San Francisco Bay Guardian Issue 48.12

2013·15.9 MB·English

by  San Francisco Bay Guardian

r a i s i n g h e l l s i n c e 1 9 6 6
the san francisco bay guardian | sfbg.com | december 18 - 24, 2013 | Vol. 48, no. 12 | free
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guardian photo
of micahtron
by matthew reamer
A
Queer hip-hop,
teen dreams,
classical riots, and
shoegaze death metal
E
capped 2013. Plus, our
critics on the year’s best
Ytheater, art, and dance.
PAGES 20-28
OPEN FOR
cFlinosaels W jaene k2s0! DHEOCL 2ID3A, 2Y4 H, O30U,R 3S1
& JAN 1
Caring
for our
community
one patient
at a time.
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INTELLIGENCE
WI-FI FOR ALL POLITICAL ALERTS
FEINSTEIN UNDER
Market Street is getting free Wi-Fi PRESSURE WEDNESDAY 18
network this week, gifting all of
SF’s favorite tourists and ex-street AK Press holidAy booK sAle
On Dec. 15, a coalition of Bay Area
chess players the chance to watch AK Press warehouse, 674-A 23rd St,
organizations issued an open letter to Oakl. 4-9pm, free. The AK Press is an
Internet porn for free. As reported
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein condemning anarchist and radical publisher and
by the SF Examiner, the project distributor. Everything in the AK Press
her support for National Security Agency
is being funded by a $700,000 warehouse will be 25 percent off, and
spying programs and data collection. there are hundreds of blowout $1–$5
gift of hardware from Ruckus
“We, the constituents of Senator Dianne books to choose from. Come enjoy
Wireless. Google also plans to snacks and beverages, and pick up
Feinstein, are dismayed and embar- SKETCHFEST
roll out free Wi-Fi in parks around some reading for the holidays.
rassed by her decision to defend uncon-
San Francisco. The Market Street SKETCHED IN We Are stAying:
stitutional surveillance,” begins the letter rAlly AgAinst eviction
Wi-Fi is available now, accessible
and open petition, which can be found at The Revolution Cafe, 3248 22nd St,
from the Castro district to the shameonfeinstein.org. Sketchfest released its schedule SF. noon, free. Join Eviction Free
Embarcadero. San Francisco and allies in the fight for
AP Photo by J. Scott APPlewhite last week, unveiling over 200
housing justice in San Francisco for a
shows to be held in 20 venues from rally in opposition to the displacement of
BREAKING THE FAST Jan. 23-Feb. 9. Over the past 13 seniors, artists, immigrants and workers
from this vibrant, diverse, working-class
years, the fest has exploded from
Mission neighborhood and citywide.
Vincent Pan, executive director humble local offering to one of the THURSDAY 19
of Chinese for Affirmative Action, most popular comedy events in the
broke his 11th day fast (12/10) country, luring the biggest names Film screening: The World
in solidarity with immigration in the biz — as well as cult comedy According To MonsAnTo
‘12 YEARS’
activists in Washington DC, all heroes — to town. 2014 highlights Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian
with a common goal — to push A WINNER include: a tribute to the 10th anni- Uwwniwve.brsfuaulis.ctso’m H.a 7ll-,9 1p9m2,4 $ C5e–d$a1r,0 B erk.
Congress to pass comprehensive versary of Napolean Dynamite, suggested donation but no one
immigration reform. “We’re not The San Francisco Film Critics a 30th anniversary screening turned away. Come see a film about
asking for a privilege or for special Circle (including the Guardian’s of Revenge of the Nerds, a Mtoo rnadsaicnatloly’s a ultseer oofu gr efnooedti cs umpopdlyif.i Tcahtei on
favors. We’re asking to be treated Cheryl Eddy and Dennis Harvey) “Farewell, Futurama!” chat sesh movie will show the effect Monsanto
as human beings,” Pan said. With voted on its annual awards with cast and crew members of has from America’s Heartland to coun-
one sip of hot soup, Pan ended his Dec. 15, with Steve McQueen’s the beloved animated show, and tprriaecs taicroeus nhdu rtht fea wrmoreldrs a, sc owmelml ausn hitoiwes i ts
11-day fast, 12 Years a Slave winning Best appearances by Alan Arkin, Luke and the environment. Sponsored by the
yet the Picture of 2013. In a year with Wilson, Laura Dern, Key and Peele, BFUU Social Justice Committee.
