The Bakersfield Jammers , known originally as the San Jose Jammers , were an American professional basketball team that were members of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1989 to 1992. Originally based in San Jose, California , the team relocated to Bakersfield , California for their final season.
107-703: The team was created by former Oakland A's executive Fred Kuenzi through a CBA basketball league expansion. Although Fred was initially named as team spokesman and introduced as the team's first general manager, he had previous commitments that prohibited him from remaining on in that capacity. He served as a team consultant. Fred obtained capital investment funding by bringing in former assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese as majority owner. The Jammers' inaugural roster included high-scoring guards Freddie Banks (Las Vegas Silver Streaks) and Butch Hays , forward David Boone, and center Casey Crawford. San Jose Jammers games were broadcast on radio station KSJX . This article about
214-683: A J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1958, after which he worked as an attorney and was involved in the civil rights movement . He was elected to the California Assembly in 1964, during which he became popular in San Francisco and became known as one of the country's most powerful state legislators. As a legislator, Brown earned a reputation as a supporter of civil rights of gays and lesbians and
321-462: A basketball team in California is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Dominic L. Cortese Dominic L. Cortese (born September 27, 1932) is a former California State Assemblyman who served from 1980 until 1996. For most of his career, Cortese was a moderate Democrat , but in 1995 he gained national attention when he became a member of Ross Perot 's Reform Party . He
428-498: A "resurrection" and that he would bring the "risk-taking leadership" the city needed. Brown placed first in the first round of voting, but because no candidate received 50% of the vote, he faced incumbent Frank Jordan in the December runoff. Brown gained the support of Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg , who had placed third in the first round of voting. He campaigned on working to address poverty and problems with Muni. He called Jordan
535-414: A campaign. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Brown was one of a few African-Americans practicing law in San Francisco when he opened his own business. He practiced criminal defense law, representing pimps, prostitutes and other clients that more prominent attorneys would not represent. One early case was to defend Mario Savio on his first civil disobedience arrest. He quickly became involved in
642-649: A fifty percent vote. He carried the bill that guaranteed the vehicle license fee for local governments. As chair of the Local Government committee, Cortese was asked to intervene in the San Bruno Mountain dispute in Millbrae and was recognized by both sides as an "official" mediator. After countless hours of meetings, the dispute which had been ongoing for many years was resolved without legislation and without further litigation. Cortese also carried
749-560: A key role in the hiring of an Affirmative Action Officer and witnessed the signing of the Santa Clara Plan to phase in minority hiring within definite time constraints. Cortese headed a committee to bring to an end the long fought federal court battle over equality hiring in the Sheriff's office. This effort resulted in a vast recruiting and training program that culminated in the hiring of 60 Chicano deputies, approximately one half
856-403: A morning radio show with comedian Will Durst on a local San Francisco Air America Radio affiliate. He also does a weekly podcast . Brown established The Willie L. Brown Jr. Institute on Politics & Public Service, an unaffiliated nonprofit organization at San Francisco State University . It trains students for careers in municipal, county and regional governments. The center will be one of
963-587: A native of the Sicilian town of Trabia who immigrated to the United States around 1917 and eventually acquired farm land in and near the Santa Clara Valley , growing tomatoes, prunes, cherries, apricots and wheat. As they grew up, he and his siblings worked on the family farms and continued to farm as adults. Though Vincent Cortese never held public office, he was involved in civic affairs in
1070-610: A new stadium in the China Basin after previous stadium measures had failed on the ballot. The stadium was approved by San Francisco voters in June 1997 and opened in 2000. Due to vacancies on the Board of Supervisors before 2000, Brown was able to appoint eight of the board's 11 members. Due to a change in San Francisco's election laws that took effect in 2000, the board changed from at-large to district-based elections, and all seats on
1177-755: A number of years, a traditional, very popular, bi-partisan, open membership, Italian Caucus was chaired by Cortese and Senate Pro Tem David Roberti. It was often attended by the Counsel General of Italy. Landmark legislation, AB202, sponsored by the Seismic Safety Commission included a long overdue update of the Uniform Building Code establishing the Uniform Code for Building Conservation (UCBC). Standards for addressing unreinforced masonry buildings were now required at
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#17327873033301284-401: A parking garage on Vallejo Street desired by North Beach and Chinatown merchants, he circumvented neighborhood opponents of the garage by ordering demolition of the site's existing structure to commence on a Friday night and be done by Monday morning, when the group was certain to try to obtain a restraining order. "It was with the demolition permit I outsmarted them", Brown said, claiming that as
1391-573: A reputation for knowing what was occurring in the state legislature at all times. In 1992, he gave $ 1.18 million to the Democratic Party to help with voter registration and several campaigns, some of which was from contributions from tobacco companies and insurance companies. As Speaker, he worked to defeat the Three Strikes Law . Critics have claimed Brown did not do enough to raise the legislature's ethical standards or to protect
1498-455: A reputation in the Assembly for his ability to manage people. Republican State Senator Ken Maddy of Fresno noted Brown's ability to "size up the situation and create, sometimes on the spot, a winning strategy." According to Hobson, "He was a brilliant daycare operator. ... He knew exactly how to hold the hand of his Assembly members. He dominated California politics like no other politician in
1605-506: A second straight budget with a $ 100 million surplus. He helped oversee the settling of a two-day garbage strike in April 1997. During Brown's tenure, San Francisco's budget increased to $ 5.2 billion and the city added 4,000 new employees. Brown tried to develop a plan for universal health care , but there wasn't enough in the budget to do so. He put in long days as mayor, scheduling days of solid meetings and, at times, conducting two meetings at
1712-508: A slim Republican majority. Near the end of his final term, he decided to run for mayor of San Francisco. During Brown's tenure as mayor of San Francisco, the city's budget was expanded, and real estate development, public works, city beautification, and other city projects saw a significant increase. Brown presided over the " dot-com " era at a time when San Francisco's economy was rapidly expanding. His administration included more Asian-Americans, women, Latinos, gays and African Americans than
1819-539: A smoking ban in restaurants along with one of the first comprehensive recycling programs in the country. The establishment of a central building permit center received national recognition from the National Conference of Counties during their meeting in Madison, Wisconsin where Cortese received the award. The Board asked the electorate to establish an extensive countywide rural parks program which allowed for
1926-482: A supporter of the civil rights of gays and lesbians. During the 1970s, Brown continued to expand his legal practice, including the representation of several major real estate developers. He won the Speakership in 1980. Brown was California's first Black American speaker of the Assembly, and served in the office from 1981 to 1995. In 1990, he helped negotiate an end to a 64-day budget standoff. In 1994, Brown gained
2033-520: A young age from his grandmother. He graduated from Mineola Colored High School , which he later described as substandard, and left for San Francisco in August 1951 at the age of 17 to live with his uncle. Although Brown did not meet the qualifications for San Francisco State College , a professor at the school facilitated his admission on probation. Brown adjusted to college studies by working especially hard to catch up in his first semester. He joined
2140-639: The Bay Area Council , California Special Districts Association, Association of California Water Agencies, California Realtors Association, Los Angeles County Employees Association and the League of California Cities .He and his wife Suzanne were members of a 1983 California Legislator's Mission to Israel. In 1984, he and Suzanne were delegates on the California Sister State Task Force that traveled to Taiwan and established
2247-563: The Civil Rights Movement , leading a well-orchestrated sit-in to protest housing discrimination after a local real estate office refused to work with him because of his race. Brown began his first run for the California State Assembly in 1962 by having local African American ministers pass around a hat, collecting $ 700. He lost the election by 600 votes before winning a second election in 1964. Brown
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#17327873033302354-520: The Housing Authority . He helped established an AFL-CIO housing trust to build affordable housing and worked to increase the city's share of federal and state grants. He oversaw declining crime rates and improvements in the city's economy, finances, and credit ratings during his first term. Brown was known for his shrewd and strategic use of the planning process's details to affect and facilitate development projects on his watch. In regard to
2461-481: The "Peer Pressure" Bus Patrol program, which paid former gang members and troubled youth to patrol Muni buses. He claimed the program helped reduce crime. He fired Muni chief Phil Adams and replaced him with his chief of staff Emilio Cruz. In 1998, Brown was mayor during the summer of the Muni meltdown as Muni implemented the new ATC system and he promised riders there would be better times ahead. A voter-approved initiative
2568-464: The "inept bumbler" and criticized his leadership. Jordan criticized Brown for his relations with special interests during his time in the State Assembly. Brown easily defeated Jordan. Brown's inaugural celebration included an open invitation party with 10,000 attendees and local restaurants providing 10,000 meals to the homeless. President Bill Clinton called Brown to congratulate him, and
2675-491: The 1950s and 1960s, visiting property owners outside of San Jose to promote the expansion of the city limits to the north, east, and south. Cortese served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from 1969 until 1980. It was his first election attempt during a period of heavy social unrest, and involved an extremely active campaign which led to his defeat of an entrenched sixteen-year incumbent. He
2782-474: The 2003 film Hulk as the mayor of San Francisco. He appeared as himself, alongside Geraldo Rivera , in an episode of Nash Bridges . Brown was criticized in 1996 for his comments that 49ers backup quarterback Elvis Grbac was "an embarrassment to humankind." He was criticized in 1997 for responding to Golden State Warriors player Latrell Sprewell choking his coach P. J. Carlesimo by saying, "his boss may have needed choking." In 1998, Brown contacted
2889-547: The Assembly Committee on Local Government for years. In 1990, he switched to become the chairman of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife. He carried the landmark Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act, which is still called a "best seller" by the State Printing Office and is the guide for all local government annexations, boundaries, formations, detachments and new cities. He
