This is the second stinging Press Release by the United Parents Committee. It follows their first on Mon. Jul. 02, 2012 which was also very critical on how an 'alleged' instance of domestic violence is being used in another instance of SF's Power Broker, former Mayor Willie Brown, unduly influencing the Democratic Party 'Conservative' forces allied with the Local GOP Leaders, to consolidate political power by placing 'yes' officials, such as what Mayor Ed Lee is and what the overwhelmingly elected Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, will never be.
The reason why those of us who know, respect and support the Padres Unidos organization and the work it does, are not taken aback on their position in the case of Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and should think of it as incongruent and possibly also contradictory to their pro-victims of domestic violence advocacy, is because we also know that their primary concern and focus is to assist the victim. By 'assist', it is meant to mean that they do preach and practice respect for the victims' basic civil rights as a person, namely, self-determination, to name the one in top of the list.
The reason why those of us who know, respect and support the Padres Unidos organization and the work it does, are not taken aback on their position in the case of Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and should think of it as incongruent and possibly also contradictory to their pro-victims of domestic violence advocacy, is because we also know that their primary concern and focus is to assist the victim. By 'assist', it is meant to mean that they do preach and practice respect for the victims' basic civil rights as a person, namely, self-determination, to name the one in top of the list.
Among Padres Unidos' members and leadership are victims of domestic violence themselves and as a result of their one-on-one interactions with victims and in their trainings on how to deal with these issues, they discovered that there are large numbers of incidents that they experienced themselves, or heard first person accounts from clients, where they are essentially rendered powerless and without a saying in the matter. First, by the good intentions of community organizations, who in general assume they know best what is good for the victim, and second, by the authorities and the Judicial System which deal with these cases in an consistently inconsistent manner. Understanding that this may be due to nuances on a) the merits of the case, b) personal or first hand knowledge on such cases, or c) prevailing politically correct conventions or presuppositions on how to deal with victims of domestic violence. The last seems to not make any differentiation on each case, but tends to treat all in a kind of default mode. though this is not intrinsically negative, in general this is the case without exceptions; such as in Eliana Lopez' case, where all the evidence seems to point out that this was a case where there was incidental physical contact, which all of us properly condemned, but it is at least an arguable fact that it doesn't amount to the level of a domestic violence classification. The sad part is, that their good intentions are causing, albeit unintended, a lot of collateral damage to innocents, such as their 3 yr. old son Theo in the case of the Mirkarimi Family.
We feel that the main questions we, Eliana's supporters, pose are: At what point what the victims of domestic violence says does have any merits or Value?, we strongly believe that automatic dismissal is tantamount to a total lack of respect and empathy for the victim, as is the case in how Eliana Lopez' declarations were taken from the very beginning.
Immediately below please find Comité de Padres Unidos' Press Release:
UNITED WE STANDCOMITÉ DE PADRES UNIDOS__________________________ __________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContacts:SilviaRamírez (650) 716-7746Guadalupe Siordia (415) 494-1869
COMITE DE PADRES UNIDOS (United Parents Committee) JOINS SUPPORTERS OF SHERIFF ROSS MIRKARIMI AND HIS FAMILY TO DEMAND THE SHERIFF?S REINSTATEMENT AND TO RAISE FUNDS TO PAY FOR ELIANA?S AIR FARE AND OTHER TRAVEL EXPENSES, AND TO ATTEND THE SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION MEETING ON JULY 18 WHEN ELIANA WILL BE TESTIFYING.
July 12, 2012, San Francisco. Comité de Padres Unidos is inviting the general public to join efforts to reinstate Sheriff Mirkarimi to post to which the people of San Francisco elected him. Mayor Lee has denied payment for travel expenses to Eliana López, Sheriff Mirkarimi's wife, despite the requirement for her to testify before the Ethics Commission. The unfairness is that the County of San Francisco has paid for the expenses of the Mayor's witnesses to testify before the same Commission.
The most detestable of the Mayor's action is he has suspended Sheriff Mirkarimi without wages while under investigation.
The shameless perpetration of injustices against our chosen candidate to be the County's Sheriff continues. The Sheriff has demonstrated he is interested in working with and for our communities as he did when he was City's Supervisor for District 5 for two consecutive terms. (Please see the Sheriff's brief biography attached).
We want justice for the Sheriff and his young family, and we need him to come back to work for the people of San Francisco.
