The Guardsman, Vol. 175, Issue 7, City College of San Francisco

Page 1

The Guardsman

SFPUC Orders CCSF to Vacate Southeast Bayview Campus

With one day’s notice, City College staff mobilized, in midApril, to clear college property from the Southeast Center campus at 1800 Oakdale Ave in San Francisco’s Bayview district. A March 30, 2023, letter from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) informed the college that due to needed repairs, the building was no longer usable and the college’s lease had been terminated.

On April 19 and 20, during the few hours of allowed access, staff from the City College library, ITS and facilities departments were on site filling moving boxes with books from the library, and salvaging computer and network hardware. Both Cynthia Dewar from the Educational Technology Office and Alberto Vasquez from Facilities and Capital Planning directed questions to the chancellor's office.

City College opened its campus at the Center in the early ‘90s, offering as many as 25 classes annually

according to Chancellor David Martin. Four classes were taught there in Spring 2020; the center has been shuttered since then. As early as last summer, ITS staff were told that no more classes were to be scheduled there.

Inside, four floors of classrooms and offices surrounded a pleas ant light-filled atrium. The library looked up-to-date; the computer lab did not. Dusty bulletin boards cele brated African American heritage. According to the PUC notice, the building requires seismic upgrades and ventilation repairs totalling more than the value of the building, and it is likely to be demolished.

In the 1970’s, following passage of the federal Clean Water Act, the city undertook a major expansion of the wastewater treatment plant located in the historically black neighborhood. Powerful commu nity protests won a mitigation agreement that led to the construc tion of the South East Community Center on Oakdale, adjacent to the plant.

SFPUC continued on page 2

Call for Activism City College Hosts Black Lives Matter Co-founder Alicia Garza for Talk on Social Justice and Equality

On Tuesday, April 25, social activist, writer and community organizer Alicia Garza visited the Mission Campus to deliver a talk on social justice and equality in the United States.

The event was co-hosted by three departments: the African American Studies Department, the Labor & Community Studies

Department, and the School of Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Ethnic Studies and Social Justice. The event drew a crowd of students and community members, and Garza's speech was a powerful call to action for greater justice and equal rights.

Born in Oakland, Garza co-founded Black Lives Matter (BLM) in 2013 along with Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi. BLM was created in response

to the acquittal of George Zimmerman after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, and gained national attention following the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York — both at the hands of police officers.

Garza’s criticism of the criminal justice system and advocacy for Black communities has earned her recognition as one of Time Magazine's

100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

Now, Garza works with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Black Futures Lab, an organization dedicated to advancing policies that improve the lives of Black Americans.

The City College library had a table at the event, and librarian Lisa Velarde was there to help students check out books.

BLM continued on page 2

Resolution to Bring Back Laid Off Employees Stalls

On Thursday, April 13, the Board Budget and Audit Committee meeting failed to advance two measures calling for the reinstatement of all full-time faculty and classified workers who

were dismissed in last year’s layoffs, a total of 87 people, many of whom were tenured.

The committee has three voting members: Chair Shanell Williams, Board Vice President Anita Martinez and Susan Solomon. Trustee Solomon, who authored the resolution, was absent. The two remain-

ing members had opposing views and the motions did not carry, which meant that the resolutions would not be forwarded to the full board.

“I can’t support this resolution without amendments and the first author and other member of this committee is not here,” Williams

said. “It’s not that I want to shoot this down, but I want to make amendments and have further discussion.”

The committee’s inaction will delay a decision by the full Board of Trustees on whether to direct Chancellor David Martin to recall all employees who lost their jobs

last year.

Tensions rose as attendees debated policies for passing the resolution to the full board and the limitations of the board actions.

Before the vote, both Martinez and Williams said they believed these resolutions would be Resolution continued on page 3

Tennis Championship Sports Zero Waste Culture Page 4 Page 8 Have your Say Opinion Page 5 Vol. 175, Issue 6 | Apr. 19 – May. 3 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE | www.theguardsman.com
Community Center. April 19, 2023. Photo by Ellen Yoshitsugu/The Guardsman. Alicia Garza. Photo Credit: Marıa Esme del Rıó Instagram: @delriophotography

PUC continued from page 1

celebrates the community leaders who led the fight.

Today, next door to the center, giant cranes tower over yet another massive rebuild of the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

New educational center in the works

But a brand new Southeast Community Center has just opened nearby at 1550 Evans Ave, at the corner of Third St, built by the SFPUC. As City College cleared classrooms at the old center, the SFPUC staff were leading tours of the new one.

