[image-2]

(Richard Marracq shares his sentiments.)

Well, shit.

By Joe Eskenazi

Gathered in front of a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln conveniently sitting, yet leaning forward – not unlike someone in the midst of utilizing the toilet – backers of a proposition to rename a Parkside sewage plant after President George W. Bush waited out a cold night.

While Barack Obama stormed to victory and re-defined the term “blue state,” there was no joy in sewageville. When all the dust – we’ll assume it was dust – settled, they’d lost by roughly a 70-30 ratio.

This came as a blow to Bob Katz, who flew in all the way from Florida to be here for what he assumed would be the Proposition R victory party. Katz had been telling anyone who’d listen how a sewage plant should be named after the president for years, so when he found out such a plan was in the works in San Francisco, he enthusiastically lent his support.

Brian McConnell and Michael Jacinto, the proposition’s co-authors, weren’t ready to retrace their steps yet. But Jacinto noted that the Public Utility Commission’s oft-repeated estimate of $50,000 in city money to accommodate the name change was “pulled out of their posterior,” while both men were surprised at the Guardian and others rationalizing that christening a sewage plant after the president would be disrespectful to its employees – after all, the SEIU Local 1021, the sewage workers’ union, endorsed their proposition.

[image-4]

Performance Art Upstaged by Election Returns -- Who Could've Guessed?

By Joe Eskenazi

With all the talk about San Francisco values flowing through the ether, it was almost reassuring to see city denizens walk into a consciously artistic gathering and proceed to act like men at a baby shower.

At "The Art of Freedom" election party at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, thousands of registered voters clamored into the building, got in line for their adult beverage of choice and then proceeded to hunker down in front of a stash of oversized televisions. Had they been watching the 'Bama-Ole Miss game instead of election returns, the analogy would have been complete.

"Hey, the Democrats are running things now," said Don McLeod, a left-leaning prison guard at San Quentin, as he waited in line for a beer. "Drinks for everyone."

Nearly 1,000 revelers had crammed into the YBCA by 7 p.m., with a line still snaking around the corner. A good percentage of them didn't seem to get past the TV at the front door - and if you were less than 6 feet tall, you weren't seeing much. "Say what happened!" shouted one shorter woman when a group of television-watchers bellowed their approval of Elizabeth Dole's electoral demise.

Gradually, one realized that he or she could wander into the actual arts portion of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and out of the foyer. Within were a pair of even larger TVs - they were the sort you'd expect to be planted in a public square in a Brazilian country town during the World Cup - and a stage.

[image-3]

Being a Republican in America’s most notoriously left-wing metropolis ain’t easy. Particularly on Nov. 4, 2008

By Peter Jamison

Jones Roadhouse is a clean and cozy tavern in the heart of the Marina on Lombard Street. The walls of its back room are adorned with six big-screen televisions, and on the night of Nov. 4, 2008, every one was tuned to FOX News. From 7 p.m. on, some 60 well-heeled men and women milled about, drinks in hand, doing their best to ignore the results streaming across the screens above them.

Meet the Republicans of San Francisco.

SF Weekly columnist Matt Smith calls in with the following from the No on 8 Rally:

"Next stop, U.S. Supreme Court!" said newly-elected California State Senator Mark Leno on gay marriage in a brief interview with SF Weekly at the No on 8 campaign event at the Westin St Francis Hotel.

The former assemblyman said that his focus as senator would be on hate crimes and discrimination against gays. Discrimination has been illegal around the country, said Leno, but no one has taken it to the Supreme Court. Maybe it's time to fight for the citizen rights of the gay community at that level, he said.

The crowd at the Westin was still rah-rahing, but Leno told the Weekly he was fairly certain gay marriage had lost.

As No on 8 appeared to be going down in defeat, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom took the stage to address a huge crowd in the grand ballroom of the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

Newsom refused to acknowledge the proposition's victory and instead gave a nod to the efforts of gay marriage supporters, calling it one of the most heroic political acts in the last 54 years.

"While we wait for the final results, this is a more excruciating moment than anything I can ever imagine. I cannot be more proud of the people who fought for basic equality."

