Hope Johnson
Photos by Luke Thomas
By Hope Johnson
March 10, 2009
You Might be a Progressive
You might be a progressive if Walter Paulson sings at public comment for you, but think again when it’s local political analyst h. Brown breaking into song.
Such was District 9 Supervisor David Campos’s fate at Thursday’s Rules Committee meeting when he refused to support a progressive applicant for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
Despite using that horrible phrase “my bad” and choosing a suit over the plaid pants, SPUR Transportation Policy Director Dave Snyder established he is more qualified than Campos’s conservative choice, labor business manager Larry Mazzola, Jr.
David Snyder
Larry Mazzola, Jr.
Snyder’s experience includes over a decade as executive director and founder of several transportation advocacy groups, while Mazzola’s labor history involves a $76 million deficit from union funds, some used for a resort near his family’s property. Though Mazzola has the support of labor honcho Tim Paulson, Supervisor Chris Daly is vehemently opposed to appointing Mazzola on the grounds Mazzola and Local 38 supported Rob Black over Daly in 2006 and engaged in a nasty smear campaign against Daly.
Daly reminds Rules Committee attendees of a nasty smear campaign
against him in 2006 undertaken by Larry Mazzola and Local 38.
Campos’ old guard support deviates from a trend toward progressive values in public transit. On Monday, the American Public Transportation Association reported use of public transportation is at its highest level in 52 years, despite declining gas prices and increasing unemployment.
Clearly, Snyder is tuned-in to a contemporary undercurrent. He discussed diversifying funds for the transit agency beyond bridge tolls (including exploring contributions by North Bay counties), transit-oriented development on bridge properties, emphasizing traffic management, and coordinating SF Muni with bridge busses.
“People tend to forget it’s not just a bridge but a transit agency and I would work to make sure the transit function of the Golden Gate Bridge continued to improve,” Snyder said. “The idea of cuts on the transit system are the exact wrong way to go.”
In contrast, Mazzola spoke vaguely of contract negotiations and said he was uncertain of his support of a suicide barrier, or understanding details of the Doyle Drive Replacement Project. He conceded, “I don’t know too much about the bridge.”
Campos chose Mazzola to provide labor influence on the board. Labor representation is always important but not timely here. And, let’s keep it real, labor is well represented, especially being involved in associated work and contracts.
Campos missed an opportunity to avoid government as usual, to give voice to usable practices for an exploding issue, and make San Francisco a leader in modern transit.
It would be the second time Campos has departed with progressives over appointments. In January, Campos provided the swing vote in appointing moderate Supervisor Bevan Dufty over Daly to the chair of the Transportation Authority.
Supervisor David Campos
If the Chu Fits
As Campos shunned the progressive vote at Thursday’s Rules Committee meeting, District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu proved her mettle.
Unlikely to deviate from the Mayor’s agenda, Chu’s a far cry from District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier. She’s smart, focused, and steady.
Chu countered with precision District 6 Supervisor and Rules Chair Chris Daly’s request to recommend Pier for the Bridge District board, and remains unflappable at the sight of blood (a.k.a. the wrath of an angry Daly).
Pier made it known she doesn’t want the appointment. Chu believes precedent allows Rules to avoid recommending a supervisor who doesn’t want to be on a board.
Daly became annoyed at Chu’s opposition, believing Pier should serve on a board directly related to her district. Chu unemotionally responded, “Unless we are going to impose this threshold for every individual who has said no to other outside bodies, I do not believe that is a fair standard.”
Keep your eye on Chu, progs, she’s emerging as a force to be reckoned with.
Supervisor Carmen Chu
California’s Ivory Coast
Willie Brown plays the budget race card in last Sunday’s Chron.
According to Brown, skunky State Senator Abel Maldonado wants open primaries in California because Orange County’s Republican voters are a bunch of racists.
Republican Maldonado is the guy who had Sacramento’s panties in a bunch last month, blocking the greatly needed state budget until he obtained a measure to establish open primaries in California on the June 2010 ballot.
In 2006 he polled Orange County Republicans, finding they choose candidates with more Caucasian-sounding last names, whether Republican or Democrat.
Maldonado stated, “…there ain’t no way that anyone with a Spanish name is going to win anything in a Republican primary in this state.”
Looking beyond double negatives here, the message is: the OC loves whitey. Well, duh! Who needs polls to demonstrate that? Didn’t you see The OC ads?