San Francisco voters approved bond measures in 2005 and 2020 to fund the construction and upgrading of City College’s campuses, with $30 million earmarked for a new southeast educational facility next to the new community center at 1550 Evans Ave.

There are two City College sites in the Bayview. The trades-only Evans campus is just down the block at 1400 Evans Ave.

At his community hour in Dogpatch, District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton said, “I would love to see that building that was committed to the southern sector

go up at 1550 Evans so we can have a beautiful state-ofthe-art education center.“ He noted that the allocation has been reduced to $25 million.

Many questions remain.

Although the City College trustees have confirmed their commitment to a new Southeast Center, the details surrounding that facility are unclear. What would the $25 million buy? Who would own it? The SFPUC, City College and the San Francisco Unified School District are all listed on the project. Who would decide what courses are offered there?

In recent years classes have ended at the college’s Airport, Fort Mason and Civic Center campuses, and now at the Southeast Center as well. Does the college really have the resources and commitment to staff and run a new center?

At a recent City College Board of Trustees meeting, speakers expressed fears that it could be merely a training center for the SFPUC. Will there be ESL classes for the Bayview’s large immigrant population?treatment plant.

BLM continued from page 1

There were a variety of print books for checkout on social and racial justice topics, including Garza’s own book, “The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart.” There were also printouts of book QR codes that could be scanned so students could instantly access a digital copy of a book.

City College also had an outreach table, with promotional materials and informational fliers for interested people who are considering enrollment.

In her speech, Garza emphasized the power of collective action to bring change, and the importance of community solidarity in fighting for equality.

“We all have power, and together we can build the kind of power that transforms how power operates, not just in the city, but in this country,” Garza said.

She also spoke about the relationship between culture and policy. “I’ve started to think that culture wars actually are a nice, beautiful smokescreen for policy wars,” she said. “It’s a smokescreen for policies that are moving to change our ability to live full and dignified lives.”

Using the example of the recent attacks on transgender people’s rights to dignity and healthcare, she said that debates about which bathroom transgender people should use are not really about bathrooms, but about who gets to belong and who doesn't get to belong in society.

“Woke” is not a real thing, she said, but “code for attacks on yet another Black-led movement that dares to challenge the idea that some people in our society can kill without consequences, and that dares to affirm the dignity of all human life.” BLM continued on page 3

NEWS | 2 Vol. 175, ISSuE 6 | APR. 19 – MAY. 3 Staff Editor-in-Chief Visuals Editor Opinion Editor Illustration Editor Copy Editor Design Editors Ellen Yoshitsugu egiese@mail.ccsf.edu Fran Smith franchon.smith. theguardsman@gmail.com Renee Bartlett-Webber rbartle8@mail.ccsf.edu Fran Smith franchon.smith. theguardsman@gmail.com Gene Thompson Lolie Mahe Joan Walsh Cindy Chan Linda Liu Sebastien Thugnet News Editor Culture Editor Sports Editor Layout Editor Online Editor Social Media Editor Ellen Yoshitsugu egiese@mail.ccsf.edu Emma Pratt espratt8@mail.ccsf.edu Onyx Hunter onyxhunter@gmail.com Sebastien Thugnet sthugnet@mail.ccsf.edu JT Wildfeuer jt.wildfeuer@gmail.com Derek Chartrand Wallace
Gdwalla30@mail.ccsf.edu Tim Ryan (CCSF ITS) salvages wires and network switches from the old Southeast Center. Apr 20, 2023. Ellen Yoshitsugu/The Guardsman. SFPuC staff lead tours of the new southeast community Center at 1550 Evans Ave. April 19, 2023. Ellen Yoshitsugu/The Guardsman. CCSF facilities and ITS staff clear college property from old Southeast campus. April 20, 2023. Ellen Yoshitsugu/ The Guardsman. library books packed up as CCSF vacates Southeast campus. April 20, 2023. Ellen Yoshitsugu/The Guardsman Crowd applauding at the conclusion of Garza's talk. Photo by Ann Marie Galvan/The Guardsman

BLM continued from page

Historically, San Francisco has been a home for people who couldn’t find a home elsewhere, Garza said, and she encouraged the audience to think about the role the city can play in the larger resistance against fascism and systemic racism.

“I think we should consider that different places in the country can play different roles that contribute. So the thing I would implore us to think about is: What is San Francisco’s role in the resistance?” Garza said.

