Pause to welcome a new year
The busiest season of the year is upon us and this blog will go into hibernation for a couple of weeks. Best wishes to everyone for a happy holiday season and the beginning of a new year!
If you have some extra time to browse the Internet while you recover from holiday feasts, here is a game that goes some good to the world as well as entertaining you. Take a look at the website that tests your vocabulary skills at the same time that it gives free rice to hungry people in the developing world. Good luck!
California rules
Many people think California exists in a world far separate and different from Washington, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bringing the two worlds together. The Chronicle reports that the House cafeteria will soon be serving the organic and locally grown food favored by many Californians. Pelosi has apparently determined that Congress and its staff should think about health and the environment instead of just following traditional recipes. Who know where this revolution may lead? In the meantime, here in San Francisco, Mayor Newsom is considering imposing a fine on the makers of sugary soft drinks, one of the contributing causes of childhood obesity. This would be a first in the country. California truly leads the way. Is anyone following?
More about voting machines
Sometimes it seems as though San Francisco will never get the issue of electronic voting machines settled. This week the Supervisors approved the purchase of Sequoia Voting Machines, but even some of those who voted to do this are not quite satisfied. The Sequoia machines are accessible for people with disabilities and they are a clear step ahead of the old machines, which had not been approved by the state, but they do not meet all the specifications activists would like to see. The system is not transparent and the company refuses to let outsiders examine its programs for vote counting. The approval of these machines, which are likely to be available for the February primary, should avoid the need for tedious hand counts, but people who care about election integrity will still be watching and waiting for even better options.
What do you give the homeless?
In a month filled with holidays, many of us spend hours thinking about gifts for family and friends, but a column in Sunday's Chronicle reminds us that other people may need gifts more than they do. Most people in San Francisco see homeless men and women every day. Some of them look pretty much like our family and friends, others are more pathetic, some are obnoxious, but we can't avoid being aware of them. We have been warned against giving them money, but is sometimes seems we should offer something, especially at this season. Jan Gurley, in the Chronicle, gives a list of practical gifts that will help a homeless person without offering too many chances of reselling them for cash to buy drugs or drink. Have you ever thought of giving a homelss person a transit ticket? It can be a lifesaver for getting around the city to go to medical appointments or find a shelter. How about an inflatable footbath to soothe cold, dirty, tired feet? Hats, gloves, and mittens are also possibilities. Take a look at the article and you may decide it is worth spreading the holiday cheer a little wider than you did last year.
New voting machines for S.F.?
The Board of Supervisors moved a step closer to approving a new electronic voting machine for the city last night. The Sequoia voting machine was approved in committee and forwarded to the Board which will vote on it next week. Supervisors themselves are not happy about the Sequoia machines because they do not allow as much transparency as many citizens would like. Despite complaints from activists, the committee decided that the city would be best served by having machines in place for the February 5 presidential primary vote. DOE chief, John Arntz, pointed out that some more efficient way of voting is needed because ballots are still being counted by hand for the November election. Despite all the pressures, it is important that San Franciscans keep an eye on what is being done about voting in the city. The League feels very strongly that election integrity is a major issue that must be defended. In the rush of holiday preparations, we can't afford to ignore this vital civic decision.
Will they ever be safe?
The contentious issue of electronic voting machines just never seems to stop. Now the California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, had come out and said that she isn't at all sure these machines will ever be acceptable. Bowen believes strongly, as do many other voting experts, in the need for a paper trail so recounts can be made of any election. Hacker-proof systems are also needed, although voter fraud has not been a serious issue in recent elections, The old-fashioned optical scan systems are favored by Secretary Bowen, although the search continues for a foolproof electronic voting system for the future.