larger several standout films and per- and — hurray! — Tenacious D. FRIDAY 20
battle formances, most of the winners www.sfsketchfest.com
sonyA renee At
for were decided by very close mar- Queer oPen mic night
immi- gins (check out the full list at PAINT COMPANIES Modern Times Bookstore Collective,
gration www.sffcc.org). Other winners 2919 24th St, SF. 7-9pm, free.
reform is included: 12 Years a Slave’s MUST PAY Performance poet, activist and trans-
formational leader Sonya Renee is a
far from over. Chiwetel Ejiofor for Best Actor; national and international poetry slam
Blue Jasmine’s Cate Blanchett After 13 year legal battle, San champion, published author, and
BART UP 19 CENTS for Best Actress; and Gravity’s Francisco and 9 other California threarn wsfoorrkm aantdio ancatli vleisamde arc. rSohses hthaes gslhoabree,d
Alfonso Cuarón for Best cities and counties won a $1.1 and is a founder and CEO of The Body
Director; and The Act of Killing billion judgment from a Santa Clara is Not An Apology, a movement of over
January 1 is a time for New Year’s for Best Documentary. Oh, and Superior Court judge Dec. 16, who 23,000 members focused on radical
resolutions, and on the top of our personal favorite: James ruled that 3 manufacturers of lead- sbeel ff-elaotvuer aendd a bt Modoyd eemrnp Toiwmeerms’ efinnta. lS he’ll
BART’s list is raising the fares Franco for Best Supporting based paints are must collectively monthly San Francisco Queer Open
by 19 cents per ride. The rate Actor in Spring Breakers. foot the bill for removing their toxic Mic event of the year, hosted by Baruch
increases at BART match inflation, Spranng break foreverrr! paint products from California PYoourr caasn-H aelsron asnigdne uz pa ntod d Bol yatnh oep Beanld mwiicn .
a result of a resolution the BART homes. performance of your own.
board voted to enact last year.
hArvey milK lgbt democrAtic club
holidAy hAPPy hour PArty
SAN FRAN SMUG-A-ZINE
Beaux, 2344 Market, SF. www.milkclub.
RESULTS: OBVIOUS
org. 6-9pm, free. RSVP required. Come
celebrate at the Castro’s newest bar,
Gentrification apologist San Francisco Magazine got a photoshop
The University of San Francisco Beaux, where you’re sure to be entertained
makeover from Twitter user @Generic_, featuring parodied head- with drag, DJs, a photo booth where you
conducted a poll on Tech and San lines that are eerily real (“In Defense of the GoogleBus” is a hair can sit on Santa’s lap, and amazing raffle
Francisco, asking questions like prizes. Featuring drag performances by
away from SF Mag’s real
Persia, Anna Conda, and Tara Wrist, with
“Do you feel that cost of living in
article, “Sympathy for the music from GO BANG! (DJs Sergio and
San Francisco is a problem for you Landlord”). To their credit, Steve Fabus), as well as raffle prizes.
or your family?” Over 80 percent
SF Mag journos lauded SATURDAY 21
of San Franciscans surveyed said
the work over Twitter,
some form of “yes.” Thanks USF, showing a good sense berKeley FArmers mArKet
for asking that astoundingly mys- holidAy crAFts FAir
terious question. 4 percent polled AHDM4U, 4U of humor. Lets hope 2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berk.
