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Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971
Vol. 52 • No. 02 • January 12-18, 2023
Atmospheric rivers wreak havoc in Bay Area Courtesy National Park Service
David Smith is the incoming superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Gay man to lead sprawling Bay Area national park by Matthew S. Bajko
A
gay married dad with long ties to the Bay Area has been named the new superintendent for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The sprawling federal park site spans the counties of San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin. David Smith, a 31-year veteran of the National Park Service, is set to become the new permanent GGNRA superintendent later this month. He will be the third LGBTQ leader of the 82,000-acre park over the past eight years. Christine Lehnertz, a lesbian, served as the GGNRA’s first female superintendent between May 2015 and August 2016. She is now president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a philanthropic supporter of the national park site. Craig Kenkel, a gay man, was named as the GGNRA’s interim superintendent in December of 2016. But he departed the following year when he returned to Cuyahoga Valley National Park to serve once again as its superintendent. He had sought to remain in the position but lost out to another applicant. In January 2021 he took over as superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore in the North Bay, where he continues to serve. Since September 2014, Smith has been superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. He and his husband, John Evans, have two young adult children, daughter Jakiah and son Dante. “I am thrilled to work with the staff and partners at Golden Gate to help visitors and families in the Bay Area and beyond enjoy one of America’s greatest and most unique park sites,” stated Smith in a January 9 news release about his appointment. “It is especially gratifying to return to the park after two decades and see the incredibly positive changes made by staff and partners. I’m anxious to get my feet on the ground in the park’s 50th anniversary year.” See page 10 >>
A swollen Russian River, seen Monday, January 9, from Highway 116 toward the walking bridge and Johnson’s beach in Guerneville.
by John Ferrannini
T
here probably isn’t a single aspect of the Bay Area’s life that hasn’t been affected by the series of atmospheric rivers the state has been experiencing, which have shuttered businesses, closed freeways, led to power outages and, most tragically, at least 17 deaths in the past two weeks. While officials were concerned about the
Russian River overflowing its banks, that has not happened so far. Those living in low-lying areas in the LGBTQ vacation destination of Guerneville and neighboring towns are advised to be on alert as the storms continue this week. San Francisco saw 12.88 inches of rain over the prior two weeks (half a year’s total), KGOTV reported Tuesday. December 31 was the second-rainiest day in San Francisco history since record keeping began in 1849, seeing 5.46
inches (for the record the rainiest day was November 5, 1994, which saw 5.54 inches of rain). Dave Karraker, a gay man who co-owns MX3 Fitness in the Castro, was hit harder than most. Karraker announced late Monday he resigned from his position as co-president of the Castro Merchants Association after his business was flooded on New Year’s Eve. (See related story, page 2.) See page 2 >> George Pedroni
San Francisco supervisors elect Peskin as board president
by Matthew S. Bajko
T
he divisions among the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were on full display Monday as the 11 members voted to elect one of their own as board president for the next two years. After three supervisors were initially nominated for the powerful post, but no one was the winner after 12 votes, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin emerged as the consensus candidate. Though it took five more votes to elect him board president for a third time in the position. He was elected after 17 rounds on a 7-4 vote after gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman effectively dropped out of the running by voting for Peskin on the 16th vote. “Much is made in the media about the alleged toxicity on this body, but I have to say that has not been my experience,” said Peskin. “We have differences, but I have found, even in the heat of debate, it has been a pleasure to work with my colleagues. I consider all to be my friends and look forward to work with you in a balanced way.” The board’s progressives had split between District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, who was elected president two years ago as the first Black man to wield the board gavel, and District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, an immigrant woman of color. District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen had nominated Walton, while nominating Chan was District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, also an immigrant woman of color.
Courtesy Aaron Peskin
District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin was elected president of the Board of Supervisors after 17 ballots Monday, January 9.
The board’s moderates backed Mandelman, whose name had also been floated three years ago to be president. District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani had nominated Mandelman, who would have been the first out board president since 2002, when former gay District 9 Supervisor Tom Ammiano passed on the gavel in early January of that year. In 12 rounds of voting Melgar and Chan both voted for Chan, while the rest of the
progressives – Ronen, Walton, Peskin, Dean Preston (District 5), and Ahsha Safaí (District 11) – voted for Walton. Joining Mandelman in voting for him to become president were Stefani and gay Supervisors Matt Dorsey (District 6) and Joel Engardio (District 4). At an impasse, Chan asked for nominations to be reopened, seconded by Peskin. With all but Dorsey and Engardio in support, the motion passed and Peskin nominated himself to once again be board president. He served in the role from 2005 through the start of 2009, while he had bowed out of the presidency contest in 2003 after the board had also deadlocked between three candidates. “This was not on my list of things to do today, but I don’t want to get to that magic 15,” said Peskin, referring to the drawn out vote last week to elect Republican Congressmember Kevin McCarthy of California speaker of the House. “I am going to do something I have not done in 20 years and nominate myself in an attempt to break this logjam.” Mandelman then asked for a “bathroom break,” and the board reconvened after a 10-minute break. Yet on the 13th vote, Peskin received no votes as the outcome remained the same with five for Walton, four for Mandelman, and two for Chan. On the 14th vote Chan and Melgar threw their votes to Peskin, who voted for himself. See page 10 >>
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