South San Francisco, CA  July 14, 2023 Submitted by Coach Mike Pizzo

South San Francisco A.C. men’s soccer team will begin its 70th season of representing South San Francisco, when the Southwest Premier League’s Pacific Premier Division starts play in September.

SSFAC is coming off a 5th-place finish in their 1st year participating in the SWPL.

The team will start their pre-season training in August and invite any players interested in joining the team to come out for a look and see if it is a good fit for you and the team.

You can reach out to the team on its Facebook page HERE or by email at ssfsoccer@aol.com.

All interested players will get a response.

Home games will again take place at Colt Field on the campus of El Camino High School, our home since 2014.

Games are on Sundays and we encourage everyone to come out and watch your local club compete for a title.

It’s EXCITING, It’s ENTERTAINING, and most of all…..It’s FREE !!!

The schedule will be announced sometime in late August.

Tags: adult soccer Colt Field men’s soccer Mike Pizzo South City tradition South San Francisco A.C. men’s soccer team Sports

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We have some of the worst air quality in the world: Did you enjoy your smoky hell weekend? No? Me either! The Air Quality Index in Seattle reached around 190 at one point Sunday evening. Being outside felt like being a chimney sweep trapped inside a chimney in Victorian England. Changing winds started moving into the region Monday morning. Hopefully, the smoke will leave pretty soon. Wish for a strong onshore flow. Wish for rain.

Tell us when the smoke leaves, weather people of Twitter: According to the Seattle Weather Blog’s crystal ball, the smoke might linger most of Monday before it starts clearing out. However, the AQI was already down to 100 as of Monday morning. That’s still bad, don’t get me wrong, but it’s better than 190! It’s all about perspective. 

Best guess is that the Seattle area endures one more day of smoky conditions before influx of ocean air clears us out late Mon/early Tue.

— Seattle Weather Blog (@KSeattleWeather) August 21, 2023

Tokitae goes belly up in Miami: Tokitae, also known as Lolita, was the last remaining southern resident killer whale in captivity. She was supposed to make her journey home to the Pacific Northwest after 50 years, but she died Friday from a renal condition. Ted Griffin, the man who first started capturing killer whales to have them perform in captivity, bagged Tokitae and greatly depleted the southern resident orca population. He said he had “no regrets.”

Mass shooting in Mount Baker: A shooting in a hookah lounger along Rainier Avenue South in Mount Baker at 4:30 am Sunday killed three people and injured another six. Police recovered five guns from the scene. So far, in 2023, the Seattle Police Department has seized 869 guns, the highest amount in 13 years, KING 5 reports.

South King County has brain worms: Elected officials in Des Moines and Federal Way are working to shut down existing homeless shelters or deny permits to fully funded shelter projects because, as the Seattle Times reports, they “think shelter and housing exacerbate the effects of the homelessness crisis in their neighborhoods.” What???? I’m going to hazard a guess that giving people no shelter or housing will actually increase the visible signs of homelessness in your neighborhood and will not help find a solution to end homelessness at all! The state is investigating whether these practices are illegal since they may violate a 2021 law that requires cities have a certain number of shelter beds before regulating shelters or housing projects. 

Earthquake, hurricane tropical storm strikes California: A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck Ojai, California on Sunday right as the tropical storm Hilary struck. Hilary’s path took her through the Inland Empire and then into the heart of Los Angeles, where she hovered above Dodger Stadium and Compton for a while. Then, she went back on her path up the border of LA and San Bernardino. The deserts are flooding, San Diego had the most rain in a single day since 1873, flash flood warnings abound. More storm updates here. 

Soggy Dodgers:

Dodger Stadium is an island. pic.twitter.com/g2mQrKzgS3

— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) August 21, 2023

Here comes the mud: 

A wall of mud surged through California’s Sheep Canyon, carrying wood and debris along with it, as Hilary, then a tropical storm, dropped heavy rain across the region. https://t.co/Hlf8MSlN9S pic.twitter.com/mdtj3yWBEp

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 21, 2023

Is your package late? I’ll tell you why. A historic drought hitting the Panama Canal means lower water levels and lower capacity for heavy ships. To conserve water, the Panama Canal Authority “reduced maximum ship weights and daily ship crossings.” The line to get through the canal earlier this month was “backed up 160 vessels and delayed some ships by as much as 21 days.” So crazy when climate change interrupts the profits of capitalism, the very thing standing in the way of stopping the impacts of climate change. 

Russia crashed into the moon this weekend: Russia bungled its first lunar landing attempt since 1976 when it lost contact with its unmanned Luna-25 craft and it crashed into the moon. 

In case you forgot, here’s yesterday’s hell sun: This apocalypse sun knows that things can only get worse from here if we don’t figure our shit out: 

Just an orb on the horizon for sunset tonight. And that’s not dust on the camera lens. The thick smoke is making sun spots readily visible without a filter. #wawx pic.twitter.com/Dk86n2j34y

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) August 21, 2023

Don’t read this if you’re a nervous flyer: The US hasn’t had a major plane crash in over a decade, but close calls are happening way more often than we think, and the problem seems to be getting worse. Just last month, the New York Times found “at least 46 close calls involving commercial airlines.” These close calls seem to all be potential collisions with other planes taking off or landing from airport runways. They’re the result of human error likely caused by understaffed and over-stretched air traffic controllers. “The close calls have involved all major U.S. airlines and have happened nationwide.” Air traffic controllers interviewed by the Times said “they feared it was only a matter of time until a deadly crash occurred.”

