Meeting of 8 May, 2010

Minutes of the LPSF Meeting of May 8, 2010

 

 

Members Present: Marcy Berry (Chair), Michael Edelstein, Jawj Greenwald (Secretary), Tim Kuklinsky, Les Mangus (Treasurer), Rob Power, Starchild, David Faden.

 

Non-members: Ann Grogan, Ron Choy, Melissa Handman, Officer Eugene Louie, Antoine Tasmell, Jason Williams

 

 

Officer’s Reports:

• Treasurer:  There was no bank account activity last month.  The balance in the LPSF account remains $2,193.36.

 

• Secretary: The minutes of the April meeting were submitted and will be reviewed next month.

 

• Vice Chair:  No report

 

• Chair: No report.

 

Committee Reports:

• Internet Communication/Social Networking:  Rob Power submitted for review the postcard to be mailed to LPSF members giving our June primary election recommendations and inviting members to the July 4th barbecue.  The postcard was unanimously approved subject to correction of the recommendation on Prop B to a NO.  It was decided by the required supermajority vote (4 Yes, 2 No) not to give the actual membership votes by which our ballot recommendations are decided, on this or any future ballot recommendations.

 

• Outreach:  Starchild reported that he had spoken at a recent Tea Party event.  He reviewed upcoming events, including the National LP Convention and an East Bay LP weekend over Memorial Day weekend.

 

Announcements:

 

Richard Winger reported on his recent activities against Proposition 14, “the top-two primary” measure.   On May 15 he and Christine Tobin will make a presentation in Sacramento at a Californians for Electoral Reform event.

 

The next two meetings are scheduled for the Main Library, but not necessarily in   the same room.

 

 

Old Business:

 

San Francisco Patrol Special Police. Most of the meeting was devoted to a long-awaited presentation by the SF Patrol Special Safety Program.  Ann Grogan introduced various colleagues from the program.  She gave a power point presentation explaining the history and current role of the program, which provides supplementary service-oriented neighborhood policing.  It’s the only private police force in the US, and pre-dates San Francisco’s first government police force.

 

The Special Police train at the Police Academy, pass a security check, and are overseen by the Civilian Police Commission.  They rely on citizens’ arrest powers rather than police ones.  They are uniformed and armed, use radios on the police bandwidth, and provide community quality of life “value” policing.   Their services are paid by private subscription contracts averaging $48 per hour, compared to the $109 per hour (plus 22.6% administrative fee and add-ons for cars, pensions, etc.) that private businesses must pay to hire an off-duty policeman for special events and services.  Further info is available on their website:  www. sfspecialneighborhoodpolicing.com.

 

She outlined various ways in which we might help the program:

-- Take an official organizational position in support.

-- Take individual positions in support.

-- Add our name to their e-alert list.

-- Volunteer to testify on their behalf.

-- Write letters to the Board of Supervisors and Police Chief.

 

We observed a minute’s silence in honor of Jane Warner, whom some of us had met.  She died this morning after serving 18 years as a member of the Special Police in the Castro and elsewhere.

 

Candidate’s Campaign Updates. Rob Powers had been in contact with Phil Berg and reported on the progress of Phil’s campaign for U.S. Congress.  Starchild reported on his campaign for Supervisor.  He welcomes small contributions of about $15 to keep his fundraising below $1000, a sum he cannot legally exceed unless someone is willing to serve as official campaign treasurer.

 

New Business:

 

Plans for PRIDE parade weekend. This year’s Gay Pride weekend is June 26/27.      We will not be marching, but will have a booth at Civic Center both days.  We            discussed logistics of having an easel for the “world’s smallest political quiz” and     other arrangements.  Rob Powers is coordinating plans.

 

Signature gathering. Les Mangus solicited signatures for the November ballot “Fix MUNI Now” initiative.  Support for this measure can be given on the LPSF website.