Mayor Holds Up Housing Funds Despite Veto-Proof Vote at the BoardPaul Hogarthbyline‚ May. 31‚ 2007Two weeks ago, I questioned whether it makes sense to challenge Newsom for re-election this November. He’s a very popular Mayor who will be hard to beat, and we can still pass most of our agenda because the Supervisors often have eight votes to override a veto. So when the Board passed the $28 million housing supplemental on May 1st by an 8-3 vote, I expected it would become a reality. But in a shameful display of arrogance, Newsom allowed it to become law without his signature, but said that his Administration will simply not spend the money. In other words, it was a “non-veto” veto. While the Mayor has snubbed the voters this year on Question Time, here Newsom has defied democracy on a far more serious and substantive matter. $28 million for affordable housing could mean a real difference in the lives of people, and advocates who worked so hard to get it passed should be outraged and demanding answers from the Mayor’s Office. |