Remembering Ted Gullicksen: An Open Letter from the San Francisco Tenants Union, Ted Gullicksens University of Activists We at the San Francisco Tenants Union, a group that represents the interests of all San Franciscans and the primary concerns of all San Francisco voters, the majority of whom are renters dealing with the largest budget item in nearly all their households, in a city where the cost, quality, availability, and stability of housing and community health is in a well-acknowledged crisis situation, know the clear, positive lesson of the life of Ted Gullicksen and the consequences of his passing. Out of respect for his family, friends, and an entire city experiencing grief along with pride in his work and example, weve maintained restraint while mainstream corporate media and others have tried to suppress the public spirit by mischaracterizing the situation as a fading-away of San Franciscos eternal core spirit of progressivism, radicalism, idealistic reform, optimism, civil rights, normal generosity, and healthy human sharing, replaced (as they speculate) by a San Francisco exclusively supportive of get-rich-quick freeloaders and an exploitive few. We know very well that the history of San Francisco before and after each Gold Rush has not changed—that all the people who live in this part of the world exult openheartedly in expressions of freedom, beauty, and the spirit of the giant Bay, hills, and fog with a mutually-linked character, one that transcends every limited scheme or cycle that comes and goes. Even though some prospector-type speculators ride a roller-coaster of temporary financial gain, the fuller happiness they seek was actually realized in life by our friend Ted, who needed only modest takings and engaged in lavish givings, using his freedoms and exceptional talents to help others, and who therefore lived and passed away serene and satisfied, happy with his life and contributions, never confused or re-routed by those who didnt recognize the normalcy of that path. As the Tenants Union lead organizer, he developed and mentored a strong, independent, well-trained collective. The whole point of his life of intelligent activism is missed by those who state that his surviving collective, its allies, or our movement is enfeebled. Quite the opposite, thanks to Ted; not only are we fired-up with pride over his example, he also trained a large number of others, like the head of a university of activists who would specialize in not being corrupted or ripped-off, instead taught to be as independent, positive, and brave as he was, to look forward to the next half-century of humanistic progress and increasing freedom for all, to make fundamental justice a reality. Heres what we encourage to best honor Ted: his family will lead a memorial after the election which we hope you will all attend, and for now over the next two weeks we will stay focused on winning Prop G and our other campaigns (as was Teds wish), while maintaining with full vigor all our daily counseling services and political advocacy for tenants. We can then celebrate Teds life with the greatest pride, and his family will soon be announcing the details of the public memorial service. (Please save a prospective date of Sunday, November 16, 2014, subject to change.) The TU will also be hosting open houses and mobilizations, so please stay tuned for those announcements as well. With the closure of the SF Bay Guardian newspaper, we also know that it is crucial to keep our electoral endorsement practices and political activities strong, independent, honest, and reliable; please rest assured that we are fully prepared for that too. This, then, is how we will honor our friend and beloved hero, by sharing his love for San Francisco, for all people everywhere, for social justice, and for positive action to reach it. We are looking backward with admiration briefly, then, like Ted, must move forward with strength. Please join us in doing so, smiling and laughing Ted Gullicksen-style. Yes on G!
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:21:54 +0000
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