DeNunzio for Supervisor

New "Videos" page on my website

2008-10-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

My videos are now in one place on my website. Click Videos to see recent ones:

Comcast Newsmakers interview September 2008

Mike on SFVotes2008 September 15, 2008

D3 Supervisor Debate June 16, 2008

My new flyer

2008-10-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mike DeNunzio Flyer.pdf

Tommy Lasorda as grand marshal

2008-10-02T20:50:00.001-07:00

San Francisco Examiner Oct 1,2008
Editor
Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier's criticism of former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda as grand marshal of the Italian Heritage Day Parade does not reflect San Francisco values. She said: “Its crazy and ridiculous...We need a well respected Italian, not one loathed by every San Franciscan,” (Examiner 9-28)

Surely, Mr. Lasorda is not “loathed by every San Franciscan” and the distinguished Italian Heritage Day committee did not make a “crazy and ridiculous selection” as she has charged. A supervisor elected with the good name of a great San Francisco mayor has a special obligation to speak with respect.

In 1991, Mr. Lasorda’s son Tommy Jr. died of Aides. In 1997, Lasorda who had been estranged from his son, donated a youth center in memory of Tommy Jr. Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier should cancel her resolution, and welcome Tommy Lasorda to San Francisco.
Mike DeNunzio

Adults needed in City Hall

2008-09-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

To SF Chronicle Editor:

San Francisco is facing cuts in services because of wasteful spending. Meanwhile, instead of calling for cuts in wasteful spending, supervisor Michela Alioto Pier wants to cut former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda from the Italian Heritage Day Parade. (City Insider Sept 27) San Francisco does not need more supervisors with provincial priorities like Michela Alioto Pier. We need responsible adults in City Hall who can balance a budget and protect city services.

Mike DeNunzio

Public financing of campaigns is a waste of taxpayers' money

2008-09-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Examiner, Opinion From Readers, published Thursday, 9/11/08.

Candidates who take public financing to fund their campaigns are taking from the needy.

The mayor and supervisors overspent the $6.5 billion city budget by $338 million. To balance it, supervisors have cut $2.5 million in services for seniors, teens, emergency services and home nursing. But they did not touch $5 million in the budget to fund political campaigns, and the mayor approved the cuts. San Francisco does not need public financing to keep candidates honest, we simply need honest candidates.

Mike DeNunzio
Candidate for supervisor, District 3

DeNunzio wins endorsement of Police Officers' Association

2008-08-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE August 1, 2008

DeNunzio wins endorsement of Police Officers’ AssociationCops on the beat want a friend on the Board

One of city’s most prestigious political endorsements was awarded to Mike DeNunzio, Supervisorial candidate in District 3. The 3,000 member San Francisco Police Officers’ Association (POA) announced its support for the candidate making public safety and police morale a centerpiece of his campaign.

DeNunzio was one of three of 12 in the district to win the backing of the Association. “This is a vote of confidence in me from the men and women who protect our city,” said DeNunzio, and along with the endo rsement of former Police Chief, Tony Ribera, it is evident I am law enforcement’s candidate.”

A financial management consultant, DeNunzio said his consistent support for public safety, and help on the recent Deferred Retirement Option ballot measure, and also the merger of airport police pensions with city police pension helped win the POA’s backing. “Our police want deeds not words; I have a track record, and they know they can count on me, said DeNunzio. “Police recruitment and morale is low in this city, and I intend to change it, I’m not a cheerleader, as supervisor I will quarterback real improvements to help our police stay with the city. We need them.”

DeNunzio brings to his candidacy one of the most extensive public service resumes of any candidate for office in San Francisco. California’s Governor and two San Francisco mayors have appointed the popular independent business leader to high-profile posts, such as; the San Francisco Commission on Aging, where he oversaw Adult Protective Services, and also the Mayor’s Council to End Chronic Homelessness, where he worked with former Supervisor Angela Alioto, writing the city’s plan for supportive housing. His appointments have been commended by the City’s elected representatives in Sacramento.

DeNunzio also serves on the boards of directors of 20North Beach Neighbors, The Handicapables, The Columbus Day Committee, The USF Hospitality Management Program, and the American Institute of Ethics with former San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan, Congresswomen Jackie Speier, and civic leader Alessandro Baccari.

DeNunzio is the former CEO of Community Counseling Service, western division. He has guided community leaders on major capital projects including, Save the Cable Cars, On-Lok Senior Services, BRIDGE-Affordable Housing , and the Archbishop’s Scholarship Fund. A graduate of St John’s University, N.Y. he served six years as a personnel specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves and taught law and economics at McClancy College Preparatory in New York. (END)

Paid for by DeNunzio for Supervisor, 550 Davis St CA 94111, FPPC# 1303336

DeNunzio Statement to Port Commission

2008-07-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2008

Good afternoon Commissioners, my name is Mike DeNunzio. My wife Annette and I are residents of Golden Gateway Commons.