In Maui news: There are 114 confirmed dead from the Lahaina fires, with only 27 people identified so far. However, 850 people are still missing. 

Frugals in Tacoma linked to listeria deaths: Three people in Tacoma have died and three others have been hospitalized after drinking milkshakes from a contaminated ice cream machine at Frugals restaurant in Tacoma. 

Big news for organ lovers: Surgeons transplanted a pig’s kidney into a brain-dead man to see if the pig kidney would function. For a month, the pig kidney has worked like a normal human kidney and produced urine. Scientists will continue to monitor the kidney for a second month, but this is a huge scientific step for potentially easing shortages of transplantable organs with animal organs. 

Spain wins Women’s World Cup: Spain’s La Roja vanquished England’s Lionesses 1-0 to take home the Women’s World Cup trophy, the country’s first Women’s World Cup win. Olga Carmona, 23, was one of the breakout stars for Spain. She scored the game-winning goal in the final. Carmona’s father died from a battle with cancer two days before the match, but her family didn’t tell her until after she played. “I know you have been watching me tonight and that you are proud of me. Rest in peace dad,” Carmona wrote on social media. 

23-year-old Olga Carmona loves scoring a game-winner

Spain’s captain nets our Goal of the Day to secure La Roja’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup title pic.twitter.com/Lb5AoZt2t2

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 20, 2023

In other sports news: The Mariners are on a six-game winning streak and just finished a full sweep of the Houston Astros. Julio Rodriguez is so hot right now he’s had 17 hits in four games—that’s more than the entire New York Yankees team. Rodriguez broke a Major League Baseball record set in 1925.

The post Slog AM: Seattle Smoke Will Clear Quickly, Tokitae Kicks the Bucket, Spain Wins Ladies’s World Cup appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Spectators paused from their morning walks or jogs to the Ferry Building Farmers’ Market to snap photos of classic Skylark, Mustang and Cutlass cars lined up along Spear Street and Market Street. Black members of the Fo’Fifteen Car Club were ready by 10 a.m. and waiting to take part in San Francisco’s first Juneteenth parade through downtown.

In partnership with the non-profit organization Livable City, organizers based in Bayview and Fillmore were able to bring the procession to the city’s streets. Livable City is best known for Sunday Streets, a citywide campaign bringing a day of car-free streets and free, family-friendly fun activities to different parts of the city.

Funded by

The 1.5-mile parade began at around 11 a.m. at Market and Spear and moved toward Civic Center Plaza while unmistakably displaying the pride and joy of Black people, something of its size and scale on the streets of San Francisco is rarely seen.

Thousands of people gathered to watch the parade of black families, organizations and neighbors. Mayor London Breed led the parade in a classic cable car. The parade kicked off several weeks of events honoring the hard-won legacy of black freedom, both past and present.

Juneteenth refers to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery. Over 250,000 blacks were still enslaved when soldiers arrived on the Texas plantations to end the Confederate occupation of the region.

A parade goer holds a flag at the Juneteenth parade on Saturday. | Eloise Kelsey

Many Bay Area cities celebrated the holiday for the first time in 2022. The day of celebration — also known as Freedom Day, Liberation Day, or Jubilee Day — was separated in San Francisco’s Bayview and Fillmore counties celebrated for over 70 years. Saturday’s parade was a show of inter-county solidarity, uniting the city’s small but powerful black community.

With ongoing reports of San Francisco’s declining black population, the Juneteenth Parade has another meaning for the black community — it’s a symbol of resilience.

State and local officials were present to support the parade, including State Senator Scott Wiener, who waved to the crowd from a green skylark; City Treasurer Jose Cisneros, who nodded his head as he was chauffeured in a black Buick Regal; and Superintendent Myrna Melgar, who rode a bicycle and wore bright green feathers in her helmet.

The sounds of San Francisco rappers San Quinn, RBL Posse, StunnaMan02 and Larry June rang out from floats, motorcycles and vintage cars as they passed Powell Street. KBLX-FM 102.9 radio station host Antoine Davis introduced each float and parade participant, including black firefighters, motorcycle officers from the San Francisco Police Department and EMTs.

The inaugural parade also signals San Francisco visitors and residents that June 19 is a culturally significant holiday for the city, as do the annual Pride celebrations held in June each year and Chinatown’s New Year celebrations in February.

Dancers from the Lyric Performing Arts Center and Feline Finesse Dance Company demonstrated their moves. Performers from the African American Shakespeare Company, dressed in costumes from their recent production of Cinderella, walked in front of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association. Admiringly, the children gathered around a little pony led by club president Wilbert F. McAlister.

The procession returned to the Ferry Building for “Juneteenth on the Waterfront,” as part of a series titled “Pop-Ups on the Plaza,” which showcased black-owned shops and food. The events are organized by Foodwise and MegaBlack SF. Saturday’s event featured a Foodwise classroom entitled Black Chefs and Wine Makers Talk.

