Dear friends and colleagues,
Many may be surprise to learn that I was an Affirmative Action admit and a Regents Scholar during my undergraduate years at UC. Who would have thought a university education would support my ability to accomplish what has been achieved.
Committing my life's work in the public sector, would the same doors have opened to me, had I not completed my undergraduate and subsequently a graduate degree? Difficult to say since a formal education is part of the mix.
Kindly consider signing on. I have been a long term supporter and will continue till the day when color, nativity and sex is no longer an issue in who has opportunities within publicly supported institutions such as UC.
Yours in the struggle
***************
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION to REVERSE THE DROP in Underrepresented Minority Enrollment at UC-Berkeley -EVERYONE CAN SIGN! Sign the petition online at:http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/188146775
DAY OF ACTION at UC-Berkeley on MARCH 3rd!
See http://bamn.com/california for details
This semester, supporters of integration and equality have an opportunity to reverse the resegregation of higher education in California, IF WE ACT NOW. Ward Connerly, the national frontman for the attack on affirmative action, has left theUC Board of Regents. Congratulations to the more than 15,000people who signed the petition and supported the campaign to remove him -- we are now in the position to reverse the droping underrepresented minority enrollment at UC-Berkeley for THIS FALL.
BAMN has launched a campaign demanding that UC-Berkeley's chancellor, Robert Birgeneau, use the sanction provided bythe Supreme Court's pro-affirmative action ruling (Grutter v.Bollinger) to reinstitute effective affirmative action policies and reverse the drop in underrepresented minority student enrollment.
Last fall's freshman class at UC Berkeley had only 2.9%, 9.3%, and 0.4% black, Latina/o, and NativeAmerican students respectively. These groups make up more than 42% of California's high school graduates. To win, supporters of equality must sign and circulate the petition to reverse the drop far and wide.
Everyone can sign the petition, and we need thousands more signatures. The petition is a way to extend the movement to other individuals, colleges, high schools, student clubs, unions, churches, and organizations throughout California. We will rally and march at UC-Berkeley on Thursday, March 3rd (seeBAMN.COM for details).
Reversing the drop at UC-Berkeley, which has been the campus at the center of the attack on affirmative action, will be a crucial victory for the movement and will set the stage for us to take on and defeatProp 209. This spring semester can be a turning point for the fight for equality and integration in California. UC-Berkeley is a public university and must open its doors to all the people of California!
This state must no longer be the nation's leader in resegregation and racist attacks. It must lead the way for progress. Our victory in reversing the drop at UC-Berkeley will open a new period of gains for civil rights and equality.
-----------------------------------------------
EVERYONE CAN SIGN!
You can sign the petition online at:http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/188146775
You can download a hard copy of the petition at: http://www.bamn.com/reversethedrop.asp
DAY OF ACTION at UC-Berkeley on MARCH 3rd!
See http://bamn.com/california for details
------------------------------------------------
Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, & Immigrant Rights and Fight for EqualityBy Any Means Necessary (BAMN) www.bamn.com bamn@uclink.berkeley.edu
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Gastronomy 2005 part III
Alas, most good things does need to slow down. January, aka my birthday montg with the accompanying series of fine dining experiences has run its course. However, friends outside of California can insist on celebrating my birthday in their home town on my next visit.
Fringale, 4th Street, San Francisco. An annual celebration with Evelyn B., our usual fete locale. Fringale is among the first of SF's Bistro, they continue to be a standard bearer. The subtle play of colors de Provence making for the ambience, knowledgeable and unharried wait staff, "un fancied" Bistro fare are still "stand outs"
Jojo's, Piedmont Avenue, Oakland. A pre Valentine Dinner with a lovely couple and long time friends Darren and Karen. We shared an Alexander Valley Pinot Noir. The story goes, the vintner came into the place -- who heard of the food's quality, gifted the proprietor with a bottle of their fine wine and the pairing with their foods is now part of the offerrings. The house pate was sublime. The "hangar steak and frites" one of their house speciality can stand along the best of them. I opted for the fish entry that evening with a sauce of Chanterelle reduction is most notable.