Why does Brown justify the Republican’s race card defense? The poll was about race, not party. Open primaries won’t solve this racial divide if stalwart OC Republicans are willing to vote for Democrats over any person of color.
Maldonado doesn’t want to bridge the racial divide here, only provide moderate Republicans like himself a tricky edge.
What’s with this trend of affluent Dems like Brown and Feinstein supporting Republican candidates?
Stay tuned.
Fun Fact
Okay, it’s not actually fun but does involve a clown. Former San Francisco mayoral candidate Kenny the Clown broke his ankle last week. He made the mistake of riding a friend’s skateboard, learning too late the board was too small for clown shoes.
Kenny the Clown
Send him your love: itskennytheclown@hotmail.com.
Luke Thomas contributed to this article.
The Hunger Site
March 16, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Marc,
You never cease to amaze me. Where can I buy a bobble-head doll with your likeness (not kidding – amazingly incisive).
h.
March 15, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Immigrant rights are important, but they are but one steamer in a very large buffet that leads to very full plates.
What I disagree with is this fetishized, hyper personalized version of politics where prioritization of friendships and relationships open the door to horrifically poor policy outcomes.
It follow that someone who is willing to put friendship over policy would cast a policy disagreement as a personal slight.
The full story of what any political participant really represents is revealed by their record of action rather than what they say or who their friends are.
We face tremendous challenges in this time of economic and political transformation. This is not the time for looking backwards to old school conservative labor hacks or ratifying political kinship networks, rather forwards to the provision of an environmentally beneficial public service that moves people around reliably.
-marc
March 15, 2009 at 7:37 am
The larger discussion was on whether Campos is progressive or not.
I think immigrant rights are a progressive value. Is that OK?
Marc, I disagree with your characterization of me and can live with the fact that you do not care for me.
I love how h. distorts my words. I complimented FCJ! Luke does a fantastic job and I hope he knows that is what I think of him. My only point was (for WHATEVER REASON) is when David has done something “progressive,” it was not covered. I only meant that the information about David on this site has not provided the full story on who he is. It is not to disparage Luke and I do not think that was the inference of my post. If Luke took it that way, my apologies, because that is not how I meant it.
Back to my cold, lonely hole since I am just a pathetic human being according to Marc and h.
March 14, 2009 at 11:32 pm
It seems that David’s heart tries to be in the right place but his progressive instincts, good judgement, and integrity of character are warped. His defensiveness and especially his obfuscations are particularly off-putting. Look within yourself, David. Look within yourself. If you do this, you won’t be the person exasperated progressives love to hate and you won’t have to face a long and depressing four years and a brutal re-election battle (hopefully this time without a consternating Guardian endorsement).
March 14, 2009 at 9:37 am
Tami,
Glad you decided to stay in the discussion. A couple of points.
1. The Chronicle has 1,500 employees. FCJ has 1 with lots of friends who contribute. Luke puts in 16 hours every day of the week and you don’t think he does enough? Jeeez, were you pissed that he didn’t cover the Beijing Olympics too?
2. On Honduran minors sent here to deal crack cocaine you are totally contradictory. You lament their exploitation but the gangs wouldn’t send them if people of your mindset didn’t harbor them. You think I lack compassion because I don’t enable drug cartels? So be it. I did enough ‘Green Card’ marriages to make 5 new Americans and never made a dime or got laid. One ‘stepson’ was being stoned in a Tokyo schoolyard for only being half Japanese. In SF, he was instantly the best looking kid in school. That’s compassion. Harboring murderers and drug dealers is anti-social and irresponsible. You think that makes you morally superior to me?
3. I’m responsible for what my government does? I’ve been trying to reform the American government since I was 8 years old. I’ve been assaulted and jailed for protesting this country’s actions for decades. Your attacking me for the actions of people like Bush is like attacking Alexander Solzhenitsyn for being in one of Stalin’s gulags.
Oh wait, I forget, you’re an apologist for Stalin, right?
h.
March 14, 2009 at 8:04 am
Tami,
The article had to do with the appointment to the Golden Gate Bridge District. Instead of discussing that, Supervisor Campos decided to change the subject to the FCJ’s lack of coverage of immigrant issues.
Why can’t you all discuss Dave Snyder’s impeccable credentials and qualifications for this position when compared to Larry Mazolla Jr., a nice compact bit of politics that stands or falls on its own? How about the bus and ferry service?
Maybe Snyder could have the district train the bus operators so that they don’t cut off cyclists, like happened to me yesterday, as the vehicle was turning east on Folsom from 9th and I was headed to City Hall for John Avalos’ party.
