Congradulations!!!! Uh,mmmm, I mean Congratulations...

(I am a terrible speller)...Congradulations Supervisor Daly!! I wish you well in the next four years. District 6 is a diverse district; economically, racially and politically. I hope you will go on to represent the entire district.

It has been my pleasure to participate in this election cycle. I enjoyed meeting you and all the other candidates. I enjoyed debating each of you during the last few months. I have had the privilege of meeting many residents of D6, and am better off for it.

Thank you Lorena (a photo journalism student at SFSU), for choosing me as the subject of your photo journalism assignment, inspite of the fact that I was not a major candidate. I was flattered. It was fun working with you at KPOO radio, while I campaigned on the street, and lastly when I voted at the ballot box.

Since I mentioned it...

Since I posted on my blog below that people ask me why I have a Hispanic surname, a couple people have e-mailed me the same question. I've posted this picture of my baptism. The red headed lady is my mother, the man to her left (your right) is my father (Manuel, Sr.) My God parents are on the left. It is strange that it is an issue, but it is:

From The Wall:

"A Latino brother and former Marine! Semper Fi! You know the lefties won't vote for you, because they don't like either of the above. They only like submissive latinos who neeed the guidance and help of the enlighted white left. As far as the military, don't be surprised if they call you a baby killer. But you're a jarhead and a brother, with a brother's name to boot. You're alright with me."

"Jimenez is Latino the same way I'm British, that is, not at all."

BTW Rita: Now I'm not only the first candidate to have my picture up on my web site with that of a kid (my own), now I'm the first to actually put up my own... And what does "imitating his stray cat style" mean?

Was My Campaign Irrelevant?

I started my campaign with a presentation at an Alliance for a Better District 6 forum held in late 2005, or early 2006. At that time, I stated that I would run a "symbolic campaign," to highlight issues that I thought needed to be debated. Is a "symbolic campaign" an irrelevant one? The answer is obviously "No." Not only have my ideas influenced the debate, the presentation of my ideas have been borrowed by other candidates and other political organizations supporting particluar candidates.

For instance, there has been some news coverage in the the Chronicle and other places that the candidates are using online video. There is no question that I was the first candidate, back in July, that put up videos on my website. The first video is of me taking a bicycle ride through SoMa, with the message that the streets are fast-moving, inner-city freeways to accomondate commuters. A fellow candidate has a video (and television commercial) of him riding a bicycle. One of the videos shows me having a conversation with Frank Chu about buying the space on the back of his sign for my campaign literature (which I never followed up on). This was back in July of this year. I click on Sfist.com today and see a picture of Frank Chu with another candidates campaign literature on his sign.

Another example: Back in late 2005, I put up my position paper on homelessness. Above the paper is a picture of a sleeping homeless man with the phrase, "He deserves better. Together, we can do better." This language is borrowed almost verbatim and used on a flyer I received, supporting Rob Black, with a picture of a different homeless man.

One thing I am amazed about is how consistent I have been with my campaign message. Another thing I am amazed about is how consistently my positions, language and all have appeared on other people's campaign literature. I'm not the only one. Friends of mine who are following the campaign often call me with a horrified tone and state, "They're stealing your stuff." I have to assure them that I ran a symbolic campaign for the express purpose if influencing the debate. I think I've done that.

Republicans are stupid on terrorism.

Watching "Frontline's" expose about the Bush Administration's utter incompetance in Iraq, one can only come to the conclusion that this collection of chicken-hawks should be impeached.

I'm going to vote "Yes" on Proposition "J" (put on the ballot by Supervisors Ammiaiano, Daly, McGoldrick and Mirkarimi's). I hope you will to.

Whoa!

Whoa! You know that the D6 candidates hold a wide diversity of perspectives when one candidate runs on the issue of "jobs," another on his record as a housing advocate, another as the well financed un-Daly, and one running as the candidate against terrorism (seems kind of presumptuous to assume, without proffering any evidence, that there are "Islamic extremeist cells in the Tenderloin Muslim Community," but that's what one candidate is doing (link below):



"WAKE UP CALL!
PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE AND SOCIAL SERVICES FROM ISLAMIC EXTREMIST CELLS IN THE TENDERLOIN MUSLIM COMMUNITY!
I pledge to support a program of prevention, intervention and enforcement against terrorist cells from another 911 disaster which will affect tourism (7 billion dollars per year) and essential services such as HIV/AIDS funding, mental social services."

Questions about running?

When I first thought about running for supervisor, I e-mailed a few people to trying to get some information about the process...for instance, I e-mailed Matt Gonzalez on June 6, 2005, asking for advice:

"By way of introduction, my name is Manuel Jimenez. I am a resident of San Francisco. I am thinking of running for the Board of Supervisors. Do you have any advice?"

