Yes, the holiday season is upon us. Don’t forget that every holiday season includes Hanukah, and let’s put the real reason for Christmas back in Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ. I hope everyone has a great Hanukah and Christmas.

I join the many San Diegans who are very unhappy about the recent City Council vote against the limitation of superstores in our city.

This outright ban on superstores is not in the best interests of our city and we consumers. It also sends an anti-business message to retailers at the very wrong time in our city. It only encourages superstores to locate in smaller cities in our county. But most of all, we consumers should have choices, and our government has no business banning where we can shop in our own city.

Thank goodness Mayor Jerry Sanders will veto this ordinance, but please write to Councilmembers Atkins, Frye, Hueso, Young and Peters urging them not to overturn the mayor’s veto.

North Park’s 43rd annual Toyland Parade held this past Saturday was lots of fun.

I joined the Stonewall Citizens Patrol and its contingent, and we all had a great time (thanks to Bob Lehman, Ben Gomez and Tom Felkner). The Stonewall Citizens Patrol was well received by everyone.

I did notice that our GLBT community is not very well represented in this parade. Next year, how about Family Matters, San Diego Cheers, Pride, the GSDBA, our chorus, etc. enter?

By the way, our very own City Councilmember Toni Atkins had the honor of being this year’s grand marshal!

This past Dec. 1 was once again World AIDS Day, and our Mayor Jerry Sanders was at Mama’s Kitchen helping to make lunches for their more than 750 clients.

Mayor Sanders made history by being the first mayor of San Diego to attend the annual “Tree of Life” event in Hillcrest and received a thunderous and prolonged ovation from the hundreds of women, men, children and families in attendance who have been touched by AIDS in one way or another.

He also urged everyone to practice safe sex.

We thank Mayor Sanders for his commitment to this life-or-death issue.

Needless to say, you all know that I am totally against our government spending countless millions of dollars on space flights to the moon and Mars.

Well, this week NASA announced it will spend billions of dollars to build a space base on the moon so that astronauts can “stay for a while.”

Just think about if instead we spent those billions of dollars all these decades on feeding Americans, cancer and AIDS research and care, etc. As I’ve said, we should stop trying to find out if there is life in space and start saving more lives on Earth.

Well, now comes word that there will be upcoming court cases and possible legislation that will try to change the legal status of our pets, which are now considered property, to companions. And I say they are companions. Hell, they’re like part of our families!

I just love my cat, Nixon. He makes me laugh, keeps me happy and is affectionate. And now that I live in Shady Pines, he is my companion.

I know this feeling is shared by a lot of pet owners, so I hope we are successful in these upcoming efforts to change the legal status of our pets!

Last week, I had an approximately two-hour dinner at California Cuisine with District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

We discussed the crime increase in District 3 along with other city and community issues.

Bonnie is putting together a project regarding our prisons – that before inmates are released they all must go through an approximately six month drug program and continued counseling. (Most people in prison have drug problems.)

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has one of the highest voter approval ratings ever. Her future is very bright and the sky’s the limit: future attorney general, state Supreme Court justice or…?

The very gorgeous Kristine W., superstar, diva and sensational singer, will perform a special show this coming Sunday, Dec. 10, at Lips nightclub (3036 El Cajon Blvd.).

The concert will also feature band members of Santana and it’s all for the HIM/Pix Christmas Jazz Gala, so you know it’s going to be fabulous.

The whole event will be a benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of San Diego, and tickets are selling for $20 and up. The main show will begin at 8:30 p.m.

For more information or reservations, phone (800) 228-6949 or log on to www.kwjazz.com.

The newly established Stonewall Citizens Patrol has gotten off to a great start with their first patrol taking place last weekend. (Channel 10 News followed them around and did a positive story.)

The Stonewall Citizens Patrol also recently reported 29 locations where streetlights were burnt out!

But, most importantly, they can’t do this alone, so please join. Sign up for our Stonewall Citizens Patrol – they need your support and volunteerism. For more information, phone (619) 850-8698.

Those great people at the Rob Benzon Foundation are throwing their annual holiday party to benefit the foundation on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 8:00 p.m. at 3760 Eighth Ave.

Admission is only $20, but please give generously.

In the last few years, this foundation has given more than $18,000 to many great causes and concerns in memory of a beautiful, genuine man, whose smile I will never forget. Many of us still miss Rob a lot.

For more information, phone (619) 857-1700 or e-mail info@robbenzon.com.

Almost everyone in San Diego knows Big Mike because in many ways he’s larger than life with his compassionate belief in helping others, his commitment to his community and his infamous cards that can brighten everyone’s day.

What some people don’t know about Big Mike is that he is a fighter and does not give up. Big Mike does not hide the fact that he is HIV positive and sometimes goes through some bad times. Big Mike did not hide the fact when he got cancer, and now it’s in remission.

Yes, to me Big Mike is a role model of how to live life when at times everything seems to be thrown at you.

In reality, Big Mike is happy and, yes, grateful that he will be celebrating his 50th birthday; something he at times thought he would never achieve. So on Jan. 24 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the beautiful U.S. Grant Hotel, some of his friends are throwing him a big 50th birthday bash that promises to be lots of fun and very entertaining.

Admission is only $50 (or more if you want to give more). It will all benefit the Ben F. Dillingham Community Grant.

For further information, phone (619) 692-1967. Be sure to mark your calendar for Jan. 24!