A wide variety of food vendors served the fair, including ribs from Lil’ Alijo Catering & Events, Mo’Raysha’s lobster mac & cheese and drinks from The Lemonade Bar. Gumbo Social, which recently opened its brick-and-mortar location in Bayview, was featured with its signature savory gumbo present.

At the end of the parade route there were neither speeches nor grand gestures. For many, the first Juneteenth Parade in San Francisco was an opportunity to experience San Francisco and the black community of the greater Bay Area in authentic and indigenous celebration, despite the holiday’s origins in desperation.

The parade was just the beginning of the celebration of black justice and liberation. Breed will host the official ceremony at San Francisco City Hall on Friday, followed by a week of celebrations. Activities take place across the city, including the 73rd annual Fillmore Juneteenth Freedom Festival on Saturday, which features eight blocks full of family-friendly activities, performances, games and rides. The Bayview Juneteenth celebration takes place at Gilman Park on Sunday.

The post San Francisco’s First Citywide Parade Celebrating Black Liberation Kicks Off Juneteenth Festivities appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Preparing D’Arcy Drollinger for her first official appearance as San Francisco Drag Laureate was a production.

The artist, nightclub owner and newly appointed government official stood in the living room of her San Francisco apartment while two aides struggled with a set of jeweled, custom-made fake nails and dressed her in a pair of white patent leather stiletto heels and a tight pink skirt suit. Eventually, Drollinger left home and had a very busy schedule.

“I’m speaking before the San Francisco Arts Commission,” Drollinger said. “I’m also speaking before the Entertainment Commission on the same day. I will also speak at a high school. I will take part in the parade with the mayor.”

The word laureate is most commonly associated with the Nobel Prize winner or a poet whose job it is to commemorate official occasions in verse. But a Drag Laureate is something new.

Chloe Veltman/NPR

/

NPR

D’Arcy Drollinger puts on lipstick in her apartment in preparation for her first drag-winning performance in San Francisco.

The city’s LGBTQ task force proposed the creation of the drag laureate position about three years ago, in the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve been through a really tough time,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said a few days before the flag-raising ceremony that kicks off the city’s annual Pride celebration. And so, for city officials, a drag laureate seemed something of a panacea, if not a cure-all thanks to “the creativity and joy that a drag laureate brings.”

Breed said one of Drollinger’s selling points as a candidate for the job, which comes with an 18-month tenure and $55,000 stipend, is her track record as a shine-broadener.

The nightclub owner switched during lockdown to run a food delivery service – “Meals on Heels” – from Oasis, the drag nightclub she owns in downtown San Francisco. Drag performers from Oasis delivered meals and cocktails to local residents, with a side dish of curbside lip-syncing.

“It brought a lot of love and excitement,” Breed said of Drollinger’s drag-performance-inspired food delivery service.

But Breed said recent attacks against drag performers, as well as the tightening of anti-drag legislation in different parts of the country, now make the appointment of a drag honoree particularly important.

“In some communities where that wouldn’t be considered acceptable behavior, there’s a kid who’s like, ‘Oh my God, she’s like me. I can be myself without fear,'” Breed said.

LGBTQ activists across the country are working to fight a number of anti-drag laws currently under discussion in various states.

“It’s scary right now,” said Kylo Freeman, CEO and founder of For Them, a trans-owned brand that makes clothing for transgender people and the driving force behind “Drag is Divine,” an ad campaign aimed at raising awareness and increase funding to help fight anti-drag laws. “The backlash is real.”

A poster for the Drag is Divine advertising campaign.

Freeman said they are thrilled that local governments are highlighting drag culture in such a visible way. In West Hollywood, authorities plan to nominate a drag honoree later this month.

“I think it’s a real step forward to have these roles and give us people who can speak out on behalf of the community in a big way,” Freeman said.

But plans to found a drag laureate in New York, where Freeman is based, have stalled. And Freeman said similar positions won’t be emerging in parts of the country that are less friendly to less LGBTQ people anytime soon, Freeman said.

“We’re so politicized right now,” Freeman said. “And I think we forgot that this is just a human rights issue.”

At the San Francisco Pride launch, Drollinger not only supported the mayor in the traditional unfurling of the Pride flag in front of City Hall – she also posed for photos, gave hugs and delivered her first official speech as a drag winner.

Chloe Veltman/NPR

/

NPR

D’Arcy Drollinger delivers her inaugural speech as drag award winner, flanked by California Senator Scott Wiener (left) and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

“Drag is many things,” Drollinger told the crowd of assembled dignitaries and members of the local LGBTQ community. “Drag is art. Drag is activism. Drag is joy. Drag helps bring people together. Drag is fabulous.”

Afterwards, Drollinger happily admitted that she didn’t feel quite up to the demands of her new job. For example, standing up at lengthy civic events isn’t particularly compatible with wearing 3-inch stiletto heels.

“I need to reconsider my heels,” she said.

But the country’s first drag award winner said she’s willing to improvise: “Sometimes you have to lip-sync no matter what song you’re running to.”

Audio and digital stories edited by Jennifer Vanasco. Audio produced by Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento.

Copyright 2023 NPR. For more information, see https://www.npr.org.

The post Nation’s first ‘drag laureate’ kicks off Satisfaction in San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

It was a production to prepare D’Arcy Drollinger for her first official appearance as San Francisco Drag Laureate.