Joining a movement isn’t just about “marching up and down the street with picket signs and boards. Joining a movement

is about joining the people in your community, that you know and you don’t know, and learning how to work together,” she said. Even small acts of solidarity, such as showing up at an event, can be important. “It’s not performative. It’s connective tissue.”

Garza's message urges San Francisco and its people to be active participants in the fight for social justice and equality, both locally and on a larger scale.

“What is your role?” Garza asked, “How do we move forward, not backwards? And what place is San Francisco going to take in a movement to fight back against fascism? You get to decide.”

forwarded to the whole board at the next meeting regardle ss of the outcome of the vote in this committee. However, Martin said that it would have to be approved by the committee first.

Martinez told The Guardsman that other committees allow for action items to be forwarded to the full board no matter the outcome of the vote, but this language is missing from the Budget and Audit Committee policies. She is working with the board president and chancellor to remedy this “oversight,” as she referred to it.

Board member Aliya Chisti was in attendance as a non-voting member and asked if these resolutions would be in violation of board policy. The chancellor

responded, “if the resolution is to direct the chancellor to hire fulltime faculty in specific disciplines by a certain date, I do believe that would be in violation of the board policies and accreditation standards.”

policies and accreditation standards.

Martinez said “perhaps the chancellor does not agree with my perspective that this is a recall, it’s not hiring new faculty and there’s a distinction there.” She said the

resolutions are well within the purview of the board. perhaps the chancellor does not agree with my perspective

According to the board policy manual, The Powers and Duties of the Board, the board will “delegate authority in all administrative matters to the Chancellor, including, but not limited to, hiring or promotion of specific individuals.”

Biology Department Chair Joe Reyes, who is vice president of the Department Chair Council, said, “[The trustees] really don’t have that kind of authority to be

able to force [the chancellor] to hire folks back.” He added that on Friday, April 21, Martin distributed an accreditation update and Reyes said, “one of the points was to have a discussion with the board about them overstepping their boundaries.”

Martinez explained the resolution to The Guardsman: “The intent simply was to ask the chancellor to develop a plan and say how it’s going to be implemented for bringing back the faculty … the other intent is to affirm tenure, that we have a commitment to tenure, because tenure ensures academic freedom.” She added that tenure is essential for free speech and democracy.

“Laying off of tenured

faculty is a real rarity,” said Reyes, although it’s happening more throughout the country, he added. “That’s why I think that everyone is treading so lightly because one wrong move in this bizarre situation and there’s going to be literally, lawyers flying in every which direction.”

Trustee Solomon requested that her interview be delayed until the resolution is passed on to the full board in May. Martinez is confident the full board will discuss these resolutions next month because both she and Solomon plan to attend the committee meeting, which will create a majority to pass their action items.

NEWS | 3 Vol. 175, Issue 6 | Apr. 19 – May. 3 Contact Us / Follow Us Advertise the Guardsman.com Mailing Address Twitter/Facebook Instagram info @ theguardsman.com (415) 239-3446 50 Frida Kahlo Way, Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Bungalow 615 @theguardsman @CCSFjournalism Youtube theguardsmanonline
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Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black lives Matter, delivers a speech on racial justice and activism at a City College's Mission Campus. Photo by Ann Marie Galvan/The Guardsman City College librarian lisa Velarde helps students explore social and racial justice literature, including Alicia Garza's "The Purpose of Power," available for checkout at the event. Photo by Ann Marie Galvan/The Guardsman
I do believe that would be in violation of the board
Resolution, continued from page 1 Alicia Garzaw, Photo fair.org

Zero Waste Fest: An Educating and Empowering Way to Start

Earth Month in San Francisco

Longtime zero waste organization Race to Zero Waste held their annual Zero Waste festival at Crissy Field on April 1st. A run, waste-free breakfast and resource fair showcased the zero waste lifestyle.

The event began with a 5k run or 1 mile walk around Crissy Field, followed by breakfast served on stainless steel cups, mugs and tin plates, completely without disposables. After the Ramaytush Ohlone land acknowledgement, a San Francisco Environment representative, a member of Sea Hugger, and Teresa Bradley, the CEO of Race to Zero Waste, all spoke. Yoga Kaivalya’s Vanessa Gullatte Means led some light stretching.

Following the athletic activities, participants socialized while enjoying music and yerba mate tea, coffee and pastries. Next there was a raffle. The prizes included reusable items such as insulated tumblers, stainless steel food containers and utensil kits, and a copy of eco superhero Resilience’s graphic novel.

