October 16, 2002

In this issue

THE FIRST TIME I covered a public power campaign, back in 1982, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. had a relatively easy time defeating a ballot initiative backed by San Franciscans for Public Power. The Yes on K campaign had virtually no money, and PG&E spent more than $680,000 (a state record for that time). PG&E had lined up most of the major politicians in town, either to support its position or to stay neutral.

But what amazed me most was that the local daily papers utterly, totally ignored the whole issue.

Week after week, I'd wonder when the San Francisco Chronicle or the San Francisco Examiner was going to do a story – even a bad story, even a lame story, even a pro-PG&E story – that would tell the voters what the ballot measure was about.

Nothing. Not a word. Except for a couple of last-minute pointless summaries, the dailies – and, following their lead, the local TV and radio stations – utterly blacked it out.

So when people went to vote, the only information they had about Prop. K was what they read in the Bay Guardian (back then, our circulation was just 30,000) – or what they read in the blizzard of misleading PG&E mailers that urged them to vote against it. Prop. K went down handily; it never had a chance.

But 20 years later, as this newspaper celebrates its 36th anniversary, the situation is dramatically different. For one thing, the Bay Guardian now distributes 150,000 papers, reaching some 700,000 readers. Most of the elected officials in town are supporting this year's public power measure, Proposition D. So is organized labor and the Democratic Party.

And this year, the San Francisco Chronicle has finally picked up on the story of the Raker Act scandal (how the city is violating its federal public power mandate) and even credited us with covering it all these years.

But the biggest thing is that the progressive forces are stronger and better-organized than ever. And at a time when downtown is fighting to kick poor people and renters out of town (see "The Empire Strikes Back," 10/9/02), community activists working on a range of key issues this fall, including public power, are coming together to fight back.

There's a big multi-issue rally Saturday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m., at the San Francisco Women's Building (3543 18th St.) to fight downtown and defend San Francisco from the anti-tenant, antigay, antihomeless, pro-PG&E assault. Turn out and show your support. See you there.