Piedmont Avenue has become a neighborhood dining foodie magnet for East Bay palettes. Many a progeny of CA Nouvelle cuisine, former sous or pastry chef from Olivetto or Chez Panise have located small, unpretentious, delectable, and affordable restaurants on the block. A blessing for us not wanting to brave the bridge to dine.
Be on the look our for more "budget" food suggestions in coming months. Now that my Ilocano sensitive wallet will need to part with the greens for feasting.
Also, notes from out of area eating spots as a result of both work and leisure travel will also be included.
Fringale, 4th Street, San Francisco. An annual celebration with Evelyn B., our usual fete locale. Fringale is among the first of SF's Bistro, they continue to be a standard bearer. The subtle play of colors de Provence making for the ambience, knowledgeable and unharried wait staff, "un fancied" Bistro fare are still "stand outs"
Jojo's, Piedmont Avenue, Oakland. A pre Valentine Dinner with a lovely couple and long time friends Darren and Karen. We shared an Alexander Valley Pinot Noir. The story goes, the vintner came into the place -- who heard of the food's quality, gifted the proprietor with a bottle of their fine wine and the pairing with their foods is now part of the offerrings. The house pate was sublime. The "hangar steak and frites" one of their house speciality can stand along the best of them. I opted for the fish entry that evening with a sauce of Chanterelle reduction is most notable.
Piedmont Avenue has become a neighborhood dining foodie magnet for East Bay palettes. Many a progeny of CA Nouvelle cuisine, former sous or pastry chef from Olivetto or Chez Panise have located small, unpretentious, delectable, and affordable restaurants on the block. A blessing for us not wanting to brave the bridge to dine.
Be on the look our for more "budget" food suggestions in coming months. Now that my Ilocano sensitive wallet will need to part with the greens for feasting.
Also, notes from out of area eating spots as a result of both work and leisure travel will also be included.
A People Service (part 1)
Everyone,
On occassion a post of various resources that I found helpful (provided to me by friends and family) that may be of assistance to you.
IDENTITY THEFT
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/alerts.shtml
Is a site of current internet efforts at obtaining your personal information to access your assets. If you have a chance click on the site, to either verify your suspicion about "fishy" email, emails that are too good to be true, or you're just not too sure about.
This site is not for urban legends commonly circulated online.
Take care and when you get a minute, leave a comment on this site.
On occassion a post of various resources that I found helpful (provided to me by friends and family) that may be of assistance to you.
IDENTITY THEFT
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/alerts.shtml
Is a site of current internet efforts at obtaining your personal information to access your assets. If you have a chance click on the site, to either verify your suspicion about "fishy" email, emails that are too good to be true, or you're just not too sure about.
This site is not for urban legends commonly circulated online.
Take care and when you get a minute, leave a comment on this site.
Monday, February 14, 2005
David Kakashiba's Announcement Letter
February 7, 2005
Dear Friends,
Three weeks ago, Oakland City Councilmember Danny Wan unexpectedly resigned from office. On Tuesday, May 17, 2005, a special election will be held among District Two residents to elect our new city councilmember.
I am writing to share with you my decision to run for the Oakland City Council District Two seat.
As you know, I am serving my first term on the Oakland Board of Education. Four months prior to my inauguration, the school district discovered an unforeseen budget shortfall of nearly $30 million. When I was sworn into office in January 2003, the deficit had mushroomed to nearly $80 million and there was not enough money to close out the school year. Our financial management systems were broken and the school district was awash in political turmoil. In April, the Board of Education formally requested a $100 million state line-of-credit. In June, the Governor authorized the line-of-credit and a State Administrator was appointed to take full control of our school district. The Board of Education was formally stripped of its governing authority, and relegated to an advisory status.
In my two years on the Board of Education, I have worked diligently to restore fiscal integrity and local governance to our public schools. Despite being an “advisor”, I have worked closely with parents and teachers to secure over $30 million in construction funds to make much needed improvements to our neighborhood schools, including the construction of the new Bella Vista Child Development Center and the new La Escuelita campus; renovation of Garfield Elementary School; re-surfacing of the Edna Brewer Middle School playgrounds; and safety repairs to Crocker Highlands and Cleveland elementary schools.