The artist, nightclub owner and newly appointed government official stood in the living room of her San Francisco apartment while two aides struggled with a set of jeweled, custom-made fake nails and dressed her in a pair of white patent leather stiletto heels and a tight pink skirt suit. Eventually, Drollinger left home and had a very busy schedule.

“I’m speaking before the San Francisco Arts Commission,” Drollinger said. “I’m also speaking before the Entertainment Commission on the same day. I will also speak at a high school. I will take part in the parade with the mayor.”

The word laureate is most commonly associated with the Nobel Prize winner or a poet whose job it is to commemorate official occasions in verse. But a Drag Laureate is something new.

Chloe Veltman/NPR

/

NPR

D’Arcy Drollinger puts on lipstick in her apartment in preparation for her first drag-winning performance in San Francisco.

The city’s LGBTQ task force proposed the creation of the drag laureate position about three years ago, in the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve been through a really tough time,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said a few days before the flag-raising ceremony that kicks off the city’s annual Pride celebration. And so, for city officials, a drag laureate seemed something of a panacea, if not a cure-all thanks to “the creativity and joy that a drag laureate brings.”

Breed said one of Drollinger’s selling points as a candidate for the job, which comes with an 18-month tenure and $55,000 stipend, is her track record as a shine-broadener.

The nightclub owner switched during lockdown to run a food delivery service – “Meals on Heels” – from Oasis, the drag nightclub she owns in downtown San Francisco. Drag performers from Oasis delivered meals and cocktails to local residents, with a side dish of curbside lip-syncing.

“It brought a lot of love and excitement,” Breed said of Drollinger’s drag-performance-inspired food delivery service.

But Breed said recent attacks against drag performers, as well as the tightening of anti-drag legislation in different parts of the country, now make the appointment of a drag honoree particularly important.

“In some communities where that wouldn’t be considered acceptable behavior, there’s a kid who’s like, ‘Oh my God, she’s like me. I can be myself without fear,'” Breed said.

LGBTQ activists across the country are working to fight a number of anti-drag laws currently under discussion in various states.

“It’s scary right now,” said Kylo Freeman, CEO and founder of For Them, a trans-owned brand that makes clothing for transgender people and the driving force behind “Drag is Divine,” an ad campaign aimed at raising awareness and increase funding to help fight anti-drag laws. “The backlash is real.”

A poster for the Drag is Divine advertising campaign.

Freeman said they are thrilled that local governments are highlighting drag culture in such a visible way. In West Hollywood, authorities plan to nominate a drag honoree later this month.

“I think it’s a real step forward to have these roles and give us people who can speak out on behalf of the community in a big way,” Freeman said.

But plans to found a drag laureate in New York, where Freeman is based, have stalled. And Freeman said similar positions won’t be emerging in parts of the country that are less friendly to less LGBTQ people anytime soon, Freeman said.

“We’re so politicized right now,” Freeman said. “And I think we forgot that this is just a human rights issue.”

At the San Francisco Pride launch, Drollinger not only supported the mayor in the traditional unfurling of the Pride flag in front of City Hall – she also posed for photos, gave hugs and delivered her first official speech as a drag winner.

Chloe Veltman/NPR

/

NPR

D’Arcy Drollinger delivers her inaugural speech as drag award winner, flanked by California Senator Scott Wiener (left) and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

“Drag is many things,” Drollinger told the crowd of assembled dignitaries and members of the local LGBTQ community. “Drag is art. Drag is activism. Drag is joy. Drag helps bring people together. Drag is fabulous.”

Afterwards, Drollinger happily admitted that she didn’t feel quite up to the demands of her new job. For example, standing up at lengthy civic events isn’t particularly compatible with wearing 3-inch stiletto heels.

“I need to reconsider my heels,” she said.

But the country’s first drag award winner said she’s willing to improvise: “Sometimes you have to lip-sync no matter what song you’re running to.”

Audio and digital stories edited by Jennifer Vanasco. Audio produced by Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento.

Copyright 2023 NPR. For more information, see https://www.npr.org.

The post Nation’s first ‘drag laureate,’ kicks off Delight in San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SMART General President Joseph Sellers opened the inaugural SMART Leadership Conference on Monday, with local leaders from sheet metal and transportation gathering in San Francisco for four days of hard work on behalf of SMART members across North America. The theme, “Growth Through Unity,” encompassed the focus of the day: in the joint session, sheet metal and Transportation Division sessions, and breakouts, SMART leadership focused on how to secure the future of our union – together.

Leaders emphasize unity in joint session

In his opening remarks, General President Sellers summarized the many events of the last several years for attendees, noting that political developments in both the United States and Canada have created unprecedented opportunity for our union – as well as the labor movement at large.

He began by counting some of the legislative victories achieved for SMART members across North America: huge investments in the union transportation and sheet metal industries in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, pension protection in the American Rescue Plan, project labor agreements on federal projects above $35 million in the United States; and the achievement of the Labor Mobility Tax Credit and real apprenticeship funding for SMART brothers and sisters in Canada. He also noted the recently proposed rule for two-person crews and the importance of working together, across sheet metal and transportation, to secure that victory for SMART rail workers.

SMART General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell

“We must be proactive and seize our opportunities to strengthen and grow our union,” Sellers said. “We must build our capacity and capitalize on union-friendly administrations in both the US and Canada.”

