even a blog about graffiti/fat people/booze/premarital sex/drugs/dancing/fluffy dogs/urinating on couches needs to be serious once in a while
Multiple sources tell us that progressive Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi is preparing to announce a run for mayor. One source, a Valencia Street business owner, tells us Mirkarimi was on Valencia Friday night talking to a group of residents about his planned campaign. The business owner noted Mirkarimi was "wearing a very slick suit" and "looked like a fashionable heir to Gavin Newsom."
The second source, a person currently volunteering for the Supervisor's organization, said that she and other volunteers are expecting paid contracts once he formally declares his candidacy for the office.
Now, this isn't a blog dedicated to city politics (we recommend checking out SFist, The Snitch, and Greg Dewar's blog for such things), but we mention this because Mirkarimi is the first interesting candidate set to throw his hat in the ring. He's similar to Gavin's 2003 mayoral rival Matt Gonzalez, who, like Mirkarimi, used to be in the Green Party, has been a darling of San Francisco's progressive community, and really, really likes weed.
However, Mirkarimi has already taken steps to avoid some of the pitfalls of the Gonzalez mayoral campaign. Whereas Gonzalez narrowly lost to Newsom largely because the Democratic party, fearing a Green mayor, threw a lot of money and weight (Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson) behind Newsom, Mirkarimi has already abandoned the party he helped found in favor of the Dems. He has also worked to rebrand himself as a more pragmatic, less-tempermental progressive following his ill-fated 2009 run for Board of Supervisor President, which left him exposed as having both a bad temper and a poor management style.
Additionally, Mirkarimi's recent support of saving KUSF was a brilliant way to bring a large group of student activists, whom were instrumental in relative success of Gonzalez's 2003 run, into his campaign prior to a formal announcement. That's not to say he wouldn't have taken up the cause anyway--I'm not that cynical--but rather it was a strategic way to spend his limited time.
If Mirkarimi is able to successfully rally his base, the mayoral race will likely come down to Mirkarimi vs. David Chiu (who hasn't announced his candidacy but is expected to run) or Dennis Herrera. Either match-up will look a lot like Newsom vs. Gonzalez, with the progressive community split between economic classes (tenants, students, the Dolores Park crowd, and die hard liberals vs. business, older people, and conservatives with no other options). Will he be able to pull it off? I'm no pollster, but if he manages to minimize concerns over his temper, we might be able to get a mayor who can do more than wear a suit well.
Previously on Uptown Almanac
Following last week's announcement that the Recreation and Parks Department is looking to layoff 71 employees, Uptown Almanac has learned that the department has hired a public relations firm to coordinate community meetings, synthesize public input, and "reach a general consensus" with "vocal community members" surrounding the Dolores Park renovations and other park improvements to be completed as part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. The firm, Davis & Associates Communications, signed their contract "more than a month ago," according to a representative of the agency who identified herself only as "Tina."
"We are the communications and outreach consultants for the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Park Bond."
The move is unprecedented in the parks department: the city did not hire an outside firm following the 2000 Parks Bond and subsequently faced backlash following a mismanagement of funds and the inability to accomplish goals laid out by the bond, including a $13m renovation of Dolores Park. The move indicates that department expects continued backlash and additional failed promises.
According to Elton Pon of Rec. & Park, the department has historically "relied on no one to do PR work to the public and the press."
"This is particularly note-worthy because it is a huge bond and encompasses a variety of projects. It's just huge. In the initial bond in 2000, we didn't have any outreach support and I think going into this one... that was made a priority."
However, the proposed bond voters approved in 2008 did not allocate any money for an outside public relations firm, suggesting they have already misappropriated funds before breaking any ground. According to the San Francisco Chronicle and Rec and Park's 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Report (Warning: PDF), voters did not approve any money to be spent on a PR consultancy:
The proposed $185 million parks and recreation bond:
- $117.4 million for repairs and renovations of neighborhood parks
- $33.5 million for renovation and development of waterfront parks
- $11.4 million for park bathrooms
- $8.5 million for artificial turf fields
- $5 million for community opportunity grants
- $4 million for park trees
- $5 million for park trails
- $200,000 for audits by a bond oversight committee
(link)
"Change The Story"
Pon confirmed that Nicolas King's confirmation of the park closure was "correct at that time."
"The problem stems from that this is really early on in the process so a lot of the details are still being worked out. There was some misinformation out there and I think your blog helped to kind of get everybody on the same page, get all our ducks in a row and make sure all the information was accurate."
It has been alleged that Mary Hobson, project manager for the Dolores Park renovation, had been discussing closing the park "entirely," for the past year. However, after Uptown Almanac broke the news that Dolores Park would be closed for 17 months and the public responded harshly, Phil Ginsberg, director of Rec. & Park, told Hobson to "change the story."
When asked to comment on the allegations, Elton Pon responded: "I really don't think that is likely, I spoke to Mary, and she didn't... she said she has not even spoken directly to Phil about this project."
Of course, Pon's comments to Uptown Almanac are dramatically different than the story delivered to the Examiner.
Editor's Note: Uptown Almanac has filed requests through the Sunshine Ordinance with Recreation & Parks to review the proposal, financials, and communication between the city and Davis & Associates. Those requests have not been fulfilled at this time.
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