After an outcry by mayoral candidates, media and citizens, The San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club has decided to allow all the mayoral candidates to speak at their August 25 forum on green energy issues. At the same time that the Sierra Club chapter was trying to right their mistake (excluding all but three "viable" candidates, story here), The Ella Baker Center, registrant and greeter for the event (ED Jakada Imani was going to be a featured speaker) decided to withdraw. 

Ella Baker's message: "After reviewing the criteria that was used to invite candidates to the Green Oakland Mayoral Forum scheduled for August 25th, we feel that too many candidates were excluded from participating. The Oakland Climate Action Coalition, instead of co-sponsoring this forum, will host a Mayoral Forum in mid September (date and time TBA). For this event, we’ll be using commonly accepted criteria to review all of the candidates and extend invitations."

Local blogger Zennie Abraham spins a backstory that has Kaplan and Perata both protesting to the Sierra Club chapter, We don't know about that, but OL is thrilled to learn that more voices will be heard (and we look forward to the Ellab Baker forum).

The email from the SF Bay Sierra Club organizer reads in part:

Dear Candidates & Campaign Managers,

After consideration and listening to community voices, the Sierra Club
have decided to open our "Green Mayoral" forum on August 25th to all
registered candidates for mayor (as of August 16, 2010).  Please see
the attached document from the Registrar of Voters listing all
candidates who filed by August 16th, 2010 (starting page 22).  There
are 10 registered candidates listed there.  If there are other
candidates that have registered (in other words, if our information is
not correct and somebody is missing from the list), and it can be
verified, those candidates will also be invited.

We are going to modify the format of this forum to have fewer
questions so that we can hear from all the candidates.  A moderator
will be appointed and we will attempt to stick to a limited time per
speaker and question.  The event takes place next Wednesday, August
25th from 5:30 - 7:30 at the East Bay Community Foundation, 353 Frank
Ogawa Plaza, next to City Hall.  Please be there no later than 5:15.
Doors open at 5.