We invite you to attend the meetings on July 18 and 19 to show our support for Sheriff Mirkarimi and to show our repudiation to the cruel and unjust political tactics of Mayor Ed Lee and his associates. Comité de Padres Unidos is available to speak to the press now and at the hearings.
SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
July 18, 2012 5:00 P.M. (Room 416),
July 19, 2012 5:00 P.M. (Room 416),
August 16, 2012 9:00 A.M. (Room 263)
Room 263 or 416 City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco
Information above about the Special Meeting provided by the San Francisco Ethics Commission WebsiteUNITED WE STANDCOMITÉ DE PADRES UNIDOS__________________________ __________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContacts:SilviaRamírez (650) 716-7746Guadalupe Siordia (415) 494-1869EL COMITÉ DE PADRES UNIDOS SE UNE A PATROCINADORES DEL SHERIFF ROSS MIRKARIMI Y SU FAMILIA EN RECAUDAR FONDOS PARA EL PAGO DEL PASAJE DE AVION Y OTROS GASTOS DE VIAJE DE ELIANA PARA QUE TESTIFIQUE EL 18 DE JULIO ANTE LA COMISION DE ÉTICA DE S. F.
El Comité de Padres Unidos invita al público en general a unirse a los esfuerzos para reinstalar al Sheriff Mirkarimi a su puesto. El Alcalde Ed Lee le ha negado el pago de sus gastos de viaje a Eliana López a pesar de ser requerida para testificar ante la Comisión de Ética, lo injusto es que la Alcaldía sí ha pagado por los gastos de los testigos del Alcalde, para testificar ante la misma Comisión. Lo más detestable de la acción del Alcalde es que él mismo ha suspendido sin goce de sueldo al Sheriff mientras se lleva a cabo ésta investigación.
Con el mayor descaro se siguen perpetrando injusticias contra el candidato que escogimos para ser el Alguacil de nuestra ciudad. El Sheriff ha demostrado que le interesa trabajar por y con nuestras comunidades, como lo hizo cuando fue Supervisor del Distrito 5 por dos términos consecutivos. (Favor de ver documento adjunto con una breve biografía del Sheriff).
Queremos que se le haga justicia al Sheriff y a su joven familia, necesitamos que regrese a trabajar por nuestra ciudad y nuestra gente.
Les invitamos a asistir a las reuniones del 18 y 19 de julio en para demostrar nuestro apoyo al Sheriff Mirkarimi y nuestro repudio a las tácticas políticas crueles e injustas del Alcalde Ed Lee y sus asociados.
COMISION DE ETICA DE SAN FRANCISCO
AVISO DE REUNION ESPECIAL
Julio 18, 2012 5:00 P.M. (Room 416),
Julio 19, 2012 5:00 P.M. (Room 416),
Agosto 16, 2012 9:00 A.M. (Room 263)
Room 263 o 416 City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco
Information above about the Special Meeting provided by the San Francisco Ethics Commission Website
Former Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi
District 5 (Biography)
Ross Mirkarimi (pronounced Meehr-kah-reem-e), was elected San Francisco District 5 Supervisor in 2004, and reelected in 2008.
In 2009, he was appointed by the State Senate to the California Coastal Commission, one of the most powerful land-use bodies in the United States. Ross has lived in San Francisco for 25 years.
Supervisor Mirkarimi has authored more than 80 ordinances that have had both citywide and national impact. Apart from his reputation for sponsoring cutting-edge laws, he is also well known for his 24/7 focus on issues that chronically challenge his district and the City.
Highlights of Ross's legislative accomplishments:
- Plastic Bag Ban: First-in-the-Nation ban on plastic bags in chain grocery stores and drug stores, which sparked similar legislation around the world from Oakland to Canada to Paris to Beijing.
- Commuter Benefits: First-in-the-Nation commuter benefits law, requiring private-sector businesses to allow employees to pay for public transit expenses with pre-tax dollars.
- Climate Change Protocols: First-in-the-Nation mandatory protocols for both public and private sectors.
- Medical Cannabis Dispensary Regulations: First-in-the-Nation public health, land-use and public safety regulations of medicinal marijuana dispensaries.
- Reentry for Ex-Offenders: Formation of the Safe Communities Reentry Council to help reintegrate the formerly incarcerated -- recognizing the reentry process as a critical opportunity to break the cycle of crime and violence and reduce California?s worst-in-the-nation recidivism rate.
