As Robert posted, the numbers so far look good on Prop 98. We cannot get complacent, though, since whether people support the proposition or not is irrelevant if they do not get out to vote. So here are some events happening today and tomorrow that you can join in:

No on 98 Happy Hour
I’m cosponsoring this event, which will take place Friday (tonight) from 6-9pm at Dolores Street Community Services, 938 Valencia (between 21st and 22nd)

Prop 98 Lit Drop
Saturday, 11am at Centro del Pueblo, 474 Valencia.

Queer Benefit for No on 98
Saturday, 6-9pm, the Metro Bar, 2124 Market at Church.

Details:

Friday Night:

Help save rent control and the environment!
Friday March 28th, 6-9pm
Dolores Street Community Services
938 Valencia Street (between 20th and 21st)
Hosts: Eric Quezada, Wendy Phillips, Sasha Magee, Nick Pagoulatos, Marlon Mendieta, Mason Jefferys

Sneaky property rights groups–the same people who ruined our schools
with Prop 13–are trying to prevent all governmental regulation of
land use.

Prop 98 would outlaw rent control, raising housing prices and making
cities like San Francisco totally unaffordable to people who make
less than $75,000 a year. It would also mean property owners could do
whatever they want with their land, no matter how insane. Own a lot
next to an elementary school and want to build an ammunition factory?
No problem! Want to store poisonous chemicals next to a reservoir? We
can’t stop you!

Tenant, environmental and good government groups across California
have come together to urge you to vote No on Prop 98 on June 3rd. But
of course the landlords and developers have more money than we do. So we’re having a
party to raise money for the No on 98 campaign. Come out and help save the city
and state that we love.

Suggested donation $5-50

Saturday Morning:

Prop 98—repealing rent control—will be on the ballot in June! There’s just a little over 2 months to election day!

In order to get the word out about Prop 98, we need to deliver 100,000 pieces of literature door to door between now and election day. We don’t have the money the landlords do but we do have people—and we need your help.

Please join us this Saturday, March 29, 11 AM at Centro del Pueblo, 474 Valencia St. (at 16th) to help deliver No on 98 literature door to door in the Mission District. After coffee & bagels, people will be given literature and assigned a nearby precinct where you’ll then deliver the literature door to door (no door knocking—just delivery). It takes just a an hour or two of your time and it’s really important if we want to save rent control in June. Bring a friend and it will be extra easy!

Saturday evening:
No on 98 Benefit at Metro City Bar March 29

San Francisco - A stellar lineup of entertainers will grace the stage on Sat., March 29, 6-9pm at Metro City Bar to help defeat CA Proposition 98 on the June ballot. If passed, the measure would repeal rent control statewide and potentially affect 180,000 homes in San Francisco.

According to the SF Tenants Union, Prop. 98 is disguised as a measure to reform eminent domain laws. The measure’s real target, though, is rent control. It would repeal and ban any rent control, as well as other measures promoting affordable housing such as inclusionary affordable housing laws.

The competing measure to save rent control, Proposition 99, lets voters choose real eminent domain reform, without any hidden agenda like rent control repeal. Prop. 99 also takes the eminent domain reform issue away from right-wing groups, which have been trying to use the eminent domain reform issue as a mask to attack consumer and environmental regulations. Plus Prop. 99 has a poison pill, invalidating the rent control repeal measure if Prop. 99 wins and gets more votes than Prop. 98.

Benefit organizers Gary Virginia and Tommi Avicolli-Mecca are both renters in the city and share the sentiment that “The effects of poor planning foraffordable housing in San Francisco coupled with speculative use of the Ellis Act have forced many renters out of state or into homelessness. Maintaining rent control is critical to a sustainable working class and cultural diversity here.”

The March 29 benefit will feature entertainment by the Peaceniks, Donna Sachet, Joan Crawford Texas, Johnny Cocksville, Lucy Borden, Anaconda, Jon Sugar and other Bay Area performers. Raffle proceeds, performer tips and outright donations will support the No on 98 campaign. To donate or for more information, call Gary Virginia at (415) 626-5004. There is no cover charge for the benefit.

More information on the ballot initiative is at www.saverentcontrol.net.

Metro City Bar, 2124 Market at Church, (415) 703-9750.