A Little Less Conversation

Matt Haney, far right, rolls up his Little Idea notes in favor of a beer and conversation with his mom, Kris Calvin, and Eric Smith of BeyondChron

As the economy deteriorates and severe government budget cuts kick in, most of us will be forced to make do with less.

Yes, normally, this is unwelcome news.

Last month, though, organizers of The Little Idea lecture series demonstrated less can be more. They successfully combined the short attention span of a modern audience with that audience’s newly honed belt-tightening skills. Little Idea events feature one speaker who has only ten minutes to get a point across. No Q&A session is allowed.

If your thoughts turn swiftly toward recommending this ten minute rule to certain San Francisco elected officials, then, yes, I must agree with you and would be remiss not to advise you send the suggestion to that politician asap. You know who they are.

Little Idea inaugural speaker Matt Haney at 111 Minna Gallery

Matt Haney was Little Idea’s excellent choice for the series opener, devoting his ten minutes to "The Principles of Organizing in the Age of Obama." Haney’s known for his techie political organizing and people skills. He was active extra early in President Obama’s campaign, and served as the Stanford for Obama Campus Director, the Northern California Student Coordinator, and New Mexico Youth Vote Director. He’s currently interning in Washington D.C. with the Office of the White House Counsel during summer break from Stanford Law School.

His easy-going manner and positive attitude made Haney’s discussion feel more like friendly advice than a heavy lecture or speech. He focused on contemporary organizing through political activism, community participation, and online social networking, all of which are goals of the organizing group he co-founded, Citizen Hope. Emphasizing that the people you try to recruit should have fun, he advised beginning by creating a campaign that generates excitement and makes people want to volunteer.

The Little Idea SF inaugural audience

The crowd at 111 Minna Gallery was an interesting mixture of the usual political suspects, campaign staffers, and fresh young faces still exploring San Francisco’s winding political maze.

Matt Haney and Debra Walker, candidate for District 6 Supervisor, at The Little Idea SF

Open source voting guru Brent Turner and me enjoying The Little Idea SF event

Michael Goldstein, DCCC member, with Micah Jamal Allen (center) and Eric Smith at Little Idea SF

Erin Haney and Kris Calvin provide family support at The Little Idea SF

Haney's sister, Erin and his mother, Kris Calvin, were on hand to lend support. Politics runs in the family - Kris Calvin is runing for South Pasadena City Council.

Eric Smith and Debra Walker in da' house (always!)

Matt Haney relaxes with his mom, Kris Calvin, after facing the grueling ten minute spotlight

Gary Gartner, Campaign Manager for John Garamendi, with Debra Walker at The Little Idea

The Little Idea originates from New York and is a fun addition with potential here in San Francisco. There are several speakers I’d find interesting for future Little Idea events.

Eric Smith

Eric Smith, Director of Green Depot, would be enlightening on biodiesel and alternative fuels.

Stuart Milk, nephew of former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, has insightful, though disheartening, stats on the lack of legislation punishing hate crimes committed against LGBT citizens in the United States.

Speaking of Harvey Milk, Barbara Taylor, KCBS Radio journalist, is an expert on covering local government. If you don’t know her connection to the story of Supe Milk, well, then, her future talk will be all that much more interesting.

Another suggestion is Matt Gonzalez, former President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, on campaigning or the art of negotiating legislation. Laugh, groan, or cry, - simultaneously, even - if you want. When you’re done, considered Gonzalez wrote an op-ed article for Wednesday’s Examiner.

The article is well done, providing not only a straight forward explanation of the complicated taxi medallion controversy but also a potential path toward resolution. Anyone checked the Department of Elections for declared mayoral candidacies lately? No, that’s not crazy. Recall what happened last time he appeared unexpectedly in BeyondChron, criticizing then presidential candidate Obama. He ran for Vice President of the United States.

I was so curious about a potential Gonzalez run for office, I made inquiries of a few politically connected people at a friend’s birthday party last night. No one had considered it. Imagine my interest upon receiving today’s e-mail from the League of Pissed Off Voters radio show announcing Gonzalez as a guest this evening. An answer may be just around the corner. Will there be a Newsom-Gonzalez governor showdown?

Hope Johnson

Anyway, the point is, I’d enjoy seeing a few more Little Idea events.

And, hey, Mr. Haney, while you’re out there in D.C., could you speak to Barack about starting his limit on Wall Street salaries with taxpayer owned GM’s new chair “golden parachute” Ed Whitacre, who recently received a $158 million retirement package from AT&T? Thanks, dude.