My experience on the Board of Education has reinforced my belief that effective and accountable elected leaders are those who are deeply connected to the concerns and aspirations of the people for whom they represent. I have witnessed the enormous damage public officials create when their drive for political power and their demand for factional loyalty outweigh their responsibility to respect and serve the interests of common folks.
I am running for city council because we need a representative who is uncompromising in commitment, dedication, and loyalty to working families.
I have dedicated my entire life to children, families, and neighborhoods. I authored Oakland’s Kids First Initiative, which voters overwhelmingly adopted in 1996. Today, “Kids First” generates over $9 million a year for children and youth services throughout our city, without raising taxes. Since 1980, I have served as the Executive Director of the East Bay Asian Youth Center, a community-building organization with a multi-racial membership of 700 families and programs at four District Two neighborhood schools.
As a city councilmember, I will work with neighborhood residents to:
* improve our schools by establishing pre-school education, after-school learning centers, and high school internship opportunities at every neighborhood school, park, and playground;
* make our streets safe and clean by having a qualified and committed foot patrol officer in every neighborhood, and providing education and employment support to youth offenders; and
* ensure large-scale development benefits our neighborhoods by requiring the looming Oak-to-Ninth Project (3,100 unit of market-rate housing, 200,000 square feet of retail, 40 acres of open space) to include meaningful housing, employment, small business, and open space opportunities to San Antonio, Eastlake, and Chinatown residents.
This election is a huge challenge. Special elections generate the lowest voter turnout, particularly in our flatland neighborhoods. Moreover, this special election will be a mail-in ballot only – there will be no polling places. This process favors voters who routinely vote by absentee ballot. Making things more interesting, up to a dozen individuals have expressed their intent to run.
Because of the complexities posed by a special election, I am faced with the task of raising $60,000.00 to get our message to 10,000 voters, and to wage an effective door-to-door campaign. Although this is a lot of money to generate in such a short time, I will not be accepting contributions from developers or political action committees.
I ask you for your support in my election campaign.
Will you help by pledging to raise $600.00 for this election campaign?
I am working to find 100 friends and family who can each raise $600.00. I hope you will be one of them. Smaller contributions are equally needed and are greatly appreciated. Contributions are payable to:
Kakishiba for City Council – ID# 1273781
2242 7th Avenue
Oakland, California 94606
(Kakishiba for City Council has adopted the City of Oakland’s voluntary expenditure ceiling as defined in section 3.12.050(c), 3.12.060(c), 3.12.190, 3.12.200, 3.12.210, and 3.12.220 of the City of Oakland’s Campaign Reform Act. Contributions are limited to $600.00 per individual and $1,100.00 per broad-based P.A.C.)
Thank you very much for reading this letter. If you have any questions, ideas, information, and advice, please contact me at 510-435-8582 or david@kakishiba.org
Thanks again!!!
David Kakishiba
Dear Friends,
Three weeks ago, Oakland City Councilmember Danny Wan unexpectedly resigned from office. On Tuesday, May 17, 2005, a special election will be held among District Two residents to elect our new city councilmember.
I am writing to share with you my decision to run for the Oakland City Council District Two seat.
As you know, I am serving my first term on the Oakland Board of Education. Four months prior to my inauguration, the school district discovered an unforeseen budget shortfall of nearly $30 million. When I was sworn into office in January 2003, the deficit had mushroomed to nearly $80 million and there was not enough money to close out the school year. Our financial management systems were broken and the school district was awash in political turmoil. In April, the Board of Education formally requested a $100 million state line-of-credit. In June, the Governor authorized the line-of-credit and a State Administrator was appointed to take full control of our school district. The Board of Education was formally stripped of its governing authority, and relegated to an advisory status.
In my two years on the Board of Education, I have worked diligently to restore fiscal integrity and local governance to our public schools. Despite being an “advisor”, I have worked closely with parents and teachers to secure over $30 million in construction funds to make much needed improvements to our neighborhood schools, including the construction of the new Bella Vista Child Development Center and the new La Escuelita campus; renovation of Garfield Elementary School; re-surfacing of the Edna Brewer Middle School playgrounds; and safety repairs to Crocker Highlands and Cleveland elementary schools.