You can’t justify Mazolla on the merits, which is why the problem is projected onto every and anybody else BUT supervisor Campos on everything BUT the GGBD appointment.
I’ve tumbled with Daly more than the rest, but at the end of the day if you’re going to attack Daly for not being “progressive” enough and then put up Campos as an alternative given the objective records, then you’ve dug yourself so deep into a hole that it must be very lonely, dark and cold down there.
Here’s the issue on the Ackerman raise. The decision could have been made either way and the court would have upheld either. The meeting could have been held with marginal notice, as it was, or the meeting could have been delayed out of an abundance of caution. The fact that an administrative agency has wide latitude is not to be used as cover to justify the displacement of that discretion to benefit Ackerman over the School Board and members of the public.
The question is what is someone’s first inclination, to the administration or to the public, to the political class or to the successful prosecution of policies implemented by a government agency such as the GGBD or SFUSD. These are not chits, markers to be pushed around the game board, rather real significant, mission critical public policies.
The fact that you were a plaintiff to the lawsuit and now apologize for the poor exercise of discretion against which you brought suit really diminishes your credibility on the matters at hand and augments the appearance that the rules change when your friend is involved.
Mao and Stalin would be proud of a radical leftist like you.
Me, I’m off to the anarchist book fair!
-marc
March 14, 2009 at 7:58 am
“You guys keep reminding me that I need to stop labeling myself as ‘progressive,’ it is like a revamped liberal. I am a radical leftist which is why I keep butting heads with the ‘progressives.'”
So now so-called radicals are sneering at mere “progressives” in SF? I thought radical and progressive were more or less the same thing, since so-called progressives have been sneering at mere Democratic Party liberals. Maybe Tami can straighten this out with a think-piece on these great distinctions.
March 13, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I am going to post briefly;
It is NOT Campos I am referring to about the Honduran minors, it is DALY! Geez. The problem is in his district folks. I watched a Honduran minor get arrested. It did not make me feel good! The drug gangs use these minors like expendable inanimate objects. US foreign policy that exploits foreign nations is the root of all the evil.
Marc, I think you make a good but disingenuous point! I agree in fighting for broad issues, it is the ONLY way to resolve the issues. All issues of oppression are entwined. You distorted my viewpoint as usual! You have shown by your posts how you really feel about immigrants. Or is it people of color in general?
h. you made nice comments to me but then made vile comments about the Honduran minors. It is obvious you do not have a shred of compassion or humanity towards them, nor any ownership of your government’s role in the human misery.
Finally, I LOVE FCJ, but, it would be fair to say that there has not been coverage of the racial profiling hearing or immigrants rights’ town hall. I had to read about it on SFGate, which did a great job. I do not think it is erroneous for Supervisor Campos to note that there has been very sparse favorable coverage of him thus far. Remember, it was thought that he would not support a progressive of BoS President and yet he stood alone on thoroughly supporting the true, proven progressive that should have been BoS president. I hardly think he “attacked” FCJ. I loved the FCJ inauguration coverage of Campos. I do share David’s values as to what matters to progressives.
You guys keep reminding me that I need to stop labeling myself as “progressive,” it is like a revamped liberal.
I am a radical leftist which is why I keep butting heads with the “progressives.”
March 13, 2009 at 11:32 am
Dear Supervisor Campos,
Thank you for taking the time to communicate your concerns regarding my most recent Stay Tuned column.
I must respectfully admit I am disappointed in your response. It appears to me you have chosen to attack FCJ to divert attention from the intended subject, your specific vote against appointing an extremely qualified progressive applicant.
Nonetheless, following are my comments on your responses.
“I write regarding Hope Johnson’s piece purporting to ‘report’ on what happened during the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committeeâ€
My Stay Tuned column is and always has been an opinion column, and is clearly represented by FCJ as such. The writing style is noticeably different from a “report†and FCJ purposefully categorizes it under “opinionâ€.
“It’s not the first time, nor do I suspect will it be the last time, that a Fog City Journal piece tries to paint me in a certain light. Nevertheless, I write this letter to make a couple of important points, with the hope that facts do still matter.â€
The column analyzes actions taken by you at Rules Committee and Transportation Authority meetings. If you believe any factual information is inaccurate, as your statement implies, please be more specific in order for FCJ to appropriately address your concerns.
“Second, while my preference is to support a labor candidate, I am not wedded to any individual candidate at this time.”
