Bored of Supervisors - 12/16/08

Constant Readers,

Last week, ol' Hank (my computer) was not feeling too well. Had to take him over to the Nerd Genius Bar at the Apple store for emergency care four times. Since I normally watch the Board of Supervisors meetings with Hank, I wasn't able to write anything extensive about the meeting. Now that he's back in fighting shape, there are a few things of note that happened last Tuesday:

1. De-funding the Community Justice Center

Last week, all Supervisors except Alioto-Pier, Dufty, Elsbernd and Chu passed a "de-appropriation ordinance" taking away about $1 million dollars that had been allocated to the CJC. (Here is the Ordinance: Download De-Fund CJC Ordinance.) Daly and Peskin spoke in favor of the de-funding. Dufty spoke against.

Now, Daly has this hilarious practice of using Mistermayor's own words against him whenever possible. This issue was no exception. Noting that the budget-cutting directive from the Mayor's office asked that programs not yet started be the first cut, Daly simply stated that, since the CJC is not yet functioning, it should be cut. (He listed other reasons, too.) Here's his speech:

Then Aaron Peskin relinquished his gavel to David Campos (is Campos practicing to be Board President?? or is it just the proximity of his seat to the dais?) so Peskin could speak. He basically gave the hellfire-and-brimstone argument against the CJC, calling funding this program in these financial straits the "height of lunacy". Here's his argument:

Finally, Bevan Dufty spoke with a vigor rarely seen from our D8 Supe. When he gets going, look out folks! He pointed out that this is a judge-backed initiative that should not be politicized and that we waste lots of money bouncing people back and forth between treatment, hospitalization and jails. Here's the outburst that got my attention:

So, here's the deal: this ordinance will have to be voted on one more time (Jan. 13) and then Mistermayor will veto it. How can we be so sure? As he runs for Governor, he needs to be able to parade out this Center as an example of "other-than-gay-marriage-stuff" he has accomplished as Mayor.

Members of the Board know they won't be able to override it, as I pointed out in October, but they will be able to bitch about it for at least 6 or 7 months. Good times.

2. Advertising Ordinances

In 2007, voters passed Proposition K, which made it City policy to limit advertising on city-owned property to pre-July 1, 2007 levels. On May 18, Supervisor McGoldrick introduced an ordinance basically codifying that policy. (Ordinance here: Download Advertising Ordinance.) The Board passed the ordinance in November by a vote of 7 to 4 - Alioto-Pier, Chu, Dufty and Elsbernd voted "No."  Mistermayor vetoed it, because in these economic times, we can't rule out making San Francisco look like a NASCAR event. On Tuesday, the Board failed to override that veto.

 The Board then went on to ban advertising for alcoholic beverages on city-owned property. (We already ban ads for tobacco products.) Ordinance here: Download Alcohol Advertising Ban.

Still no word on when those disturbing old Migden billboards will come down. Please, Santa!!

3. Thanks alot, District Nine

I know it's only been a few meetings, but I have to say that I am not happy with the new District 9 Supe, David Campos. (Campos was sworn in early - on December 4 - because previous D9 Supervisor, Tom Ammiano, had to go to Sacramento to serve in the Assembly.) I don't always agree with his votes, but aside from that, he has been extremely thoughtful, respectful and engaged. If this keeps up, I'll be out of business...

4. This Is Funny

Obviously, I've just learned to work this little function that lets me actually show you clips from the meetings. Look out!! Out of the four hour meeting on Tuesday, the most amusing thing that happened was related to an appeal of the Planning Department's decision that a project at 2626 Filbert Street is exempt from an environmental review. (Specifically, the building at 2626 Filbert is to be demolished and replaced. Big fat .pdf of appeal docs here: Download Filbert Appeal Documents.)

Really, if you leave the meetings early, you can miss some gems.

The Cow Hollow Association wanted to designate the building historic, in part because George Habenicht, a photographer, was the first building owner. In describing why Habenicht was not important enough to warrant a "historical resource" designation, consultant Chris VerPlank basically called Habenicht an unexceptional douchebag.

--Melissa

Comments

[kwk]

re: "consultant Chris VerPlank basically called Habenicht an unexceptional douchebag."

The implication being that had Habenicht been an "exceptional douchebag" the building would be of historical significance.

/kim

[Be_Devine]

Watch out, Oprah. Melissa is now a multimedia media mogul! Love it!

Did you infect Hank with a virus when you were sick?

[sfmike]

So Habenicht was the Drew Altizer of his time? That's very funny. Love the clips, it's a great service for people to be able to actually see the "highlights" of Board of Supervisors meetings for themselves.

Having said that, I find it almost impossible to believe a word that Supervisor Dufty ever says about anything. First off, he was raised politically as the "community liaison" who ushered people in to Willie Brown's monthly "Little People Kissing The Ring and Talking to the Godfather Mayor" sessions. (It's before your time here, but ask around.) Secondly, his odd mixture of sanctimony and corruption gives me the creepy-crawlies. It's almost enough to induce gay shame.

[Sweet Melissa]

@kwk - Precisely!

@Be_Devine - Probably. He and I spend far too much time together.

@sfMike - I'm glad it's only "almost" - I'd hate for any gay shame to come from something I've posted!