June 24th

On June 24th, march with Assemblymember Mark Leno during the Pride Parade. What could be more fun then walking with the author of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act? Really? Leno’s contingent is early in the parade line-up, so you can take advantage of everything the day offers.

To RSVP if you have any questions, please call please call Reese at (415) 557-3013 or e-mail Leno_Pride2007@yahoo.com.

We can cross this bridge

From Cynthia Laird in the Bay Area Reporter:

Marriage equality march Sat.

Marriage Equality USA is having its “Equality March” across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday, May 19.

The event celebrates the third anniversary of marriage licenses being issued to same-sex couples in Massachusetts. Organizers also said they are marching in support of political leaders in each state who are advancing same-sex marriage. In New York, Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer recently introduced a same-sex marriage bill to the legislature (though advocates have conceded it’s unlikely to pass this year as the legislative session ends next month). In California, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) has introduced his gender-neutral marriage bill, which is now making its way through the legislature. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, has twice said he will veto it.

People interested in participating in the San Francisco march should gather at 9:30 a.m. at the west end of Crissy Field. They will then march across the bridge and return to Crissy Field for wedding cake, entertainment, and prizes. Prior to the 10 a.m. march there will be a news conference to discuss Leno’s bill and hear from local county clerks who stood in support of marriage equality during MEUSA’s Valentine’s Day marriage counter actions. Organizers also will place a call to their counterparts in New York.

For more information, visit http://www.marriageequality.org/meusa.

Can we finally get equality written into law?

Congrats Theresa

The San Francisco Chronicle has a nice front-page article new President of the San Francisco Police Commission Theresa Sparks.

Looming Budget Battle

From Hanke Plante at CBS 5:

 While Schwarzenegger will reveal his specific budget cut proposals on Monday, earlier this year he hinted that people on welfare could be in the bullseye. Welfare recipients are one of the only groups who are not protected by existing entitlements in the state budget.

But targetting the poor could set-up a summer-long budget battle under the Captiol Dome with Democrats.

“There’s a federally funded cost of living increase for those who are receiving public assistance and the governor’ss proposal is to take those dollars to balance our budget rather than to pass it on to those who are already living on very very little,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno, the San Francisco Democrat who chairs the Appropriations Committee.

It is looking like it will be a long summer.

AB 1668 Open Document Format

Mark Leno’s AB 1668 has something few other pieces of legislation can claim: a blog 100% devoted to its passage. In explaining the site, the author wrote, “Having received word of its introduction and opposition from Microsoft, I put together this site in an attempt to marshal support for the bill.”

In addition, the bill has received coverage in PC World, Mac Observer, and Information Week — but it is intriguing to see a citizen set up a specific site to cover a single piece of legislation. Here are Assemblymember Leno’s opening statements on the bill: