Properly Subversive: Sherman R. Frederick
A guy I know who owns a sports bar told me that the price he pays for a box of frozen fries just doubled. The cost of beef also hit new highs. In my anecdotal experience, this has made the over-and-under price for the American staple of a burger and fries rise to a whopping $20 on menus in Marin.
If I may channel Joe Biden for a moment: “This is no joke, folks.”
Now comes egg prices.
Grocery stores charged a whopping 47% more for eggs in July, according to the retail analytics firm Information Resources Inc. Coffee’s up 20%, bacon about the same.
In the case of eggs, this inflationary economy coupled with one of the worst bird flu outbreaks in American history.
IRI data also reports that butter is up 26% year over year. Overall, food prices are up 14% through July.
It’s gotta be tough on mom-and-pop Marin restaurants, especially breakfast joints. So, may I recommend we all say a little prayer for our fave spots – I like Marvin’s in Novato.
They’re going to need all the help they can get. If you can afford it, patronize them as often as you can. Tell them your local newspaper sent you.
NON CITIZENS VOTE?
The idea that non-citizens can vote in San Francisco school board elections is about to be tested in court. The SFChron reports that Proposition N took effect in 2018 and “allows voting by noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants as well as legal residents, if they are a parent of a school-age child and are not in prison or parole for a felony conviction.”
Now comes a lawsuit filed by the United States Justice Foundation and the California Public Policy Foundation contending Proposition N conflicts with the state Constitution’s provision on voting, which declares, in full: “A United States citizen 18 years of age and resident in this State may vote.”
Superior Court Judge Richard Ulmer asked how the defendants overcame that language and they said – and I’m not kidding about this – that the word “may” doesn’t mean non-citizens can’t vote, too. Seems like a weak rebuttal to me. Of course, what do I know? San Francisco has its own unique perspective on the world.
As a sidebar, very few illegal immigrants do, in fact, vote in school elections for fear of being outed and deported.
Keep an eye on this one.
ICYMI
In case you missed it:
– Chesa Boudin, San Francisco’s ousted district attorney, says he won’t run again this year to “spend more time with the family.” Let’s be honest: That’s the proverbial excuse for “I don’t want to get my butt kicked again.”
– Stat of the week: Seventy-five percent of black boys in Los Angeles fail to meet the state’s reading and writing standards. Whoa! Just, whoa.
– CNN reports that when a lit Paul Pelosi was asked for an ID after a DUI-related traffic accident, he gave the Highway Patrol officers his 11-99 Foundation card. That’s a card that shows he donated to the foundation that supports CNP officers. CNP arrested Pelosi for DUI, and, ladies and gentlemen, that’s a good thing. To paraphrase Paul’s wife, Nancy, “No one is above the law, not even the husband of the Speaker of the House.”
INTERNET FINDS
This cool picture of Marin luminaries crossed my Facebook feed. It was posted by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart in the center, flanked by Bill Walton and former U.S. Sen. (and better known as an SNL comedian) Al Franken. (Walton is the ever-so-slightly taller one.)
ONE MORE THING
– Today is National Underwear Day. I hope it didn’t creep up on you.
– Next week is National Diarrhea Week. (Runs through Friday.)
– Until you work in retail, you have no idea how much stupid exists in the world.
– Sometimes you meet someone and you know from the first moment that you want to spend your whole life without them.
I best let myself out. Thanks for reading. Support your community newspaper, and until next week, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
Mr Frederick:
Just read the $20 burger story. Name sounds familiar. You’re the publisher!
Was searching for another newspaper besides Marin IJ.
This morning I sent an email with attachments to Legals@marinscope.com. It was only way to give a brief synopsis of the issue at large in the most comprehensive way quickly.
Hope you received it.
So far everyone feigns trivial.
You can reach me directly at shermfrederick@gmail.com. Thanks!