U.S. mayors support gay marriage

The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in support of gay marriage, the news blog Sam Spade (www.samspadesf.com) reported Thursday. According to the Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans resolution, “… The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions.”

Boxer concerned about Hunter’s Point cleanup efforts

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer recently voiced concerns about the U.S. Navy’s cleanup efforts of the Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard in a letter forwarded to The San Francisco Bay Guardian. http:// http//www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/06/boxer_wants_to_be_shipyard_cle.html

“As Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works committee, I am focused on protecting the health and environment of the Bay Area, including the Bayview Hunters Point community,” read Boxer’s letter forwarded to the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Juneteenth festival brings awareness to Bay Area African-American community

The 59th annual San Francisco Juneteenth activities will begin this weekend with a community and media reception event Saturday at 12 p.m. Visit http://www.sfjuneteenth.org/service.htm. The San Francisco festival is the largest gathering of African-Americans in Northern California and began in the early ’50s when Wesley Johnson Sr., once owner of the Texas Playhouse on Fillmore Street, invited all Bay Area African-Americans to celebrate June 19 in his lounge.

News Notes: San Francisco set to go more green

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors could require residential and commercial building owners to sign up for composting and recycling services.

If the new mandatory recycling and composting law is approved by the supervisors tomorrow, violators would be charged a $500 fine. The proposal is up for its first reading at the June 9 Board of Supervisors meeting.

San Francisco already recycles 72 percent of its garbage, which is one of the highests recycling rates in the nation. City officials are aiming to recycle 100 percent by 2020.

News Notes: Navy stalling on Hunters Point cleanup

In 2000, 86 percent of San Francisco voters agreed that cleaning up the toxic Hunters Point Shipyard was vital for the area’s well-being.

The Navy is considering sealing and capping Parcel E2 and handing over the area to the city. This could lead to a potentially hazardous situation in the new Bayview-Hunters Point development area.

The Navy has spent millions of dollars cleaning up the Shipyard only to leave Parcel E2, the site of the Navy’s industrial dump, untouched. Parcel E2 contains the massive glob of contaminates that caught fire in 2000 and continued burning for six months.

News Notes: July 1 budget cuts to trim homeless and AIDS support

Mayor Gavin Newsom’s July 1 budget cuts would raise Muni fares and elminate, through layoffs and attrition, about 1,600 city jobs.

One homeless drop-in center will be closed as part of the new budget proposal and services for HIV and AIDS patients, drug addicts and the mentally ill will be reduced.