Leno on Newsom's budget cutsAssemblymember Mark Leno, who is challenging state Sen. Carole Migden in the June primary, responded this afternoon to our editorial on Newsom's budget cuts.
Migden responded earlier today.
Here's Leno's statement:
Dear Bay Guardian Editors,
You are absolutely right to assert that the Federal Government has turned its back on urban America and the Governor’s repeal of the Vehicle License Fee (VLF) has left our City in extremely challenged fiscal health. I agree with you, Tim, that new revenue is needed for the City. Current state law gives local government few options.
For that reason I have and am presently authoring legislation to bring more local control to our revenue streams, so that we can guarantee that San Francisco’s budget is not balanced on the backs of those who can least afford it.
In 2005, I authored AB 799, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, SF Labor Council, Board of Supervisors and the Mayor, which would have allowed San Francisco voters to restore their own VLF which would have brought approximately 70 million new dollars to San Francisco. Unfortunately the Governor vetoed the bill.
I brought the bill back in 2007 as AB 1590. Unfortunately, it got held up in the Senate. I am working with all four co-sponsors to shake it loose this year.
Back in 2003, when cities and counties were faced with huge cuts, I authored AB 1690 to bring more revenue to the local level. The measure would have allowed voters to decide to levy a local income tax, which could have eased our way and pre-empted painful cuts to our local budget. That measure, though passed through the Assembly, was also held up in the Senate.
The Mayor and Board of Supervisors have a great challenge on their hands. The fiscal crisis we face is nothing short of tragic. I will continue to use my voice to argue that the cuts considered must be equitable, and those with the least should suffer the least.
I continue to argue that we have a revenue problem, not a spending problem. To forestall mean spirited cuts, we need to be as creative as possible to create new revenue streams. Otherwise, we will be continually faced with Sophie’s Choices.
Sincerely,
Mark Leno
And thanks to Mark for sending that, and for pushing for state legislation that would give cities more ways to raise revenue. I have always been impressed by his willingness to do that and his creative approaches.
I will note, for the record, that Leno declined to say anything critical of Gavin Newsom and his budget decisions.
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Comments (7)
Yeah, I think that it is pretty pathetic that Mark would totally deflect the issue and use it purely as an opportunity to grandstand and promote himself ahead of the election. I wonder if it was intentional.
Posted by expatriate | April 17, 2008 07:36 AM
By the way, I will also note for the record that this sort of thing happens way too often in politics. One hand always washes the other and one endorsement always buys another endorsement.
Posted by expatriate | April 17, 2008 07:39 AM
The idea of giving cities and counties the authority to levy an income tax is insane. One can only imagine SF charging "the rich" 25% of their income to fund the endless "social services" for vagrants and drifters. If a law like this ever passed, you would have hundreds of thousands of people fleeing high tax jurisdictions for low tax ones. You funding source, "the rich" will leave and you will have even less money than you have now.
Posted by Scott | April 17, 2008 10:20 AM
Expatriate: Yawn.
I applaud Leno for his efforts in Sacramento on behalf of San Francisco. I further applaud him for following up with the Bay Guardian. Despite all his work in Sacto, Leno is almost as ubiquitous in San Francisco as the 13 Galaxies guy. You see him everywhere. That's much more than can be said for many of our local elected officials. Keep up the fight Mark. You've got my vote.
Posted by fourteemph | April 17, 2008 10:46 AM
What an incredibly weak response. You lost my vote Mark.
Posted by jimmy | April 17, 2008 03:12 PM
Pretty pathetic. I mean, I realize that Leno is endorsed by Newsom, but that doesn't prevent him from being a little critical of his policy choices .. right?
Any politician with that little willingness to challenge the awful policy choices of somebody who has endorsed them loses my vote..
Posted by Jacko | April 18, 2008 09:57 AM
SOPHIES CHOICE.
Interesting final line in Leno's letter. "..we will be continually faced with Sophie's choices.". My, my, I guess it is toooo much to hope for that he might be refering to the District 10 Supervisor, and her collusion with Lennar, Newsom Inc to gentrify and 'whitewash' Bayview Hunters Point !!!
His tacit support of Newsom's unconscionable corporate policies and agenda might still come back and bite him in the butt. Those greasy coat-tails may prove significantly shorter than he supposes. It might serve him well to follow the example of Supervisor Dufty, who while still somewhat too conflicted and middle of the road for my rabid taste, at least appears to have cut the apron strings and is increasingly speaking with his own voice, though there are still times I just want to shout him down.
NO ON 98 YES ON 99
Protect Laguna Honda Residents
Patrick Monk.RN. Noe Valley
Posted by Patrick Monk.RN | April 21, 2008 12:36 PM