You know, I never cease to be amazed at how bizarre the politics of the Bay Area are. This September 17, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle article discusses the hundreds of convicted adult felons that took advantage of San Francisco's illegal alien sanctuary law, corruption in the Richmond city government, and a high old time at the Harvey Milk Democratic Party meeting.
Corruption in city government is something that I am rather used to seeing--but I always thought that the Green Party would be largely free of ordinary financial chicanery, simply because the Green Party attracts true believers. But apparently not:
The Harvey Milk Democratic Club is the gay Democratic organization in San Francisco, and as you might expect, is a bit out there in a city that is already a bit out there:Parin Shah was hired by McLaughlin when she rolled into office in 2007 on a Green Party platform. And he came with plenty of promise.
Shah was the onetime president of San Francisco's Commission on the Environment and was the lead organizer of the city's big U.N. World Environment Day in 2005.
But in February, Shah was fired from his Richmond job after McLaughlin and other city officials confronted him about some of the billings. He's now the target of a criminal probe by the Contra Costa County district attorney's office, but has not been charged.
Richmond billing records show that, in one instance, the city cut an $8,500 check to Generation Earth, a group on Sutter Street in San Francisco that once listed Shah as its director. The money was supposed to pay for "technical services" at the mayor's Green Golf Tournament, a fundraiser that never took place.
Other payments, city records show, were directed to such organizations as the West County Toxics Coalition environmental group, the Justice Matters education outfit and an arts program called Touchable Stories - all at the same Sutter Street address.
In addition, records show payments for plane tickets to New York and Illinois that the mayor told us she never authorized.
McLaughlin herself has not been implicated in any wrongdoing. But the records show that she signed off on some of the questionable spending.
For instance, a Dec. 24, 2007, bank statement shows McLaughlin's signature approving four payments of $2,750 apiece to San Francisco-based Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health, a charity at the same Sutter Street address that lists Shah as executive director on various Web sites.
Political high: The Harvey Milk Club political action committee held its endorsement meeting at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center on Market Street the other day - and from the sound of things, it was a real head spinner.
The lemony cake on the snack table was laced with marijuana, courtesy of the Access of Love cannabis collective.
It wasn't long before a number of unsuspecting attendees began feeling the effects. When finally told of the secret ingredient, one gentleman angrily demanded an explanation from club leaders.
"It's my birthday," shouted the guest who had brought the cannabis confection.
Our woozy source didn't stick around for the endorsements - he had to make an early exit.
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