2996-771: The Assembly Ways and Means Committee. In 1972, he delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention . He lost his bid for the speakership in 1972. In 1975, Brown authored and lobbied the successful passing of the Consenting Adult Sex Bill that legalized homosexuality in California, thus earning the strong and lasting support of San Francisco's gay community . Similarly, he voted against AB 607, which banned same-sex marriage in 1977, further building his reputation as
3103-531: The Assembly chambers earlier that day. Cortese received a Bachelor of Science degree from Santa Clara University . He graduated from Pala Middle School in San Jose and Bellarmine College Preparatory High School in 1950. He holds an Honorary Law Degree from Lincoln Law School . A college ROTC graduate, Cortese served for two years in the United States Army,(1954-1956), as a First Lieutenant. He
3210-410: The Assembly's tenure system for leadership appointments combined to give Brown nearly complete control over the California legislature by the time he became Assembly Speaker. According to The New York Times , Brown became one of the country's most powerful state legislators. He nicknamed himself the "Ayatollah of the Assembly". Brown was extremely popular in San Francisco, but less so in the rest of
3317-679: The Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission, and ABAG. He was the Board's delegate to the local Economic Opportunity Commission (Federal War on Poverty). When the EOC was under threat of takeover by the Federal government, Cortese along with two other local officials founded the Economic and Social Opportunities Commission (ESO). He was asked to meet with President Jimmy Carter during the 1979 oil crisis after his proposal to support
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3424-773: The Board created the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Drug Abuse and Alcoholism, the Human Relations Commission, the Commission on Consumer Affairs and the Mobile Homeowners Task Force. During the mid-1970s a new eleven story administration building was constructed. "Dial-A-Ride", a victim of its own success, was commenced in late 1974 and abandoned in early 1975; said to have "too much demand with too few resources". Transportation "outreach" still exists. Cortese chaired
3531-684: The Board of Directors,California Conservation Corp, Pacific Bays District. He served on the Board of Directors of SunSweet Growers. Willie Brown (politician) Willie Lewis Brown Jr. (born March 20, 1934) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party , he served as mayor of San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 as the first African American to hold the office. Born in Mineola, Texas , where he graduated from high school, Brown moved to San Francisco in 1951. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1955 and earned
3638-556: The Board when the Angela Davis trial was assigned to Santa Clara County. The county became the focus of international attention. The first question asked by the media at the initial major news conference was "can a black, communist, woman get a fair trial in Santa Clara County?" Cortese answered: "anyone can get a fair trial in Santa Clara County." Santa Clara County was one of the first major public entities to establish
3745-648: The California Park and Recreation Society, becoming the only legislator to have received the distinction twice. Also, in that year, he was named an honorary member of the California Aquaculture Association. At a statewide conference of the League of California Cities, then San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein presented Cortese, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Local Government, with a Resolution of Commendation as 1983 Legislator of
3852-985: The El Matador Fellowship Award which is the highest award bestowed by the California Contract Cities Association, the First Legislative Merit Award from the Association of California Water Agencies, the Commitment to Children Award from the Association for the Education of Young Children; in 1995, he received both the Sierra Club Commendation for Environmental Leadership and Legislator of the Year Award from
3959-491: The Equal Benefits Ordinance, which required city contractors to give their employees domestic partner benefits. In 1998, he wrote President Clinton a letter urging him to halt a federal lawsuit aimed at closing medical marijuana clubs. One of Brown's central campaign promises was his "100-Day Plan for Muni ", in which he said he would fix the city's municipal bus system in that many days. Brown supported
4066-586: The Grant Ranch Park purchase. Future generations will praise your leadership and foresight in making possible this great public park for the people of the South Bay Area. The public will long remember your wise decision to make this park a reality. (Signed) Sincerely, John B. Dewitt" (Santa Clara County Archives: Grant Ranch).The program is still in existence. Cortese served as the Chairman of
4173-637: The Indian Community. He has also been honored with the Ordine al Merito, Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, the highest ranking honor and most senior order of the Republic, Cavaliere Ufficiale, Knight of the Republic. Cortese was one of the Democrats that Republicans hoped to win over when they were struggling to gain the speakership in 1995. Brown had Assemblyman Dick Mountjoy expelled, so
4280-616: The Italian American community throughout the state.Inquiries were received from all over the country. The National Italian American Foundation named him in their 1987 Salute to Italian Americans in Government. During his legislative career Cortese was recognized as "Legislator of the Year" by a broad spectrum of statewide organizations some of which were cited in the August 5, 1996, Assembly House Resolution of Commendation, No. 79:
4387-633: The Japanese television cooking competition Iron Chef , suggesting San Franciscan Chef Ron Siegel to battle one of the Iron Chefs. Brown appeared on the telecast himself. Brown remained neutral in the 2008 presidential campaign. He has worked as a radio talk show host and a pundit on local and national political television shows and is seen as attempting to build credibility by abstaining from endorsing candidates for office. "I've never been high on endorsements," Brown said. "When you get one, all it does
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4494-495: The Little Hoover Commission. He also chaired a Select Committee on Neighborhood Violence, a Select Committee on Childcare, and a Committee on Wine Production and Economy under which he held numerous hearings in various states and established the groundbreaking rule for reciprocal shipping. The NAPA Democratic Caucus named him their 1989 Legislator of the Year. The work of the committee was recognized nationally by
4601-780: The Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District was authorized), the Santa Clara Valley Transportation District (which he was instrumental in creating as chair of the Board of Supervisors and co-chair of the campaign to create the district) twice, and the Local Criminal Justice Planning Board created by Governor Ronald Reagan. He served as the Board's representative on the Regional Air Quality Board,
4708-564: The National Conference of State Legislatures, and Cortese was asked to chair a counterpart committee on the national level. That committee brought legislators to Sacramento from all over the country and eventually held hearings across the entire country. In March 1993 the wine industry ask him to represent the United States at the international Vinelink General Assembly in Paris where he and his wife were also guest of Moet Hennessy in Champagne. For
4815-623: The President's "Windfall Profits" proposal and/or nationalize the oil companies was adopted by his Board and other cities and counties throughout the state. He was a founding member of the California Association of LAFCOS (CALAFCO) and was its president twice. Santa Clara County became only the second county in the state to adopt an ordinance which gave recognized employee groups the right to meet and confer and to negotiate wages and other terms and conditions of employment. He played
4922-648: The ROTC and joined the California Army National Guard 's 126th Medical Battalion, where he was trained as a dental hygienist . Brown earned a bachelor's degree in political science from San Francisco State in 1955. Brown attended University of California, Hastings College of the Law , where he also worked as a janitor. He later said that his decision to attend law school was primarily to avoid being drafted. He befriended future San Francisco mayor George Moscone , for whom Brown later managed
5029-568: The Republicans had only 40 votes when they needed 41. Without Paul Horcher and Cortese, the Democrats had only 39 votes and one vacancy. Horcher, scorned by the Republicans in his earlier election, became an Independent and voted for Brown on the first roll call. Cortese abstained, but cast the single deciding vote on the second roll call with his wife sitting next to him at his desk. Cortese met privately with Jim Brulte , Brown's Republican adversary, and later with Brown and Horcher upon entering
5136-831: The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the San Jose City Council, and trustee for the Eastside Union High School District. The family legacy was recognized when Dominic Cortese was proclaimed an Honorary Citizen during a citywide town hall meeting in his father's hometown of Trabia, Italy. The record of the event was read and recorded in the Assembly Daily Journal during legislative proceedings in Sacramento on Friday, January 12, 1984. Although
5243-572: The University of California, San Diego.The one bill that Cortese speaks of as being his most rewarding required insurance companies to cover the cost of mammograms . After at a two-year battle with insurance company opposition, the bill was signed into law and has saved lives. The American Cancer Society named him Legislator Of The Year in 1988. He also carried the Constitutional Amendment that allowed for state education bonds by
5350-422: The Year for having authored major legislation involving local government. He received numerous awards and certificates of appreciation from local service clubs and community organizations. He participated as featured speaker at numerous statewide conferences including: The California Association of LAFCOS, California Supervisors Association, California Contract Cities Association, California State Chamber of Commerce,
5457-413: The Young Democrats and became friends with John L. Burton . Brown originally wanted to be a math instructor but campus politics changed his ambitions. He became active in his church and the San Francisco NAACP . Brown worked as a doorman, janitor and shoe salesman to pay for college. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He also joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) but later quit
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#17327873033305564-464: The acquisition of numerous regional type parks. Two of those purchases, the pristine ten thousand acre Grant Ranch Park and the popular Lake Cuningham Park were in his supervisorial district at the time. In a letter dated October 2, 1975, John B. Dewitt, Secretary and executive director of Save-the-Redwoods League wrote to then chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Dominic L Cortese: "Dear Mr. Cortese, I want to thank you for your effective action to complete
5671-492: The administrations of his predecessors. Brown was reelected in 1999 , but term limits prevented him from running for a third term, and he was succeeded by his political protégé Gavin Newsom . San Francisco Chronicle called Brown "one of San Francisco's most notable mayors", adding that he had "celebrity beyond the city's boundaries." He retired from politics after leaving the office in 2004, published an autobiography, and continued to fundraise and advise politicians. Brown
5778-487: The attacks. He immediately ordered the city to close schools and courts, concerned over the potential for additional terrorist attacks. In addition, he recommended to representatives of other possible targets in San Francisco, including the Bank of America Tower and Transamerica Pyramid , that they also close. In February 2003, Brown's appointed police chief, Earl Sanders , and several top San Francisco Police Department officials were arrested for conspiring to obstruct
5885-557: The bay to reduce flight delays. Allegations of political patronage followed Brown from the state legislature through his mayoralty. Former Los Angeles County GOP assemblyman Paul Horcher , who voted in 1994 to keep Brown as speaker, was reassigned to a position with a six-figure salary as head of San Francisco's solid waste management program. Brian Setencich was also appointed to a position by Brown. Both were hired as special assistants after losing their Assembly seats because they supported Brown. Former San Francisco supervisor Bill Maher
5992-401: The board were up for election. The voters elected a new group of supervisors that ran on changing the city's development policy. Voters also passed a measure that weakened the mayor's control over the Planning Commission and Board of Appeals. The new majority limited Brown's power over the Elections Department, the Police Commission, and extending San Francisco International Airport's runways into
6099-439: The careers of other politicians. Brown noted that the difference between Harris and other politicians he had helped was that "Harris is the only one who, after I helped her, sent word that I would be indicted if I 'so much as jaywalked' while she was D.A. That's politics for ya." After leaving the mayor's office, Brown considered running for the State Senate but ultimately declined. From January through September 2006, he hosted
6206-493: The city payroll. Brown's romantic relationship with Alameda County deputy district attorney Kamala Harris preceded his appointment of Harris to two California state commissions in the mid-1990s. The San Francisco Chronicle called the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission patronage positions. When the appointments became a political issue in Harris's 2003 race for District Attorney, she responded: "Whether you agree or disagree with
6313-420: The city's expense as a whole. Supporters point to the many development projects completed or planned under his watch, including the restoration of City Hall and historic waterfront buildings; the setting in motion of one of the city's largest ever mixed-use development projects in Mission Bay , and the development of a second campus for the University of California, San Francisco . In contrast, critics objected to
6420-407: The city's relations with Critical Mass had changed. On the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass on September 27, 2002, the city officially closed down four blocks to automobile traffic for the annual Car-Free Day Street Fair. Brown said of the event, "I'm delighted. A new tradition has been born in our city." As mayor, Brown was criticized for aggregating power and favoring certain business interests at
6527-522: The congratulations were broadcast to the crowd. He delivered his inaugural address without notes and led the orchestra in "The Stars and Stripes Forever". He arrived at the event in a horse-drawn carriage. In 1996, more than two-thirds of San Franciscans approved of Brown's job performance. As mayor, he made several appearances on national talk shows. Brown called for expansions to the San Francisco budget to provide for new employees and programs. In 1999, he proposed hiring 1,392 new city workers and proposed
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#17327873033306634-418: The construction of many live-work loft buildings in formerly working-class neighborhoods that they believed led to gentrification and displacement of residents and light industry . Under Brown, City Hall was restored from damages sustained during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake . He insisted on restoring the light courts and having the dome gilded with more than $ 400,000 in real gold . The Embarcadero
6741-445: The consummate politician that when an actor playing a party politician in 1990's The Godfather Part III did not understand director Francis Ford Coppola 's instruction to model his character after Brown, Coppola fired the actor and hired Brown himself to play the role. Brown later appeared in 2000's Just One Night as a judge. He also played himself in two Disney films, George of the Jungle and The Princess Diaries , and in
6848-408: The critics rushed toward court, "someone shouted out to them that the building had disappeared over the weekend. They've never recovered from that little maneuver." During his mayoralty, Brown hoped to build a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers and worked with them to create a plan. No new facility was built for the team during his tenure. Brown worked with the San Francisco Giants to build
6955-484: The end of Brown's mayoralty. In retirement, Brown continued to participate in fundraising for and advising other politicians. In late 2012, Brown became the regulatory lawyer for Wingz , a ride-sharing service. In that capacity, he represented the company before the California Public Utilities Commission , which was creating new regulations to legalize the ability of transportation network companies to operate ridesharing services in California. As mayor, Brown
7062-510: The environment. During his time in Sacramento, he estimates he raised close to $ 75 million to help elect and reelect state Democrats. Brown led efforts in the Assembly for state universities to divest from South Africa and to increase AIDS research funding. He helped obtain state funds for San Francisco, including funding for public health and mental health funds. Brown held up the 1992 state budget for 63 days until Governor Pete Wilson added another $ 1.1 billion for public schools. Brown had
7169-423: The family transitioned into development under obvious pressures of growth, they farmed and operated family fruit stand in the Evergreen area of San Jose until very recently. As benefactors, Dominic and Suzanne Cortese are members of the Legacy Society of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Felice Foundation, created by Dr. Leo Buscaglia, and The Italian American Heritage Association. Together,they were awarded
7276-441: The first Sister State relationship with the Republic of Taiwan pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 40. In i988, he received the Coordination Council of North American Affairs Award of Appreciation for Promotion of Sino-American Cultural and Commercial Relations. In that same year, the National Federation of Asian Indian Organizations in America recognized him with their Award in Recognition and Appreciation of Contributions to