- Police Foot Patrols: Required the San Francisco Police Department to institutionalize community policing practices such as foot patrols.
- Workforce Reform: Overhaul of the City's workforce training and placement programs to expand the scope of the First Source Hiring Program and establish private sector incentives to employ residents from disadvantaged communities and those who served time in prison or county jail.
- Tenant Protection: Successful ballot measure (Prop H, 2007) to increase relocation assistance payments to tenants who are evicted through no fault of their own, including increased payments for seniors, children, and the disabled.
- Chain Store Restrictions: Neighborhood-backed legislation to restrict chain stores while protecting small business and neighborhood integrity.
Ross was born in Chicago to an Iranian father and mother of Russian descent.
Ross spent most of his youth in Rhode Island, obtained his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University (Political Science and Russian Literature), and earned Master?s degrees from Golden Gate University (Economics) and the University of San Francisco (Environmental Science/Management). He is also a graduate of the San Francisco Police Academy, where he was class president.
Prior to being elected Supervisor, Ross served as an investigator with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office for almost nine years, specializing in economic and environmental crimes.
Community organizing and activism have always been a significant part of Ross's life, as student body president of St. Louis University, president of the Missouri Public Interest Research Group (MOPIRG), and co-founder of the California Green Party.
- Elected November 2004 for term January 2005 to January 2009
- Elected November 2008 for term January 2009 to January 2013
Committee and Board Assignments:
- Board of Supervisors
- Budget and Finance Committee
- Budget and Finance Sub-Committee
- City and School District Select Committee
- Government Audit and Oversight/LAFCo Joint Meeting
- Joint Meeting-Public Safety Committee, Police Commission
- Public Safety Committee
- Rules Committee
THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WEBSITE.
Guadalupe Siordia-Ortiz, Coordinator
COMITE DE PADRES UNIDOS(415) 861-6958(415) 494-1869
lupitasiordia@aol.com
Extras:
Other efforts:
Sign the Petition to the Mayor & Board of Supervisors in Support of Ross,
Related info:
"The Power Broker" By Elizabeth Lesly Stevens, Washington Montly, City Report, Fog City Journal, Daily Kos, Google Search
To write letters to The Editor:
SF Chronicle, letters@sfchronicle.com, SF Examiner, letters@sfexaminer.com, SF Bay Guardian, tredmond@sfbg.com, SF Weekly, http://www.sfweekly.com/feedback/EmailAnEmployee?department=letters, Bay Area Reporter, letters@ebar.com,
For your neighborhood publication (El Reportero, Westside Observer, Sunset Beacon, El Tecolote, etc.) check their letters page and/or website for contact information. Almost all newspapers (and radio and television stations) also accept comments on their web site. Join those discussions as well.
Sign the Petition to the Mayor & Board of Supervisors in Support of Ross,
Related info:
"The Power Broker" By Elizabeth Lesly Stevens, Washington Montly, City Report, Fog City Journal, Daily Kos, Google Search
To write letters to The Editor:
SF Chronicle, letters@sfchronicle.com, SF Examiner, letters@sfexaminer.com, SF Bay Guardian, tredmond@sfbg.com, SF Weekly, http://www.sfweekly.com/feedback/EmailAnEmployee?department=letters, Bay Area Reporter, letters@ebar.com,
For your neighborhood publication (El Reportero, Westside Observer, Sunset Beacon, El Tecolote, etc.) check their letters page and/or website for contact information. Almost all newspapers (and radio and television stations) also accept comments on their web site. Join those discussions as well.
"Obamacare IS, because Obama Cares"
-- Dr. Marcos (Eusebio) Gutierrez
"When you were born, the world rejoiced... And you cried; Let the rest of your life be such that, when you die, the world will cry... And you will rejoice!"
-- Dr. Marcos (Eusebio) Gutierrez
"When you were born, the world rejoiced... And you cried; Let the rest of your life be such that, when you die, the world will cry... And you will rejoice!"
-- "Winner's Creed" (Anonymous, found in a 12 steps room)
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-- Margaret Mead
US anthropologist & popularizer of anthropology (1901 - 1978)
-- Margaret Mead
US anthropologist & popularizer of anthropology (1901 - 1978)
Firmly believing that one of the biggest, if not the biggest factor in the abuse and attacks against people and groups which are viewed as different, is hate speech in the media made possible by the extense consolidation of it, grassroots forces have concluded that the former needs to be stopped and the latter changed.