That being said, he pointed out, all those gains will be in danger if anti-labor politicians take back Congress. Elections in battleground states don’t only matter for locals in those states – they will impact the future of our entire union.

“Either we determine the future of our union, or our adversaries will do it for us,” Sellers declared. “So let’s organize, mobilize, recruit and fight like hell to increase our density and our market share across industries.”

General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell elaborated on General President Sellers’ speech, noting the need to accelerate our union’s growth while touching on the battles facing the Transportation Division and the ways SMART has used technology to expand member services without increasing expenses. The general secretary-treasurer pointed out that, given the growth in construction jobs, sheet metal locals need to increase their organizing, recruitment and retention.

“We have learned at this point that we can’t predict the future,” he said. “But two things we know for certain. One is that there is an enormous amount of opportunity ahead. The other is that we will need to work hard to make the most of that opportunity. Together, we will do just that.”

SMART TD President Jeremy Ferguson

Jeremy Ferguson, president of the SMART Transportation Division, used his opening remarks to reflect on the massive efforts to bring SMART together in the past – particularly the 2019 General Convention – and vowed to work tirelessly across sheet metal and transportation to make our union stronger than ever. Ferguson also spoke on the furious fight to safeguard and expand working conditions for Transportation Division members against corporate onslaught, particularly the Class 1 freight railroads.

“When things get tough, I know that the one thing we’re not afraid to do in the face of adversity is to show up and step up,” he said. “We’re not fearful of the challenges that we see ahead, after what we’ve been through.”

Ferguson touched on the ways the Transportation Division has dedicated itself to better serving members, from an app that allows workers to report safety violations, to the rolling out of SMART University, to the improvement of the Transportation Newspaper – including a column written by Ferguson titled “What your union is doing for you.” All of these initiatives, he explained, are part of the Transportation Division’s effort to strengthen, to unify, to come together and meet the needs of the membership as a whole.

Through all the difficulties of the last several years, a bright spot has emerged: friendly figures in government and federal agencies. Ferguson noted that, thanks to relationships with FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and others, SMART members have a voice in the halls of power. And most importantly, he declared, the unity and solidarity of SMART provides a road map to a better future for all members.

“The changes we made in 2020 that we were all a part of have opened the doors to lasting progress for our organization and hope, even as we fight through all that the carriers and their Wall Street oligarchs throw at us to grind us down, such as Draconian attendance policies,” Ferguson said.

Also speaking during Monday’s joint session were SMART TD California State Legislative Director (SLD) Louie Costa and SMART SM Local 104 (San Francisco) Business Manager Rick Werner. In each of their speeches, Costa and Werner touched on the histories of union transportation and sheet metal in California: the challenges, the battles fought and won, the ongoing struggles and the great potential for growth across all SMART crafts. Notably, both Costa and Werner recounted specific instances where unity – between different locals, and between sheet metal and transportation industries – helped spur the success of SMART.

“It is only together, as one, in all crafts, that we can, and will, solidify the theme of this year’s conference: ‘Growth Through Unity,'” Costa said.

GP Sellers, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, GST Powell

To cap off Monday’s joint session, the SMART Leadership Conference welcomed San Francisco Mayor London Breed and United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair Marty Oberman – both figures who have showed themselves to be allies of working people and SMART. In her speech, Mayor Breed recapped the efforts of the San Francisco government, under her leadership, to bolster the rights of organized labor, including raises for union city employees and the CityBuild program – a pipeline for people from underserved communities to enter the unionized construction trades. She also addressed the city-wide project labor agreement signed into law in 2019.

“Having a strong PLA is important to ensure not only that we get these projects done, but the men and the women who work to push these projects through are supported through good living wages,” Breed said. “I know that’s what you all represent.”

Oberman, meanwhile, discussed the STB’s efforts to investigate the decline of freight rail service in the United States. Pointing to the reckless workforce slashing that has helped spur current freight rail disruptions, Oberman noted that much of the railroads’ difficulties hiring the workers needed to keep America’s supply chain running resulted from current working conditions – no business, he added, could function on the back of a nearly 30% workforce cut.

“It’s quite clear that the main force driving how the railroads are being managed these days are the pressures of stockholders,” he said.

Following Oberman’s speech, General President Sellers closed the joint session – but the day’s work had only begun, as sheet metal and Transportation Division leaders separated for industry-specific breakout sessions. Read more here.

STB Chair Marty Oberman

The post Inaugural SMART Management Convention kicks off in San Francisco with “Development By way of Unity”   appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SMART General President Joseph Sellers opened the inaugural SMART Leadership Conference on Monday, with local leaders from sheet metal and transportation gathering in San Francisco for four days of hard work on behalf of SMART members across North America. The theme, “Growth Through Unity,” encompassed the focus of the day: in the joint session, sheet metal and Transportation Division sessions, and breakouts, SMART leadership focused on how to secure the future of our union – together.

Leaders emphasize unity in joint session

In his opening remarks, General President Sellers summarized the many events of the last several years for attendees, noting that political developments in both the United States and Canada have created unprecedented opportunity for our union – as well as the labor movement at large.