My experience on the Board of Education has reinforced my belief that effective and accountable elected leaders are those who are deeply connected to the concerns and aspirations of the people for whom they represent. I have witnessed the enormous damage public officials create when their drive for political power and their demand for factional loyalty outweigh their responsibility to respect and serve the interests of common folks.
I am running for city council because we need a representative who is uncompromising in commitment, dedication, and loyalty to working families.
I have dedicated my entire life to children, families, and neighborhoods. I authored Oakland’s Kids First Initiative, which voters overwhelmingly adopted in 1996. Today, “Kids First” generates over $9 million a year for children and youth services throughout our city, without raising taxes. Since 1980, I have served as the Executive Director of the East Bay Asian Youth Center, a community-building organization with a multi-racial membership of 700 families and programs at four District Two neighborhood schools.
As a city councilmember, I will work with neighborhood residents to:
* improve our schools by establishing pre-school education, after-school learning centers, and high school internship opportunities at every neighborhood school, park, and playground;
* make our streets safe and clean by having a qualified and committed foot patrol officer in every neighborhood, and providing education and employment support to youth offenders; and
* ensure large-scale development benefits our neighborhoods by requiring the looming Oak-to-Ninth Project (3,100 unit of market-rate housing, 200,000 square feet of retail, 40 acres of open space) to include meaningful housing, employment, small business, and open space opportunities to San Antonio, Eastlake, and Chinatown residents.
This election is a huge challenge. Special elections generate the lowest voter turnout, particularly in our flatland neighborhoods. Moreover, this special election will be a mail-in ballot only – there will be no polling places. This process favors voters who routinely vote by absentee ballot. Making things more interesting, up to a dozen individuals have expressed their intent to run.
Because of the complexities posed by a special election, I am faced with the task of raising $60,000.00 to get our message to 10,000 voters, and to wage an effective door-to-door campaign. Although this is a lot of money to generate in such a short time, I will not be accepting contributions from developers or political action committees.
I ask you for your support in my election campaign.
Will you help by pledging to raise $600.00 for this election campaign?
I am working to find 100 friends and family who can each raise $600.00. I hope you will be one of them. Smaller contributions are equally needed and are greatly appreciated. Contributions are payable to:
Kakishiba for City Council – ID# 1273781
2242 7th Avenue
Oakland, California 94606
(Kakishiba for City Council has adopted the City of Oakland’s voluntary expenditure ceiling as defined in section 3.12.050(c), 3.12.060(c), 3.12.190, 3.12.200, 3.12.210, and 3.12.220 of the City of Oakland’s Campaign Reform Act. Contributions are limited to $600.00 per individual and $1,100.00 per broad-based P.A.C.)
Thank you very much for reading this letter. If you have any questions, ideas, information, and advice, please contact me at 510-435-8582 or david@kakishiba.org
Thanks again!!!
David Kakishiba
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Acting Locally
FILIPINOS FOR DAVID KAKASHIBA, DISTRICT 2 (Oakland, CA)
There will be a special election for District 2 to replace Danny Wan who is stepping down from his City Council seat.
District 2 spans through Chinatown, Jack London Square, East of the Lake to 23rd Avenue, Highland Hospital and above Mac Arthur to upper Park Blvd, stretching to Oakland Avenue, parts of Lakeshore, and back to Broadway.
Some of us are supporting David Kakashiba, and would like to take up a collection and endorsers, and speak with David Kakashiba who is among close to 10 running for D. Wan's seat. Our efforts are to make the point that the Filipinos in Oakland are looking for progressive change in District 2.
If you would like to donate, or possibly attend a brief reception, please contact A-1 or myself at our respective emails. Any amount will be appreciated.
http://us.f304.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=onepinoy@hotmail.com
http://us.f304.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=tcbconsultant@yahoo.com
We need suggestions for more people to contact who live or work in District 2, so we can contact them by email, or if you would take on 3-5 people to invite to a small reception, that would be even better. Let's have our outreach expand. Details of this reception will follow. If you have any suggestions for dates, right after work preferable, late April, send them our way.
