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San Francisco Chronicle
Originally Published June 8, 2007
THIRTY-SEVEN million dollars is not much in the context of a $6.06 billion budget, but it can go a long way, if targeted wisely and effectively.
But there is nothing wise or efficient about Supervisor Chris Daly’s bald political ploy to strip $37 million from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s budget priorities and shift most of it into affordable housing.
Now let’s be clear: We know that San Francisco does need housing. Newsom’s budget also acknowledges the shortage, pumping $217 million into housing programs.
However, budgets are about balancing competing needs. Daly’s budget shift might make an incremental difference in the city’s housing efforts. We emphasize the word "might" because his "plan" has not been vetted by a budget analysis or even outlined in any substantive way.
"It’s not as if I can go after the details, because there aren’t any," Supervisor Sean Elsbernd said of the Daly plan.
What Daly’s funding shift would do is undermine Newsom’s plans for one police academy class, street cleaning and repair, a community justice center to focus on "quality of life" infractions, such as vandalism and aggressive panhandling, and a 311 call center to help San Franciscans navigate the bureaucracy. Daly would also strip money from the types of good-government measures that don’t have big constituencies but are in the taxpayers’ interest: He would raid the general fund reserve for $5 million and take $500,000 that the mayor wants to set aside to cover future retiree health-care costs.
If Chris Daly wants to run for mayor, he knows where to file the papers at City Hall. The rest of the supervisors should reject his outrageous attempt to embarrass Newsom at the expense of public safety, government efficiency, the conditions of our roads and a commitment to confront the pervasive low-grade lawlessness that repels tourists and makes life less satisfying for those of us who live and work here.
- : 2.8
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June 10th, 2007 at 11:55 am
How much more evidence do some people need to see that Chris Daly is more concerned about his own ego and fighting Mayor Newsom than he is concerned about doing what is in the best interest of the voters who elected him.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Daly has repeatedly attempted to come up with some political ploy to thart the Mayor. In a recent email he stated the following to me, I think it speaks for itself:
Ms. Fitzgerald, thank you for your email.
I feel that I must take issue with a basic assumption made in your email that my opposition to the proposed contract with Earthlink is based on politics. It is not. I support municipal broadband (including expanding efforts to lay fiber across the City), because I believe the City is in the best position to most efficiently provide reliable broadband services to San Francisco residents and businesses. This is especially true for meeting the challenges of the digital divide.
Contrary to the Newsom campaign’s assertions, more often than not it is Newsom who engages in the political gamesmanship. Just check out what he’s doing on the issue of affordable housing. Their campaign has figured out that there is a big political upside in making me the bogeyman, so they intentionally pick fights with me all the time. Check out their “community court” proposal — located almost entirely within my district. I didn’t even get a heads-up about it before they launched the idea on the front page of the Sunday Chronicle.
That’s not an olive branch, that’s a switch to my back.
Clearly there are politics here as much of this is being organized out of Newsom’s political campaign. And obviously I have to respond, in kind.
Supervisor Ammiano has been working on the issue of municipal broadband for years. It is most unfortunate that the Newsom administration has buried his efforts.
I will be doing everything that I can to get mubicipal broadband going.
Thanks again.
Chris Daly
“Pamela Fitzgerald”
05/15/2007 11:00 AM
Subject
re: WIFI for SF!
Dear Mr. Daly and Mr. Mirikarimi,
I attended the BOS meeting yesterday at City Hall, which focused on the topic of WIFI for San Francisco. I find it unacceptable that your politics prevent you from working with the Mayor in implementing this technology, so that low income people of San Francisco benefit. It is very confusing to me why you work against the Mayor on every little thing. Perhaps someday I will understand but yesterday it appeared to me that you are divided, which overall is not in the best interests of the
residents of San Francisco. I am not trying to be disrespectful but hope
to address the concept of teamwork here in hopes that something will get through to you. Elected officials should serve the people and show humility. What I saw in front of me are two men that appear to only care about their own agendas and not that of the public that they serve. I am quite sure that both of you have done many great things in the past for SF as evidenced by your comments on your website. This is one more thing that you can do to improve the lives of many, many people here in this great city.
I stated yesterday that there are many disabled individuals, who are isolated due to their disabilities, who would have more advantages available to them by having this service. Yes, the service has some glitches but at least get it up and running so that ALL of SF’s citizens have the same advantages with regard to the Digital Divide!
I am not low income but make a middle of the road salary working for a nonprofit organization. I still cannot afford high speed internet nor can I afford low speed internet on my salary. Most of my paycheck covers bills, food, gas, clothing, rent (2300 dollars for a two bedroom house) and medical costs for my two children. Thus, my family doesn’t have internet at home! Living in San Francisco is also very expensive for
middle class, medium income people! Having a slow internet access for
free would make a difference for my family so imagine what it would be like for those that could never afford it on the low income salary.
Fortunately my daughter attends a charter school that has a computer and internet access for every child in the school! I have the luxury of internet at work so I can live without it at home. My daughter still has to do homework and use the internet at home but even the lowest rate cuts into my budget. I find I have to cut it out of the budget. Internet is a luxury for middle class, working people!
Can you imagine being low-income, disabled, alone, isolated and without a lot of money? Think of the difference having internet access would make to your life? I suspect your life has not encountered any sort of poverty or doing without and it is hard for you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. The glitches can be worked out in the deal for WIFI that is before you. At least get it up and running instead of delaying for many years.
You are only impeding progress for many people and standing in their way.
Please work with the Mayor and extend the ‘olive branch’ so to speak and put your egos aside, at least for enough time to do the right thing. Stop playing politics, which you did yesterday in your closing speech (Mr.
Daly), and consider giving all of the individuals in this city that need internet access a chance for the pursuit of happiness!
God Bless!
Pamela Fitzgerald, MSCJA, MSCP
June 12th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Given Gavin’s terrible record as far as getting almost anything done, I tend to trust Chris Daly.
Murder rate is way up, homelessness is a worse problem, MUNI is a mess, streets are a mess. What is the mayor doing? Taking ski vacations in switzerland with Google execs?
This mayor seems to be all show and no go. I live in the Lower Haight. We’ve had 6 homocides in less than 2 years. Mayor has done nothing, except try and eliminate our police foot patrols. He could investigate the inaction by the housing authority, or replace the director with someone who will enforce their own lease agreements.
The mayor needs to start going to the Board of Supes meeting and working with the supervisors. 70% of the voters told him so. Unless he gets to work, nothing will continue to get done, except by the supes. It’s time to grow up, Gavin, and stop being a selfish brat. Set some goals. Get to work.
June 18th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
hello,
politics can be tough and not so fun sometimes, but our leader, Mayor Gavin Newsom, is doing all he can to assist San Francisco and make it a better place for everyone to live. please respect him and support him in any way you can!
Hillary Theimer
December 17th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Ok…ok…I finally broke down and got high speed internet! But I still feel very badly for all of the individuals that really cannot splurge on this luxury item! I do hope that some solution is arrived at soon for WiFI thoughout the city so that those less fortunate than I can have access to all that is out there!
Wow…have not heard to much from that Daly guy lately. He must be licking his wounds!