He began by counting some of the legislative victories achieved for SMART members across North America: huge investments in the union transportation and sheet metal industries in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, pension protection in the American Rescue Plan, project labor agreements on federal projects above $35 million in the United States; and the achievement of the Labor Mobility Tax Credit and real apprenticeship funding for SMART brothers and sisters in Canada. He also noted the recently proposed rule for two-person crews and the importance of working together, across sheet metal and transportation, to secure that victory for SMART rail workers.

SMART General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell

“We must be proactive and seize our opportunities to strengthen and grow our union,” Sellers said. “We must build our capacity and capitalize on union-friendly administrations in both the US and Canada.”

That being said, he pointed out, all those gains will be in danger if anti-labor politicians take back Congress. Elections in battleground states don’t only matter for locals in those states – they will impact the future of our entire union.

“Either we determine the future of our union, or our adversaries will do it for us,” Sellers declared. “So let’s organize, mobilize, recruit and fight like hell to increase our density and our market share across industries.”

General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell elaborated on General President Sellers’ speech, noting the need to accelerate our union’s growth while touching on the battles facing the Transportation Division and the ways SMART has used technology to expand member services without increasing expenses. The general secretary-treasurer pointed out that, given the growth in construction jobs, sheet metal locals need to increase their organizing, recruitment and retention.

“We have learned at this point that we can’t predict the future,” he said. “But two things we know for certain. One is that there is an enormous amount of opportunity ahead. The other is that we will need to work hard to make the most of that opportunity. Together, we will do just that.”

SMART TD President Jeremy Ferguson

Jeremy Ferguson, president of the SMART Transportation Division, used his opening remarks to reflect on the massive efforts to bring SMART together in the past – particularly the 2019 General Convention – and vowed to work tirelessly across sheet metal and transportation to make our union stronger than ever. Ferguson also spoke on the furious fight to safeguard and expand working conditions for Transportation Division members against corporate onslaught, particularly the Class 1 freight railroads.

“When things get tough, I know that the one thing we’re not afraid to do in the face of adversity is to show up and step up,” he said. “We’re not fearful of the challenges that we see ahead, after what we’ve been through.”

Ferguson touched on the ways the Transportation Division has dedicated itself to better serving members, from an app that allows workers to report safety violations, to the rolling out of SMART University, to the improvement of the Transportation Newspaper – including a column written by Ferguson titled “What your union is doing for you.” All of these initiatives, he explained, are part of the Transportation Division’s effort to strengthen, to unify, to come together and meet the needs of the membership as a whole.

Through all the difficulties of the last several years, a bright spot has emerged: friendly figures in government and federal agencies. Ferguson noted that, thanks to relationships with FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and others, SMART members have a voice in the halls of power. And most importantly, he declared, the unity and solidarity of SMART provides a road map to a better future for all members.

“The changes we made in 2020 that we were all a part of have opened the doors to lasting progress for our organization and hope, even as we fight through all that the carriers and their Wall Street oligarchs throw at us to grind us down, such as Draconian attendance policies,” Ferguson said.

Also speaking during Monday’s joint session were SMART TD California State Legislative Director (SLD) Louie Costa and SMART SM Local 104 (San Francisco) Business Manager Rick Werner. In each of their speeches, Costa and Werner touched on the histories of union transportation and sheet metal in California: the challenges, the battles fought and won, the ongoing struggles and the great potential for growth across all SMART crafts. Notably, both Costa and Werner recounted specific instances where unity – between different locals, and between sheet metal and transportation industries – helped spur the success of SMART.

“It is only together, as one, in all crafts, that we can, and will, solidify the theme of this year’s conference: ‘Growth Through Unity,'” Costa said.

GP Sellers, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, GST Powell

To cap off Monday’s joint session, the SMART Leadership Conference welcomed San Francisco Mayor London Breed and United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair Marty Oberman – both figures who have showed themselves to be allies of working people and SMART. In her speech, Mayor Breed recapped the efforts of the San Francisco government, under her leadership, to bolster the rights of organized labor, including raises for union city employees and the CityBuild program – a pipeline for people from underserved communities to enter the unionized construction trades. She also addressed the city-wide project labor agreement signed into law in 2019.

“Having a strong PLA is important to ensure not only that we get these projects done, but the men and the women who work to push these projects through are supported through good living wages,” Breed said. “I know that’s what you all represent.”

Oberman, meanwhile, discussed the STB’s efforts to investigate the decline of freight rail service in the United States. Pointing to the reckless workforce slashing that has helped spur current freight rail disruptions, Oberman noted that much of the railroads’ difficulties hiring the workers needed to keep America’s supply chain running resulted from current working conditions – no business, he added, could function on the back of a nearly 30% workforce cut.

“It’s quite clear that the main force driving how the railroads are being managed these days are the pressures of stockholders,” he said.

Following Oberman’s speech, General President Sellers closed the joint session – but the day’s work had only begun, as sheet metal and Transportation Division leaders separated for industry-specific breakout sessions. Read more here.

STB Chair Marty Oberman

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RSA Conference 2022 again has two keynote stages: The West Stage featuring sponsor keynotes, panels and esteemed guest speakers, and the South Stage which brings highly coveted sessions from industry experts to a broader audience. Both stages open today June 6th with a notable lineup of prominent speakers.