Sincerely,
Terry and A-1
There will be a special election for District 2 to replace Danny Wan who is stepping down from his City Council seat.
District 2 spans through Chinatown, Jack London Square, East of the Lake to 23rd Avenue, Highland Hospital and above Mac Arthur to upper Park Blvd, stretching to Oakland Avenue, parts of Lakeshore, and back to Broadway.
Some of us are supporting David Kakashiba, and would like to take up a collection and endorsers, and speak with David Kakashiba who is among close to 10 running for D. Wan's seat. Our efforts are to make the point that the Filipinos in Oakland are looking for progressive change in District 2.
If you would like to donate, or possibly attend a brief reception, please contact A-1 or myself at our respective emails. Any amount will be appreciated.
http://us.f304.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=onepinoy@hotmail.com
http://us.f304.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=tcbconsultant@yahoo.com
We need suggestions for more people to contact who live or work in District 2, so we can contact them by email, or if you would take on 3-5 people to invite to a small reception, that would be even better. Let's have our outreach expand. Details of this reception will follow. If you have any suggestions for dates, right after work preferable, late April, send them our way.
Sincerely,
Terry and A-1
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Happy New Year
The most important holiday in Tibet is Losar, which celebrates the Tibetan Lunar New Year.
A link is provided for basic info courtesy of my friend in Beantown Jim.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/losar.shtml
Smoke out the house with incense, make amends to the deities, and may you prosper and enjoy good health this year.
A link is provided for basic info courtesy of my friend in Beantown Jim.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/losar.shtml
Smoke out the house with incense, make amends to the deities, and may you prosper and enjoy good health this year.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Tid bits not insights, The Bush years.
I have not been tracking the political, business and or health infotainment/news or sections from corporate media, begging my readers indulgence.
Feb 3, onto the 5th week of 2005. Riding BART to work place allows for transitory reading time, granted one can tune out the noise of car and fellow passengers.
Lapham at Harpers Magazine discussed Thorstein Veblin, as a "purgative" for the coverage of post election analysis and the holiday rendering of seasonal truths. For the reader, Veblin is perhaps most remembered for Theory of the Leisure Class or one of his phrases "conspicuous consumption."
"We continue to live in a society that regards the possession of wealth is a meritorious act" (Lapham) sparked many thoughts wiling away the minutes involved in crossing under sea.
Lapham's assertion/observation
Feb 3, onto the 5th week of 2005. Riding BART to work place allows for transitory reading time, granted one can tune out the noise of car and fellow passengers.
Lapham at Harpers Magazine discussed Thorstein Veblin, as a "purgative" for the coverage of post election analysis and the holiday rendering of seasonal truths. For the reader, Veblin is perhaps most remembered for Theory of the Leisure Class or one of his phrases "conspicuous consumption."
"We continue to live in a society that regards the possession of wealth is a meritorious act" (Lapham) sparked many thoughts wiling away the minutes involved in crossing under sea.
Lapham's assertion/observation
- counters personal values and practice of service rather than pursuing gain;
- as a reality for american society it can un- do the efforts of a more ecological framework of re-use, reduce, recycle, sustainable, biodiversity;
- and holds one aspect of possible explanation for the vote cast favoring the current administration.
Why would individuals vote for protecting the privilege of the upper 5% of Americans to be taxed less, pay lip service over the concern for the 46 million who are uninsured, or ascribe higher value to the lives of 1000 American heroes over the lives of the unknown thousands of Iraqis and Afghanis?
"I", too, "will be rich someday." I do not want rationed care. This war is not about Oil, it is about freedom and bringing democracy into the region, we have been told are part of the rationales to make all this seem ok.
Is the hope for striking it rich, market driven health system reform, acceptable collateral damage (death of other countless innocents) signs of a society at its apex.
No answers, no additional analysis offered, simply musings of a grey commute day. My small brain is trying hard to wrap itself around the past four years and grasp what may lie ahead in the next four.
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