Constant Readers,
I am told that the quotes are the best part of my weekly Board postings. So, Ima include more of them in today's installment. Enjoy! (And special thanks to Supervisor Daly for providing so many good quotes!)
I was a little frustrated over just the time and effort and energy dedicated by people in this building, by advocates, and by members of the press over the Sunday closure of the Embarcadero which I see largely as a nothing-burger, not that we shouldn’t do the thing.
-Supervisor Daly announcing plans to propose legislation that would prohibit thorough traffic of personal motor vehicles on Market Street from Octavia Boulevard to Justin Herman plaza seven days a week - restricting it to public transit and bicyclists, etc. Actually, it's more of a veggie-nothing-burger-with-sprouts.
Oh please, like y’all aren’t gonna watch it….
One of the little quirks I love about SF politics is that there is nothing out of the ordinary about looking at the Board of Supervisors agenda and seeing resolutions about things like astrology, exchange rates, historical grievances of the Armenians or San Francisco foreign policy.
And so, when I saw the resolution introduced by Supervisor Ammiano declaring August 8, 2008 (08/08/08, get it?) “Burma Day,” I didn’t pay much attention. (Here: Download burma_day.pdf.) Last week when Supervisor Chu requested a continuance of the item for a week, I made a mental note.
In Tuesday’s Board meeting, Supervisors Alioto-Pier, Chu and Elsbernd voted against the resolution.
Why? No love for the downtrodden Burmese?
Actually, it prolly has more to do with the fact that the resolution contains a provision asking the President to boycott the Olympic opening ceremonies.
The resolution passed. You're welcome, people of Burma. And Fox News.
Are you sure you want to do this?
On Tuesday’s agenda was a motion by Supervisor Elsbernd to remove Supervisor Daly’s affordable housing set-aside Charter amendment from November’s ballot. Supervisor Elsbernd said he introduced the motion because, at the time the Board voted to place the proposal on the ballot the anticipated budget shortfall for 2009-2010 was $46 million. Now that the Board has jiggered with the budget, that deficit will be $250 million. And if this amendment passes, the deficit will balloon to $280-$300 million.
Silly me. I thought it might have something to do with last week’s attempt by Supervisor Daly to remove all set-asides from the Charter. Supervisors McGoldrick, Ammiano and Peskin each talked about the evils of budgetary set-asides before voting to keep the proposal on the ballot. (Elsbernd's motion failed.)
Their “rationale”? Set-asides are bad. But if we are gonna have them, let’s add this really good one.
My crazy uncle says the same thing about guns. Don't make no sense when he says it, neither.
And speaking of fiscal responsibility…
I haven’t voted against anything yet today. – Supervisor Daly
It’s only 3:09 [pm]. – Supervisor Peskin
McGoldrick’s proposal to fund the Community Justice Center passed by a vote of 7 to 3 with Supervisors Ammiano, Daly and Mirkarimi voting “no.” (Sandoval was “excused” again.) But not before Daly tried (for the second time) to amend the proposal to prohibit the CJC from hearing crimes “related to the state of homelessness” like sleeping in a car.
Daly’s amendment, while supported by Ammiano, Dufty, Mirkarimi and Peskin, did not have the 6 votes needed to pass. Bless his heart.
I can’t wait until we have a new Board of Supervisors that can eliminate the CJC in next year’s budget.
– Supervisor Daly in the special Budget and Finance Committee hearing yesterday morning. A reference to his stated strategy to use the DCCC to help get more progressives on the Board?
I’ll be at the DCCC elections tonight. Should be vewy intewesting…
--Melissa
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