PHDC Newsletter
July field trip, June meeting followup, more
Issue: #31June 24, 2011
Greetings!

Our next meeting is a field trip. We will gather in Dolores Park on July 4th with the patriotic purpose of protecting democracy itself. How? By registering voters; by campaigning for the California DISCLOSE Act: Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections; and by supporting the SF Mime Troupe in their 52nd year of smart, satirical musical theater. Meanwhile, have a great Pride weekend!

                                                                                    Joni Eisen, President
                                                                                    Potrero Hill Democratic Club  
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In This Issue
JULY 4th "MEETING"
UPCOMING
JUNE MEETING FOLLOWUP

MONDAY, JULY 4th "MEETING"

July 4,2007 Get your patriotism on

We'll have the old ironing board as our base of operations as we meet at 12:30pm in Dolores Park, a ways in from 19th St, to register voters and gather support for the CA DISCLOSE Act. (The photo at right shows a group of us in Dolores Park on July 4, 2007 - PHDC's first year.) Please let Political Action Chair Monisha Mustapha know by email if you will be there, and also if you can volunteer to drive/carpool to Dolores Park - and how many people you can take. If you plan on staying to watch the SF Mime Troupe show, "2012 - The Musical!" at 2pm, we encourage you to bring a blanket and an item or two for a potluck picnic. Please join us!

UPCOMING 


THIS Monday, June 27, 6:00-9:00pm. California Citizens Redistricting Commission public input meeting at Fort Mason Center. Last chance for local area residents to testify before final district maps are drawn and presented to the Secretary of State by August 15. Learn more here about how to testify in person or by email. Are you happy that SF will have one State Senator instead of two - but won't have to share him or her with other counties? Does the new map keep "communities of interest" together? Do you want to "keep San Francisco odd" (I know I do!). That last concept is a little bit complicated, but pretty well-explained in the SF Bay Guardian politics blog. Let the Commissioners know what you think!

Sometime this summer, date and venue still TBD: Members Party & "Shop Local" Silent Auction. Third annual! We'll keep you posted.

SAVE THE DATES! Tuesday, Aug 30: Mayoral Candidate Forum, co-sponsored by PHDC and the Potrero Boosters, venue TBA. Tuesday, September 6: DA Candidate Forum as part of our regular PHDC endorsement meeting at the neighborhood House.


JUNE 7th MEETING FOLLOWUP: FOOD POLITICS

 fair farm billFood & Water Watch on the Farm Bill,
a panel of neighbors, a scroll "movie"
and a feast

Adam Scow (Food & Water Watch) highlighted concerns with the US food system in his presentation, "Sowing the Seeds of a Fair Farm Bill," then was joined by a panel of Hill neighbors to give examples of how people right here are trying to get better food, despite the corporate-friendly policies at the top.  

 

Kayren Hudiburgh of Good Life Grocery spoke about the problems current federal regulations cause for growers and sellers of organic and local produce. She also provided an incredible array of locally-sourced food, from fruits to cheeses to breads & hummus, which attendees thoroughly enjoyed. David Glober described volunteering with community gardens, with Rebuild Potrero and the 18th & Rhode Island permaculture garden. Monica Ferrey explained the Potrero Branch library's seed-lending program, and told of the new barrel garden outside her apartment - also part of Rebuild Potrero. The program ended with a brief, inventive scroll "movie" by Ron Davis, founding director of the above-mentioned Mime Troupe, explaining the workings of organic farming.

 

Meanwhile, at the back table, along with the gorgeous Good Life food, people feasted on local edibles from Rainbow Grocery brought by Kate Gaidos, and sampled a bit of "permaculture" (things that easily re-seed or otherwise don't require attention) from the backyard of yours truly. To anyone who particularly enjoyed the blue borage flowers and/or delicious omega-3-rich wonder-weed purslane: I have seedlings! I will gladly give you some to plant; just reply to this email.

One last thing: Info on
Community-Supported Agriculture - farms that deliver boxes of just-picked produce to your door or convenient distribution points in SF - can be found here.