the fake articles never www.ecologycenter.org. 10am-4pm,
said the rising costs were “not a see the light of day, free. The Berkeley Farmers’ Market
problem at all,” and were probably Former Guardian culture editor Caitlin Donahue’s new online project with 22nd annual Holiday Crafts Fair, a
though, especially the
tech CEOs answering the phone Kelly Dezart Smith, the cryptically named by ultra-vibrant AHDM4U, has benefit for the Berkeley Ecology Center,
from their SF mansions, smoking been covering the local and international fashion, music, art, sex, and queer “UEndl eLsese tCheant’tse yrfooulrd .” fseealltiunrge hsa loncdaclr carfatefdts gpieftosp (lcee arnadm aicrtsi,s fainnse
joints rolled with $100 bills. underground for several months now. But they’re finally releasing a print thing. | fAke cover art, jewelry, cards, clothes, tote bags,
issue (featuring 10 emerging artists) and having a party about it! Join them body products, toys, and more). These
by chriS McNeil,
Wed/18, 7-10pm at Virgil’s Sea Room bar in the Mission for a taste of the locally made crafts are in addition to
electorAlGrAPhicS. the usual bounty of California organic
true youthful spirit of the Bay Area. www.ahdm4u.com coM produce, hot lunch offerings, and live
outdoor musical performances.
4 sAn FrAncisco bAy guArdiAn oPinion neWs Food + drinK the selector music Arts + culture Film clAssiFieds
vvaarriieettyy
Caring
for our qqquuuaaallliiitttyyy
community
one patient
affordable
at a time.
award-winning
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opinion news food + drink the selector music arts + culture film classifieds December 18 - 24, 2013 / SFbG.com 7
opinion
our attitudes and ideologies shape how we see the world.
The unconstitutional
truth about the Presidio
By John Farrell administered by the Trust and all
interest created under leases, con-
OPINION When Congress estab- cessions, permits and other agree-
lished the Presidio Trust in 1996, ments associated with the proper-
it wanted to ensure its financial ties shall be exempt from all taxes
stability. Congress believed tax- and special assessments of every
ing private tenants impeded the kind in the State of California,
Trust’s financial stability, so it and its political subdivisions,
enacted provisions within the including the City and County
Presidio Trust Act to ensure that San Francisco.”
tenants were tax-exempt. The only Our City Attorney and
problem is that Congress doesn’t Congressional representative have
have the power to exempt tenants the opinion that all third party
under the US Constitution. interests for private benefit under
In 1897, the State of California the Presidio Trust’s jurisdiction
ceded to the United States exclu- are exempted from taxes by the
sive jurisdiction on all lands held Presidio Trust Act.
for military purposes, including This language confirms
the Presidio. Military installations Congress’s intent to exempt pri-
are federal enclaves exempt from vate tenants from all forms of
state authority. Per legal counsel state and local property taxes. The
of the State Board of Equalization, only problem is that if Congress
a “federal enclave” is a property enacted the Presidio Trust Act to
over which the federal govern- exempt third party beneficiaries,
ment holds exclusive jurisdiction. it did not have the authority
In 1989, the federal govern- per Article 1 Section 8 of the
ment closed the Presidio as a mil- Constitution, which provides the
itary base. Since the Presidio is no powers of US Congress. In other
longer for military use, the federal words, this part of the legislation
government transferred jurisdic- was unconstitutional.
tion to the Golden Gate National Because of this unconstitu-
Recreation Area (GGNRA) in 1994 tional loophole, the city is losing
for natural, historic, cultural, and at least $10 million annually in Defining problems and shaping solutions
recreational purposes. property tax and over $100 mil-
Did this transfer to GGNRA lion since inception. This amount
end its tax-exempt status? Did doesn’t include revenue loss from EDITORIAL Our attitudes and ideologies prominent techie Greg Gopman ucts of late capitalism — from gen-
this transfer negate the concept of other taxes such as real estate shape how we see the world. How we expressed last week, for which he trification and evictions to global
“federal enclave” and “exclusive transfer tax. Further, if the George define the problems and challenges was widely condemned, although warming and underfunded public
jurisdiction,” since the Presidio is Lucas plan for a Presidio museum we face in San Francisco and other many of his Facebook friends services — seeing them as nuisances
no longer used for military pur- is approved, the city will lose at Bay Area cities shapes the menu of defended him and his comments. divorced from the economic agenda
poses? Could the city now tax pri- least $8.1 million annually in solutions that we may choose to Gopman apologized, and was that they’re actively promoting.
vate beneficiaries? This issue has property tax. pursue. Perspective is everything, subjected to the standard round of But these issues are connected and
never been addressed. The city is losing an additional something progressives seem to politicians condemning and dis- they need to be addressed holistically.
