I don’t know about all this talk with building a new library, a new City Hall or expanding the convention center. We can’t do all three, and there is hardly any public support for even just one!

This past Monday, I received calls from The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Youth Housing Project about police cars and ambulances arriving at the scene in the late afternoon. Sadly, yet another resident had a drug overdose and two different residents were arrested for drugs at the complex. I am not going to write more about this situation at the Youth Housing Project. I am tired of some of The Center’s board members putting their heads in the sand and writing glowing letters about how this project is a “national role model.” You can put your pens down Matthew Doherty, Bob Nelson and Kevin Tilden. I did have a talk with The Center’s Executive Director Delores Jacobs, who rushed down to the complex. Thank God, the resident did not die as one did a month ago from a heroin overdose. While I believe that now Jacobs and staff will respond to this growing crisis at the Youth Housing Project, I do wonder about The Center’s board’s commitment to make the needed changes and stop acting like there is no problem at this housing complex for GLBT youth adults 18 to 24. We must not lose sight of the fact that there have been many success stories with residents getting back on their feet and becoming productive citizens. Still, unless major changes are made immediately, there will continue to be more drug related deaths, overdoses and arrests at The Center’s Youth Housing Project. A crisis intervention at the housing project is long overdue, period.

This country has never seen so many ugly, vicious attacks on a president since Obama was elected. There are some that question his birth and that he isn’t really an American. There are those who attack him for being a “socialist” and protest the health care issue with pictures of him as Hitler. Some are even claiming Obama wants to kill the elderly. When President Obama announced he was going to address our nation’s children on their first day of school, many parents attacked him for trying to “brainwash” the students. Some parents even pulled their children out of school. The President’s speech, of course, was inspiring and urged children to stay in school. Since President Obama was elected, membership in American hate groups has almost doubled. I have never seen this country so divided in so many ways and talk news shows stirring up so many false stories and attacks (thank you FOX News). At the same time, it seems to me that many Democratic senators and Congressmembers are being very passive and abandoning their democratic principles, while the right wing has won control of the Republican Party. In this political climate GLBT civil rights including the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” face a very bumpy ride.

One public official who has never compromised his principles and has been a voice for those without a champion is Congressmember Bob Filner, the “Edward Kennedy of California.” In the 1960’s, Filner was arrested as a young student trying to register blacks in the south to vote. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Bob Filner’s public service and of being a dedicated public servant. In 1979, Filner was first elected to the San Diego School Board, then to the San Diego City Council and now Congress. Filner has always been a fighter and leader when it comes to the issue of civil rights and equality. Filner stood by the homosexual community starting in the 1970s when it was considered political suicide to do so. As the current chairperson of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, he has done more for veterans than any other chairperson. Thank you Bob Filner for over 30 years of fighting the good fight and being the civil rights champion for all Americans.

Recently I met with officials of Being Alive and Priority Pharmacy. These good people are working to open an HIV/AIDS learning center and resource center on 4th Avenue. This will be a free, open-to-all center for the HIV/AIDS community and by the HIV/AIDS community. In these days of budget cuts and hard times for our HIV/AIDS community, this is the most welcome news. I left the meeting very impressed with their plans and goals. Thank you Being Alive and Priority Pharmacy.

Not long ago, the Hillcrest Town Council held a meeting with local bar, club and restaurant owners concerning complaints from neighbors and residents who lived around their establishments. From all accounts it was a productive meeting. The truth is that most clubs and bars – gay or straight – have problems with some of its customers leaving drunk and loud. Let’s all try to be more respectful when leaving your favorite local club and bar. Thank you.

This past weekend a good friend of mine pasted away. Nathan Garcia was a proud Filipino American Navy veteran and community volunteer/fundraiser. Nathan and I co-founded the Queen Eddie Youth Fund, which assist GLBT youth with clothing, meals, schoolbooks, housing and bus passes. Thank you Martinis Above Fourth for your annual Christmas wreath benefit. This fund has helped many GLBT teens and students. Nathan like Queen Eddie was a strong advocate for our GLBT youth. Nathan raised a lot of money for many causes and he was a friend to many. Rest in peace my friend.

You won’t want to miss “Sunday Madness NFL Ticket” every Sunday at Flicks beginning this weekend. Watch the NFL games for the next 17 weeks on 13 screens. There’s $2 Bud/Bud Lite drafts, $3 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas, Complimentary food, weekly contests and more! Doors open every Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Come out and see why Flicks was voted 2009 Nicky Award Winner for Outstanding Hillcrest Bar!