Needless to say, he never e-mailed me back. Anyway, if you are thinking of running, and are not part of the San Francisco cultural class (you know...the one's that start off the conversation with "My family has been here for eight generations.") or are not part of the progressive caucus, nor part of the all cash, no class monied interests, and want some basic information about running, please feel free to contact me. I am not a political professional, but do have some basic information to get you started.

Manuel Jimenez

BeyondChron Blues

Here is a letter I wrote in response to an article in BeyondChron. They haven't posted it, so I thought I would:

Dear Editor (Paul Hogarth):

Looking at BeyondChron's mission statement (quoted in part below), I think you did a disservice to the site with your October 16, 2006 piece ["Daly and the Seven Dwarves"]. Not only did you offer insults to the candidates collectively (with the exception of Daly), but also to some of the candidates personally (" George Dias is "Dopey" because he looks a bit dopey."; "But with his diminutive stature, stocky build (he's a former boxer) and advanced age, Robert Jordan is clearly 'Doc.'"), you also seemed to misrepresent the what was said in the debate.

As a political puff piece, the article represents the kind of political piece Daly himself stated he denounced. For instance, you take out of context my statements, and basically conjured up your own quote when you write, "[Manuel said that] what the street needed was a real diversity of housing that will attract "young urban professionals." The insinuation is in direct contradiction with my statements that the diversity of district 6 is being sold out by having high end condos dominate new construction and that we need to bring working class and middle class families into San Francisco. I invite your readers to judge for them selves my positions, as articulated in a prior debate with the League of Women Voters available here: http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=51&clip_id=2590

Let me conclude that in EVERY debate I've had with the other candidates, without exception, green bead wearng Daly supporters have approached me and stated that they approved not only my presentation in the debates, but the content. I think the piece represents a kind of FOX news journalism ethic, which is not journalism at all. If I had not consistently stated that my campaign was a symbolic campaign, that I would not take contributions, nor seek endorsements, I would find insulting the comments you made, not only about me, but to your own stated Mission:

"Welcome to Beyond Chron, the Voice of the Rest. We provide coverage of political and cultural issues often distorted or ignored by the Bay Area's largest newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle...

[BeyondChron is a] daily internet newspaper will help restore some integrity to the news business in San Francisco..."

Independent Expenditures

As a candidate for the District 6 seat on the Board of Supervisors I am taking the position requested by the Democratic Party and the Incumbent Supervisor, and thereby DENOUNCING the independent expenditures (>$100,000) for negative/attack mailings against Supervisor Daly, or any future independent expenditures used to attack any candidate.

Week of Debates

October 13, 2006: Debate at Hastings College of the Law.















October 10, 2006: League of Women Voters District 6 Candidate Forum in partnership with Alliance for A Better District 6 will host a live panel discussion with Cheryl Jennings, KGO TV personality as moderator. This event will also be aired on SFGTV, Access SF, and EATV on a latter date. San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium. (Streaming Video Here)

TAC Forum, September 6th.

This is the first forum I participated in. It included all candidates. It was the TAC forums on September 6, 2006.

The San Francisco Chronicle did a story about it (link) which pretty much ignored all the candidates except Daly and Black. But, the last two paragraphs were good:

"Joseph Sierra, an artist who has lived in the Tenderloin for 10 years, listened to Daly and the other candidates for several hours. Afterward, he said he will vote for candidate Manuel Jimenez Jr., a lawyer running a low-budget, grassroots-style campaign, instead of Daly.

'I don't feel really that he understands the situation going on," Sierra said, saying that living conditions in his neighborhood four blocks from City Hall have gone from "bad to worse" in the past decade. "Nothing is being done.'"

Campaign Break - Emigrant Wilderness

Campaign Break in Emigrant Wilderness. September 29 - October 1, 2006.
(Photos by Hade and Sal)

Godspeed

Here I am with Lynn Breedlove, author of Godspeed. I met her while a volunteering as movie extra on her short film being filmed now of the same title.

Vicioustwist for District 6

Manuel Jimenez - A Common Sense Progressive for District 6
Safe Streets - Smart Growth - For the Public Interest


"Because a city without edge...is dead."

Know what this is?

If you are lucky, you don't have any idea. I found this on Rizal Street, right behind the Whole Foods, near my place. This is a piece of spark plug tied with a string. This is what the professional smash and grab thieves that patrol my neighborhood use to smash the windows of cars as they ride by on their bicycles. After the car alarm dies, they return to steal the contents. Needless to say, I found this one in a pile of shattered saftey glass. The car had been parked behind my mobile campaign headquarters, i.e. my 1973 VW bus. I've found spark plugs on the inside of my own vehicle after discovering a smashed window.

