Budget Battle is Proxy Fight for Mayor’s RacePaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jun. 11‚ 2007Mayor Newsom’s recent behavior in the budget fight can only mean one thing – he’s upset that Supervisor Chris Daly won’t run against him. After refusing to spend Daly’s affordable housing package that a veto-proof majority of the Supervisors passed, Newsom submitted a budget last week that specifically de-appropriated the money (see page 329.) Daly then made a motion, seconded by Tom Ammiano, to restore the $33 million – as well as to restore $4 million in proposed cuts to public health – by removing some of the Mayor’s new projects, like Community Courts and the 311 center. In a hysterical press release, Newsom reacted by calling it “the most transparent move in recent San Francisco history,” and urged other Supervisors not to “jump off this cliff.” Meanwhile, the Mayor’s budget only provides a 2.4% cost-of-living adjustment for non-profit employees who contract with the City, although they get paid substantially less than City workers. But based on a favorable response after non-profit employees lobbied the Supervisors on June 7th, it looks like at least that part of the budget will be spared from partisan politics. The Supervisors will push the Mayor to up non-profit salaries an extra percentage point or two. |