[Sosfbay-discuss] [Fwd: [G-C-F] Backed by Green Party, Comic Pastor Runs for Mayor of NYC]

[Tian Harter]

I'm a fan of Reverend Billy!

Tian

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [G-C-F] Backed by Green Party, Comic Pastor Runs for Mayor of NYC
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:06:11 -0800
From: Hank Chapot <hchapot at igc.org>
To: gpca forum <cal-forum at cagreens.org>

Bill Talen had a long history of theatrical activism in San Francisco,
long before inventing Reverend Billy. You may remember his show as a
politician wherein ticket buyers enjoyed a crappy hotel meal of cheap
chicken and then were forced to sit through political speeches before
he and his actor/wife melted down in front of the assembled. Laura L.
and I were seated at a table of, "Forest managers for Pavement PAC ",
or some such thing. (1993?)

One joke I remember was "Scientists tell me their are millions of
species living on my skin. So, is my face an endangered habitat or can
I wash it once in a while?" Badda Bing!




*************************************
Backed by Green Party, Comic Pastor Runs for Mayor

Katie Orlinsky for The New York Times

Reverend Billy, a street activist, in Union Square. He was nominated
by the Green Party for mayor last week.


Published: March 1, 2009

Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping is — to say the least —
not your typical candidate for mayor. With his blond pompadour, cobalt
blue suit, black shirt and white collar, he made his announcement in
Union Square on Sunday accompanied by a choir in green robes.

But he has the nomination of an actual political party and might have
a spot on the ballot in November, something Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
has yet to secure.

“Even if you have 20 billion dollars, you’re not going to buy this
election!” he shouted through a white bullhorn to a small gathering of
supporters and reporters. “This campaign will be the revolt of the
fabulous 500 neighborhoods, amen!”

Reverend Billy, 58, a longtime street activist and performance artist
whose real name is William C. Talen, said he was approached by leaders
of the state’s Green Party in December.

He decided to run last month and received the nomination late last
week. He now has to get at least 7,500 signatures to get on the ballot
in November.

“When the Green Party approached him, he was thinking that Bloomberg
was essentially purchasing a third term,” said Michael O’Neil, 29, the
campaign’s press officer. “He wanted to run because it seemed unlikely
that any of the front-runners in the election would speak to the
issues that have been challenging New York City’s neighborhoods.”

Reverend Billy, who according to Mr. O’Neil makes a living with paid
appearances at colleges and other venues, said refocusing attention on
the city’s neighborhoods — he used the word “neighborhood” dozens of
times — would be the centerpiece of his campaign, though he said
little about other issues, like subway fares and the economic crisis.

He did make it clear that he did not approve of Mr. Bloomberg’s
pursuit of a third term. “We’re at a critical point in the city’s
history right now,” he said. “The mayor’s trying to privatize Union
Square. We’re surrounded by logos everywhere. We need to oppose that.”

Reverend Billy, who grew up in the Midwest and arrived in New York
from San Francisco in 1994, has long been known for his colorful
street-theater tirades on what he sees as corporate intrusions on
American life. He was arrested during a protest in Union Square in
2007 and that year was the subject of the documentary “What Would
Jesus Buy?”

But Gloria Mattera, the co-chairwoman of the Green Party’s campaign
committee, insisted that this was a serious candidacy. “We’re planning
on talking in each borough,” she said. “Our team is already formed.
This is a chance not just to stand up against Bloomberg but to stand
up against corporate interests as well.”

Mr. O’Neil said the campaign hoped to raise at least $250,000 to
qualify for matching funds from the city.

“He’s the alternative that we’re desperate for,” said one supporter,
Elizabeth Culbert, 34, a freelance writer who lives in the West
Village. “He’s worked for so many years for New York, and I think
he’ll put up an extremely good fight.”

Steve Kraftsow, 49, who was walking through Union Square during the
rally, did not share that enthusiasm. “Never met him, never heard of
him,” he said. “I haven’t even considered the mayoral race yet. What I
know is I want a mayor who can handle the fiscal responsibilities. I
liked Bloomberg, but vote for Billy? It’s not out of the question. I
just need to learn more about him.”


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Tian
http://tian.greens.org
Latest change: Added pictures of the fall I took at critical mass in SF.