Please, A Small Political Favor (Updated)

Update: With no objections, the Rules Committee recommended that the full Board of Supervisors appointment me to seat 11 on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force. I’d really like to thank Jeremy and Justin who showed up to offer their support in person, as well as everyone who contacted the members of the committee with letters on my behalf. It’s not quite over, but it’s a big first step!

Update II, Electric Boogaloo: I was humbled by a Walter Paulson appearance at our little meeting, and he wrote an original that I really think capture the spirit of the proceedings. You can watch my whole crazy encounter with participatory democracy on SFGovTV.org.

I found out last Friday that I’m due to appear before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee (pictured above) to make my case for an appointment to the city’s Sunshine Ordinance Task Force at 1:30pm in Committee Room 263 in City Hall on Thursday. I filed the application over a year ago, so it came as a bit of a surprise! Basically, I would like to help make sure that the city is complying with the Sunshine Ordinance which, like the Freedom of Information Act nationally, ensures public access to government records locally. As a personal or professional colleague I figured access to San Francisco city records might come in handy for you or someone you love some day, and I’d like to be in a position to help.

Letters of support can really help my cause, so I’m asking for few minutes of your time to send an email or a fax to the members of the committee on my behalf. The meeting is on Thursday, March 3rd at 1:30pm, and the it’s the first item on the agenda. Below I’ve included the necessary contact information, a loosely suggestive template, and a link to some background on my motivation from when I applied.

Rules Committee member emails: Jane.Kim@sfgov.org, Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org, Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org

You can also fax letters to the office of the Board Clerk at 415.554.7714.

A suggested email/letter template:

To the members of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors,

Regarding agenda item 110105 for the Rules Committee meeting on March 3rd, 2011, I feel that Jackson West is uniquely qualified to serve on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force as a volunteer. [Something about how diligent and fair I'll be], or [how you feel I'd represent your interests as a [insert public-minded citizen role] well], and maybe [how sure you are that I'd take the responsibility seriously].

Your name
Your title
Any publications/organizations you’re currently working with
An address (especially if you live or work in San Francisco)