Constant Readers,
There won't be a "Bored of Supervisors" this week. It was just too boring. Suspiciously so. I think there is a conspiracy afoot to get rid of pesky writers with too much free time. I still watched, though, and my love for Aaron Peskin continued to grow:
QUOTE OF THE MEETING
I’d like to acknowledge Bob Cherny from our Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board who is hosting them on the topic ‘Understanding United States Political Culture’ – I don’t know if they’ll learn that here at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors but welcome one and all.
– President of the Board of Supervisors, Aaron Peskin, once again reading my mind as he recognized the presence of members of the American Studies Institute from San Francisco State.
BETWEEN THE LINES - Everything is Related
California law allows public schools to charge in-state tuition to anyone who has attended a California high school for three years, graduated and (if they aren’t here legally) promised to apply for citizenship. (Cal. Edu. Code sec. 68130 et seq.) In Martinez v. Regents of U.C., 40 students and parents paying out-of-state tuition brought a lawsuit challenging this law as a violation of the federal prohibition on states giving undocumented students in-state tuition. In 2006, the California State Superior Court ruled against the Plaintiffs and upheld California’s law. (Ruling: Download martinez_sup_court.pdf.) Plaintiffs appealed and on September 15, the State Appeals Court reversed the lower court’s ruling and held that the California law allowing some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition ($17k less than out-of-state) violates federal law. (Ruling: Download martinez_appeal.pdf.) I’m told the Regents of U.C. will appeal the ruling.
In August, a legal claim was filed against The City alleging that the tragic deaths of Anthony, Michael and Matthew Bologna by Edwin Ramos were caused by San Francisco’s (former) policy of shielding undocumented juvenile criminals from deportation. (Claim here: Download BOLOGNA-CLAIM.pdf.) How are the two related? Kris Kobach. He’s a Kansas City attorney who argued on behalf of the Plaintiffs in the Martinez case and is one of the attorneys representing the Bologna family. Also, he’s affiliated with the Immigration Reform Law Institute.
On August 1, The City was supposed to start issuing Municipal Identification cards to San Francisco residents regardless of their immigration status. Why hasn’t that program started yet? Partly because of the legal issues raised by a lawsuit to halt the issuance of the card. Brought by whom? The Immigration Reform Law Institute.
ONE MORE THING: I have agreed to moderate the District 9 Supervisorial Candidate debate on October 7 at the Victoria Theater at 7:30 pm. I'm beyond nervous. But I've been researching the candidates and I am as eager to watch the debate as I am anxious about moderating it! Go here for more details.
(Note that Prop S will be in a separate post so I can list it with the other props with my voter guide.)
--Melissa
Well-written, funny article(s) but what's it like to have your name on the front page of the "Examiner" when there's a full-page endorsement of McCain/Palin right below? I've heard of strange political bedfellows but this is getting downright perverse.
Posted by: sfmike | September 25, 2008 at 21:43
Wilma is a nice lady. I wish that were her slogan. "Vote for me, cause I'm a nice lady"
If Wilma Pang is elected Supe for D3, I bet she might break into song along with Walter Paulson during his public comment, as opposed to staring at her PC monitor, which is what all the other Supes tend to do when Walter sings. (except Aaron) http://www.vimeo.com/1305104
And Walter IS getting better as a singer. Why don't they give him a talent accommodation?
Posted by: mschool | September 26, 2008 at 17:09