By Tes Welborn, HANC President
Tim Redmond was the main speaker on the November election, and what an energetic presentation he gave to an energized audience! The District Attorney race has drawn national attention and pushback, surprisingly. The Police Officers' Association's late and crude opposition may have helped Chesa Boudin.
The Mayor had not campaigned much for herself, and did much to support her endorsed, and appointed, candidates, Suzy Loftus and Vallie Brown. Therefore, their loss was also her loss, and can be seen as a referendum on her policies. And the Mayor only got about 60% of the ballots cast. [Some 26,000 ballots did not include a vote for mayor, so the higher percentage vote quoted in media ignores them.]
Tim thinks some 40-60% of Owner Move-in Evictions are fraudulant, and a potential target of our new D.A.Regarding the election of Dean Preston as District 5 Supervisor, Tim says ranked-choice voting got him elected, along with the many, diverse and young activists. There are exciting possibilities now for the Board of Supervisors to set city policies and to move major legislation.
Other presentations included legislation to raise the fee that developers pay when they build, although it is still about 20% of what the city's own analysts say that new development costs the city to provide MUNI, schools, etc., and creates a demand for low- and moderate-income housing not fully funded by developers.
The third presentation was on the Planning Department's proposed HUB development, largely in the few blocks south of Market and Van Ness, and north of the freeway. The plan calls for up to 9,000 new housing units and some 19,000 new residents, with selected buildings as tall as 600 feet, including the four corners of Market and Van Ness! While the EIR may have been certified, the Board of Supervisors may still have a say on this massive development in a congested area.