Holiday thanks from the San Francisco Tenants Union, in verse: A VISIT FROM ST. TEDDY-CLAUS (with apologies to Clement Clark Moore) ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the city Some slept in the street and some slept on the MUNI; Some slept in fine homes with deluxe pillows of down, And dreamed of more startups and glory downtown; Many renters were anxious and tossed in their beds, Fearing rent hikes and evictions would throw them out on their heads; Unable to stay here with no comparable rent Without vacancy control laws from the government, Though exorbitant rents paid their landlords bills While bankers cashed in on societys ills; And sugarplum plans for supply to the skies Led to spec-market density while diversity dies Which wont stop pollution or end urban sprawl Till justice in planning is justice for all; Then from the whole city there arose such a vision, A new maturation beyond indecision, That a magical spirit returned to the street With his bike and small dog, and a smile so sweet; What to our wondering eyes should appear, But a grinning Saint Ted, with Falcor so dear! He thanked TU members, and volunteers too, He thanked all the counselors, the public, the crew, For carrying things forward, for balancing the books, For political progress, assailing the crooks, For keeping our edge with our spirits so high, For pride in all people, values no one can buy. He spoke so directly with such divine bliss, Then he took out his bullhorn and he told us all this: “Now, SF! Now, allies! Opponents! All peeps! On, You! And you, too! We are playing for keeps! To the tops of the hills! We will no longer crawl! Now dash away! Dash away! To City Hall!” As dry leaves that before the hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So to City Hall the community flew, With a fresh Bill of Rights, and St. Teddy too. And then in a twinkling we knew in our heart We would surely succeed, since we all played a part. St. Ted was happy, he chuckled aloud, He laughed with the positive joy of the crowd; His bike bag he flung cross his eternal shoulder, Twas better than a suit, it made him look bolder! His eyes — how they twinkled! His features, how grand! His Massachusetts accent! We could finally understand! The look in his eye with his love all intact Soon gave us to know our true power! In fact, We could heard him exclaim as he cycled out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 22:32:16 +0000
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