This Saturday night is the premier GLBT community gala dinner of the year, The Center’s annual Gala. Approximately 700 reservations make this event almost sold out a week before the event. Hope to see you all there.

Last week, I went down to our city’s police department and met with San Diego’s hard-working chief of police, William Lansdowne (his top assistant lieutenant, Margaret Schaufelberger, was also in attendance). For more than an hour, we discussed many issues in the chief’s office with the first priority being the increase in robberies/attacks in Hillcrest and North Park. The attackers are mostly three to four black young men or two Latino young men, and they seem to be getting more violent.

The chief and I discussed more police patrols, undercover street operations, possible gang affiliation and streetlights, etc. We also discussed the formation of the Stonewall Citizens Patrol within a month. Our chief of police has made these attacks in Hillcrest and North Park, as well as in some of the beach cities, one of his top priorities.

By the way, our police department is down 360 officers because San Diego pays our officers some of the lowest wages in the nation!

It looks like there could be an upset in the 52nd Congressional District race. Incumbent Duncan Hunter is facing heavy criticism about receiving breaks on his property taxes and the possibility that he benefited from being a Congress member in acquiring his home. In a stinging editorial, the San Diego Union-Tribune said Hunter needed “a serious attitude adjustment.” The U-T also said Hunter’s poor attempts at explaining his side of the now growing issue/scandal were “not acceptable.”

This puts his opponent, military veteran John Rinaldi, in a stronger position to win, and Rinaldi’s campaign is getting more attention and support. I’ll be attending a special luncheon for Rinaldi with Congressmember Barney Frank (the best debater in Congress) as the special guest this Saturday at the Park Manor Suites. I urge you to contribute. Visit www.rinaldiforcongress.com for more information.

The recent death of Gerry Studds brought back many memories of the first openly gay member of Congress.

I got to know Congressmember Studds in the mid-1980s. He was a major advocate for a stronger and better federal response to the growing AIDS crisis, and we met numerous times in Washington, D.C., about this issue. I found Gerry to be a gentle and quiet man, but brilliant and dedicated.

In 1996, the U.S. Congress even named an 842-square-mile marine the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in recognition of his leadership in protecting the marine environment.

I will miss him and always remember our times working together.

This past week, I arranged a meeting with some community leaders and the House of Blues after general manager Ron Deimling contacted me.

Attending the meeting were The Center’s public policy director, Sean Wherley, San Diego Democratic Club President Stephen Whitburn and Toni Atkins’ communications director, Dale Kelly Bankhead, as well as Tom Felkner, Stonewall Citizens Patrol and American Veterans for Equal Rights’ Bob Lehman and myself.

I felt it was a positive first step and good dialogue. I also felt Ron Deimling was sincere and concerned about the harm that was done when it came to our community and his club hosting murder-music singer Buju Banton (whose concert, by the way, lost money).

I feel more dialogue is needed and it will come at our next meeting with House of Blues corporate executives, which is being arranged. We appreciate Ron Deimling reaching out to the GLBT community.

As many of you know, at August’s rally against hate crimes, which was held at The Center, I announced a $35,000 new Hate Crimes Fund with Crime Stoppers of San Diego and also announced that the San Diego chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), under the leadership of former Marine sergeant Bob Lehman, would be forming the Stonewall Citizens Patrol for next year’s San Diego LGBT Pride week.

Due to the growing robberies and attacks, Lehman and AVER have decided to establish the patrol within a month (they already have an SUV to use). The police department will be training volunteers at The Center, and organizing dates are to be announced. Councilmember Toni Atkins and her staff will be heavily involved in the launching of the new Stonewall Citizens Patrol. Now they need volunteers and your support. For more information, e-mail marineguy@aol.com.

I knew the Rev. George Stevens for many decades and, yes, his anti-GLBT stances and statements were at times very bad.

Stevens and I agreed to disagree, but because he was a leader in the African-American community, I found myself working with him on numerous projects. We worked closely on the moves to name Market Street and then the Convention Center after Martin Luther King Jr. He even introduced me one time as a guest in his church.

I did, however, admire and respect Stevens for the fighter he was for Council District 4, getting libraries, senior centers, youth programs, more police patrols and less liquor stores than any other council member before him.

When I was elected chair of our city’s Human Relations Commission, Stevens made it a point to attend a special reception for me. Yes, though we had big differences, we would always talk to each other. May he rest in peace.

Hey, Hillcrest, we don’t have to go to In-N-Out Burger anymore because the very best hamburgers in the city are now at 1459 University Ave.

Though it’s only been open a week, Lucky Buck’s is already the talk of the town for its mouthwatering burgers and gourmet burritos! On its short menu are also chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, nachos and fabulous old-fashioned shakes. And, let me tell you, their waffle-cut french fries and onion rings are out of this world!

They have a short menu because they want every item to be outstanding and fresh – and they are.

Super-friendly and very handsome owners Lee Bergerson and Todd Mills make everyone feel welcome and at home, and Lucky Buck’s design is a cross between modern rustic and an MTV set. It’s fun, hip and relaxing.

Lucky Buck’s is open every day of the week until 10:00 p.m. and until 12:00 midnight on the weekends. The food service and atmosphere gets five stars from me. You’ll love Lucky Buck’s.

The Illusionist: one of the best movies I’ve seen all year. The ending will stun you!

Man of the Year: What a disappointment. Robin Williams would have been better off just filming one of his concerts because only his one-liner jokes hit the mark in this average comedy.

The Queen: Everyone should see this one; it has Oscar written all over it. You get a behind-the-scenes look at the English royal family following the death of Princess Diana. It’s also a brilliant portrayal of Queen Elizabeth.

The Marine: Please. I’ve enjoyed myself more just walking through the streets of Oceanside!

Infamous: If you thought the first Truman Capote movie was good, wait until you see this one. It’s much more real and gay.

The Last King of Scotland: Outstanding!

Yes, that hip new weekly section in the Union-Tribune (every Thursday) called “Street” has a weekly “most popular happy hour in San Diego” mention, and among those bars/clubs to have appeared in that coveted section are Lei Lounge, Baja Betty’s, Crush, Kensington Grill and W Hotel. The rest were totally straight places.

Jim Brennan recently had a meeting at Ono Sushi to discuss his exciting new plans for Universal Restaurant, to be located on the corner of Vermont and University Avenue.

I attended and listened to his proposal for a $3 million facelift for this eyesore of a current property.

I believe this project will be great for Hillcrest (I live two blocks away). It will also mean 100 new jobs, and, as Brennan said, a vast majority of the people hired will be from the area.

By the way, proceeds from the catering of the meeting by Ono Sushi went to Stepping Stone.

Once again, Lips nightclub and restaurant continues its ever-popular run as Southern California’s premier show club at its new exciting location at 3036 El Cajon Blvd.

The minute you walk into Lips, you know you’re going to have a fabulous and super-fun time. The exterior design is gorgeous and outrageous. They have a well-lit parking lot and security guards, and I had a great time at their VIP party.

A special thanks and shout-out to Tootie and Toni Rose.

The food continues to be very good, and they have some of the best entertainers on the West Coast. I predict Lips will continue its long run forever, and long live the queens!

For more information, call (619) 295-7900.