Democrats’ allies accuse leaders of punting power
Labor leaders and advocates for social services that have borne the brunt of recent state budget cuts are ripped over legislative leaders Darrell Steinberg and John Pérez’s out-the-gate pledge not to raise taxes, even though it looks like the Democrats will have supermajorities in both houses.
No one will talk on the record, but the feeling is, “We finally get the power, and you guys already give it up?” As for Gov. Jerry Brown? “I’ve already said that the only way to raise taxes is to ask the people,” Brown said.
So, if the new supermajority passes a tax, will he veto it?
“Well, we’re not into the threat game,” Brown said. “This a time of celebration and coming together.”
What may happen are deals where tax loopholes get closed or fees raised in exchange for reforms in the state’s environmental and workplace regulations. Sweet tooth: Thanks to a $4 million campaign — and a little inadvertent help from President Obama — the beverage industry crushed the closely watched, penny-anounce soda-tax ballot measure in Richmond.
The African American community turned out in near-record numbers for Obama in Richmond, and polls showed most intended to vote “no” on the tax to fight obesity.
Given Michelle Obama’s push for healthier food choices to reduce childhood obesity, the irony wasn’t lost on Richmond councilman and retired cardiologist Jeff Ritterman, the tax’s main backer.
“The disappointment for us in Richmond is that some African American and Latino leaders haven’t understood that the soda tax will improve the health of their community members,” Ritterman said.
Mark Mosher, whose San Francisco consulting firm Barnes, Mosher, Whitehurst and Lauder ran the anti-sodatax campaign, said Ritterman’s predominantly white Richmond Progressive Alliance didn’t help its cause with flyers declaring that obesity kills more people in Richmond than homicides.
As one elderly African American focus group member told Mosher’s campaign, “The biggest problem isn’t sugar — it’s lead, as in bullets.” Mirkarimi mash: Andrea Shorter, a longtime member of San Francisco’s Commission on the Status of Women and chief masher of Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, tells us, “I can’t walk down the street without people asking, ‘When’s the recall going to start?’ ”
Maybe soon — or maybe never.
Recalls are costly, and they take a lot of time and energy.
Besides, there may be another way to deal with Mirkarimi — death by a thousand cuts.
Four supervisors — Christina Olague, John Avalos, David Campos and Jane Kim — voted to buck Mayor Ed Lee’s call for Mirkarimi’s removal after the sheriff pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment in connection with a New Year’s Eve fight with his wife.
Olague just lost her seat, thanks in part to a campaign by the anti-domestic-violence coalition. And if the mayor starts stripping the sheriff of some of his duties, like overseeing domestic-violence programs, the remaining three supervisors will have a choice: Fall in line, or risk becoming the next Olague.
Mirkarimi tells us he isn’t paying attention to the recall buzz and is instead focused on programs for veterans in the jail.
As for Olague’s defeat in his old district, Mirkarimi said, “It’s a lot more complicated than people are making it out.”
As he sees it, Olague lost for a number of reasons, including being seen as too close to Lee and former Mayor Willie Brown. Party line: Tosca on Columbus was where those who like to think of themselves as San Francisco’s new power elites gathered on election night.
Tech angel-funder Ron Conway hosted a private party for the mayor and a few dozen of their political friends. No press was allowed. But then, the celebration for Conway and his pals was a bit muted. Yes, they won the techfriendly tax change they wanted, and they helped take out Supervisor Christina Olague. But they also dropped a record $1 million into their attempt to knock off Supervisor Eric Mar, who sailed to victory. Port update: Port of Oakland officials finally released an unredacted copy of a receipt from a Houston strip club Friday confirming what we reported two weeks ago — that agency boss Omar Benjamin was listed as being a party guest there with his top deputy.
Benjamin insisted he didn’t recall being at the Treasures club back in 2008, even though his name appeared on the $4,500 receipt submitted to the port for reimbursement by his deputy, Maritime Director James Kwon.
Kwon says Benjamin not only was there, but asked him to pick up the tab for his boss — which, if true, would be a violation of Port policy.
The port’s commission has placed both men on paid administrative leave pending completion of an ongoing investigation. And finally: Mitt Romney’s loss could be California’s gain.
Romney’s son Matt told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he expects his parents to spend a lot more time at their La Jolla vacation home — which, if rebuilt as planned, will feature elevators for the cars.
They call the home Fin De La Senda — which is Spanish for “end of the road.’’