Not just trying

I saw your article reporting that Doris Ward and I "tried to make a change" in San Francisco's assessment rules ["Equalization for Queers," 7/16/03].

We in fact did make a change to the San Francisco County assessor's practice regarding gay/lesbian registered domestic partners. Each county assessor has the authority to interpret the law as he/she sees fit for that particular county. This makes sense, since no two counties are exactly the same. Under state law, the assessor has the authority to issue rulings. Implicit within that authority is the right to take into account the facts, the law, and the rationale behind the law, and then to apply them together to form a conclusion.

Our ruling broke ground on the issue of property tax fairness for gay and lesbian registered domestic partners. As the first county in California to make this recognition, San Francisco made everyone see the issue for what it was and it sent a lot of other so-called progressive and fair assessors scrambling for cover.

Your article gave the impression that the Board of Equalization's counsel letter to the city attorney was correct on the grounds that San Francisco overstepped its authority. The San Francisco assessor did not, in fact, overstep her authority. (In fact, many gay/lesbian registered domestic partners have been taking advantage of that ruling since its announcement. The ruling is still in effect and can be downloaded at the official Web site of the assessor.)

As a tax attorney, I recognize the Board of Equalization's letter for what it really was – standard lawyer talk for "we'll blow your house down" if you don't bend over. Doris and I didn't even bother to blink. We were prepared to take our case to the courts and expose the unfairness of it all.

Our ruling was a breakthrough for the gay and lesbian domestic partner community and all of San Francisco – at least in terms of property taxation. It's now avalanched into a statewide property tax rule change for all domestic partners.

Ronald Chun
San Francisco

Doughnuts are not fun

As a longtime reader, I know that the Bay Guardian has a history of dealing with issues which have an effect on the common good. Last week's cover story, "This Life of Salvage" (7/16/03), does nothing to further your past or the common good. It is not my concern that individuals want to ride motorcycles. It is my concern that they would choose to behave in a reckless and stupid manner anywhere. As a homeowner in West Oakland, I'm pissed that anyone would think it's all right to be engaged in the reckless operation of a vehicle because of the makeup of this neighborhood.

Wheelies, doughnuts, and burnouts on public streets are not harmless fun. If they're OK with you, let's confine them to the street in front of your office.

Cornelius Crenshaw
Oakland

Harris's record

As the executive director of a small foundation in San Francisco, I have had the pleasure of working with candidate for district attorney Kamala Harris for several years on a variety of issues. That is why the recent depiction of her in your July 16 issue Campaign Watch was particularly offensive and inaccurate. Kamala has been a tireless advocate for women and youth. As the president of Partners Ending Domestic Abuse, she has worked tirelessly in the San Francisco community on the issue of domestic abuse. There are few people in the community who match her devotion to protecting the interests of women and children and prosecuting their abusers. And she has done all of that work for free – as a volunteer. She has also been widely lauded by her peers and the community for her leadership on the issue of ending the exploitation of youth in our community (ending teen prostitution).

Andrea Dew Steele
San Francisco

Real issues in D.A.'s race

The District Attorney's Office has a significant impact on the lives of San Franciscans and deserves serious coverage. Unfortunately, the D.A.'s race is being eclipsed by the high-profile mayor's race. In addition, the Bay Guardian's story about the D.A.'s race focuses not on the serious issues facing the voters or a serious examination of what each of the candidates has to offer, but on the personal history of one candidate, Kamala Harris.

Harris has a distinguished career in her own right: She currently serves as the cochair of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. She won an award from a statewide legal group for her litigation work on behalf of the rights of gay couples to adopt children. She has a 90 percent conviction rate in the cases she has tried as a deputy district attorney. She led the battle to toughen laws against pimps and johns who abuse young girls who are coerced into prostitution.

Hilary Sohcot
San Francisco

For the record

In "This Life of Salvage" (7/16/03), the location of Precision Cycle Salvage was misstated. PCS is in Vallejo.

In last week's "Critical Moment for Election Reform," Alix Rosenthal was misidentified. She is president of the Elections Commission.