The Presidio Trust was created $12.5 million from the recent sale understand better than many polit- tancing themselves from the impoli- We were happy to see Lee starting
by Congress in 1996 for a dual of Lucasfilm’s to Disney in 2012 ical moderates, who like to think of tic comments, but neither were very to follow the advice we offered in this
purpose: to rehabilitate and repur- (based on a 2.5 percent transfer themselves as somehow transcending reassuring. In fact, on the day after space last week (“Tech leaders must
pose historic buildings and envi- tax on a conservative $500 mil- ideology and social bias. the story broke, Dec. 12, Mayor Ed engage their critics”) by convening
ronmental resources, and operate lion assessment). An ownership Consider the issue of home- Lee actually told the Examiner that a closed-door meeting with top tech
as a vibrant public park indepen- transfer includes a lease of 35 lessness, a perennial concern here he wanted to enlist Gopman’s help leaders on Dec. 16, hosted by conser-
dent of annual taxpayer funds. years or more. Lucasfilm had a in the city of St. Francis. Are you in addressing the homeless issue. vative venture capitalist Ron Conway.
In establishing the Trust, 66-year lease at the Presidio trans- someone who sees homelessness When we asked Lee Press Yet as long as that insular crowd
Congress’s concern was with the ferred to Disney. Per the state as primarily about poverty, a Secretary Christine Falvey, “How do understands these issues as mostly
city’s potential assessment of Revenue and Taxation Code, this symptom of the larger problems of these intolerant comments qualify image problems, divorced from the
property tax. In California, any is a legal transfer and there is no wealth concentration and economic Gopman any kind of public pol- economic system they’re helping to
private party that rents or uses rationale why there is no transfer inequity? Or do you see the home- icy role, and why would [Lee] be overheat, then all they’re doing is
space on government-owned prop- tax imposed. less here as a quality-of-life issue for rewarding this behavior with an damage control and cosmetic work.
erty is subject to property tax. The city has decided to adhere the rest of us, hurting tourism and advisory position?” Falvey took issue We would welcome their partic-
In order to curtail the possi- to the legislation by Congress to public safety and subjecting every- with our “advisory position” label, ipation in the real public discussion
ble assessment of property tax, tax exempt tenants even though it one to disturbing sights and smells? but she otherwise refused to clarify we’ve been calling for, one in which
Congress enacted legislation is unconstitutional. But everyone There have always been strong or amend his statements, telling us, a variety of community voices helps
signed into law by President should pay his or her fair share. 2 strains of both attitudes here, “I’ll let Mayor’s comments stand.” define the problems we’re seeking to
Clinton on Nov. 29, 1999. Public although those who hold the latter Lee and his allies have long seen solve. And once that happens, we’ll
Law 106-113 (HR 3194) includes John Farrell is a Realtor, former city view try to avoid publicly making the homeless problem in terms of be asking this thriving economic
specific language providing that, budget analyst, and fifth generation crass statements condemning “the aesthetics and public safety. It’s sim- sector to share some of its wealth and
“The Trust and all properties San Franciscan. degenerates” on the streets, as ilar to their views on other byprod- not just its clueless commentary. 2
8 SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN OPINION NEwS FOOD + DRINk ThE SELECTOR mUSIC ARTS + CULTURE FILm CLASSIFIEDS
opinion street fight
Dancing your dream is
Steering
within reach at CCSF!
transportation
m
African-Haitian
o
funding c Argentine Tango
.
d Ballet
e Ballroom
p I DANCE! CCSF
Folk
f
s
By Jason henderson Hip Hop
c
STREET FIGHT The coming year will c JJaazzzz
be a critical one for shaping trans- Market Street a signature tran- . Latin
portation in San Francisco. Mayor sit-bike street. w Dancing your dream is within reach at CCSF!