Thank you for reconsidering your previously stated firm commitment to the candidate supported by labor, Larry Mazzola, Jr. Your actions at the meeting definitively indicate support for the labor applicant, which is unquestionably Mr. Mazzola, over Mr. Snyder. For example, in responding to Supervisor Daly’s motion to recommend Mr. Snyder for Seat 2, you specifically state that public comment in support of Mr. Mazzola had impressed on you that the “interests of labor will be adequately represented,†that you “have to provide deference to that,†and “with all due respect out of deference to our labor partners, I will be supporting having labor representation for Seat No. 2.†You then voted against the motion to recommend Mr. Snyder, despite the fact that you would still have had the option of supporting a labor candidate in the continued Seat 3 had you recommended Mr. Snyder for Seat 2. Please do reconsider and support Mr. Snyder, who is particularly qualified to serve on this board. If labor wants a “guaranteed†seat on the board, they should support a candidate with competitive qualifications just as everyone else is required to do.
“Contrary to what the piece may imply (and what some of the comments incorrectly note), no vote was actually taken on the labor candidate that has come forward.â€
The column accurately portrays your actions at the meeting, including your stated intention to support the labor candidate, Mr. Mazzola, as well as your vote against Mr. Snyder. No implication is made, rather, the column questions what conclusion can be drawn from your actions.
“The Rules Committee, myself included, has yet to vote on whether the labor candidate in question should be recommended to the full Board.â€
The column discusses your support and rejection of candidates and motions as they have actually occurred.
“While it’s great to see Fog City Journal cover some of the important matters that happen in City Hall, the development in the Rules Committee included, it would be nice, at least once in a while, for Fog City Journal to cover some of the very critical issues that are impacting people of color in this City.â€
Thank you for your suggestions. FCJ does cover a variety of important issues and events that more mainstream media chooses to ignore or downplay. It should be noted, however, that the subject matter of the portion of the column you take issue with in this letter was a discussion of only the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation board.
March 13, 2009 at 10:54 am
“Bruce’s Anderson Valley Advertiser has a 5 star rating with Magellan’s which calls it “the best community newspaper in the country and maybe the worldâ€. Why don’t you like him? Does he ride a bike or something?”
The Magellan’s puffery was written by a guy who was just passing through Boonville and picked up a copy of the AVA to read while he was eating lunch. He doesn’t know Bruce and he doesn’t know anything about Anderson Valley. Like you when you write about anything, he didn’t know what he was talking about.
March 13, 2009 at 10:03 am
Tami,
Sorry you feel that way. I have no parting shots or name calling. You sound like a hard working mother with compassion for all. Good luck in your endeavors.
Rob,
You are what you are. Why can’t you be more like your brother? Bruce’s Anderson Valley Advertiser has a 5 star rating with Magellan’s which calls it “the best community newspaper in the country and maybe the world”. Why don’t you like him? Does he ride a bike or something?
Campos,
You’re a cynical opportunistic phony. The saddest thing is watching the good Progs who bought your facade make excuses for your current sins. That will change as you vote Downtown continually when it counts for division of money and power.
Bring on your attacks on FCJ. Luke can always use the free advertising. Right now these exchanges have pushed him past the Guardian for most comments on a story this year. Congrats to both Luke and Hope.
Your support of murderous Honduran gangs costs lives on both sides of the border. They learned long ago that if they send minors to sell their poison that they last longer as crack vendors. In San Francisco anyway. In short, there are Honduran minors here selling crack because of you. Meanwhile, their families are held hostage in Honduras should they refuse the gang’s calls to crime. All because of you and people like you.
I know you pretty well, David. I’ll venture that you back off and forward both Snyder and Mazzola to the Full Board because of these exchanges. Wanna bet?
h.
March 13, 2009 at 8:18 am
Right wing plumbers built the Golden Gate Bridge?
Public safety must not be used as a political piñata.
Which supervisor sat on the governance board of the SFPD over the past few years and had a chance to change the way that the department did business in order to make the streets safer for San Franciscans of all ethnicities?
Affordable housing ranks as one of the most important issues to people of color in San Francisco, price pressures and lack of affordability are the prime driver of displacement.
Which supervisor as candidate promised that he would secure 50% inclusionary affordable housing out of pending plans? The Eastern Neighborhoods plan passed with a slim fraction of that amount with that supervisor’s vote.
Might one draw similar conclusions of insensitivity to issues facing communities of color by being AWOL on affordable housing as is cast by the supervisor to this publication’s position on public safety?
