Candidate for
Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of San Francisco; Assembly District 13

I'm a passionate organizer for seniors, the environment, access to health care and prescription drugs, affordable housing, eviction protections and gay rights.

· Executive Director of Senior Action Network, SF's leading advocacy voice for Seniors.

· Master of Public Policy, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley.

· Former Executive Director of Health Access, California's alliance for universal health care and health consumer rights (1995-1999).

· Former California Director or Clean Water Action, a multi-issue environmental group (1990-1995)

· Resident of San Francisco since 1984. My partner is Jodi Reid, and I'm the father of two adopted children.

· I started community organizing in 1975 for tenant rights and gay rights, and still organize today.

I've had notable successes in progressive reform + I like to win, not whine

Senior, Housing, Tenant, Homeless Issues

· In 2003, helped lead efforts to successfully defeat attempt to put an "elected rent board" charter amendment on the ballot, which would have taken the "stabilitization" out of the rent board and rent control.

· Through the Senior Housing Action Coalition, fought for Prop H capital improvement pass-through protections (2000), and Prop I rent control expansion (2002). Fought the false-HOPE Prop R (2002) condo conversion loophole and Prop M attacks on homeless benefits.

· From 1985 to 1990 led statewide efforts which temporarily stopped the Costa-Hawkins bill and was a leader of the 1988 San Francisco initiative (Prop U) for vacancy control.

· Banned Segway scooters from San Francisco's sidewalks. Lead pedestrian safety initiatives city wide, including longer crossing times, countdown signals and red light enforcement.

· In 2001 won $32 million in City commitments for affordable housing development through the "Two Bits for Housing" campaign.

· Helped lead annual efforts to preserve or expand the senior services budget.

· This month, won $3.8 million for 850 Broderick homeless senior facility with support services.

· In 2003, won over $700,000 to improve the quality of homeless shelters for seniors.

Health Care

· Founder and chief strategist for the Patient Bill of Rights Campaign, which passed overwhelmingly as 22 bills protecting HMO patients from managed care abuse (1996-1999). This included: the right to sue HMOs, right to a second opinion, outside medical review, a new managed care ombudsman.

· Formed National Campaign to Protect, Improve and Expand Medicare, to defend Medicare against privatization.

· Introducing the ouRX Prescription Drugs Bill of Rights in 2004, a major campaign for cheaper drugs.

Environmental Victories

· Convened and organized (1991) the Campaign to Save California Wetlands, which defended the Clean Water Act and successfully advocated for wetlands restoration for a decade.

· Co-author of the 1989 feasibility study to municipalize PG&E.

· Helped organize Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice to stop a huge power plant and shut down the Bayview/Hunter's Point power plant.

· Proposed first Zero-Emission Vehicle Regulations in the nation (1990) while at USEPA + forcing California to do the same.

· Helped elect and keep environmental majorities on East Bay Municipal Utility District and Marin Water District (1990-1995).

· Led campaign for SF's "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" act (1993) which mandates department conservation measures. Fought toxic incinerators in Martinez and the Central Valley.

· Led statewide campaigns to defend California Environmental Quality Act (1993-1995).