John Avalos

SF Weekly Letters

Art of Gold

Ouija Board: Let's Go To the Video on John Avalos' "Joke"

Yesterday, John Avalos became the poster boy du jour for everyone who feels San Francisco is, actually "the Land of Oz" (his words). Websites hither and yon reported the San Francisco supervisor consulted an Ouija board in determining whether it'd be proper to name a Navy ship after Harvey Milk. Thi ... More >>

Ouija Board: John Avalos Claims He Was Joking About Contacting Harvey Milk's Spirit

The subset of the population convinced that San Francisco is a government of the lunatics, by the lunatics, and for the lunatics was handed a cookie today. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that, in deciding how to vote on a resolution urging the christening of a Navy ship after slain Supervisor ... More >>

John Avalos Aims to Snap 20-Year Softball Losing Streak

​When it comes to the mayor's monthly "question time" session with the board, Supervisor John Avalos has been outspoken about the boring, pre-screened, softball questions lobbed Mayor Ed Lee's way.But while he's an avowed foe of softball questions, Avalos has engaged in some questionable softball. ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

​When it comes to the mayor's monthly "question time" session with the board, Supervisor John Avalos has been outspoken about the boring, pre-screened, softball questions lobbed Mayor Ed Lee's way.But while he's an avowed foe of softball questions, Avalos has engaged in some questionable softball. ... More >>

Ranked-Choice Voting Hasn't Helped Progressives

Is ranked-choice a rank choice? ​It's not a surprise that progressive and moderate supervisors are readying to cross swords on whether to continue San Francisco's ongoing dalliance with ranked-choice voting. What is a bit surprising is who's on which side. Moderates are out to dismantle a system t ... More >>

Progressively Worse: The Tumultuous Rise and Acrimonious Fall of the City's Left

Is ranked-choice a rank choice? ​It's not a surprise that progressive and moderate supervisors are readying to cross swords on whether to continue San Francisco's ongoing dalliance with ranked-choice voting. What is a bit surprising is who's on which side. Moderates are out to dismantle a system t ... More >>

Does David Chiu Have a Chinatown Problem?

It's Chinatown, David. It's Chinatown. ​Also, is John Avalos really feeling it in District 11? Absorbing a beating is never enjoyable -- unless, of course, you're into that kind of thing. Presuming you aren't, getting your behind kicked is even less palatable when it takes place in your home terri ... More >>

Election Money -- Who Gave What in San Francisco

Invest, young man. Invest in politics! ​As of last night, San Francisco's election season is all over except for the shoutin' -- and recriminatin' and fulminatin' and tabulatin' who bought what. Assuming Mayor Ed Lee does pull it out, a number of observers will note he did so in spite of the actio ... More >>

Supervisor John Avalos, Where Is Your Helmet?

We don't tend to pick on the more fragile pols, like Supervisor John Avalos, but when we saw the San Francisco Bike Coalition's endorsement brochure we couldn't help but call out the happy-go-lucky Avalos -- the group's No. 1 pick for mayor. The candidate slate, which was recently distributed in the ... More >>

Avalos Proposes Law Allowing Bikes in All SF Offices

​Many bicycle commuters have felt it: The hostility and sidelong stares as they wheel their vehicles among quiet cubicles, the shame of leaving a valuable bike locked curbside to a teetering street sign. But help could be nigh: Supervisor John Avalos has proposed a city ordinance that would reliev ... More >>

Ed Lee Has Some 'Splaining to Do

Answer the question or I throw you out!​Familiarity breeds contempt -- and, crammed into a smaller room upstairs during Board Chambers' expensive redesign, members of the Board of Supervisors are knocking boots in the most nonsexual of ways. Contempt also breeds contempt -- and, along with spartan ... More >>

John Avalos Gets Ambushed by Run, Ed, Run Campaign

Courtesy of Avalos for Mayor campaign Avalos tells Run, Ed, Run where they can stick their campaign signs​The ubiquitous call for Ed Lee to run for mayor came knocking at the most unlikely of all places -- Supervisor John Avalos' campaign headquarters. Over the weekend, Run, Ed, Run supporters wal ... More >>

S.F. Supervisor John Avalos Is Spinning Records at the Knockout Tonight

DJ Progressive Sweep?​In case you had any doubt that the S.F. mayoral campaign is in full, uh, swing: A certain progressive supervisor and mayoral candidate whose name may or may not be in the above headline will be on the decks for the Knockout's Oldies Night tonight ...