Transportation, housing and public safety are too critical to the City’s mission to be used as part of the grand political chit exchange while those systems are all suffering catastrophic failure.
The more someone avers that they are progressive, the more we need to keep an eye on their actions.
-marc
March 13, 2009 at 7:59 am
“Rob, how does that disqualify Dave from serving on the board of the Golden Gate Bridge District? I disagree with Dave and SPUR on policy positions all the time. But that has nothing to do with Dave’s evident and abundant qualifications when compared to Mazzola’s lack of tangential knowledge of the issues facing the GGBD and GGT.”
I didn’t say being a dedicated bike guy disqualified Snyder, just that the description of his background was inadequate to the point of being disingenuous.
As usual Harold Brown has his facts wrong about my brother, who has never won a Pulitizer Prize and never will. Instead of addressing the point of fact I raise about Snyder, Harold typically makes an irrelevant personal comment.
March 12, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Dear Editor:
I write regarding Hope Johnson’s piece purporting to “report” on what happened during the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee, of which I am a member. It’s not the first time, nor do I suspect will it be the last time, that a Fog City Journal piece tries to paint me in a certain light. Nevertheless, I write this letter to make a couple of important points, with the hope that facts do still matter.
First of all, let me reiterate what I said during the meeting. It is my preference that there be labor representation on the Golden Gate Bridge Board, as there has been for so many years. As a progressive, I say that, in my humble opinion, the men and women who built the bridge, some of them literally risking their lives to do so, should have a voice on how the bridge is run.
Second, while my preference is to support a labor candidate, I am not wedded to any individual candidate at this time. Contrary to what the piece may imply (and what some of the comments incorrectly note), no vote was actually taken on the labor candidate that has come forward. The Rules Committee, myself included, has yet to vote on whether the labor candidate in question should be recommended to the full Board.
Lastly, as a progressive person of color, I do think it’s important for me to weigh in on a very important point that one of your readers wisely hinted to in her comments.
While it’s great to see Fog City Journal cover some of the important matters that happen in City Hall, the development in the Rules Committee included, it would be nice, at least once in a while, for Fog City Journal to cover some of the very critical issues that are impacting people of color in this City. Take, for example, some of the things that have been happening around racial profiling and the treatment of immigrants in San Francisco, especially in the Mission. To my knowledge, Fog City Journal was nowhere to be found when the Board’s Public Safety Committee held its hearing on possible profiling by the SFPD; nor did Fog City Journal cover the Mission’s townhall meeting on immigration.
While these issues may not be priorities for some of our “progressive” friends, progressive people of color and many of our allies, not to mention the people who are directly affected, certainly think they are important progressive issues that deserve some coverage.
Respectfully yours,
District 9 Supervisor David Campos
March 12, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Tami, Honduran immigrant kids are important but are not the most important issue for D9 or the City. There are many important issues. Honduran immigrant matters are one of them. But nobody wins when one group’s interests are placed above another, rather we all win when we gather in broad coalitions to defend common, not narrow, interests.
-marc
March 12, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Make that “were” not “where.”
March 12, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I am not going to have time to respond any further for the time being but need to clarify.
Did you read my post? I said I raised three children of color, not that I am of color. You are the one with the cheap shots. No one ever said that being a person of color would make one’s opinion superior, BUT THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE would make their opinion infinitely more qualified than any white person’s opinion on what oppression is and what the progressive agenda should be. Growing up a person of color is NOT the same as growing up white and male in the U.S. NEWSFLASH. I find your response incredibly racist and disrespectful. My mother raised me to respect people of color as a core value.
Daly is NOT a progressive in my book and that is all I have to say. I did not know the Falun Gong where a bastion of progressive values, I thought that they were anti-communist religious fanatics!
What has Daly done to help the undocumented Honduran youth in his district?
You get the last word so if you insult or further distort my words, have at it. I got stuff to do this weekend!
March 12, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Tami,
I submitted my comment for publication before yours was published. Apologies.
I stand by all of my comments. Campos was brought into City government by Renne when she was City Attorney. Everywhere she goes, she tows Campos. Because she knows he can be trusted to do the work of the machine.
Daly not a Progressive?!? Puhleeeeze! Daly against immigrants? Wow. Look at the company you’re in with that talk. He stood alone for the Falun Gong. He’s an icon in the Filipino community. Has he ever had a white aide? He’s brought literally thousands of people of color to City Hall over the last 9 years and championed their cause.