“We’ve always been proud to say that the RSA Conference is where the cybersecurity industry comes together, and we could not be more excited to be able to convene in-person again this year for our 31st annual conference,” said Linda Gray MartinVP, RSA Conference. “Cybersecurity is core to every business and whether you’re joining us in-person, online, or year-round through RSAC 365, we’re committed to keeping the global community informed 24/7.”

In addition to its keynotes, RSA Conference will feature over 600+ speakers, 25 track sessions, 350+ sessions, and 400+ exhibitors from across the industry. Additional highlights include:

• RSAC Innovation Sandbox – Today, the highly competitive RSAC Innovation Sandbox program culminates with one finalist recognized as “RSA Conference 2022’s Most Innovative Startup”.
• RSAC Sandbox – RSA Conference Sandbox explores various disciplines of cybersecurity in new and innovative ways. RSAC 2022 will feature seven different sandboxes with dozens of interactive experiences, starting Tuesday, June 7thand is available for Full Conference Pass or Expo Plus Pass holders.
• Inclusive Security – As part of creating an environment where all voices are brought together for positive and inclusive dialogue, RSAC has introduced this seminar that’s open to all pass holders and includes a collection of sessions developed and presented with our community partners. The seminar will focus on increasing the representation of diverse voices throughout our industry and will take place Tuesday, June 7.
• RSAC College Day – Taking place on Thursday, June 9thCollege Day welcomes hundreds of students, recent graduates, and faculty from leading universities with a free, one-day pass that gives them access to dozens of sessions and keynotes plus two experiences tailored just for them.
• Executive Security Action Forum – Members meet every year at the ESAF Annual Meeting held in conjunction with RSA Conference. The RSAC Executive Security Action Forum (ESAF) is an invitation-only, closed-door forum where 100+ top information security executives from Global 1000 companies and government agencies can gather to candidly share insights, discuss key issues, and find actionable solutions to today’s information risk management challenges.
• EFraud Global Forum – RSA Conference eFraud Global Forum (eFG) is an exclusive closed-door, invitation-only forum created to help facilitate information sharing within the global anti-fraud ecosystem. Approximately 125 senior anti-fraud executives from business, security, and technical functions at some of the world’s largest enterprises will gather to confidentially discuss online fraud and how to prevent it.
• The Hugh Thompson Show Featuring Katie Couric, Chris Krebsand Rashad Robinson – To close out RSA Conference 2022, join Hugh Thompson and co-chairs of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder as they explore the topic of information disorder and discuss why it is one of the most important problems of our time.

RSA Conference would like to extend its thanks to its 2022 sponsors: Cisco, RSA, VMware, CrowdStrike, Forcepoint, Fortinet, IBM Security, Mandiant, Microsoft Security, Palo Alto Networks, Splunk, Trellix, AT&T Cybersecurity, BlackBerry, Check Point, Code42 , Digital Guardian by Help Systems, ExtraHop, F5, Keysight Technologies, Recorded Future, Sectigo, TeleTrusT – IT Security Association Germany, Tenable, Tufin, Varonis, Verizon, CyberArk, Delinea, Elastic, Entrust, Exabeam, FireMon, Forescout Technologies, Inc ., HUMAN, Illumio, Invicti Security, Juniper Networks, Malwarebytes, Mimecast, OneTrust, Ping Identity, Proofpoint, Rapid7, SentinelOne, Sumo Logic, Synopsys, Thales, ThreatLocker, Tripwire, Utimaco, Acronis, BigID, BrandShield, CDW, CybelAngel, CyberGRX, Devo, DNSFilter, Infoblox, Ivanti, Kenna Security, Keyfactor, LastPass, Lookout, Morphisec, Onapsis, Pindrop, PKWARE, Reciprocity, ReversingLabs, RiskIQ, SafeBreach, SailPoint, Secureworks, Security Compass, Team Cymru, Tessian, Thinkst Canary, ThreatConnect, and Yubico.

For those who are unable to travel or who would like to view and engage with content online, RSA Conference also offers a Digital Pass, which grants individuals access to the Innovation Sandbox Contest, Keynotes, Sponsor Briefings and recorded Track sessions which will all be available on-demand within 24 hours of a session running live at RSAC 2022.

For the health and safety of everyone, RSA Conference requires all attendees and staff to show proof of initial COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for entry. Additionally, RSA Conference continues to monitor and adhere to local protocols to provide a safe and rewarding in-person experience. For the latest on RSAC’s onsite health and safety measures, visit www.rsaconference.com/usa/health-and-safety.

About RSA Conference
RSA Conference is the premier series of global events and year-round learning for the cybersecurity community. RSAC is where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and have access to the experts, unbiased content and ideas that help enable individuals and companies to advance their cybersecurity posture and build stronger and smarter teams. Both in person and online, RSAC brings the cybersecurity industry together and empowers the collective “we” to stand against cyberthreats around the world. RSAC is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showingcasing the most enterprising, influential, and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in cybersecurity today. For the most up-to-date news pertaining to the cybersecurity industry visit www.rsaconference.com. Where the world talks about security.

SOURCE RSA Conference

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One month before California votes on whether or not to remove Governor Gavin Newsom, and days before people get their postal ballots – if they haven’t received yours yet – Newsom is running a four-day campaign tour encouraging voters to, ” Choose No. “

While many people in Newsom state may not like or long for change amid the pandemic crisis, right now with “yes” and “no” voters, almost even in polls, the situation is kind of scary. And given the alternatives on the ballot, Democrats must be afraid to vote against the dismissal and make sure everyone they know votes, as that ultimately comes down to voter turnout. Just a few months ago, Newsom was way ahead in the polls and a clear majority of Californians were happy with his job as governor.

