Would-be newlyweds are camping out overnight at city hall

So, 'The City That Knows How' has found another way to scam its' citizens. This time it's issuing marriage licenses,
a sure bet to be struck down as 'illegal' by all the high courts, both state and federal. And, all those $82 license fees....well, do you think they'll give you a refund once the ruling comes
down? Don't count on it. Just another criminal scheme cooked up by Mobster Mayor Newsom and the Machine to fraudulently collect tax revenue and bail their boy out of a sure RECALL ELECTION! Time to wise-up, San Francisco!

Judge Warren is a superior court law and motion judge at 400 McAllister and is the judge presiding in this case. He could rule in favor of the city, stating that civil rights law upholds the city's right to issue the licenses, allowing the gay marriage licenses to be issued, and let the fascists appeal, which they will, thus forcing a court decision, which could take years, appealing to all the state courts, then the federal courts. A marriage license is supposed to be good in all states per the full faith and credit clause of the US Constitution (Article 4, Section 1). He could also rule in favor of the fascists, allowing the City to appeal. Either way, the city could continue to issue the licenses, unless Warren issues an injunction, which the city is not likely to disobey.

The announcement on the judge is in the Saturday 2/14/04 Chronicle at:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/14/MNG3R517C21.DTL

A good description of the legal battle is in the Friday 2/13/04 Chronicle at:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/13/MNGUQ50F0J1.DTL

Sad to say, a recall is not feasible in this town as the outrage at the anti-tenant, both housed and homeless, policies of Nazi Newsom is not sufficient among the voters as most of the workingclass does not vote. We managed to get 119,000 votes for Gonzalez out of 253,000 voting last December runoff which had a higher turnout than the November election, in a City with 500,000 adult American citizens (Of the 764,000 residents of SB, about 16% are children and about 16% are non-citizen immigrants).

Elections are the weakest forum; it is our protests of Nazi Newsom's anti-workingclass housing policies whenever and wherever possible that will stop the gentrification.

For more on the Democrats' dirty tricks in their using gay liberation to keep the Reds and Greens out of office, see:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/02/1670473.php
and
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/02/1670416.php

Reds and Greens support gay marriage and unlike the Democrats, do not use it as a political football. As to the exorbitant marriage license fee, that is a legacy of Prop 13 of 1978, practically eliminating property tax funding for city government and the schools. It should have been substituted with increases on the progressive income tax of the rich (making over $200,000 per year), but instead we now have all kinds of court and license fees, which by now, are astronomically high, all of which are by definition a regressive tax, as is the outrageous sales tax. The gay people who obtained these licenses are doing this both for their own needs and to make history and thus are not likely to ask for a refund. They are all well aware of the legal problems. They should demand that the licenses be free. The interviews on the KPFA (94.1 FM) 6 p.m. news have made all this clear.

"has found another way to scam its' citizens"

I'm sure the city will end up paying more in legal expenses than any amount they may take in from these licenses. If a state judge does not overturn these licenses not only will that encourages counties in other states to take the initiative to force other state Supreme Courts to rule on this but it could also create a federal Supreme Court case.

Sure its a publicity stunt by Newsom and at heart he probably just wants the increased support, but its still an amazing move for a city to take and instead of criticizing it we should be asking why other counties are not following. Where is Alameda? Where are Tom Bates and Jerry Brown?

(A) If Tuesday's hearing starts at 2pm, then same-sex weddings will be possible before that time.
So if couples cannot get to City Hall on Monday, they can try again on Tuesday morning before 0800 AM.

(B) Meanwhile, well-wishers of freedom can go there on Monday Feb. 16, to demonstrate support for the newly-weds as they exit from SF City Hall.
Bring an umbrella, and/or a raincoat.