Campos has you snowed. You can even say that it makes no difference who runs the Transit Authority? Hey, they’re busy spending the first of what will be 6 billion dollars. And, it makes no difference who assigns committees to oversee this?
Congratulations on having children. I have some myself. And grandchildren. None of whom are anglo I might add. Being personally of color does not make your opinion superior to any other person on this world or any other. It’s just a cheap debating point.
h.
March 12, 2009 at 1:19 pm
The lesson here is that although Supervisor Daly has been deemed a problem child for his poor table manners demonstrated in front of polite society, we can see how one can be equally abusive using Ivy League speak, as they reward questionable conduct such as that which Mazolla has demonstrated with the Plumbers Union pension fund and the “off the hook” campaign in concert with the Police Officers’ Association against the Daly’s reelection in 2006.
-marc
March 12, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Dear Mr. Weinstein,
Although I find your phrase “get their facts straight†vague and ambiguous, I respectfully disagree with your characterization of my column. Getting “facts straight†may refer to anything from outright lying to mischaracterizing to simply stating events in the wrong order; however, please see my responses below.
“First, Larry Mazzola Jr. is not, as reported, the Local 38 Business Manager.â€
The column at no point states or refers to Mr. Mazzola as “Local 38 Business Manager.â€
“Second, Larry Mazzola Jr., is not responsible for any “$76 million deficit from union funds.â€
The column does not allege Mr. Mazzola is “responsible for†the deficit. However, this is an opinion piece, and, in my opinion, the Mazzola family has in their union background this incident for which Mr. Mazzola’s own father was removed from the board of trustees.
“I assume Ms. Johnson is referring to the recent Department of Labor investigation of Local 38. “
Assumption on your part is unnecessary. The reference is hyperlinked to the subject matter discussed.
“Does Ms. Johnson believe that the reports of labor’s financial problems put forth by the anti-union Bush administration Department of Labor are any more reliable than the administration’s reports on WMDs?â€
This column is not a detailed discussion of accusations against labor. The sentiment expressed here by you, right or wrong, is an opinion. While FCJ encourages readers to express their opinions, it should be noted an opinion is not substantive support a stated fact is inaccurate.
“Does she believe that a Republican DOL suddenly has Local 38’s members interests at heart, when they have done everything they could to break every other union in the country?”
This column is not a detailed discussion of accusations against labor. The sentiment expressed here by you, right or wrong, is an opinion. While FCJ encourages readers to express their opinions, it should be noted an opinion is not substantive support a stated fact is inaccurate.
“Where does a ridiculous figure such as $76 million come from?â€
Please refer to the column’s hyperlink to SFWeekly.
“Nor did Supervisor Campos support Mazzola over SPUR Transportation Policy Director Dave Snyder.â€
Approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into the meeting, Supervisor Daly brings a motion to appoint Mr. Snyder to Seat 2. Supervisor Campos repeatedly states he will be supporting the labor representative for this seat, and proceeds to vote “no†on the motion to appoint Mr. Snyder. Mr. Mazzola is the labor representative.
“There were three applicants on hand, and four available seats. There was no need to choose one or the other. And, in fact, no choice was made, as the entire matter was tabled.â€
Your statement is misleading; “the entire matter†was not tabled. Seats 1 and 4 will be sent to the board with recommendation for the incumbents. Approximately one hour and thirty-five minutes into the meeting, Supervisor Campos requests a Seat 3 appointment be continued so the incumbent, whose application was not submitted in a timely manner, would be eligible for reappointment. The implication being Campos may prefer the incumbent for that seat. As previously stated, while appointment for Seat 2 is continued, Campos repeatedly states he will support the labor rep over Mr. Snyder for Seat 2.
“Portraying Larry Mazzola Jr. and “labor honcho†Tim Paulson as forces of conservatism in San Francisco politics is simply absurd.â€
The sentiment expressed here by you, right or wrong, is an opinion. While FCJ encourages readers to express their opinions, it should be noted an opinion is not substantive support a stated fact is inaccurate.
“Finally, Supervisor Chris Daly’s behavior before and during the hearing, including refusing to meet with Mazzola about the appointment, seems to me to only prove the charge that he bullies, argues and intimidates.â€
The sentiment expressed here by you, right or wrong, is an opinion. While FCJ encourages readers to express their opinions, it should be noted an opinion is not substantive support the column “doesn’t get the facts straight.â€
March 12, 2009 at 12:12 pm
h.
Did you read MY post?
I never said there was a designated labor seat? It did not occur to me. I said supporting labor is a progressive value.
