Trans detainee released
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Fine art, 2017
Amour for Amador
The
www.ebar.com
Since 1971, the newspaper of record for the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community
Vol. 47 • No. 1 • January 5-11, 2017
Out majority, for now, to oversee City College
Sari Staver
Terrance Alan, left, and Aaron Silverman will take over Cafe Flore.
New owners hope for cannabis cafe in Castro by Sari Staver
T
he new owners of Cafe Flore hope the funky Castro hangout will become the city’s first cannabis cafe. Terrance Alan, the chairman of San Francisco’s Cannabis State Legalization Task Force, and Aaron Silverman, an experienced cannabis entrepreneur, take possession of the business January 5. The men discussed their plans for the 44-year-old restaurant and bar over lunch Tuesday, January 2. “Cannabis is definitely part of our long term vision,” said Alan, an entertainment and nightlife consultant who previously served as president of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission. For the past year, Alan, a gay man, has led the city’s 22-member cannabis task force, which is advising the city on how it should regulate the industry under state Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which was approved in November and legalized the recreational use of pot. Last month, the task force approved its recommendations on how the city should implement Prop 64 (http://www.ebar.com/ news/article.php?sec=news&article=72188). Among those recommendations was that the city should consider creation of new types of licenses to accommodate “the diverse businesses within the adult use cannabis industry such as baking or cooking licenses, consumption lounges.” Alan, 64, said he and Silverman, 41, “wanted to get into the customer service and food service side of the tourist economy so we can explore what socialization and food look like in the next 10 years.” Customers won’t see cannabis on the menu “for at least a few years,” conceded Alan, who noted that currently Prop 64 prohibits businesses that sell alcohol to also serve cannabis, a clause Alan said was put into the legislation because of all the “uncertainty” among the public about legalization. The law would have to be amended and the city would have to develop a specific license for such a business, Alan said, two developments he believes could happen “in time.” See page 14 >>
Rick Gerharter
Tom Temprano
Shanell Williams
by Matthew S. Bajko
W
ith their swearing-in Wednesday afternoon, a quartet of out trustees now holds a majority on the board overseeing City College of San Francisco. Gay incumbents Rafael Mandelman, the board president, and Alex Randolph, along with newcomers Tom Temprano, who is gay, and Shanell Williams, who is bisexual, took their oaths of office January 4 at a ceremony held on the school’s Ocean Avenue campus. They swept the November election for the four seats on the college board, leading to the ouster of former trustee Amy Bacharach.
Rafael Mandelman
They now join the oversight body’s three other voting members – Vice President Thea Selby, Brigitte Davila, and John Rizzo – as well as a nonvoting student trustee in working with lesbian interim Chancellor Susan Lamb on myriad issues buffeting the stability and finances of the 81-year-old public institution. “It is two new people who haven’t been through the last four years with us so they bring a fresh perspective, which is a good thing,” said Mandelman of the freshmen trustees. “One thing very different about the board than what we have had previously is the last two years it has been a very well-functioning board and a very respectful board. I think we
Alex Randolph
need to work very hard to retain that, and I think Tom and Shanell are great and we will be able to continue that.” Mandelman told the Bay Area Reporter this week that he expects to step down as board president later this month when the newly constituted board meets January 26. Selby is next in line for the board presidency, he said, with Davila moving into the VP seat due to her seniority. “City College custom is one or two years. I’ve had two, and it’s probably time to let someone else have a turn,” said Mandelman of the rotating president’s role. See page 14 >>
Health Trust ousts gay CEO by Seth Hemmelgarn
my leadership around how do we serve and improve the health of he gay longtime CEO of the most vulnerable members of a Silicon Valley nonprofit our community.” that provides support to During his tenure the budget people living with HIV/AIDS, grew from about $12 million to homeless people, children, and approximately $22 million. others says he’s left the organiAsked whether he’d had diszation after its board told him it agreements with board members, wants a new leader. Ferrer said, “Everybody always “The board decided they wantdisagrees with their board. ... You ed to go in a different direction always should have good, rigorand to do that, they decided they ous debate and have good push were looking for new leadership. back from the board and staff,” ... I agreed to step aside as they and then move “into getting look for new leadership,” said things done.” Frederick J. Ferrer, 59, who joined Ferrer said he wasn’t “holding the San Jose-based Health Trust Courtesy Facebook back” information in respondin 2007. Ex-Health Trust CEO Fred Ferrer, left, talked with San Jose Mayor ing to questions about what had Ferrer’s last day was December Sam Liccardo at a May 2015 event. happened. 31. He said board members didn’t “Boards choose their leaders, tell him they had problems with and it’s their decision,” he said. The organization’s also a key player in Santa “I’m not hiding something ... That’s the decihim. “I wasn’t fired for performance,” he said. Clara County’s Getting to Zero initiative, which sion they made. You serve at the pleasure of a will focus on HIV prevention and increased “There’s nothing illegal. Nothing happened.” board.” usage of PrEP and post-exposure prophylaxis, Ferrer, who said he learned of the board’s He said he doesn’t know what new direction decision December 1, said he’s “thrilled and or PEP. The agency’s also worked to help people the board wants, but “their public statements who are “chronically homeless” and to assist have said they’re committed” to continuing the proud of my accomplishments over the last nine years,” and the organization’s “great staff ” people in getting access to food. last nine years’ work. “We’ve done incredible work in all kinds of and “amazing funding partners.” He also doesn’t know whether there will be areas of health” for “the most vulnerable com“I’ve raised millions of dollars for HIV,” he less focus on LGBT issues, and said he’s “very said. “We have one of the best integrative mod- munity members in our valley,” Ferrer said. proud” of the organization’s record on LGBT “That’s really what distinguishes us in what we health. els for HIV services,” and “we’ve done amazing do. The Health Trust was really focused under See page 7 >> work in HIV housing.”
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