The Buck Stops Here
Mayor Daniel Lurie's Upzoning Plan -- (second in a series on political power)
President Harry S. Truman, so the story goes, kept a sign on his desk in the Oval Office that read “The Buck Stops Here.” The sign was created by Fred Canfil, who at that time was the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri. Canfil saw a similar sign while visiting the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma. President Truman’s secretary, Rose Conway, later sent a thank you note to the Warden at El Reno for the sign. For President Truman, the phrase and the sign, “The Buck Stops Here” was a counterpoint to the slang expression “pass the buck,” which means passing the responsibility on to someone else. President Truman frequently referenced the sign to emphasize his personal responsibility for the decisions made during his Presidency.
The Recall of Supervisor Joel Engardio was not just about the closure of The Great Highway.
“The issue… is HIM, not a closed highway.”
Patricia Arack — Patricia Arack endorses Engardio Recall
Prop. K, the closure of The Great Highway and the much-too-hasty, haphazard construction — with shadowy funding sources — of the so-called “Sunset Dunes Park” was an ill-conceived attempt to create a billionaire tech & crypto-bro redevelopment playground on the Western slopes of San Francisco. Because the voters of The Sunset and Supervisor District 4 are not as stupid and the bros and astroturf lobbyists think, collectively we saw it for what it was… betrayal.
Now Mayor Daniel Lurie wants to force his reckless upzoning plan with a message-tested name — Mayor Lurie’s Family Zoning Plan — down the throats of the people of The Sunset, the very same crew that just recalled one of the Mayor’s favorite sycophants, Supervisor Joel Engardio by a vote of about 63% (Yes on A to Recall Engardio!) vs. 37% no.
Two things; first, I hate using names that clearly came out of some consultants focus-group. Therefore, from this point forward Mayor Lurie’s Upzoning Plan will be known as Mayor Lurie’s Upzoning Plan. Second, I have spent a lot of time this last week learning everything I can about Mayor Lurie’s Upzoning Plan. I am no stranger to policy analysis, I have been doing it for over 30 years, and while I will write more detail on the Lurie Upzoning Plan in future simply does not make the grade.
“I would like to report a giant, circular pile of human feces on the sidewalk.”
The most compelling 311 San Francisco Customer Service Center incident report in the 18-year history of the SF-311 system, in my humble opinion (John Crabtree)
And no, I did not file that incident report. But I just had a thought, has the SF 311 center always been called the “Customer Service Center?” That seems a lot like another name from the PR & marketing consultants. I will say no more about that matter nor about the connection between my favorite 311 report and the Lurie Upzoning Plan. I will leave it to you all to draw your own conclusions on why I put that quote in this essay.
Mayor Lurie’s Upzoning Plan is opposed by thousands of residents, here in The Sunset and across San Francisco. Moreover, a broad coalition of community organizations is organizing against it as well. Why? Because it is, at its foundation, a plan that incents speculative redevelopment at the expense of home ownership, does nothing to make San Francisco more affordable for working families, seniors, service workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters or anyone really.
Oh, and local merchants and small businesses, wow, I should not forget them. Because they will be totally screwed, but more on that in future posts.
“Lurie’s upzoning scheme is unnecessary, excessive, and counterproductive to achieving real affordability in San Francisco.
Politically, it’s a losing strategy. San Franciscans aren’t fooled. The Engardio recall proved that when constituents are ignored, they organize, push back, and win.
City Hall should take note: Engardio is a cautionary tale.”
Neighborhoods United SF
I received that Neighborhoods United SF quote in an email today. I think they summed it pretty well. The Recall of Joel Engardio is a cautionary tale, City Hall and Mayor Daniel Lurie should take note. Mayor Lurie should also remember that sign that Marshal Canfil gave to President Truman — “The Buck Stops Here.”
Mayor Lurie, like most billionaires, does not like to be told no and he does not like to be challenged. That attitude amongst the billionaire-bros club is a root cause of both the closure of The Great Highway and this upzoning boondoggle.
You know what, Mr. Mayor, we have seen and heard a lot of that behavior and attitude here in The Sunset and District 4. And we recalled Supervisor Joel Engardio anyway. Maybe it is time for folks in City Hall to recognize that you are not always going to get your way.
That is the lesson of this second-in-a-series essay on political power. Power emanates from leadership, and a true leader takes personal responsibility for their actions.
Moreover Mayor Lurie, President Truman understood something that you do not seem to understand, you have personal responsibility for the decisions that are made during your Administration. I know that you have told people that, “we’ve been talking about this [upzoning] for three years,” but in truth, this is your plan, not Mayor Breed’s and you are responsible for it. You are also personally responsible for hearing what your constituents, including those of us in District 4, have to contribute to this debate.
The people of The Sunset stood up and spoke out and recalled Joel Engardio. Now those same people are telling you this upzoning plan is horrible public policy, horrible land-use policy. The Buck for the Mayor Lurie Upzoning Plan stops at your desk Mr. Mayor.
The Buck Stops Here.
john
[not-so-distant futuristic drawing of Ocean Beach, The Great Highway and The Sunset — credit to Neighborhoods United SF]
The BoS are gathering to dismiss critics as we speak. I used the mass mailer petition the Neighborhood group provided to send a comment.
This was part of it:
"As usual this city makes utopian plans with no thought about infrastructure issues. Power, sewer, and most importantly, transit.
The transit system is miserable.There should be an underground for both Geary and 19th. The Chinatown extension should have gone to Fisherman's Wharf with a North Beach stop.
You can't compare us to places like Paris, Tokyo and New York City which all have underground systems which go across their cities. Unlike ours."
I received an incredibly condescending response from Mahmood's staff. They aren't my district but they suggested I read the plan. I replied that I had and I don't run around opposing things without reading the fine print.
I think this will be their talking points though. Anyone who questions them are bitter enders who can't read and is against the forces of good.
After Supervisor Engardio acknowledged his defeat in the Recall election, Mayor Lurie released a statement:
“As I campaigned for mayor last year, I heard countless west side families say what San Franciscans have been feeling for years: that their government is doing things to them, not with them, and that government is not working to make their lives better.”
And yet, here we are again. A top down redistricting plan that will potentially displace homeowners, renters and small businesses, while benefiting real estate developers and speculators, while our voices and concerns are being dismissed.