I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You don’t really appreciate our great and beautiful city until you’ve been gone and are flying back into our airport. No matter what San Diegans, we still live in America’s Finest City!

I spent about five days in Northern California attending the 18th annual Creating Change Conference, sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NLGTF) with 2,500 GLBT leaders and activists from across the country in attendance held in Oakland. I then had to hit the BART to go to San Francisco for a state board meeting of Equality California (I felt like a ping pong ball between the two cities). I spoke at two forums at the conference, and the San Diegans I spotted were AJ Davis, Jeri Dilno, Shawn Ingram, Pat Washington, Brian Polejes, Maggie Anderson, John Acosta, Andrea Villa, Russell Roybal, Milo Angel, Shaun Travers and many more.

Society columnist Donna Sachet and Ralph Hyman of Pink Magazine took me out to dinner at Catch Restaurant in San Francisco (great onion soup but the rest was average tasting). Donna and Ralph told me all about attending an event with Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla. I spent most of the time at meetings, workshops, etc.

It seems that the movement for another GLBT March on Washington in 2008 is gaining momentum, especially from students and young people. Most major GLBT national organizations are against a march. This past weekend at the Creating Change Conference there was a forum on our past marches on Washington, and of those in attendance at this packed meeting, a solid majority supported another march in 2008. For more information on the GLBT March on Washington in 2008, contact organizers at robintyler@dontamend.com.

Mayor Toni Atkins has formed an official “exploratory committee” to help her make a final decision if she will run for county supervisor in District 4 against incumbent Ron Roberts. Atkins has been getting high marks for her strong and effective leadership during her tenure as our city’s acting mayor during these difficult times. But Roberts will be a strong candidate and has already established a solid campaign with lots of endorsements and financial support. The district now has a bigger Democratic voter registration.

Atkins is being urged to run for supervisor by top Democratic officials, union leaders and progressive activists. The major concerns for an Atkins candidacy is a campaign that will almost certainly tie her with the current City Council scandal. In a conversation Mayor Atkins and I had this week, she made it clear that she has not made up her mind but will seriously look at both pros and cons, and will announce her decision in the near future.

Supervisor Roberts has many friends and supporters in our community and this could be an uncomfortable situation for not only leaders in our community, but long-time Democratic friends in the 4th District, period. We will all be awaiting Atkins’ decision. If you wish to support Atkins’ exploratory committee or make a financial contribution ($500 maximum), contact Friends For Toni Atkins at (619) 501-7094.

Recently Bill Kelly wrote a letter asking questions about GLBT Vote 2005. He accused GLBT Vote 2005 of intentionally deceiving our community. Mr. Kelly, you are well known as a Donna Frye supporter and volunteer. Your harsh criticism of GLBT Vote 2005 is really about its endorsement of Jerry Sanders for mayor. GLBT Vote was formed nation-wide in 1998 in Washington, D.C. The late John McCusker was the first chair of GLBT Vote San Diego in 2000, followed by businessperson Tom Fekner. GLBT Vote is a group of GLBT San Diegans who are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, businesspeople, bar owners, community activists, and has a very large base of people of color. GLBT Vote is nonpartisan and also puts posters, flyers and ads out in the community reminding people to vote, deadlines, absentee information, etc. GLBT Vote also endorses candidates, and not everyone agrees with its endorsements.

GLBT Vote San Diego only organizes during election years and its materials and ads are financed by local businesspeople and supporters. In all due respects, Mr. Kelly, we all have a right to endorse candidates and get involved in elections. I am glad you do and wish more would. By the way, GLBT Vote San Diego endorsed City Attorney Mike Aguirre’s campaign during the primary, while the San Diego Democratic Club and Tom Homann, GLBT Law Association, endorsed and supported his opponent.

Popular former city Councilmember Michael Zucchet has always maintained his innocence since the beginning of the announcement of his indictments on corruption charges. Many of us always believed him and supported him. For a judge to take the extraordinary steps of throwing out a jury’s guilty verdicts (seven out of 10 corruption counts dismissed) speaks loudly about Zucchet’s innocence. This has already destroyed his political career and harmed his reputation and family. I say drop the two remaining charges and give Zucchet and his family final closure and peace of mind. Zucchet is my friend and a friend of our community, and I wish him and his family the very best.

This will definitely be the dance party of the New Years 2006 weekend with thousands of people partying on Fifth Avenue under the stars in Hillcrest on Friday, Dec. 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with unbelievably high energy entertainment starring Sheena Easton, En Vogue, The Pointer Sisters and Danielle Lo Presti and the Masses. There will be a huge dance floor featuring DJ Klaus. This block party promises to be one hell of a blow out and limited tickets will be available (on sale Dec. 1). General admission is $94 and a VIP package is $150 with a portion of the proceeds to benefit The Center, APICAP, Ordinary Miracles, the Alano Club and The Ben Dillingham Grant. For more information about “Resolution: The Party,” call (619) 501-7094 or visit www.stephergroup.com.

One of Southern California’s newest and most popular Mexican restaurants, the award-winning Baja Betty’s, is celebrating its first anniversary this week. What a great year for this hot spot. Rave restaurant reviews, big crowds and happy customers. Baja Betty’s has the secret ingredient for success: great food and fabulous and friendly service. Baja Betty’s, like its sister restaurant Hamburger Mary’s, gives back to the community and many of its organizations. Happy anniversary to everyone at Baja Betty’s!

Three couples: Pablo and Glen, Jim and Noel, and Chris and Curtis all competed last Friday for Flicks’ first annual cruise aboard the Carnival Cruise Line in January over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. The three couples competed for the prize and after the winners were announced by sponsor Travel Experts, the two couples who were second and third place found out they would also be joining the winners on the trip.

The cost of the cruise starts at $395 per person, and starts by meeting at Flicks on Friday, Jan. 13 with a party bus that will travel to the Long Beach Pier. The cruise then departs to Ensenada as guests are greeted with a private party. The cruise returns to Long Beach on Monday, Jan. 16 with a bus back to Flicks.

The $395 cruise includes food and the company of the Flicks crew. If anyone is interested, ask any Flicks employee as they are getting their trip paid for if they each can sell four tickets.