく根拠がありません。    

The "Coltrane Church" has been in the Fillmore since 1971 and is the oldest and only church born out of the music of John Coltrane. The present political climate of profit over people continues to devastate the African American population of the Fillmore, leaving the "Coltrane Church" to stand alone as the sole historic proprietors of the music and culture of jazz as a means to enlighten. The managers of the West Bay Conference Center are seeking to DOUBLE the amount of our rent and our lease is up, leaving us with our backs against a wall. Tell the West Bay Conference Center to honor their community subsidized rental rates and KEEP THE COLTRANE CHURCH IN THE FILLMORE. The San Francisco Fillmore district formerly known as the "Harlem of the West" and the African American population in the district of "The Fillmore"contributed to the culture of blues, jazz and gospel music. Presently the population and culture of the African American community has all been but destroyed, along with its learning institutions, churches and venues of musical expression. The Coltrane Church has and will continue its stance against this kind of injustice. As the Apostles of Sound and Agents of Social Justice, the John Coltrane Church is the last voice for justice and equity on Fillmore Street. Let your voice be heard by signing the petition in full support of the Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church remaining in the West Bay Conference Center.  2016 brings us into our 48th year of service. Thank you for signing the petition and helping us to continue serving the global community.    

On Friday evening, March 21, 2014, Alejandro “Alex” Nieto, 28 years old, was killed when he was struck by 14 to 15 bullets (of a total of 59 shots) fired by four San Francisco Police Department officers, on Bernal Hill Park, without justification. (More details here: Alex's Story)  Elvira and Refugio Nieto (Parents of Alex Nieto) and the Justice & Love for Alex Nieto coalition demand the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the Mayor of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Park's Alliance to support and install a permanent memorial for Alex Nieto at the site of his killing on Bernal Heights Park. The family is asking for the memorial as a minimal gesture of acknowledgement of the senseless and brutal killing of their beloved son and for restoration by the City of the harm caused by SFPD to Alex Nieto and his family and community. For two years and a half, Alex Nieto’s family and community members have maintained a memorial and altar for him at the site of his killing. Establishing memorial altars at sites of tragedy is a sacred tradition of Latino communities with deep ancestral and spiritual roots. If the City wants to begin mending broken trust with the Nieto Family and their community, the very minimum the Mayor and Supervisors could do is to provide the permits and resources to establish a permanent memorial for Alex Nieto on the hill.

I love San Francisco, and have been proud to call it home for nearly 20 years. We have a golden opportunity to show off our best features to all the visitors making their way here for the Super Bowl. We should put our best foot forward. The Super Bowl 50 committee has requested SFMTA remove overhead Muni lines along Market Street. Dismantling public transit in this heavily trafficked corridor in preparation for that influx of people is not the way to showcase our city. We will need more ways to move people around the city, not fewer. The overhead power lines are a part of the city and its character, they are far from “unsightly.” Plus, the streetcars they service are a great bit of San Francisco charm. I live on one side of the city and work on the other. Commuting on MUNI during this period was already going to be difficult, but this proposal would make it nigh impossible. And the cost of this request is expected to run “seven figures” and necessitate “lots of overtime.” This disruption will last much longer than the 8 days leading up to the game.  I urge the Citizen Advisory Council recommend SFMTA reject this proposal on December 3rd.   (Photo credit: torbakhopper)

4-8 Guy Place is an intimate open space and site of the last natural habitat in Rincon Hill.  This parcel is home to a stately and landmark 70 year old Green Ash tree in Rincon Hill.  Along with two large Avocado trees, these trees provide a living canopy for a vulnerable population of Allen's Hummingbird and other avian wildlife.  The trees also serve as a visual respite from a monotonous urban landscape for local residents. City plans call for removal of this ecological niche, death for the hummingbirds, wildlife and subsurface ecological system -- to be replaced by a series of cold and colorless concrete and metal columns using toxic Boston Ivy dangerous to children and pets. We feel the plans of Greater Rincon Hill Community Benefit District and the Recreation and Parks Department subverts the purpose of open space in an urban setting, encroaches on fragile, ever-shrinking natural habitats and increases the local carbon footprint.  We strongly feel this small ecosystem should be incorporated into the redesign plans for Guy Place Park in Rincon Hill.

Petitioning San Francisco City Government Officials SAVE SAN FRANCISCO's TREES and PREVENT HEAVIER TRAFFIC and INCREASED POLLUTION San Francisco will be losing 194 mature trees by the Spring of 2016. The public only became aware when 30-day notices were posted on the trees to be cut down. San Francisco already has an extremely low tree canopy of only 13.7% as compared to 25%, which is desirable for a Western City. In comparison, Los Angeles currently has roughly a 50% cover, Newark, NJ, has about 62% cover, Chicago nearly 62% and Boston about 68%. All these trees are being sacrificed for the construction of a public project called the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), which will be in the middle of Van Ness. It will cost $260 Million and be under construction for approximately 3+ years. The detrimental traffic situation created will affect the entire Bay Area during construction, only to end up with two less lanes for vehicles when completed. Residents and small businesses along Van Ness will suffer tremendously. Approximately 107 parking spaces will be eliminated, and there will be only two places where left turns will be allowed. Besides the increased congestion on Van Ness, this will create more traffic problems on the already overburdened parallel streets. The City Government claims this project will save 30% in bus commute time, however, this is only because the local buses that run along Van Ness will make 9 stops instead of 16 stops. This will be physically challenging for senior citizens and the disabled, who will have to walk several blocks and cross to the middle of an extremely busy street to board a bus. The city says it plans to plant many more trees. However, California is in a severe drought environment, and small newly-planted trees need frequent watering to get established in our urban eco-system. Mature trees already have well developed root systems and do not need watering. Mature trees are extremely beneficial to a healthy environment. They provide oxygen, reduce pollution and noise, sequester carbon dioxide -- thus fighting climate change and storing heat of the sun, providing cool shade. They provide a crucially stable habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies and greatly improve the quality of life for urban dwellers. There is an Alternative Design (#2) that would build the BRT curbside. This would be a far better choice because it would save 194 mature trees, and not cause the traffic on Van Ness and parallel streets to become much worse than it already is. The curbside plan would not cost $260 Million, and San Francisco could use those funds saved for making improvements to all the roads we travel on every day that are riddled with potholes and rough patches. Please sign this petition to tell the SF Government Officials to build the BRT at curbside, saving 194 trees, preventing heavier traffic and increased pollution. And in the future to consider the fate of mature trees when planning projects, keeping the public better informed throughout the process.

This ordinance would help the city track the true level of displacement in San Francisco. Doing this would help the City develop more precise policy solutions  to address our housing crisis. This legislation would ensure that tenants negotiate buyouts on a level playing field with sufficient knowledge of their rights. Mayor Lee — Do the right thing! Sign this ordinance!