Outside the hotel, huge crowds flowed into the intersection of Geary and Powell streets waving Obama-Biden placards, providing a scene that has never been seen before in San Francisco as the result of a presidential election.

With 57 percent of the returns counted in District 1, Latterman is ready to call the supervisor's race for Eric Mar, who has polled 4,788 votes to Sue Lee's 3,959 (41.5 percent to 33.6 percent).

Over in District 3, Aaron Peskin's preferred successor, David Chiu, holds a healthy lead over scion Joe Alioto, Jr.with 60 percent of returns counted. Chiu leads 4,520 to 2,724 (38.3 percent to 23.1 percent).

In District 9, David Campos has a comfortable 700-vote lead with two-thirds of the ballots counted.

Finally, District 11 is too close to call at this hour, though John Avalos has a slim 400 vote lead over Asha Safai -- with Myrna Lim in a surprisingly close third place.

It warrants mentioning that all of the Democratic Party-endorsed candidates are currently leading. Latterman points out that since the Board of Supervisors has a 50 percent approval rating city-wide, voters are essentially opting to prolong the status quo.

"People are like, 'Fuck it, it's working,'" he said.

-- Will Harper and Joe Eskenazi

We spent a lot of time running around town today. Here are some of the highlights:

[image-8]

Lauren Smiley spotted this cute "Old white guy for Obama" on her way to City Hall.

[image-9]

Janine Kahn found a de-jowled McCain at a Polk Street Walgreens. Wonder what happened there...

[image-10]

Last-minute gay weddings were welcome today at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Franklin St.

San Francisco democrats are celebrating a sweeping victory at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on Union Square. Outside the hotel, a cable car operator was seen wildly ringing the cable car's bell as a group of street musicians played snare drums with enthusiasm on the square. One woman, who was walking up the stairs to the California room, had clearly been celebrating for a long time. She was overhead saying "This shit is crazy. This is fucking history."

Inside the California room, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin addressed the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. He announced that 55 democrats (now 56 by CNN's count) had won seats in the senate and that 182 won seats in the house (now 217).

"The rest of the country is finally going to understand San Francisco values," he said.

They threw everything but the kitchen sink at Barack Obama (including Jeremiah Wright and Karl Marx) but he still stole the election tonight by miles. Our newly-elected president will address the nation from his rally at Chicago, Illinois later tonight. We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief, San Francisco, and get plastered in peace.

Katie Hayes is strolling around said Chicago rally taking photos for us, which you can view here. She'll be filing more as the night goes on, so do check back. --Janine Kahn

At Senator Barack Obama's San Francisco field office on Market Street, there's a whirlwind of activity. A map of the United States posted on the wall shows Sen. Obama winning in the critical battleground states of Missouri, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina. The volunteers' mood here is one of cautious jubilation. As many as 200 phone bank volunteers are feverishly making calls to get out the vote.

"Why take chances?" says site manager Jessica Williams. "It's been a long day so far but it's been a very good day."

Volunteers nibble on chips, pizza and peanut butter crackers between making calls. Stretch and strength specialist Diane Waye is moving around the phone bank tables giving volunteers neck and shoulder rubs to keep their energy flowing.

"Some people have been here since 6 a.m." she says. "These people are my personal heroes."

Update at 7:50 p.m.: With minutes before the California polls close, volunteers are still making calls to get out the vote. One woman, Abby Miller, has been at the field office since 11:30 a.m. She is unsure how many calls she has made today. Miller has had no lunch other than a few pretzels and some chips but says she wouldn't trade the experience for the world.

"There is no way I could stay home because I've been so anxious about Barack Obama's win tonight." she says. "I had to come down here and feel like I was doing something. It's been great working with the volunteers; it's been a very encouraging feeling."

Another volunteer, Gene Mabery, 62, came down here in the morning to make calls, then went home in the mid-afternoon and had to come back. "It's been very very good, it's not like work and being here has been a blessing," he said.

Update at 8 p.m.: As the clock hit 8 at Sen. Barack Obama's field center, a huge cheer rang up in the phone bank room after it was announced that Sen. Obama had taken the election. One volunteer came running from the room in tears and all she could say was "we did it!"