I never said that there is no difference between Daly and Dufty. I said it was not an issue. Daly is not a progressive in my book. Where is Daly on the issue of undocumented Honduran minors being turned over to ICE? That is an issue of class and race, that the “progressive” supervisor should have made a priority. I am still haunted by the SFGate story of a FOURTEEN old being deported to either a life of hell or a miserable death. If that was MY district, it would have only happened after I exhausted every avenue possible to keep him here where he could be rehabilitated and given a chance at life! It is our duties as Americans since it is our government’s foreign policy that has made life in these youngsters’ homeland a living hell! Otherwise, they would not even be here in the first place!
As for Dufty exclaiming he is NOT a progressive? He has been correct on issues that I care about and he will be termed out soon.
I have raised three children of color in poverty, so none of this debate is theoretical for me. I have my convictions and I have had experiences that I am sure many posting here have not had.
You need not remind ME about Ackerman. I was the parent plaintiff in the suit to rescind the contract. It was obviously legally sound or the court would have ruled otherwise. It was unfortunate but evidently legal. Attorneys interpret the law, whether they personally agree with what is at issue or not.
For me, the Supervisor who represents a district with a significant immigrant population and has already taken a leadership role in reversing the xenophobic policies of this mayor, is a true progressive because he is working on legislation that matters to the disenfranchised and vulnerable constituents of his district.
March 12, 2009 at 11:24 am
Hey Hope,
Great article. You were correct on every detail.
Lake County papers say the Mazzolas have been funneling Plumbers money to the tune of 76 million since the 90’s. First, Grandpa Joe, then Larry Sr. and now, Larry Jr.. The U.S. Department of labor was after them long before Bush became president. Ask ’em about the Konocti Harbor resort that they’ve been trying to turn into an Indian casino. Junior Mazzola (while claiming the opposite) was named a trustee of the project which means he gets control if and when the project goes belly-up and his rank and file lose their money. Normally, to become a trustee you have to put up big bucks. Mazzola Jr. didn’t put up a dime and the U.S. Department of Labor doesn’t like that.
The Mazzolas’ partner in this is Darius Anderson of Platinum Advisors. You’ll recall he’s Newsom’s chief campaign fundraiser and was handed the development rights to Treasure Island despite the fact he’s never built so much as a tree house.
These are modern thieves and thugs with lawyers and crooked politicians at their service.
Tami? There is NO seat designated on the GG Bridge Board for a member of labor. None. Nada. Mazzola Jr. just used that tact cause it gave cover to Campos to vote for a hack in hopes of the kind of support they gave Rob Black against Daly.
In fact, Chu and Campos cut Snyder out of the process by determining that if there wasn’t a labor seat for an unqualified third generation thug, there should be. They forwarded Mazzola Jr. and billionairess Lynn Newhouse Segal to the Full Board and kept the third seat open for an incumbent who was late with his paperwork.
Campos is a con man. He’s a Louise Renne protege and that should say it all to you. He took over for her at SFUSD and when the Progressives took over the School Board, he OK’d a late meeting to give Arlene Ackerman around a half million bucks to give us the finger.
He also stabbed Theresa Sparks in the back on her first run for President of the Police Commission. He voted for the raptor, Renne instead.
Tami, how can you say there is no difference in Dufty and Daly? Dufty has announced loudly: “I am not a Progressive!” to anyone who will listen. He votes regularly against the poor and against renters.
Mr. Weinstein? I’ve been around here since 1966 and I’ve never heard of you and I read every publication at least now and then from the Daily Worker to the Examiner. Now, that’s not so unusual but I was struck by the fact that Google never heard of you either. Where you been publishing, boy?
And, incidentally, least you all think badly of the Anderson family … Rob’s Pulitzer prize-winning brother, Bruce Anderson of the Anderson Valley Advertiser, will kick off the 14th annual Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair in Golden Gate Park Saturday at 11:30am in the SF County Fair Building at Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. Ain’t it funny how different brothers can be and how often it happens? One a prize-winning internationally respected anti-capitalist anarchist journalist and the other … well, the other is Rob.
h.
March 12, 2009 at 11:01 am
If in fact there are three applicants for four sets, then it seems feasible to support both Mazzola Jr. and Snyder! It is not an either/or choice.