Access Politics. The Democratic way of San Francisco

I get an e-mail on July 27th, inviting me (and all District 6 candidates) to the Community Leadership Alliance's "CLA/CHCAC BUSINESS MEETING And MEET ROB BLACK 4 D-6 Supervisor." The first agenda item is to "Meet Mr. Rob Black 4 D-6 SUPERVISOR, 10 Minutes, Comments/Questions By Candidates 2min. Each."

Then on August 8, 2006 I get an e-mail, stating in part, "'IN THE NAME OF FAIRNESS & DEMOCRACY' Using a candidates contact list provided by the SF-DCCC- -All Qualified D-6 Supervisor Candidates were invited but only one RSVP ed." What this e-mail failed to state was that the July 27th e-mail did not request RSVP's.

So, on August 9, I reply to the e-mail, informing the "director/founder" that I would attend. I get no reply...but I show up anyway on the 10th.

Well, it turns out that the meeting was pretty much just a political rally for Rob Black. Although there were two other candidates in the room, no one acknowleged them, except Jordanna Thigpen, who was very gracious.

Rob Black spoke for about 10 minutes. Although an attorney (since 12/31/2002), he obviously has never been a trial attorney (Which is neither good, nor bad). Trial attorney's learn to communicate their message and persuade. Rob, on the other hand, gave an eloqent, yet wonky, and thoroughly forgetable presentation of political-ese.

Before Rob spoke, Gavin Newsom's "news" man, the rather eccentric Pat Murphy, wearing his trade-mark bow-tie, put down a tape recorder. The next day he wrote a blurb, puzzlingly titled "My Game Too", in his "news" website, "Rob Black, current favorite to make Daly bustle, visited a Tenderloin improvement gathering last night... Reminding all that a bone crushing random bullet days ago killed an innocent dude looking for a pizza... Popular street security cameras popularly wanted at O'Farrell and Jones, Black noted... Daly opposes street security cameras, Black arched an eyebrow, lowered a tone..." Needless to say, the fact that there were two other candidates in the room seemed to have slipped his mind.

Now, we all know that Newsom endorsed Rob. We also know that Murphy is a Newsom apologist. But I still am interested in knowing the basis for the statement that Rob is the "current favorite..."

But alas, this is the lesson of "Access Politics."

All Systems Go.

My nomination documents were submitted on August 7th. By the 8th, they had been approved by the Department of Elections. My signatures were confirmed valid. All systems go.

Jetta Vandalized - 05August2006

Here are some pictures of the smashed front passenger window on my Jetta. This happened on August 5, 2006 between 4pm and 8pm, a strange time for this to happen. This is the eighth time in the last two years that my car has been damaged (several times within the last few months). No other vehicle on the block was damaged. Nothing was in the car (I leave the glove box and center consol empty and open). I believe my car is being targeted.

I Found My '73 Bus Vandalized on 8-1-2006

Frank and me!

See my conversation with San Francisco eccentric Frank Chu

On a different note, my 73 vw camper bus was broken into. People say to me. "Dude! You live in the city. What do you expect?" Bullshit. That's a cop out. I grew up in Los Angeles, and lived in Manhattan for 7 1/2 years. I've never before seen the level of petty street crime that is tolerated in San Francisco. It's a result of the abdication of our representatives.

Vicioustwist Takes a Wild Ride...in SoMa

Click Here for Video!

Vicioustwist Takes a Wild Ride...in SoMa

Look for my short, self-made video, on www.vicioustwist.com, which demonstrates the dangers of driving in SoMa, the East Bay and Peninsula's gateway to the financial district.

For other vicioustwist adventures, (click here)

Crime in the City

I've made no secret of my contempt for the way the city has handled the crime problem. Many people who have lived in the Bay Area all of their lives think that the crime in San Francisco can be equated to any other city. Wrong! Go to Manhattan. Go to Seattle. You will not see what has been allowed to happen here.

To personalize the situation, my car has been broken into and vandalized seven times. The bill for this is now over $2,000. I had a bicycle stripped, and then stolen (the frame was actually inside of my car). I had a self made surfboard stolen from my car as it was parked directly in front of my place (when I lived in the sunset). There is an undergound black market for stolen goods that is allowed to thrive in the City.

Of course, it is violent crime that most concerns the residents of San Francisco. The Examiner came out with the results of a poll today that show that crime is the number one issue on the minds of the City's residents. Two of the three neighborhoods that are most concerned are the Mission and the Tenderloin. Both of these neighborhoods are represented by the Honorable Chris Daly. When the murder rate in the City spiked a little while ago, Supervisor Daly didn't push for more and better policing. Instead, he proposed that the City spend tens of millions of dollars on an 11 member panel of people to study the issue.

Mr. Daly take the wrong approach with crime in this city. Allowing criminals to thrive in the city is not a responsible "progressive" position. It is an abdication of responsibility by our government. Help me tell our government to stop pandering to the monied interests and political issue junkies that dominate their agenda.