Supervisor John Avalos Invites You to a Very Merry Unbirthday

Best party City Hall has hosted in some time ​Supervisor John Avalos has been taking heat over his controversial ballot measure that would ban the city's Rec and Park Department from leasing out park properties for private parties -- including birthday bashes of all sorts. But to show that he isn' ... More >>

List: Checking In with the S.F. Mayoral Race

Best party City Hall has hosted in some time ​Supervisor John Avalos has been taking heat over his controversial ballot measure that would ban the city's Rec and Park Department from leasing out park properties for private parties -- including birthday bashes of all sorts. But to show that he isn' ... More >>

Twitter Confirms It Will Stay in San Francisco

Done deal ​Much to nobody's surprise, Twitter officials signed a lease to keep the multibillion-dollar company in San Francisco -- tax break and all. And although progressives balked at the idea of cutting the microblogging giant a six-year tax break to keep its headquarters in San Francisco, they ... More >>

Mayoral Candidates: Who's Hot, Who's Not

Chris Daly -- would have been "hot"​After Supervisor John Avalos jumped into the mayor's race yesterday afternoon, we started thinking: with so many candidates now in the race, how will voters decide?To date, there are more than 30 potential candidates who want to be the city's chief executive. Of ... More >>

John Avalos: "I'm Running for Mayor"

Not Chris Daly​Supervisor John Avalos said today he is definitely running for San Francisco mayor.Avalos, the true-blue progressive who represents the Mission and Excelsior neighborhoods, says he and his wife will go to the Department of Elections at 4 p.m. to sign the paperwork, officially declar ... More >>

John Avalos: Will He Run for Mayor or Not?

He has what Chris Daly doesn't -- electability ​Not too long ago Supervisor John Avalos said, verbatim, that he was not running for mayor of San Francisco. Suddenly, in the last week, the District 11 supe has changed his tune and surprised people with talk about jumping into the race. Serious talk ... More >>

Botanical Garden Fee Back on The Table; Supervisor John Avalos Says It's 'Disastrous'

A high price to pay ... for politics.​Supervisor John Avalos is miffed over legislation coming out of the mayor's office that would trump his bill that repealed the onerous admission fee for tourists at the Botanical Garden. Mayor Ed Lee has introduced legislation to reinstate the $7 fee -- perman ... More >>

John Avalos Wants a Little More Excitement from David Chiu

John Avalos has a question: why is question time so lame?​The whole point of mayoral question time is to put the city's chief executive on the spot and get some raw debate going for public viewing. Needless to say, Supervisor John Avalos was deflated --but not surprised --last night by Supervisor ... More >>

John Avalos Wants Central Subway Project to Hire Locals

Local hiring is still an option, not an obligation​Update: Paul Rose, spokesman with the MTA, returned our call just now and said that the agency would not delay the bidding process. He pointed out that any delays could result in the loss of federal funding. Original Story, 2 p.m.: Yesterday, The ... More >>

S.F. Sues Local Smoke Shops; The Real War on Drugs Begins

More like the war on smoke shops...​While drug cartel-related violence worsens in Mexico, San Francisco is trying to get to the root of its own drug problems by going after smoke shops. San Francisco filed a lawsuit against Smokes Etc and five other local smoke shops in the Mission and Ingleside n ... More >>

Supervisor John Avalos Wants to Scrap Botanical Gardens Fee for Tourists

Botanical Gardens...still not worth $7. ​As we predicted last year, most tourists won't want to pay $7 to enter the city's Botanical Gardens, especially since it's free to residents.That's partly why Supervisor John Avalos is proposing the city eliminate the fee (how often does that happen?) and r ... More >>

