Mayor Newsom’s Unfinished AgendaRandy Shawbyline‚ Nov. 27‚ 2006As San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom heads into his re-election year, many of his top priorities remain unfulfilled. The San Francisco Chronicle is focusing so intently on the Mayor’s social life that it is easy to forget that Newsom had unveiled a very ambitious agenda, one that went well beyond his work on the 49ers stadium. Remember when the Mayor played basketball in Bayview-Hunters Point and vowed to improve the neighborhood? When he said he was committed to changing the “culture” of the San Francisco Police Department? And what about the city’s homicide rate, which the Mayor said should subject him to a recall if not reduced? The Mayor also said he would take action to stem the exodus of families with children from the city---has he fulfilled this pledge? Evaluating the entire Newsom record requires multiple pieces, but our early sense is that the Mayor has prevented a sense of voter grievance from emerging around the "incumbent unseating" issues of Muni, homelessness, housing and the quality of life in neighborhoods. But much of his overall agenda remains unfinished. |