7383-520: The first to focus on local government in the country. Brown gave its library a collection of his artifacts, videotapes and legislative papers from his 40 years in public office. He is also planning to mentor students, teach a course on leadership, and recruit guest speakers. On February 5, 2008, Simon & Schuster released Brown's hardcover autobiography, Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times , with collaborator P. J. Corkery. The book release coincided with California's Democratic presidential primary on
7490-410: The flooding disaster of 1986, Governor Deukmejian signed an emergency measure by Cortese that provided one hundred fifteen million dollars in flood relief money. The bill reached the Governor's desk within two weeks of being introduced. Another measure created the autonomous Valley Transit Authority in Santa Clara County. A Cortese measure provided several million dollars for a graphics animation center at
7597-538: The history of the state". From 1975 to 1978, Brown supported the Peoples Temple , led by Jim Jones , while it was being investigated for alleged criminal wrongdoing. Brown attended the Temple perhaps a dozen times and served as master of ceremonies at a testimonial dinner for Jones where he said in his introduction, "[l]et me present to you a combination of Martin King, Angela Davis, Albert Einstein ... Chairman Mao." In 1995, Brown ran for mayor of San Francisco . In his announcement speech, he said San Francisco needed
7704-430: The initiative, and raised just under $ 1 million to defeat it. The California legislature challenged the law, but the courts upheld it. California Proposition 140 also cut the legislature's staff budget by 30 percent, causing Brown to reduce legislative staff by at least 600. Under current California term-limits law, no speaker of the California State Assembly is able to have a longer tenure than Brown's. Brown gained
7811-767: The legislation that led to the settlement of a major shore lands dispute (Pete's Harbor) in nearby Redwood City, California which had been litigated for fourteen years prior between owner Pete Uccelli and the State Lands Commission. In addition to chairing his own committees, Cortese at one point in his legislative career was asked by the Speaker to serve on several additional committees among which were, Government Organization, Subcommittee On Veterans Affairs, Revenue and Taxation, Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Public Employees Retirement, Seismic Safety Committee, Transportation, Agriculture, Housing, Rural Caucus and
7918-498: The local government building permit issuance stage. An additional measure requiring a basic plumber's tape secured around water heaters has prevented what in the past lead to catastrophic earthquake gas and fire damage. Cortese carried a resolution creating the California Italian American Task Force, the membership of which was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson and included outstanding members of
8025-475: The next year helped improve Muni services. Brown increased Muni's budget by tens of millions of dollars over his tenure. He later said he made a mistake in overpromising with his 100-Day Plan. Brown helped mediate a settlement to the 1997 BART strike. During his first term as mayor, Brown quietly favored the demolition and abolition of the Transbay Terminal to accommodate the redevelopment of
8132-490: The number of vacancies. It was soon recognized that these officers were among the foremost in the department. He maintained close rapport with the local Opportunities Industrialization Center an affiliate of the national OIC founded by Dr. Leon Sullivan. Later the local program became CET, the Center for Employment Training. It was on his motion, after long debate, that OIC was given the community wide Federal Food Stamp Program. It
8239-465: The police investigation into an incident involving off-duty officers popularly called " Fajitagate ". Brown ended San Francisco's policy of punishing people for feeding the homeless. San Francisco continued to enforce its policy regarding the conduct of the homeless in public places. In 1998, Brown supported forcibly removing homeless people from Golden Gate Park and police crackdowns on the homeless for drunkenness, urinating, defecating, or sleeping on
8346-829: The prestigious L'Esprit de Francoise Award from Notre Dame High School, Suzanne's alma mater, in San Jose, California. Cortese is an honorary member of the Civic Club of San Jose. Dominic Cortese served on the Santa Clara University Board of Fellows. He was a member of the International Optimist, Elks, Rotary and Moose Clubs. He was also a member of American Legion Post 250, Benefactor St. Francis Assisi Parish and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Jose, Advisor and Volunteer, Santa Clara County Youth Foundation's Mentor Program and member of
8453-516: The rides, calling them "a terrible demonstration of intolerance" and "an incredible display of arrogance." After arrests were made when a Critical Mass event became violent, Brown said, "I think we ought to confiscate their bicycles" and "a little jail time" would teach Critical Mass riders a lesson. On the night of the July 25, 1997, ride, 115 riders were arrested for unlawful assembly , jailed, and had their bicycles confiscated. By 2002, Brown and
8560-558: The same day. On July 20, 2008, Brown began writing a column for the San Francisco Chronicle , a move that drew the ire of some Chronicle staff members and ethicists for the failure to disclose multiple conflicts of interest. In 2009, Brown was defending general construction contractor Monica Ung of Alamo, California . Accused of flouting labor laws and defrauding immigrant construction workers of their wages from laboring on Oakland municipal construction projects, Ung
8667-469: The same time. Brown opened City Hall on Saturdays to answer questions. He would later claim of his mayorship that he helped restore the city's spirit and pride. Brown's opponents in his 1999 mayoral reelection campaign were former mayor Jordan and Clint Reilly . They criticized Brown for spending the city's $ 1 billion in budget growth without addressing its major problems and creating an environment of corruption and patronage at City Hall. Tom Ammiano