Again, as a delegate to the SFLC, we are one of the most progressive champions of working people’s interests. There are some fine folks from the Building Trades, who have stood up for working people, but I would not classify them as a “progressive voice.” They would probably take offense at the label anyway. I am not going to detail our internal debates but suffice it to say, there is a progressive faction and a conservative faction of the SFLC. I believe the Building Trades do want what is best for the working class, but that there is a difference of opinion as to what constitutes what best serves the working class’ best interest.
I still stand by Campos 110%.
March 12, 2009 at 10:10 am
Rob, how does that disqualify Dave from serving on the board of the Golden Gate Bridge District?
I disagree with Dave and SPUR on policy positions all the time. But that has nothing to do with Dave’s evident and abundant qualifications when compared to Mazzola’s lack of tangential knowledge of the issues facing the GGBD and GGT.
-marc
March 12, 2009 at 9:19 am
“Snyder’s experience includes over a decade as executive director and founder of several transportation advocacy groups…”
This is disingenuous. Dave Snyder is a former executive director of the SF Bicyc.le Coalition. He’s a dedicated bike guy and the author of the failed attempt to rush the Bicycle Plan through the process with no environmetal review.
http://district5diary.blogspot.com/2007/05/guardian-gives-history-quick-rewrite.html
March 12, 2009 at 8:41 am
How progressive is a union that supports corporate toadies like Rob Black, Frank Jordan and Willie Brown?
-marc
March 12, 2009 at 7:56 am
If there are multiple seats available, then Campos AND Mazzola should be supporting Dave Snyder for one of them. The fact that they don’t just goes to show how corrupt labor can be, even at a critical moment when they are trying to pass the Free Choice Act nationally. Mazzola may be a perfectly fine choice, but Snyder is a dream team candidate and everyone who calls themselves a “progressive” should support him wholeheartedly.
March 11, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Editor,
As a journalist who has spent the past 35 years working for progressive and community newspapers I’m always happy to see new and different voices, either in print or on the web. But I’m also profoundly disappointed when columnists such as Hope Johnson don’t get their facts straight.
I am referring to Ms. Johnson’s March 10 column on the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee hearing on the appointment of Golden Gate Bridge District Directors. First, Larry Mazzola Jr. is not, as reported, the Local 38 Business Manager. Second, Larry Mazzola Jr., is not responsible for any “$76 million deficit from union funds.â€
I assume Ms. Johnson is referring to the recent Department of Labor investigation of Local 38. Does Ms. Johnson believe that the reports of labor’s financial problems put forth by the anti-union Bush administration Department of Labor are any more reliable than the administration’s reports on WMDs? Does she believe that a Republican DOL suddenly has Local 38’s members interests at heart, when they have done everything they could to break every other union in the country? And even if they did, where does a ridiculous figure such as $76 million come from?
Nor did Supervisor Campos support Mazzola over SPUR Transportation Policy Director Dave Snyder. There were three applicants on hand, and four available seats. There was no need to choose one or the other. And, in fact, no choice was made, as the entire matter was tabled.
Portraying Larry Mazzola Jr. and “labor honcho†Tim Paulson as forces of conservatism in San Francisco politics is simply absurd. The San Francisco Labor Council and the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, including Local 38, have consistently been progressive voices for working men and women throughout the city and the state.
Finally, Supervisor Chris Daly’s behavior before and during the hearing, including refusing to meet with Mazzola about the appointment, seems to me to only prove the charge that he bullies, argues and intimidates.
If your going to report on events, you could at least get the facts right.
Rob Weinstein, UA Local 38
Santa Rosa, CA
March 11, 2009 at 10:03 pm
As a delegate to the San Francisco Labor Council, I am ALWAYS at odds with the conservative faction, which includes Larry Mazzola Jr. It seems to me that Supervisor Campos felt compelled to have labor representation. A progressive value, too bad it went to Mazzola Jr. I also do not think voting for Dufty over Daly of the Transportation Authority is an issue. Campos is the progressive who nominated Mirkarimi for BoS President and voted for him for four rounds. That would make Campos a solid progressive in my book. I no longer consider Daly a progressive BTW. Campos has already commenced taking action in support of immigrant rights, a crucial issue that needs to be resolved. I still have my money on Campos as a solid progressive who will make San Francisco a better city by the time his tenure is over.
March 11, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I think this is a big “I told you so” moment regarding David Campos, meaning “I told you he was a hack/faux progressive.” Even I can’t believe he would pass up Dave Snyder for Transportation District. Snyder is probably the biggest transit expert on planet Earth.
March 11, 2009 at 9:39 am
Note, not long at all.
March 10, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Well, that didn’t take long at all.
-marc