Ed Lee’s Transportation Task Force, Mayor Lee’s plan includes a w Modern
composed of SPUR, city agencies, progressive funding proposal:
and labor and transportation orga- A citywide vehicle license fee. w IO nDly $4A6 foNr fiftCeenE! C• CAfricaSn-HaFitian • Argentine Swing
nizations, is floating a package of The VLF, which needs majority 2-hour class sessions! • Tango • Ballet • Ballroom Tap
proposals to finance transporta- approval by voters, would repair
tion infrastructure that includes the past damage wrought by Gov. Take a class for fun, earn a • Folk • Hip Hop • Jazz Waltz
a general obligation bond, fees on Arnold Schwarzenegger and state
cars, and a sales tax increase. Some Republicans, who gutted state edu- certificate or major in dance! • Latin • Modern Performance
permutation of the elements in the cation, transportation, and social OOppppoorrttuunniittiieess
package will ultimately go in front funding by slashing the fee in 2004. Register online by Jan 10, 2014 • Swing • Tap • Waltz
of voters by November 2014. State legislation last year
It’s important to take a look at enabled San Francisco to re-estab- Add classes by Jan 30, 2014 • Performance Opportunities
what’s being proposed and what’s lish the fee for local transportation
at stake, right now, because what- needs. Collecting 1.35 percent
ever goes forward to the November of the market value of registered
ballot must be certified by June vehicles in the city can raise $73
2014. In the next six months, pro- million annually for transporta-
San Francisco’s
gressives have an opportunity to tion programs. Since it’s based on
offer better ways to shape the city’s the value of the vehicle, luxury
transportation future. Here are car owners pay more. Progressives
some things to consider. should rally around this proposal. #1 Choice
First, whatever one thinks of While the VLF is promising,
this decidedly development-ori- the other two funding schemes
ented mayor and his policies, the proposed by the task force are dubi-
Transportation Task Force Report, ous. Increasing citywide sales taxes for Medi-Cal
issued to the public last month, by a half-cent, proposed for the
makes a clear case for raising the November 2016 ballot, is regressive.
$10 billion we need for transit, Based on taxes as a share of house-
cycling, and pedestrian infrastruc- hold income, low-income house-
ture. Proclaimed as the “first of holds pay a disproportionately high-
many steps,” it can be considered a er portion of their income in sales
conversation starter that is open for taxes relative to wealthier people.
modification and amendment. Innocuous on the surface, the
The report points out the use of a sales tax to spread the
need to replace all of Muni’s 1,050 burden reflects a neoliberal tactic
buses and trains by 2030 (costing to divert attention from more equi-
$228 million in local matching table taxation such as increasing • 600 Providers
funds) and implement the Transit annual assessments on commercial • 2,000 Specialists
Effectiveness Project ($282 million property owners who are reaping
• 200+ Pharmacies
required), while also showing that huge windfalls from the real estate
Muni needs over $800 million in boom. This takes us to the General • Emergency Care Nationwide
order to avert transit crowding as Obligation Bond (GO Bond) pro- • 24/7 Free Nurse Advice Line
the city approaches a population of posal.
1 million. GO Bonds are a long-term debt
It considers the costs of imple- financing tool whereby the city
menting a citywide bicycle network borrows to build transportation GOLD
($108 million to get to 10 percent infrastructure and future property QUALITY
mode share for bicycling, or $215 tax revenue repays the debt. Rather [phone] AWARD
HEFDoIrS M® medeia-Csuarl e s
million to approach 20 percent). than raising property taxes, the
It envisions making 70 miles of scheme proposed by the task force www.sfhp.org 66 YYEEAARRSS
streets safer for pedestrians, and ensures that tax rates remain below IN A ROW
it shows what it will take to make CONTINUES ON PAGE 10 >> © 2013 San Francisco Health Plan 7254 1013
OPINION NEWS FOOD + DRINK THE SELECTOR MUSIC ARTS + CULTURE FILM CLASSIFIEDS DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2013 / SFBG.COM 9
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opinion street fight
AALLLLIIAANNCCEE DDEENNTTAALL && OORRTTHHOODDOONNTTIICCSS
SHOW YOUR FULL SMILE & HIDE YOUR BRACES
CONT>> eral developers and real estate spec-
$1000 OFF ulators have captured the discourse
2006 levels and the city would of how transit can be financed,
only issue new debt as other debt and have instead offered lucrative
ANY ORTHODONTIC TREATMENTS
is retired. tax breaks to new tech firms such
INCLUDING Progressives should look careful- as Twitter, raised Muni fares, and
(cid:127) Invisalign ly at this. While this scheme would allowed destructive deferred main-
(cid:127) Lingual (behind-the-teeth) braces effectively create a dedicated fund tenance of the fleet. In this latest
(cid:127) and All Braces Offer expires 12/31/13. for Muni (a good thing), by lock- round of funding proposals, the
Must present coupon at time of visit
ing-in this revenue source, there may assessment district remains off the
USE YOUR INSURANCE & FLEX SPENDING BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS! be negative impacts on future social, table, while a regressive sales tax and
education, or housing funding. And a paltry GO Bond are promoted.
