Feinstein's $16.5 million view in Pacific Heights

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/29/6 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her mega-millionaire husband, Richard Blum, are pulling up stakes on their quiet Presidio Terrace home and moving uptown to a Pacific Heights mansion -- with views to die for.

The $16.5 million mansion -- which sits at the foot of Vallejo Street, between the Presidio and some of the city's most hoity-toity addresses -- offers a sweeping view of the bay.

It's right off what Herb Caen christened the "Gold Rush" -- the final two blocks of upper, upper Broadway, where the residents include Ann and Gordon Getty, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and Mimi Haas -- as in the Levi Strauss Haases.

"And everyone is extending a warm welcome,'' said former Mayor Willie Brown, who hangs with the hill crowd. "They figure it will mean better homeland security."

[SmithL]

Being a Senator must pay pretty well.

[peacebaby]

While the taxpayers who pay her salary live "beneath her."

[peacebaby]

ah, but we forgot her mega-millionaire husband, Richard Blum. Guess this is his house.

[Lawgvr1955]

I don't begrudge anyone being wealthy, but I have always wondered why the richer one is, the more they think they "know" about what is best for us great unwashed.

[linda_22003]

The money comes from her husband, Richard Blum. Blum was the head of Blum Capital Group and URS, which does a lot of defense work. Blum Capital is very similar to the Carlyle Group, and in fact has done a lot of business with them, including buying subsidiary companies from Carlyle.

[digger48]

DiFi and Lurch are living examples of how an otherwise ignorant person can win...er....marry....'Life's Lottery".

[csvset]

Her husband, Richard Blum, is the one with money.

Here's a link to an article about him.

PROFILE Richard Blum

[NonValueAdded]

"I want to thank the little people ..."

[ml/nj]

Being a Senator must pay pretty well.

She married money. Presumably her husband earned the money or his family did, and so I hope most here at FR would think he has a right to spend it as he sees fit.

ML/NJ

[starfish923]

I don't begrudge anyone being wealthy, but I have always wondered why the richer one is, the more they think they "know" about what is best for us great unwashed.

The French said it best: noblesse oblige

Some wealthy think that their money gives them some kind of authority, knowledge and rights.

[SmithL]

Yeah, I knew they weren't really living on her salary.

[ClaireSolt]

Maybe she will retire. Like the dionosau that she is, her perspective on Alito confirmation was to remember back alley and Tijuana abortions of the past. How can Californians tolerate such an outdated perspective?

[Drango]

I actually support her greedy capitalism. More power to her and I wish I could be so lucky.

It's her hypocrisy and that of the other Senate millionaires (Kennedy, ketchup boy, etc) that grates me to no end...

[nmh]

Just another "caring" liberal who views YOU with contempt if you don't live like a queen. Another hypocrite.

[Perdogg]

Richard Blum is the Chairman of URS an A/E firm. Guess who got a huge no bid contract to do the rebuilding of barracks
across the country? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't Halliburton. I guess it helps to have your wife on the Senate Armed services committee.

[Drango]

Can we say "conflict of interest"?

[geezerwheezer]

I think if she and her family want to spend their money on this place, then good on them. I wish I had the money to be their neighbor, but I don't. Maybe things will start going my way soon, and then I'll bug the crap out of her and her liberal ways, but until then, go for it Lady. They earned it and good for them. I can't stand her politics at all, but she should live where she wants to without being hassled about it.

[maggief]

[arichtaxpayer]

He looks like John F Kerry!

[MillerCreek]

And her husband manages the investment monies for the CA public workers and teachers unions. Which, in turn, fund the DNC in money and votes.