Newsom met with volunteers and held an event in San Francisco on Friday at 10 a.m., KRON4 reports, and it will fly across the state today holding separate events in Los Angeles and San Diego.

The message he’s spreading is that if you don’t vote no, you have a Republican in the governor’s office and very likely a self-proclaimed libertarian radio host and Fox News expert, Larry Elder, who swore all pandemic – Revoke mandates if elected. In case you haven’t heard, Elder, who is black, does not believe in systemic racism and wants to abolish the minimum wage.

That alone should scare everyone into voting.

President Joe Biden today made a strong statement of support for Newsom, and Politico reports that the White House is considering sending him and Vice President Kamala Harris to California to promote the “no” side.

“Governor Newsom is leading California through unprecedented crises,” said Biden. “He is a key partner in fighting the pandemic and providing economic aid to working families, helping us rebuild our economy better than ever. He takes on the climate crisis and campaigns for the rights of women, immigrants and the LGBTQ community. He knows how to get his job done because he did it. And to keep him at work, registered California voters should vote no by September 14th and move California forward. “

Senator Elizabeth Warren previously ran a Stop the Republican Recall ad that you may have seen on television. And more ads from big names in the party may still follow.

According to an exclusive poll, according to KRON4, 46% of voters said they would vote for Newsom’s removal and 48% said they would vote against removal. 6% were undecided which makes this a dead race.

The special elections will take place on September 14th and the early voting will begin on Monday.

Related: You saw Elizabeth Warren’s ad, now wait for Biden, Sanders, and others to assist Newsom in the recall

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

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PIX nowHere’s the latest from the KPIX newsroom. (27.3.21)

5 hours earlier

Oakland Athletic League Football starts shortened seasonFootball teams from schools in Oakland returned to the field on Saturday, kicking off a season that was delayed by six months due to the pandemic. As Lin reports. (27.3.21)

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Multi-generational protesters gather in San Francisco to stop Asian hatredThousands marched through San Francisco to Union Square on Saturday calling for an end to the Asian-American attacks across the country. Wilson Walker reports. (27.3.21)

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Precise forecast on Saturday eveningThe weekend warm-up continues, says meteorologist Darren Peck. (27.3.21)

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PIX nowSaturday morning headlines from the KPIX 5 newsroom

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TODAY forecast: The latest forecast from the KPIX 5 weather teamThe warming trend continues with no evidence of rain

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Historic San Jose Apartment Building will be relocated on SundayA 111-year-old apartment building on 14 E. Reed Street in downtown San Jose will be relocated nearly a quarter of a mile away to 4th and Reed on Sunday. Maria Medina reports. (3-26-21)

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The “Flex Pool” program brings homeless San Franciscans together with vacant apartmentsThe number of vacant homes increased during the San Francisco pandemic. Now people affected by homelessness are being put into these empty units. Susie Steimle reports. (3-26-21)

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PIX nowHere’s the latest from the KPIX newsroom. (3-26-21)

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Fmr. Warriors player Kelenna Azubuike talks about his new appearance and a good causeFormer Warriors Swingman Kelenna Azubuike is back. But he’s not on the ground, he’s on NBC Sports Bay Area giving clever commentary, analysis, and more. BR’s Vern Glenn had the chance to speak to Kelenna about his new organization, The Athletes’ Corner, and a great cause, Swishes for Dishes, that is turning high scores into meals for the people who need them.

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Reopening the Backlash for Oakland Elementary SchoolsOakland Unified’s youngest students were hoping to take advantage of an early reopening next week, but for most that won’t happen until April 19th. Andria Borba reports. (3-26-21)

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Facebook begins opening offices in the Bay Area with 10% capacity in MayMore than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced Facebook employees to work from home, the company will reopen its Bay Area offices with limited capacity in May. Juliette Goodrich reports. (3-26-21)

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COVID-19 vaccinations: recipients express relief and gratitude after the final doseHow does it feel to be fully vaccinated? Devin Fehely asked and got many happy answers. (3-26-21)

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The second season of “City On A Hill” premieres on SundayCBSN Bay Area speaks with Showtime’s “City on a Hill” star Kevin Bacon about the show’s upcoming second season.

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Precise forecast for Friday eveningThe chief meteorologist Paul Heggen delivers good news for fans of real spring weather. (3-26-21)

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Legislators visit southern US borderUS lawmakers from both sides of the Ganges visited the southern border to tackle the flood of migrants entering the country. (3-26-21)

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Napa Wine Country is reopening to indoor useNapa is well on its way to moving up the orange ranks next week, and that means the wineries can reopen indoors. Wilson Walker reports. (3-26-21)

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Coastside Cleanup Group Says Pandemic PPE Is Choking BeachesMasks and gloves can save lives on land, but they also kill wildlife in and around our oceans. Maria Medina reports. (3-25-21)

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UCSF study examines immunity issuesWith one in four Californians now at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, questions arise about the durability of the vaccine and how long it will protect the recipient from the virus. Betty Yu reports. (3-25-21)

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