Newsom Public Housing Plan Deserves SupportRandy Shawbyline‚ Sep. 25‚ 2006San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told reporters Friday that “all of his political capital” would go toward passage of a $100 million bond to renovate eight public housing sites. Board President Aaron Peskin was skeptical, describing the bond as Newsom’s “issue de jour,” and questioned why the mayor was turning to public housing before addressing pothole repairs and street resurfacing. Such skepticism may be warranted. Newsom spoke about replicating Chicago’s Millennial Park while visiting that city, promoted sleek highrises after visiting Vancouver, and, after visiting New York City’s Central Park, he called for a crackdown on homelessness in Golden Gate Park. But the Mayor’s willingness to take responsibility for saving public housing is enormously important. The federal government is not going to rescue America’s largest stock of low-cost family housing. A successful bond in San Francisco could help push local politicians across America to address the problem. |