Volume XLI, No. 5 June 2017 THE NOE VALLEY VOICE Longtime Noe Courts Ready Lawmaker Mark For Its Closeup Leno Makes Bid Fences Come Down at Newly Landscaped Park To Be Mayor By Matthew S. Bajko Clipper Street Resident to Run In 2019 Election tanding in the resodded main lawn of SNoe Courts Park, just a few blocks By Matthew S. Bajko from her home, Laura Norman marveled at the transformed green space. Behind her ark Leno arrived in San Francisco a man was shooting hoops in the brand Min 1977 at the age of 25 and, within new basketball court, while a class from a year, had opened Budget Signs. By the nearby Pixie Hall Studios preschool 1981, he had saved up enough money to frolicked in the grass in front of her. buy a home on Clipper Street, where he “It came out really nicely, I think,” said continues to live. Norman one sunny Friday in early May Four decades later, those same oppor- at the block-long park off Douglass Street tunities for young people to start a busi- Leno Leans In. In public service since 1998, Mark Leno seeks to become the first gay between 24th and Elizabeth streets. ness and own a home are “a lot slimmer” mayor of San Francisco. Photo by Rick Gerharter More than a decade ago, Norman and in San Francisco, said Leno. It is why he her husband had visited the park with has thrown his hat into the 2019 mayor’s top priorities. to being elected by district. In addition to their son, a toddler at the time. While in- race. “I will be focusing on the health and vi- Noe Valley, he represented the Castro, Di- specting the grounds and the kids’ sand- “I want to see a more fair, equitable, brancy of the 24th Street commercial cor- amond Heights, and Glen Park at City box area, Norman began to complain and just San Francisco,” said Leno, 65, ridor,” said Leno. “As with so many of Hall. about the shabby conditions. Her husband the morning of May 4 after pulling papers our neighborhood commercial districts, I He became one of the first gay men to suggested she do something about it. to begin fundraising for his mayoral cam- want to keep a focus on neighborhood- serve in the state Assembly in 2002 and With neighbor Justine Sears, Norman paign. “As mayor, I will be fighting for serving, locally-owned small businesses. the first gay man elected to the state Sen- co-founded the Friends of Noe Courts, a renters, homeowners, small business That is what San Francisco’s neighbor- ate in 2008. During his 14 years in the owners, and immigrants.” hoods are known for.” Statehouse, Leno authored bills in sup- CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 Asked by the Voice what issues specific In 1998, then-Mayor Willie Brown ap- port of same-sex marriage and single- to Noe Valley he would tackle as mayor, pointed Leno to a vacancy on the Board payer health care, and introduced digital Leno pointed to transportation concerns, of Supervisors. Two years later, Leno was privacy protections such as the “kill Filmmaker Tackles housing affordability, and assisting the first person elected to the District 8 neighborhood merchants as among his seat when the supervisors reverted back CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 His Goliath Iconic Statue Inspires Bank Security Guard Has a Wealth of Hidden Talent David, in Brief By Matthew S. Bajko James Grant Moonlighting as It’s not that Grant is inconspicuous. He But the job is just one of many that de- Counselor and Entertainer looms large in his all-black uniform with fine the 70-year-old Oakland resident. ith his short film premiering in late badge and other insignia. He’s a singer, a minister, a social worker, WJune at Frameline, the San Fran- By Corrie M. Anders Grant is a security guard. Employed by a marriage counselor, a retired probation cisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, the private security firm G4S, he’s been officer, and the holder of two advanced Jeffrey Braverman aims to empower peo- ost people strolling near the Bank at the bank since last fall. degrees. ple to confront their inner demons.. Mof America branch at 24th and Cas- “I’m a ‘Bank Protection Officer,’” He’s also an amiable man. Stop him on The 16-minute tro streets walk by James Grant without says Grant, amused at the euphemistic movie delves into the even a glance in his direction. title. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 biblical legend of David and Goliath. Using Michelan- gelo’s iconic statue of the giant slayer as a jumping-off point, Braverman explores how the famous un- derdog story res- onates in particular with gay and transgender men. As the Old Testament tale goes, the young David used stones and a sling to defeat Goliath, a towering Philistine warrior, and be- come the second king of the Israelites. “Every David will have their Goliath,” said Braverman, 51, who with his partner, Ross Camp, a software company em- ployee, splits his time between their homes in Noe Valley and the Russian River resort area in Sonoma County. Called David, in Brief, Braverman’s short film grew out of a photo series he undertook to photograph older gay and transgender men. One of the subjects, during a visit to Florence, Italy, had bought a pair of boxer briefs featuring “the Renaissance’s most iconic family jewels silkscreened onto” them, as a Songs at the Square. Singer Rita Lackey joined Grant James and his nine-piece band at a concert at the Noe Valley Town Square on May 20. Grant James is the stage name used by James Grant, whom you may recognize as the security guard at Bank of America. Photo by Najib Joe Hakim CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 2 The Noe Valley Voice • June 2017 C onnecting people with the right property inS an F rancisco. For Sale Modern View Condominium Just Blocks to 24th St. 394Eureka.com SOLD // Double Lot Noe Valley SOLD // 3BD/2.5BA Clarendon Heights www.22Fountain.com $2,856,000 Represented Buyer $2,125,000 SOLD // Condo Corona Heights SOLD // 4BD/2.25BA Diamond Heights SOLD // 11 Units Russian Hill SOLD // Off Market Sale Noe Valley Represented Buyer $2,188,888 Represented Buyer $2,240,000 Represented Buyer $6,300,000 Represented Buyer $4,700,000 I love where I live. I love what I do. And I will work hard to earn your business! 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Commuters: easy room down, and 438A-14thStreet freeway and shared garden. .com BART access! 321-Page.com Offered at $699,000 48Whittier.com Offered at $1,195,000 Ron Wong 415.517.1405 Offered at $598,000 Donna Cooper 415.375.0208 Mike Tekulsky 415.531.1301 Stephanie Ahlberg 415.321.4232 Wed be delighted to talk to you about properties in Noe Valley or in any part of the City! Diana Don Luis J.