Analyst criticizes plan by mayor for building

In a sharply worded report, the city’s budget and legislative analyst’s office has criticized a real estate deal sought by Mayor Ed Lee.

The transaction concerns a planned 460,000square-foot city office building at 1500 Mission St., now the site of a Goodwill store.

The analyst’s office criticized Lee’s proposal to increase the Department of Public Works’ moving allowance from $17 million to $29 million without explanation. It also condemned Lee’s plan to move only three departments into the building instead of five, as originally proposed. The other two would continue leasing space on the private market.

“Despite an additional estimated 154,760 net square feet of additional space as a result of the new city office building, and despite what the Board of Supervisors was previously advised regarding this new city office building, zero existing city leases are proposed to be terminated and zero lease cost savings will be realized by the city,” the report said.

The analyst recommended that the Supervisors’ Budget Committee put money for the deal in reserves until Lee comes back with a revamped deal.

Deirdre Hussey, the mayor’s spokeswoman, defended the proposal in a written statement. She said the new building will provide a one-stop shop for property-related planning and permitting because it will house the Department of Public Works, the Planning Department and the Department of Building Inspection.

It will “help the city achieve its goal of becoming more efficient and effective through a permit center featuring premier customer service,” Hussey said.

But while Lee’s plan gives Public Works and the Planning Department more space than originally allocated, it cuts out the San Francisco Health Service System and the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System. They would continue leasing space at an annual rent of approximately $2.3 million.

The report says that is inconsistent with the information given the Board of Supervisors in previous years.

City Administrator Naomi Kelly said the deal is a work in progress.

“The thing is not etched in stone that it will only be these three tenants in the building,” she said. “We still have time to deal with the market and see how we can get out of leases in the Civic Center.”

The Budget Committee will take up the legislation Thursday.

— Emily Green It’s in the cards: Every public school student will now get something new: a library card. But this one’s marked “the scholar card.”

The San Francisco Unified School District has partnered with the Public Library to give the exclusive youth library card to more than 55,000 students in 130 schools. They can go online to pick their own design.

“The library is a sanctuary for students and supports the values of equity, inclusion and community,” said City Librarian Luis Herrera. “We look forward to providing students with free access to limitless learning resources.”

Those who have lost books in the past will have the fees wiped from their cards. Youth cards currently do not rack up overdue fines.

— Lizzie Johnson