Long before George Moscone created a new San Francisco, through his efforts of bringing "new guard" San Franciscans - Asian, African American, and gays - into the city government instead of, just, the "old guard" who had run the city for decades, George Moscone was a Californian with incredible vision for the future.

He was born George Richard Moscone, in San Francisco on November 24, 1929. Three days, following his 49th birthday, Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were gunned down by another (former) supervisor, Dan White, a former San Francisco Police officer.

His parents were average people, his mom was a homemaker, and his father was a milk truck driver. 1960, saw Moscone run for an Assembly seat, which he did not win. He was part of a group of progressive politicians known as the Burton Machine and included John Burton, Phillip Burton, and Assemblyman Willie Brown*.

In 1963, he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and was known for his defense of the poor, racial minorities and small business owners.

1966, saw Moscone win a state senate seat representing the 10th Senate District in San Francisco County. He was re-elected to the seat in 1970. As a heterosexual, Moscone, was an early proponent of gay rights, backed the California Clean Air Act, championed a school lunch program for California schools, and supported Proposition 20 - the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act.

I worked as Alameda County (California) coordinator for the YES on 20 campaign. That was in 1972. Proposition 20 won. It was the precursor to what would become the California Coastal Commission. And, although, I only met Mr. Moscone once, I, remember he being a person, I liked immediately. And, when Proposition 20 won - (I think it was one of the very first initiatives of its type to win) I remember the personal note George Moscone sent to me, hand written and personal.

And, I remember, November 27, 1978.

Without George Richard Moscone many things we assume as standards would never have come to be.
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other related articles:
* Willie's World - November 29, 2008
George Moscone empowered S.F.'s diversity:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/29/BAGA14DQLT.DTL
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