Feature Archives

On March 27th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the nation's first ban on the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags. The ban will apply to 54 grocery stores in the city as well as large pharmacies. San Francisco currently consumes 1000 tons of plastic bags each year.

On March 26th a public read-out for Justice in Oaxaca, Mexico was held just prior to David Solnit's hearing for allegedly throwing red paint on the entrance to the San Francisco Mexican Consulate last fall. At 12pm, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Arnoldo García, Rebecca Solnit, Larry Bogad, and others read from their works outside of the Mexican Consulate between 1st and 2nd Streets. Afterwards, a pre-trial hearing on felony vandalism charges against David was supposed to have been held at the Hall of Justice. The District Attorney's office was not prepared for the pre-trial--which should have been a basis to drop the case--but the judge refused to grant attorney John Viola's motions and re-scheduled the case for April 18th, 9am, department 9, 850 Bryant St., SF.

A memorial for Nadia Cabezas, who was also known as Kitty Kastro, will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 2pm at St. Anthony's Foundation, 121 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. Kitty Kastro was struck and killed instantly by a reckless driver in Indiana on March 5th. Nadia Cabezas stood with ACT UP, educated society about transgender issues, confronted the religious right, and fought for the rights of disabled people. Kitty Kastro hosted a public access show called Tranny Talk, where she interviewed police chiefs, children of transsexuals, religious extremists, mothers of transsexuals who have been killed, and others. Nadia is survived by her partner, who is Tranny Talk producer Dina Boyer, as well as her Mom Kathy, her dog Maya, and the couple's two cats, Samantha and Kitty.

Alice Nuccio, a member of Local 510, the Sign and Display Workers Union, and an activist in the social justice community in the Bay Area, died of cancer on Wednesday, March 21st, 2007, at age 46. Her fellow activists and Local 510 members held a memorial service on Saturday March 24th at 6:30pm, at the St. Martin DePorres House, 225 Potrero Avenue (near 16th St.). Her life as an activist began with the anti-nuclear peace movement on the east coast in the late 1970s, then continued with her relationships, serving food with Food Not Bombs, working on AIDS issues with ACT UP, participating in the direct actions that shut down the WTO in Seattle, and organizing Anarchist Cafes. Alice fought for people to have more access to information about their illness, as well as for more holistic and less intrusive healing methods. Alice enjoyed community gardening, potlucks, bonfires at the beach, spending time with her cat, and collective musical experiences such as playing music with friends.

On Wednesday, March 14th, it was announced that two charges against Ed Rosenthal were dismissed. Federal District Court Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Rosenthal, who is an author and medical marijuana activist, was vindictively prosecuted, and dismissed charges of tax evasion and money laundering. The remaining marijuana charges against Rosenthal are virtually identical to those pursued against him in his 2003 trial. Rosenthal's trial has been continued, and a status conference will be held on April 13th at 11:00am.

In solidarity with ACT UP NY’s 20 year anniversary action, Gay Shame held "a festive die-in and real estate tour of the ever-so-scary Castro" on Thursday, March 29th. The action was organized around the idea of “Healthcare and Housing for ALL!” Throughout San Francisco, people with AIDS, and other low-income residents, have been forced out of their homes to make way for remodeling, owner move-ins and condo conversions. “The legacy of evictions is part of the cultural history of the Castro,” said Mary Mortgage of Gay Shame. “There’s been a huge cultural erasure. We’re holding real estate companies accountable for making profits off the eviction of protected tenants.”

Bay Media Lab host Howard Vicini will present video evidence during a Friday March 16th broadcast on San Francisco cable access covering the case against Josh Wolf. The video is consistent with Wolf's assertion that he was there as journalist covering the event despite statements made by the prosecutor and the judge that called into question Wolf's status as a journalist. The live broadcast will feature discussion among media activists and journalists concerning the Wolf case and others that have resulted in journalists facing federal subpoenas and the prospect of jail time.