Twelve organizations had tables at the resource fair, held in Sports Basement’s public space The Dairy, giving participants a firsthand look into how to incorporate accessible zero waste actions into their daily lives. The only refill store in SF, a coalition of zero waste organizations, a beach clean-up group and a presentation of a new recycling machine from Kenya were there. A character in an eco-hero costume promoted a graphic novel, the yoga instructor talked about personal sustainability, and an upcycling screenprinter made Zero Waste Fest shirts on second hand t-shirts. The festival was a fun showcase of what a greener world could be.

Jessica Jane Robinson explained her Resilience Birthright Saga, a transmedia project about a superhero destined to save Planet Earth. She said, “So whether humans, animals, plants, the environment, trees, we're all resilient and it's our birthright to come out of challenges and struggles.” This year, Robinson, a CEO and president of the Northern California Recycling Association and longtime participant of Zero Waste Fest, shared her graphic novel, Resilience Birthright: Origins of Resilience. She created it to bring readers a sense of hope.

Means reflected on some of her conversations. “I think that a lot of people after, you know, talking to them today, they're like, ‘Wow, I never realized how much I actually neglect myself.’”

Torben Umeda of Stainable Ink said “right now there's no way to get both high quality, used t-shirts, which there's a huge market for, because people want sustainable swag for their businesses.” Not only creating a new item out of something used before, Umeda is simultaneously supporting the reuse economy. “So that's the whole point of the business, is to create a supply chain for used clothing, which as a byproduct, I'm also pumping money into the secondhand market as I'm paying thrifters to get me shirts. And like, I think that secondhand market is what the world is eventually going to have to run on.”

Rather than educating attendees on theory and what can be possible, the Zero Waste Fest engaged with them about what currently is possible. They talked about the actions needed to create a future, zero waste, closed loop system but balanced that with empowering practices that folks could start on in the present.

Race to ZeroWaste will have pop-ups in Dolores Park at 18th & Church, 1-7 p.m. every

Saturday and Sunday, from May through October. It’s a great opportunity to engage them about proper waste sorting, moving towards a zero waste lifestyle or getting involved in their organization. One might also catch them at Carnaval, May 27th and 28th, or Castro Street Fair, October 1st. To learn more visit https://racetozerowaste.org/

Project SURVIVE Persists in Promoting Healthy Relationships and Combating Abuse Despite Continuing Pandemic Challenges

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Project SURVIVE, a peer-education program of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, persists in providing training and employment to students by implementing a comprehensive sexual violence prevention initiative that involves presentations, events, courses, resource assistance, and on-campus job opportunities for students.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, continuity in the student leadership pipeline has been difficult to maintain and funding support for the program has continued to decline, said Adele Failes-Carpenter, Project SURVIVE coordinator.

“Since about 2018, there's been falling support and funding for student jobs on campus. And so that has been a challenge,” Failes-Carpenter said. “Not just for our program, but I think

for many programs that are prioritizing student leadership on campus.”

Founded in 1993, Project SURVIVE aims to promote healthy relationships, empower individuals in intimate relationships, and cultivate student leadership skills to combat abuse in their communities, and in society at large. With a social justice focus, the program aims to educate and end sexual and domestic violence.

The program fights to keep student worker positions in the annual budget. “A big piece of the advocacy we've done over the last few years is to make sure that our college is reflecting the value of leadership and maintaining a safe and supportive campus,” said Failes-Carpenter.

Despite these challenges, Project SURVIVE has been able to stay up to date with the latest research and best practices in promoting healthy relationships, and in 2020 they released training on how people can communicate COVID risks with “loved ones, roommates, and potential partners.”

Project SURVIVE’s content is partly developed by students themselves during a retreat every spring, where they discuss potential changes to the curriculum. Employer advisory boards also advise the program's curriculum, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective.

"It's definitely been rewarding to be able to really give information on relationships across the spectrum, because we focus on healthy and unhealthy relationships,” said current peer educator Yubitza Bautista-Santana.

Bautista-Santana is a licensed clinical social worker with a background in mental health, and mostly presents for Project SURVIVE’s

Expect Respect program. Expect Respect presents healthy relationship workshops to San Francisco public high school students.

"It's still very surprising to see and get the students' feedback about the information that they don't know and what they've learned because of this program being in the schools," Bautista-Santana said.