8774-605: The sidewalk. Brown introduced job training programs and a $ 11 million drug treatment program. San Francisco, the country's 13th-largest city at the time, had the nation's third-largest homeless population, at a peak of 16,000. In November 1997, Brown requested nighttime helicopter searches in Golden Gate Park. His administration spent hundreds of millions of dollars creating new shelters, supportive housing, and drug treatment centers to address homelessness, but these measures did not end homelessness. In 1996, Brown approved
8881-750: The site for market-rate housing. Centrally located at First and Mission Streets near the Financial District and South Beach , the terminal originally served as the San Francisco terminus for the electric commuter trains of the East Bay Electric Lines , the Key System of streetcars and the Sacramento Northern railroads which ran on the lower deck of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge . Since
8988-409: The state. Nevertheless, he wielded great control over statewide legislative affairs and political appointments, making it difficult for his conservative opponents to thwart his power. Partially to remove Brown from his leadership position, a state constitutional amendment initiative was proposed and passed by the electorate in 1990, imposing term limits on state legislators. Brown became the focus of
9095-611: The state. He authored key legislation involving the fisheries, water use and the method whereby the State Parks System would award concessions. The latter was especially the result of hearings he held regarding the scandal at Asilomar State Beach in Monterey, California(Monterey County). Registration of toxic storage facilities and underground tanks was part of a package that led to a registry called "the Cortese list". During
9202-532: The system, I did the work". Brown's relationship with Harris gained renewed attention in early 2019 after she had become a U.S. senator and ran for president. Brown addressed the questions by publishing a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle titled "Sure, I dated Kamala Harris. So what?" He wrote that he may have "influenced" her career by appointing her to boards and supporting her run for District Attorney, but added that he had also influenced
9309-601: The terminal is being planned for redevelopment as a regionwide mass transit hub maintaining the current bus services, but with a new tunnel that would extend the Caltrain commuter rail line from its current terminus at Fourth and Townsend Streets to the site. Since 1992, cyclists riding in San Francisco's monthly Critical Mass bicycle rides had used the "corking" technique at street intersections to block rush-hour cross-traffic. In 1997, Brown approved San Francisco Police Department Chief Fred Lau 's plan to crack down on
9416-508: The termination of streetcar service in 1958, the terminal has seen continuous service as a major bus facility for East Bay commuters; AC Transit buses transport riders from the terminal directly into neighborhoods throughout the inner East Bay. The terminal also serves passengers traveling to San Mateo County and the North Bay aboard SamTrans and Golden Gate Transit buses respectively, and to tourists arriving by bus motorcoach . Today,
9523-540: The vote of a few Republicans to maintain the Speakership when the Democrats lost control of the Assembly to the Republicans led by Jim Brulte . Brown regained control in 1995 by making a deal with Republican defectors Doris Allen and Brian Setencich , both of whom were elected speaker by the Democratic minority. Brown's long service in the Assembly and political connections, his strong negotiation skills, and
9630-501: Was a late write-in candidate and faced Brown in the runoff election. Brown won reelection by a 20-point margin. Most major developers and business interests supported him. Ammiano campaigned on a promise that he would raise the hourly minimum wage to $ 11 and scrutinize corporate business taxes. Brown repeatedly claimed that Ammiano would raise taxes. President Clinton recorded a telephone message on Brown's behalf. Brown's campaign spent $ 3.1 million to Ammiano's $ 300,000. The 1999 mayoral race
9737-482: Was a sting operation concerning a fake fish company attempting to bribe Brown; he was not charged with a crime. The FBI further investigated Brown from 1998 to 2003 over his appointees at the Airport Commission for potential conflicts of interests. Brown's friend, contributor, and former law client Charlie Walker was given a share of city contracts. Walker had previously thrown several parties for Brown and
9844-415: Was able to manage colleagues and maintain party discipline. He served as the speaker of the California State Assembly from 1980 to 1995. His long tenure and powerful position were used as a focal point of the California ballot proposition limiting the terms of state legislators that passed in 1990. During the last of his three allowed post-initiative terms, Brown maintained control of the Assembly despite
9951-405: Was also hired as a special assistant after campaigning for Brown in his first mayoral race. Brown is also accused of favoritism to Carolyn Carpeneti, a philanthropic fundraiser with whom he had a child. In 1998 Brown arranged for Carpeneti to obtain a rent-free office in the city-owned Bill Graham Civic Auditorium . Between then and 2003, a period that included the birth of their daughter, Carpeneti
10058-690: Was among his biggest fundraisers. He had served jail time in 1984 for violating laws concerning minority contracting. The FBI investigated Walker. The FBI also investigated Brown's approval of expansion of Sutro Tower and SFO. Scott Company, with one prominent Brown backer, was accused of using a phony minority front company to secure an airport construction project. Robert Nurisso was sentenced to house arrest. During Brown's administration, there were two convictions of city officials tied to Brown. Brown reassigned Parking and Traffic chief Bill Maher to an airport job when his critics claimed Maher should have been fired. Brown also put his former girlfriend Wendy Linka on