Drs. Katrina Le & Bing Elliot Xia (cid:127) Conveniently Located Right Downtown (cid:127) 450 Sutter St., Suite 808 (cid:127) [phone]
the GO Bond will only raise $55 Meanwhile, Sup. John Avalos
www.alliancedentalandorthodo.com (cid:127) Evening & Saturday appointments availabale (cid:127) All major PPO plans accepted
million annually. (Raising property and his progressive cohort (Sups.
taxes, which no one is talking about David Campos, Jane Kim, Eric Mar,
as a mechanism to finance Muni, and Norman Yee) have offered a
could yield much more.) “Transit Equity” amendment. But
Bonding is also a boon to bank- it only nibbles at the edges. Their
ers, and ultimately uses already proposal limits future Muni fare
scarce transportation funds to pay increases and future transit impact
interest on debt. Moreover, none of fees on low-income social service
the proposals address Muni’s oper- providers receiving public money.
ating cost, which is $861 million This is commendable and should
today but must expand with addi- be adopted by the board.
tional capacity and operators.
Nobody knows better than
downtown landowners that public we have
transit is the keystone for making
San Francisco functional and prof- six months to
itable. In the 2.5-square-mile down-
town area, half of workers — 170,000 illuminate a more
— take public transportation, more
equitable path
than those who drive alone. Every
day, 200,000 riders use surface tran-
that asks
sit on Market and another 350,000
pass through the four downtown
more from the
BART/Muni Metro stations.
Hundreds of thousands of tech boom.
workers use transit to access one
of the densest concentrations of
office, hotels, and retail space in
the country. Transit is what makes Yet while progressives are spot-
this density work and what gener- on to emphasize equity, they’ve not
ates value and profit to real estate offered a financing scheme such
investors. It’s why Twitter and oth- as a transit assessment on the tech
ers choose to be downtown. boom. Avalos’s plan to direct $70
Almost 20 years ago, a coali- million of the city’s general fund
tion of progressives advocated for to low-income transit riders looks
the creation of a downtown transit good on paper, but as proposed it
assessment district (TAD), an annual might actually siphon funds from
property assessment on downtown one funding pot to another. Like
commercial property, excluding the GO Bond, this may have impli-
retail and hotels, that would pro- cations for other important social
vide revenue for Muni operations. programs progressives care about.
Had it been established, it would This will be a critical year for set-
have generated up to $54 million ting the trajectory of transportation
its first year. In today’s dollars, this finance for a generation. Progressives
would amount to over $85 million. should direct the legislative analyst
Considering the new developments to analyze the nexus between down-
since the 1990s, by now TAD reve- town real estate value and Muni
nue could have likely approached capacity in order to better inform
$100 million annually. For compari- the debates. We have six months to
son, the Task Force suggests a general illuminate a more equitable path
obligation bond would raise $54 mil- that asks more from the tech boom
lion, a sales tax increase $69 million, and real estate speculators.
and a vehicle license fee $73 million
annually (these can only be used for Parking Meter CirCus
infrastructure and not operations). If the recent debacle over parking
But a transit assessment district meters is any indication, progres-
has been all but erased from the sives will start 2014 on a clunky,
menu of possibilities for funding disjointed, and rudderless transpor-
Muni. For the past 20 years, neolib- tation platform.
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