Will Newsom Sink Muni Reform to Please Don Fisher?Paul Hogarthbyline‚ Jul. 27‚ 2007After extensive negotiations with Mayor Gavin Newsom, Muni and affected labor unions, Supervisor Aaron Peskin extensively re-wrote his Charter Amendment to revamp the City’s transit agency. But in a July 25th press release, Newsom – who backed Muni reform from the start – threatened to withdraw his active support because of a provision that would effectively trump the Downtown Parking Initiative. Bankrolled by Gap founder Don Fisher, the Downtown Parking Initiative is viewed by public transit advocates as the worst thing on the ballot this November. At the July 24th Supervisors meeting, Peskin said that he had always made it clear that the parking provision would be considered as part of his Muni Reform charter amendment – and that he did not include it at a press conference promoting the measure at the Mayor's request. While the Mayor’s representatives said at the Board meeting that Newsom did not support the provision, they did not indicate that its inclusion would be a “deal-breaker.” But now the Mayor may jeopardize the Charter Amendment's passage. |