Most high school students don’t know "the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship, or the cycle of abuse. The warning signs are new information. Even things about a healthy relationship where they're like, 'Okay, learn more about respect, about healthy arguments.' It's really good feedback to know that we're providing them with the information.”

The presentations also encourage students to put their knowledge to use. "It really prompts them to find ways to implement what they're learning in their everyday life with other people, and we need more of that," they said.

Ultimately, Project SURVIVE aims to empower individuals and communities to address issues of power and violence in relationships, creating a safer and more equitable society for all, and Bautista-Santana hopes that students can “use the information for self-reflection to create a new social movement, one of personal healing.” By personalizing information and working on self-healing, individuals can help undo the “emotional reactivity and force that is occuring in the different levels of society today,” they said.

“Today is a reflection of what has occurred over time from the past, but tomorrow is still unwritten, and at the end of the day, we all need each other to create the society that we are all deserving of and want to be a part of, one of mutual respect,” said Bautista-Santana.

“Most high school students don’t know the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.”
Vanessa Means at Zero Waste Fest, April 1, 2023. Photo by Imani Davis/The Guardsman. Peer educators engage in a discussion with students about healthy relationships, as well as important topics such as sexual violence and the cycle of abuse. Photo by Project SuRVIVE
4 | CULTURE Vol. 175, ISSuE 6 | APR. 19 – MAY. 3
Vanessa Means of Yoga Kaivalya leads participants in yoga at Zero Waste Fest, April 1, 2023.Photo by Imani Davis/The Guardsman.

Have your say

How do your classes fit into your goals?

Kori (PhysiCal TherapY)

I'm going for my kinesiology bachelor’s, so it'll be a transfer. But I’ve only taken one actual kinesiology course; everything else is pre reqs because eventually, my goal is to get my doctorate in physical therapy.

I have a history in the military and I have a history of work-related injuries in the military. I didn't really know what I wanted when I went into the military, I was just kind of doing it to buy time and not be poor. But after doing like two physical therapy sessions, I was like “oh my God this is my new religion. I want to study this.” Before, I was getting my bachelor’s in Chinese Mandarin and from there, I could have applied for a different military program to get all of my medical prerequisites done and then gone into the military physical therapy program which is tied for number one in the country. I had a plan. We're on plan C right now.

It was really easy to enroll [at City College] during the pandemic. I had a lot of other things going on as well and I really wanted to get back into school, but I wasn't sure how it was going to go, so that was my part-time semester. And it was like “oK let me take a class, see how it goes” and all that stuff. And it was all online so I felt safe and it was nearby. It was nice and easy for me to be present. so nursing had always interested me but, for whatever reason, I decided not to do anything like that. And now I am. I’m on Free City and I wouldn't otherwise be able to make a career transition without this.

I am studying fashion design. I'm trying to use that goal to make my own designs. Since I like doing Cosplay, I want to make my own designs so I can make other people happy, maybe and so I can be happy with the designs I make. I’m taking three classes.

Right now, I'm currently studying math 80, art 125A, PE 200D. I'm doing pretty good in the class. Math 80 is kind of difficult for me. It’s for a requirement for a transfer to San Francisco state. I'll be studying art. I like to do ceramics because I like to build my own collections.

Palmer (Interior Design)

Interior design is my major. It's something that I've always been interested in. So my previous career was more on the graphics side but I've just always had an interest so I wanted to change direction.

I'm in the nursing program right now. This will be my fourth full year here. I had to do a lot of pre reqs for the nursing program because my first bachelor’s is in restaurant management and culinary arts. So through weird ways, we all need the credits to appear on our transcripts. I had to redo English for instance, I had to redo some classes in addition to science.

I decided [to go into nursing] because I like an atmosphere that's constantly changing. I like being on my feet. I like thinking quickly and having to make decisions and then evaluate those decisions and then change direction. So I like the atmosphere that the restaurant and hospitality had. I didn't like the fact that we aren't really paid for our hours, there's no medical benefits really, there's no retirement plan; there's none of that. And so nursing had always interested me but, for whatever reason, I decided not to do anything like that. And now I am. I’m on Free City and I wouldn't otherwise be able to make a career transition without this.

