Newsom Approach to Board Makes Mid-Year Cuts WorsePaul Hogarthbyline‚ Dec. 10‚ 2008The problem isn’t that Gavin Newsom announced $71 million in mid-year cuts yesterday (or as his PR folks call it, $118 million in “mid-year solutions.”) Everyone knows we’re in a bad fiscal mess, tough decisions must be made, and the Mayor’s health cuts are less severe than first proposed. But you don’t address the Board of Supervisors after repeatedly snubbing them for years, talk about cuts without making specifics available until a press conference two hours later, deny the Board a chance to formally have a say (because the opportunity to “vet” these cuts were made by the Mayor’s Commissioners) – and then expect the legislative branch to want to work with you. Supervisor Aaron Peskin has proposed $8.5 million in mid-year cuts to address the crisis, and Chris Daly is moving forward on plans to de-fund the Community Justice Center – both moves that are likely to rattle the Mayor’s cage. But when the City has a shortfall that requires leadership, Newsom has brought this hostility upon himself – by flaunting our “checks and balances.” |