Why the Presidential Race Ignores Urban America

Posted January 28, 2016 by Randy Shaw

Despite massive media coverage, the 2016 presidential race has ignored the housing and economic crises impacting urban America. Neither Bernie Sanders nor Hillary Clinton has uttered the phrase “housing crisis” during their debates, as no question has addressed it. Republicans
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Will Smith y Su Boycott a Los Oscars: A Black Motion Picture Superstar Complaining About Exclusion?

Posted January 28, 2016 by Ruben Blades

I find it troubling that the current complaints about possible discrimination or oversight resulting in fewer, or none non-white nominations for the 2016 Oscars seem to concentrate only on black performers. Latino performers are BY FAR the most neglected sector
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How VA Health Care Outdoes Private Sector

Posted January 28, 2016 by Suzanne Gordon

Because the nation’s media has been focused almost exclusively on the problems of America’s largest, and only publicly funded, fully integrated healthcare system – the Veterans Health Administration — we barely hear anything about the successes of VHA healthcare. Pioneering
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Lisa Ferraro & Erika Luckett’s Farwell Concert at Freight & Salvage

Posted January 28, 2016 by E. ”Doc” Smith

Lisa Ferraro & Erika Luckett are intent on “amplifying the goodness, joy, and nourishment in the world”. Ferraro is a soulful jazz vocalist who grew up in Pittsburgh and has worked with such artists as Marvin Hamlisch, Hendrick Merkins, Roger
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The “Pay to Play” Myth at SF City Hall

Posted January 26, 2016 by Randy Shaw

Unless independently wealthy, candidates for public office in the United States have to raise money. And this political reality guarantees that elected politicians will take actions that benefit campaign contributors. That’s why all the talk about “pay to play” at
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The Bernie Bookshelf: Can “Feeling the Bern” Benefit All Political Outsiders?

Posted January 26, 2016 by Steve Early

For those “feeling the Bern,” this is not the moment to throw another log on the fire, curl up on your couch, and immerse yourself in books about the most popular brand to emerge from Vermont since Ben & Jerry’s.
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Report From Sundance/Slamdance 2016 (Pt. 1)

Posted January 26, 2016 by Peter Wong

The plot of Jeremy LaLonde’s “How To Plan An Orgy In A Small Town” resembles one belonging to a revenge sex comedy. But acerbic takedowns of small town prudery turns out to be the farthest thing from LaLonde’s mind. Teenaged
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San Jose Coalition Launches “Opportunity to Work” Initiative

Posted January 26, 2016 by Dianna Zamora Marroquin

San Jose community, religious and labor leaders submitted a ballot measure on January 25 requiring employers to offer qualified part- time employees the opportunity to work additional hours before hiring new part-time or temporary employees. “Every day I see how
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