Vol. 175, ISSuE 6 | APR. 19 – MAY. 3 OPINION | 5
Sabrina Alfonso Cruz (Ceramic Arts) Katia Groffman (Nursing)
The last laugh -
Adriene (Fashion Design)
Illustration
by Eduardo Morales/The Guardsman

What a Proposed 50-Story High Rise in the Sunset District Tells Us About SF’s Growing Housing Debate

It’s no secret that San Francisco is expensive. The city regularly tops lists of municipalities with high housing costs and soaring cost of living. As issues of unaffordability have exacerbated over recent decades, many residents have butted heads over the disparity of new housing development.

to the absurdity of housing policy that has led San Francisco head-on into the housing crisis in the first place.

The original proposal for the 2700 block of Sloat was a reasonable mid-rise residential development, which received fierce opposition from homeowners in the area who sighted traffic, parking, and noise concerns. The new 50 story proposal in many ways, seems a spite by the developer toward the

Those against new development, often referred to as NIMBY’s or “not in my backyarder,” oppose denser housing often arguing that construction of new projects will destroy the character of a neighborhood. On the other hand, YIMBY’s or “yes in my backyarder,” advocate for new development and capital improvement projects to tackle issues of affordability. In San Francisco, NIMBYs have dominated the political landscape blocking housing projects for decades, but in recent years the housing crisis has galvanized fierce debate opposing such policies. The city is now faced with the momentous task of constructing 82,000 new residential units within the next eight years – something will have to give.

The clash between San Francisco’s dire need for more housing and the restrictive attitudes of NIMBYs is perhaps best personified with the proposal of a new 50 story mixed use high rise along Sloat Boulevard. For many familiar with debates concerning housing development in San Francisco, the proposal seems absurd. If constructed, the Sloat Tower would become the 12th tallest building in the city, sticking out like a sore thumb among the sea of row to row single family homes that dominate the neighborhood. So will it likely be built? Probably not, but the absurdity of the proposal holds a mirror

NIMBY’s attitudes that have blocked reasonable proposals across western San Francisco for decades. But how will such a proposal affect the conversation of housing density?

It is possible that the proposal of such an extreme building can shift the Overton Window on the debate, making six to eight story developments seem reasonable in comparison. If there has to be compromise between single family housing and towering high rises, perhaps mid density mixed use developments along transit corridors isn’t that disruptive after all.

However, the proposed high rise, especially if constructed, could further galvanize NIMBY sentiment in the city. Much as backlash to the construction of the Tour Montparnasse led to seven-story height restrictions in Paris between 1975 and 2015, the Sloat development could reignite the anti-Manhattanization campaigns that gained strong traction in San Francisco during the 1970s.

Yet the reality remains that we are in the midst of a housing crisis. Whether the 2700 Sloat boulevard project is developed as a midrise or high-rise, if it is developed at all, the 82,000 new housing units will have to go somewhere. People need affordable homes to live in, and the NIMBY attitudes that have long held San Francisco development hostage are just as destructive to the fabric of our community as an out of place high rise.

It Turns Out We Actually Didn’t Kill Bob Lee

Entire City of San Francisco is cleared of the murder

He dialed 911 and screamed for an ambulance as his wounds spilled bloody trails on the vanilla paint of the Portside Apartment building. San Francisco police officers reached Bob Lee a mere six minutes later but he died

in front of them.

Within hours tech titan on the planet blamed the homeless population, city government, and the entirety of San Francisco voters for the death of one of their own; Cash App founder and MobileCoin Chief Product Officer Bob Lee. We may not have wielded the knife, but we are “truly to blame.” Our “soft-on-crime attitude” had claimed yet another victim – another victim that would

be here today if only we had not “defunded the police” or been “evil lib-’tard progressives” who “prevent” SF police officers from doing their jobs.

Elon Musk chimed in hours later on Twitter with “Violent crime in SF is horrific, and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately.” Alan Alden, a friend of Lee’s, tweeted at San Francisco Mayor London Breed that her “policies have claimed another life.” Lee’s tech-adjacent pal opined “Bob's literal blood on their hands.” Even the “I-visited-SF-once-12-years-ago” folks felt capable of weighing in on San Francisco crime; this murder clearly happened because of our progressive politics.

San Francisco pays our police officers handsomely to do their jobs. The city even paid them an additional $25 million this year for overtime alone. The San Francisco Police have not been defunded in any shape or form. All cities have crime but things worsen for everyone in San Francisco if the ones paid to

protect refuse to do so. How is it that high crime tourist destinations endure repeated car break ins while Union Square is ringed with SFPD officers?