SFPD wants to recruit suburbocops from outside the city

Botanical Gardens...still not worth $7. ​As we predicted last year, most tourists won't want to pay $7 to enter the city's Botanical Gardens, especially since it's free to residents.That's partly why Supervisor John Avalos is proposing the city eliminate the fee (how often does that happen?) and r ... More >>

Unions Convince John Avalos to Soften Local Hiring Goal

What do you mean you don't like workers from Danville?​Supervisor John Avalos says he plans to soften his proposal to require firms doing construction work for San Francisco government to hire 50 percent local workers. This comes after labor leaders complained that the measure would harm, rather t ... More >>

Supe Puts Self in Bind Over Gaza Flotilla

Anger-monger?​The Board of Supervisors is known for voicing its opinion via nonbinding resolution, a common and longstanding practice for praising and condemning that which goes on far beyond the pale of San Francisco. This is generally panned by most as a waste of time, but not when the Jews are ... More >>

Pissing Contest Between Newsom, Avalos May End Next Week

​When conjuring up Catch-22 analogies involving Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor John Avalos, one runs into a stumbling block right away. Which one is Yossarian? And who gets to be Major Major? (Personally, we see Newsom as Milo Minderbinder; they have similar feelings about privitazation). In an ... More >>

John Avalos Amused By Rumors He's Seeking Assembly Seat

Joe EskenaziJohn Avalos says he's going nowhere...​Earlier today, we confirmed that rumors Supervisor Sean Elsberd's attention has been piqued by a potentially vacant Assembly seat are true. Consider him piqued. But while Elsbernd wouldn't mind a move to Sacramento, his colleague, John Avalos, tel ... More >>

Year in Review: What Did We Learn in 2009?

It's been a fascinating year in San Francisco, full of such deep revelations. I think we've all learned a lot, and at this time of year, when we reflect on how our lives went so horribly wrong, I think it's good to take stock of the wisdom we've gained from the story of our fair ci ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Year in Review. What Did We Learn in 2009? Part 3

It's been a fascinating year in San Francisco, full of such deep revelations. I think we've all learned a lot, and at this time of year, when we reflect on how our lives went so horribly wrong, I think it's good to take stock of the wisdom we've gained from the story of our fair city.  ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Life Is Bleak This Time of Year. Government-Employed Felons Can Help.

  I'd like to open this week's SF Government InAction with a quote from Nietzsche that I think adequately captures San Francisco as this particular moment in history: "You want me to pay WHAT for this veggie burrito? God is dead!" This is no less true today than it was in 1888, when Ni ... More >>

Supervisors Try to Save Jobs of Those Who Got Them Their Jobs

​For the past two weeks, the progressives on the Board of Supervisors have been falling all over themselves to protect the jobs of health department workers who belong to SEIU Local 1021. Why are lefty board members going to such lengths to protect these jobs in the midst of a financial meltdo ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: City Brings Hammer Down on Anti-Prostitution Program, Then Forms a Glee Club to Sing Social Services to Sleep

  I've had a really busy few weeks, and I haven't been able to catch up on any of the new fall shows yet. So I tried to cram a lot of television in this weekend while writing SF Gov InAction. Just so you know. Monday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. - Public Safety Committee Somebody has to sa ... More >>

Safe Bet: Newsom's Pot Shots at Longer Parking Meter Hours Mean You'll Be Suffering More on Muni

Jim HerdWhoosh! There goes your parking revenue! ​As first reported on Streetsblog and then this morning in the Chronicle, Mayor Gavin Newsom has made clear that he's no fan of alleviating Muni's revenue headaches by extending parking meter hours. Muni's pledge to study the merits of extended park ... More >>

Supervisor Asks Ethics Commission to Investigate Mayor ... Whom Commission Depends on for Its Funding.