For purposes of identification: I’m a State Commissioner on Aging appointed by the Governor. I also served as a City Commissioner appointed by Mayor Brown where I was assigned to review Adult Protective Services. Mayor Newsom appointed me to his Council to End Chronic Homelessness; I helped write the city’s plan for Supportive Housing.

I want to talk about our seniors. This area has the highest percentage of seniors in the City, it also has densest per capita population, the most auto congestion, and the least open space.

The members of the Golden Gateway Tennis and Swim Club do not qualify for Wimbledon or the Beijing Olympics. Most are seniors, or will soon be, and they will be here a long time; today 60 is 40.

These facilities are vital for the health, recreational and therapeutic needs of seniors in this district, and the entire city. Frankly, they should be expanded, not reduced.

In this 21st century seniors will rely on community based home care services, not distant sanitariums. They will live active lives at home, near friends and family, in walk able neighborhoods with open space, safe from auto traffic and auto pollution.

Commissioners, this facility is open to everyone in the city; it deserves your protection. The first responsibility of government is to protect the health and safety o f citizens. This is about health and safety.

The Coming Geriatric Tsunami & The Ultimate Elder Abuse

2008-07-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Golden State is turning gray. California has the largest senior population in the nation. Almost four million residents are 65 or older and those over 85 are increasing the most. In 2010 the first baby boomers will turn 65 and the state’s senior population will approach six million. Forty percent of the Baby Boomers are Latino and Asian and half are women. California is facing a diverse geriatric tsunami that will hit the state budget, taxes, charities, housing, health care, and more.

Today “60 is 40.” Californians are living longer, healthier, active lives. Many will outlive their resources and also encounter forms of dementia and other age related disabilities. To prepare California for a senior society the State Health and Human Services Agency is developing a “Comprehensive Strategic Plan on Aging.” Two major components of the plan are Elder Abuse and End of Life Care. The plan is monitored by the California Commission on Aging, which is the principle advisory body to the Governor and the Legislature on senior issues.

Elder Abuse is epidemic. Adult Protective Service agencies throughout the state report marked increases and for every case, five are unreported. Elder abuse can be physical or mental but most abuse is financial and committed by a family member. APS agencies are understaffed, they need larger budgets to handle growing caseloads to protect vulnerable seniors.

End of Life Care involves the personal autonomy of dying patients. It now faces demands to legalize physician-assisted suicide which many call “the ultimate elder abuse.” On June 10th, AB 374, “The Compassionate Choices Act” was defeated in the Assembly for the second time. It would permit physicians to prescribe a self-administered lethal drug to mentally competent consenting adults diagnosed to be terminally ill. The American Civil Liberties Union and National Organization for Women support assisted suicide as the “ultimate civil right.” HMOs also support it. They will try again next year. Californians need to know more about assisted suicide and why this bill has failed.

Physician assisted suicide is opposed by over fifty organizations. They include the American Medical Association, hospice and disability rights groups and ethnic and religious organizations. They maintain physician assisted suicide is immoral, unethical and unnecessary. The State Probate Code permits adults to determine their own medical treatment with an Advanced Directive for “provision or withholding of all forms of health care.” This directive can include palliative sedation to relieve pain and hasten a peaceful death. Polls that show 70% support for assisted suicide are misleading because they do not inform respondents of an Advanced Directive. Opponents of AB argued that subtle coercion by family and health professionals can result in chronically ill or disabled seniors to feel they have a "duty to die." They also noted that although the Bill required assisted suicides to be reported, it had no penalty for Doctors who do not report.

The slippery slope argument by opponents is a deadly reality in Holland where physician assisted suicide has “slipped” from assisting the terminally ill, to assisting the chronically ill, to assisting the disabled to assisting the depressed. It gets worse; the Dutch Government’s own studies report doctors “terminate without request” approximately 1,000 patients a year. In Holland a peaceful death for those thought not to have a "livable life" has also “slipped” into the pediatric wards. A study published in the British medical journal The Lancet reports 8 percent of all Dutch infant deaths are from lethal injections and 45 percent of neonatologists and 31 percent of pediatricians who responded to Lancet survey have committed eugenic infanticide.

The proponents of assisted suicide will undoubtedly bring it back next year. If so, it should be decided by ‘we the people” via an initiative, not by a gerrymandered legislature that is unaccountable to voters. (Not one seat in the legislature has changed parties in the last two elections.) Twenty-one 21 states have defeated proposals for assisted suicide. California is the seventh largest economy on the planet. How we decide this life or death issue will resound across the entire nation and the world.

PDF version