The citizens of San Francisco voted their choice, Chesa Boudin, into the District Attorney's office. He was our choice because we San Franciscans understood that punishing people for “quality-of-life” crimes while not having a home is inhumane and unproductive. We already knew that incarcerating everyone for the smallest offense does not actually stop crime. We voted for Boudin to address the many racial disparities in police work, and most importantly, to litigate against the SFPD officers who murdered without cause. Chesa was in office because we voted him there. The tech

industry executives, many of whom don't live in San Francisco, gathered their many millions to campaign intensely to recall our choice for District Attorney. The tech industry did not use their pile of millions to improve conditions in San Francisco; they used their money to negate democracy in our city. And now their industry colleague is dead and his murder is our fault?

Nima Momeni was arrested for killing his friend Bob Lee. This sad event was alleged violence by a person the victim knew as opposed to a stranger with possible ties to Momeni’s sister.

The invective opinions San Franciscans have endured this month are now relieved. It has been proven that we didn’t play a role in Lee’s murder. San Francisco District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston tweeted “the people who tried to exploit this tragedy to stoke hatred of the poor should be ashamed...Some public apologies are in order.”

I haven't read one apology yet. Have you?

6 | OPINION Vol. 175, ISSuE 6 | APR. 19 – MAY. 3
Some public apologies are in order.
The San Francisco police have not been defunded in any shape or form.
Faced with the momentous task of constructing 82,000 new residential units within the next eight years
The reality remains that we are in the midst of a housing crisis.
Homelessness in San Francisco is rampant as the city deals with a decades-long affordable housing crisis. Photo by Elodie Mefret/The Guardsman A high rise. Graphic by Szabó Viktor/Pexels

FALL 2023 JOURNALISM CLASSES

To register for courses visit www.ccsfjournalism.com

For more information call Juan Gonzales, department chair, at (415) 517-4426 or jagonzal@ccsf.edu

Jour 21: News Writing and Reporting

3.0 units

72990 001 Lec. T R 9:40 – 10:55 a.m. Ocean BNGL 615 Gonzales

Techniques of newspaper reporting, developing and writing a news story, training in information gathering and interviewing sources

PREREQ: ENGL 93 or ENGL 95 or ENGL 88 or ENGL 88A or placement in ENGL 96 or ENGL 88B

Jour 22: Feature Writing

Room 217 Mullaney

3.0 units 72991 501 Lec. T 6:10 – 9:00 p.m.

Fundamentals in feature writing for magazines and newspapers with special emphasis on profile and interpretive news features. Practical experience in interview and in-depth research techniques. Training in how to write a feature story for publication.

PREREQ: ENGL 93 or ENGL 95 or ENGL 88 or ENGL 88A or placement in ENGL 96 or ENGL 88B

Jour 24: Newspaper Laboratory (News Production I)

3.0 units

Beginning newspaper laboratory course focused on the publication of the college newspaper The Guardsman. Provides a practical understanding of the various elements involved in producing a newspaper.

ADVISE: JOUR 21. CSU

Jour

3.0

An introduction to the process of creating a magazine publication. Students work as part of a staff of writers and photographers focusing on writing and photographing feature stories suitable for publication in Etc. Magazine.

ADVISE: JOUR 21 OR JOUR 22 OR JOUR 37

Jour

3.0

Mission Room 217 Oleson M 6:10 – 9:00 p.m.

An intermediate exploration into the process of creating a magazine publication. Students work as editors focusing on editing content suitable for publication in the campus magazine. They participate in the editorial and production process and develop the skills required for publishing Etc. Magazine.

ADVISE: JOUR 29A

Jour 29C: Advanced Magazine Editing & Production

3.0 units

72995 551 L/L M 4:10 – 6:00 p.m. Mission Room 217 Oleson M 6:10 – 9:00 p.m.

An advanced exploration into the process of creating a magazine publication. Students work in management positions focusing on leading a staff in producing content suitable for publication in the campus magazine. They facilitate the editorial and production process and develope the skills required to manage the publication of Etc. Magazine.

ADVISE: JOUR 29B

Jour 31: Internship Experience

1.0 – 2.0 units

72331 W01 Wrk Exp HOURS ARR Ocean BNGL 615 Gonzales

72996 W02 Wrk Exp HOURS ARR Ocean BNGL 615 Gonzales

Supervised on-campus or off-campus employment in a branch of journalism or a closely allied field.