Joe EskenaziWill Supervisor John Avalos still be smiling after the Ethics Commission finishes investigating the complaint he made aginst the mayor?​By now, political junkies are well-informed about the gathering storm regarding Mayor Gavin Newsom's office leaking a confidential city attorney's mem ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: The Budget's All finished, Except for the Backstabbing

Our story so far: The Supervisors were drinking champagne in City Hall last week after reaching a budget deal that restored an unprecedented amount money to programs that Mayor Gavin "Call me Governor" Newsom cut from San Francisco because he thought it would play well in Fresno. Par-TAY! B ... More >>

Despite firefighters' scare tactics, city unlikely to burn to the ground because of proposed cuts

Our story so far: The Supervisors were drinking champagne in City Hall last week after reaching a budget deal that restored an unprecedented amount money to programs that Mayor Gavin "Call me Governor" Newsom cut from San Francisco because he thought it would play well in Fresno. Par-TAY! B ... More >>

Revenge of the Politicos? Lefty Supes Move To Yank City Ads from Chron, Ex.

Of all the harping about the "mainstream media," perhaps the shrillest version comes from politicians occupying the left fringe of this city's politics. Their news source of choice, for example, is a local liberal news and opinion Web site, BeyondChron.org. On his own blog, Supervisor ... More >>

Progressive Supervisor: I've Been Spammed By Gavin Newsom

On not one, but two occasions (if not more), Supervisor John Avalos has derisively suggested that Mayor Gavin Newsom resides in a different universe than the rest of us. We're not sure if Pacific Heights qualifies as another universe, but, whatever plane of existence Gavin dwells in, it appears he h ... More >>

Supes' Proposed $82M Cuts to Cops, Firefighters are 'Symbolic' -- But Portend Bare-Knuckle Budget Battle

The budget battle is under way...A shot across the bow. A brushback pitch. A dropping of the gauntlet. Call it what you will, but when the Board of Supervisors' Budget and Finance Committee yesterday approved $82 million in cuts from San Francisco's police, fire, and sheriffs' departments it was a s ... More >>

Supes Hit Ctrl Alt Del on Department of Tech's Plea for $750,000 Temporary Home

The city doesn't have any money for you to find a home either, JohnnyOn Monday, SF Weekly's Benjamin Wachs was bewildered that the Department of Technology was begging the Board of Supervisors for a $750,000 new temporary home -- after three years of failing to locate a permanent home, which won't b ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: 'Avalos' Law' Predicts Virtually No Meetings This Week

For all its good points (and I dare you to name three) the new Board of Supes is not dynamic. Their meetings are regularly canceled, and their agendas are limping along. It's a sign of the times and failure both: Despite the calls for bold new leadership, the Supes have spent most of the last fe ... More >>

An Odd Tradition: Thousands of Dollars Flood to Winning S.F. Supes After Polls Close -- From Their Enemies

Joe EskenaziSupervisor John Avalos admits that taking post-election donations from former political enemies looks bad -- but having a massive campaign debt is badYou'd think making a donation to a San Francisco supervisorial candidate would be a bit like a horse race: You make your "bets," you cheer ... More >>

Supervisor John Avalos' Triple Word Score

District 11 residents should be comforted that Supervisor John Avalos knows all 22 of the acceptable words with "Q" and no "U"When it comes to decor, Supervisor John Avalos' office has his standard issue City and County of San Francsico calendar ... and that's it. Far in the corner of the barren roo ... More >>

Labor Groups, Babies, Very Old People, Supes Rally Against Rec & Park Cuts -- But Layoffs May Already Be Fait Accompli

Supervisor John Avalos told Rec & Parks workers he'd like to help them -- but he has no idea how. He still got a friendly round of applauseFashion-wise, children often make the best accessories. Far better than purple tchochkes -- but at today's SEIU City Hall rally on behalf of soon-to-be laid ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Supes Stand by Each Other After Little John Avalos Has His Bar Mitzvah

This is the week the new Board of Supervisors goes from JV to Varsity. I know it felt like they'd hit the big time before, what with hundreds of people crowding the hearing rooms to yell at them about stuff they hadn't done -- but that's just the crowd getting fired up by San Francisco's airheade ... More >>