NEWSOM CALLS FOR IMMEDATE ACTION REGARDING TREASURE ISLAND

Thursday, October 13, 2005

From the Mayor's Office of Communications

Joint Statement from Mayor Newsom and Treasure Island Development Authority Board President Claudine Cheng

“The redevelopment and operation of Treasure Island is vitally important to the City – it is our highest priority to ensure that Treasure Island is managed properly and effectively.

In light of the recent action by the Treasure Island Development Authority Board to release Mr. Hall, we are taking the following actions now:

- The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency has been the administrative agency that employs the current TIDA staff since 2004. Those employees are now working under the interim leadership of Joanne Sakai, the SFRA’s Deputy Executive Director for Community and Economic Development. All of the public services that Treasure Island residents rely on as part of their daily life – Muni, Police, Fire, DPW, TIDA staff, etc., - continue in full force and are unaffected by this period of transition.

- We will initiate a search for a permanent Director of Island Operations. It is essential for that person to have the necessary qualifications and the capacity to work well as a team with Treasure Island residents, the City Attorney, the Controller, the Mayor’s Office, the TIDA Board and the myriad other City departments and agencies needed to realize Treasure Island’s full potential.

- Attached is a letter from the Mayor urging the Treasure Island Development Authority Board to require the developer to pay 100% of TIDA’s costs of negotiating with the Navy and the developer and to use those cost savings for the benefit of the people who live at Treasure Island. To the extent possible, these funds could be used for the Treasure Island School, to improve parks and recreation facilities, to bring important services to the Island like a general store, to support the important work of TIHDI, and for other uses identified by the residents.

- We support the TIDA Board initiating a management and efficiency audit by the Controller and urge that any cost savings adopted by the TIDA Board are used for the benefit of TI’s residents. “

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