ADVISE: JOUR 24, REpEAt: MAxIMUM CREDIt: 4 UnItS

Jour 37: Intro to Photojournalism

3.0 units

72997 551 Lec. W 6:10 - 9:00 p.m. Mission Mission Rm 217 Lifland

Emphasizes concepts of photojournalism, such as news and feature photography. Assignments will involve photographing people and visual storytelling at a level appropriate for publication, such as in campus publications. Access to Single Lens Reflex (SLR) digital or film camera required.

ADVISE: pHOt 51 OR DEMOnStRAtIOn Of EqUIVAlEnt knOwlEDgE. CSU

Mission
72992
M
Ocean
W F
001 L/L
12:10 – 2:00 p.m.
BNGL 615 Gonzales
12:10 – 1:25 p.m.
Editing
29A: Intro Magazine
& Production
units 72993 501 L/L M 4:10
6:00 p.m. Mission Room 217 Oleson M 6:10
p.m.
– 9:00
Intermediate Magazine Editing & Production
29B:
units 72994 551 L/L M 4:10
6:00 p.m.
Vol. 175, ISSuE 6 | APR. 19 – MAY. 3 COMMUNITY | 7
Ilustration by Cindy Chan/The Guardsman

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Rams Tennis Team Enters the State Championships with

Great Odds

At the State Championships (April 27-30) the City College of San Franciso Women’s tennis teams' odds are looking up. With a record of 10 wins and two losses in conference matches, the outlook is strong. In their most recent match, a Coast Conference championship, the City College Rams went out victorious despite a loss. City College’s top player, Ariel Xu, captured the victory in her singles match. In the doubles match, Xu & Christina Ling captured the title of Coast Conference doubles champions!

Keep an eye out and support the women’s tennis team as they fight for the title of State Champions! Go Rams!

On the Edge of Defeat:

Rams Win 5-4

On April 20 the City College of San Francisco baseball team put on quite a show in its final home game of the season, earning a victory when reliever David Howard pitched out of a tough spot in the ninth inning, closing the book on the College of San Mateo Bulldogs.

The Rams took the lead with a run in the third inning, and stayed ahead through most of the game, scoring twice in the sixth and adding two more runs in the eighth.

But the Bulldogs wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Scoring one run in the sixth, San Mateo came out swinging in the top of the ninth, loading the bases and scoring three to imperil the Rams’ lead, now 5-4.

With two outs, two on base and two strikes the Bulldogs’ batter shot a low drive between first and second bases. Second baseman Angel Perez, playing between the bags, dove to his right, reaching as far as his arm could stretch and snagged the ball close to the ground, grinding his shoulder against the dirt as he fell, but securing the Rams’ win.

Rams starting pitcher Owen Gallegos showed particular prowess, tying a season high of eight strikeouts and zero walks, making a substantial contribution to the victory.

CCSF Badminton Team Advances in Conference Tournament with a Walkover Win

The City College of San Francisco Rams badminton team was declared the winner of the game by forfeit on Tuesday April 26, against Mission College, which due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to play the conference match. Although this may seem like an unsatisfactory way to win, the Rams team legitimately racked up another victory, increasing the chance it will finish the conference tournament in third place.

On Thursday, April 27, the Rams will play as visitors against De Anza at De Anza College. The team’s objective is to secure a victory that will strengthen its overall score to 6-4 and increase its chances of qualifying for the state championship while also embracing a more confident and determined mindset. “We need a lot of discipline and good mentality; our top ladder has a good chance to qualify for State Championships,” said Kristin Vinluan, a sophomore at City College and a first-season player for the badminton team.

Head Coach Tiffany Mariano emphasized that players are going through a lot of training and practice. Her line-up for the next game is: Carolyn Nguyen, Yuchu Huang, Xinyi Cai, Eunice Claire Millares, Kristin Vinluan and Kayla Mann.

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SPoRTS BRIEF
CCSF Rams Badminton Team, Spring 2023. Photo courtesy of CCSF Athletics. Ariel Xu and Christina ling won the Coast Conference doubles championships. Photo courtesy of CCSF Athletics. "Moment of Jubilation after the Rams' first run." Photo by onyx Hunter/The Guardsman "Richochet" Photo by onyx Hunter/ The Guardsman "So close yet so far" Photo by onyx Hunter/The Guardsman
SPORTS | 8 Vol. 175, ISSuE 6 | APR. 19 – MAY. 3
Jerin Po'oma'a-Adaro, being congratulated on getting a good hit and nearly making it to 1st Base. Photo by onyx Hunter/The Guardsman
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