Newsom’s Muni Budget HeistPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jan. 28‚ 2008As the SF Chronicle and Examiner reported on Friday, Mayor Gavin Newsom has taken $725,644 out of the MTA budget to pay the salaries of seven top members of his “new team” – all but one of whom will make over $100,000. If the Mayor can dip into any department budget at any time, why go through a formal budget process every year? The MTA Commission controls the Muni budget, but don’t expect them to complain about this because the Mayor appoints – and can fire – all seven of them. Finally, Newsom’s move could not come at a worse time because the voters just passed Proposition A – which gave the MTA an extra $26 million in revenue. We were told this money would go towards improving Muni – especially for the City’s transit-dependent population. Muni’s Lifeline pass doesn’t work for most low-income riders because there isn’t enough money, which makes the Mayor’s all the more troubling. |