Newsom’s Feud With Progressives Dominates June Ballot HandbookPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Mar. 21‚ 2008In recent months, Mayor Gavin Newsom has antagonized the progressive Board of Supervisors – and it’s on full display by reading the Voter Pamphlet for the June 2008 elections. The Mayor and progressives are on opposite sides of the two Bayview initiatives (Propositions F and G), but the bigger surprise is how Newsom and his Downtown allies are aggressively opposing Proposition E – a modest amendment to the PUC Commission. Prop E has broad ideological support among Supervisors, but the ballot arguments against it claim it’s another progressive “power grab.” Meanwhile, there is broad consensus across the spectrum to support the school parcel tax (Prop A), retiree health benefit reform (Prop B), and more diversity on commissions (Prop D.) But Newsom’s public feud with the Board will dominate the June ballot’s more contested fights. |