Newsom Betrays Muni Budget DealPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Oct. 20‚ 2009Today, the MTA Board will review the results of a staff study to expand parking meters – which could generate up to $6 million in revenue for San Francisco’s beleaguered transit agency. But Mayor Gavin Newsom – who appoints all seven Commissioners – came out against the idea before the study went public, and even tried to pressure MTA chief Nat Ford to kill the plan quietly. Which would not be so bad, had the Muni budget deal that Newsom cut in May with Board of Supervisors President David Chiu not relied on additional parking revenue. Without it, Muni will be forced to cut service and raise fares beyond what’s already gone into effect – as riders bear the brunt of the MTA’s deficit. At a time when even the Chamber of Commerce endorsed an extra $9 million in parking meter expansions, backing off on this new proposal makes no sense. |