Posted on 08/05/2003 11:41:07 PM PDT by Exton1
Lost Opportunities To Show Leadership.
Three times in the last year two Mayoral candidates, and members of the Board of Supervisors, had the opportunities to lead the Board in decisions the people of he City of San Francisco wanted. - Both failed.
1. On May 7, 2003, the Office of the Controller for the City of San Francisco released a scathing review of the Film Commission, and its loss of cash and checks turned over to it by film companies using the City. The Film Commission was so difficult in working with the Controller’s Audit Division, that it only allowed them to look at its books after a San Francisco Civil Grand Jury demanded it. In addition, a review of the minutes of the Commission meetings shows they do nothing but hand out money for film festivals. This is hardly in keeping with its requirement that it “market and promote the City as a filming destination to the film industry.”
Why isn’t someone on the Board demanding that the ENTIRE STAFF OF THE FILM COMMISSION BE FIRED, for at best gross incompetence, and at worst theft.
2. As of March 21, 2003, the City’s Controller is projecting a $347.2 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year ending 2004. Tourism is down drastically, office space vacancy is at 20% (up from 3% in 1999), the city has lost over 10% of its workforce, and unemployment will pass 7%. In addition to lost revenues, the City’s payroll has outpaced the population growth by more than 3 to 1. Since 1996 Willie Brown has added 3,900 employees to the city workforce.
So what it the first thing the Board of Supervisors did to address the budget shortfall?
Triple their pay to $112,320.
What else have they done to balance the budget?
So what cuts have they gotten through?
After Willie Brown hired 3,900 employees the board did lay off more than 100 city workers and got some employees to take a temporary pay cut, which will temporarily reduce spending by about $100 million.
The Office of the Controller reported that the City distributes approximately $128 million in grant funds, of which the majority ends up in the hands of special interest groups with a political agenda. Why haven’t the Mayoral Candidates of the board looked into reducing or eliminating these grants? Why have the Mayoral Candidates not gotten the rest of the Board to reduce City employees to pre-1996 levels?
Why must the middle class - the average City resident - pay even more money to a over bloated City Government that needs to be reduced? The over all outcome of hiking fees will force more business and people out of the City. As Mayor I will combine, reduce, or eliminate departments, and bring the City employee level back to the pre-dot com era.
3. Removing the homeless from the streets and neighborhoods is the number one issue of the people of San Francisco. It was so important, that the majority of the people voted for a proposition to reduce the money given to the homeless. Because San Francisco gives away more money to indigents than any other city in the country, we actually attract homeless to the City. By reducing the money handed out, the voters realized that this would reduce the number of indigents coming and living in the City.
Since May 2004, when Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay ruled that regulating welfare recipients was not a matter for voters but for the state, and said it was up to the Board of Supervisors to decide whether and how to proceed with Prop. N. What has the Board done, and what leadership have we seen from the Manorial Candidates? Well just walk down any City street, the multitude of indigents is still out there, and the Board is pompously saying that they no better than the voting public.
Three simple changes would greatly reduce the number of indigents on the street.
The upcoming Mayor’s election is one of the most important in the City’s history, for the City is on the edge of losing its world-class status. The City cannot continue to over tax, over regulate, and charge high fees for parking violations and other items, and expect an economic turn around. It will not happen. There are too many other places in the country where it easier for business to operate.
Frankly, for over 35 years the City has been run by liberal Democrats who have created the problems we face today. Do you really think that a continuation of the same policies will solve anything?
As an Independent Conservative my guiding principles are smaller government, less social programs, and more personal responsibility. Under my administration some departments will be eliminated, combined, or significantly reduced. The City should not be the spending taxpayer’s dollars on things that do not benefit the majority of its citizens.
My dream is to make San Francisco the cultural and business center that it used to be. A City where art, business, and cultural diversity blend together like a fine wine. A City where anyone, from any part of the world, can feel at home. A City that the world can fall in love with again, and would again want to visit.
San Francisco can do better with a better leader.
That is why I am running for Mayor.
Roger E. Schulke for Mayor Campaign Roger Schulke Website: www.RogerForMayor.com
Help me fight City Hall by contributing to my campaign though my website, and VOTING for me in November.
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