10165-410: Was an appearance of favoritism and conflicts of interest in the awarding of city contracts and development deals, a perception that large contracts had an undue influence on City Hall, and patronage with the hiring of campaign workers, contributors, legislative colleagues, and friends to government positions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated Brown when he was speaker. One investigation
10272-803: Was arraigned on dozens of felony fraud charges on August 24, 2009, in Alameda County Superior Court. Brown's decision to defend Ung angered many in the East Bay's labor community. In September 2013, the western span of the Bay Bridge was officially named for Brown. In early 2015, he was named to the board of directors of the San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company Global Blood Therapeutics. Brown has often been associated with former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger , who served for seven years after
10379-573: Was born on March 20, 1934, in Mineola , a small segregated town in East Texas marked by racial tensions, to Minnie Collins Boyd and Lewis Brown. He was the fourth of five children. During Brown's childhood, mob violence periodically erupted in Mineola, keeping African-Americans from voting. His first job was as a shoeshine boy in a whites-only barber shop. He later worked as a janitor, fry cook and field hand. He learned his strong work ethic at
10486-524: Was given an Award of Recognition for Support of Vietnam Veterans of America during their 1988 California Statewide Convention held in San Jose. He is a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow. Cortese is a Roman Catholic . He is married to Suzanne Donovan and has five adult children and nine grandchildren. In November, 2020, one of his sons, Dave, was elected to represent Senate District 15 in the California State Senate. Before this Dave served on
10593-691: Was named Legislator of the Year by the American Planning Association in both 1985 and 1989. In 1989, The California Council American Institute of Architects also named him Legislator of the Year and Honorary Architect. He was asked to chair the Committee on Water Parks and Wildlife by then Speaker Willie Brown , during the period of California's 7-year drought, to act as a facilitator between rural, urban and residential water users including north vs. south, and spent an extensive amount of time to that end visiting those entities throughout
10700-402: Was often portrayed mockingly but affectionately by political cartoonists and columnists as a vain emperor, presiding in a robe and crown over the kingdom of San Francisco. He enjoyed the attention this brought to his personal life, disarming friends and critics with humor that directed attention away from the policy agendas he was pursuing. Brown's flamboyant style made him so well known as
10807-507: Was one of four Black Americans in the Assembly in 1965. The other three were Mervyn M. Dymally , F. Douglas Ferrell and Byron Rumford . He continued to be reelected to the Assembly until 1995. In the 1960s, Brown served as chair of the Legislative Representation Committee, a powerful position that helped him climb the Assembly ranks. He became the Democrats' Assembly whip in 1969. Brown also served on
10914-536: Was paid an estimated $ 2.33 million by nonprofit groups and political committees, though not all this money went directly to Carpeneti. Brown increased the city's special assistants payroll from $ 15.6 to $ 45.6 million between 1995 and 2001. Between April 29, and May 3, 2001, San Francisco Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Chuck Finnie released a five-part story on Brown and his relations with city contractors, lobbyists, and city appointments and hires he had made during his mayoralty. The report concluded that there
11021-646: Was redeveloped and the Mission Bay Development project began. Brown also oversaw the approval of the Catellus Development Corp., a $ 100 million restoration of the century-old Ferry Building , the new Asian Art Museum , the new M. H. de Young Memorial Museum , the expansion of the Moscone Convention Center and San Francisco International Airport 's new international terminal. Brown worked to restructure
11128-400: Was the highest ranking elected official of the newly formed party at the time. There were international media reports of this event, including the fact that Cortese was being considered by Perot to be his vice presidential running mate in the 1996 election . Cortese was born in San Jose, California , one of five children of Rose Carnova, an American of Sicilian descent, and Vincent Cortese,
11235-486: Was the subject of the documentary See How They Run . According to Brown, although he was scheduled for a flight to New York City on the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks , he received a "low key warning" in a phone call from a member of his airport security detail, who advised him not to fly. Brown disregarded the warning and was waiting for a ride to the airport for an 8 a.m. Pacific Time flight, when he learned of
11342-608: Was the youngest ever elected to Board. Within a few days of his election, the local newspaper publisher asked him to co-chair the Annual Santa Clara County Scout-O-Rama under a group of local civic leaders. It was a post he held for six consecutive years. Cortese won two subsequent re-elections and during his tenure chaired the Board three times. He also chaired the Local Agency Formation Commission twice (during which
11449-703: Was through his personal negotiations that the OIC was given a contract to train and place 100 new bus drivers for the newly formed Transportation District. Later in his career, CET, the Center for Employment Training, gave Cortese its top Amistad Award reading: "Thanks for Commitment to Training and Employment of the Poor and Unskilled". That recognition included legislation he carried requiring performance standards as part of job training contract grants. During his first year, Cortese appointed numerous persons of Spanish surname to county wide boards and commissions. From 1969 through 1980,
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