Speculation & Privatization

By Holman Turner, Jr.

San Francisco is rapidly becoming a city for the wealthy. Real estate speculation and over development are fueling these changes

There are those who would say to themselves: What is this guy talking about? I 'm a regular guy and I live here. The problem is, this "regular guy" can afford to go to a Giants' game twice a month, has a new $45,000 automobile, owns a $400,000 condo and will take three weeks of vacation this year in Europe. Just how regular is this person in comparison to the rest of the country, or to many in San Francisco? How could this "regular guy" possibly relate to the thousands living in public housing whose annual income is less than $15,000?

What are some of the issues facing us? Speculation, over development, privatization, gentrification, criminalization, and an unwillingness on the part of many of the electorate to pay for the government and services they demand.

Before we can ever consider how to get out of this mess, we must be honest with ourselves as to how we got here. Let me dare say it: Proposition 13. Prop 13 has played a major role in putting us in this situation. It was a well intentioned effort to break the cycle of ever-increasing tax hikes that property owners had to bare. Unfortunately, legislators threw the baby out with the bath water. They left cities and counties without sufficient revenue to conduct the legitimate business of government.

Consider privatization. Some of the public institutions that were hardest hit were libraries, parks, and public schools. So how have our elected officials chosen to address this short-fall in revenue? By privatizing many of these facilities and institutions and encouraging the establishment of many of the "Friends Of..." groups.

Far from the glare of public scrutiny, elected officials are turning over public property and policy decisions to private groups at an alarming rate (such as the Edison School); all in an effort to restore revenue lost with the institution of Prop 13. These groups are unelected and completely accountable to the public. Some of their "sweetheart contracts" will run for 30 years; such as the one that is now being considered for Harding Park. And now our water system?

Rampant speculation in our real estate markets are yielding gentrification and the displacement of thousands of San Francisians who once thought of themselves as "middle class." The next stop for them is Modesto or beyond.

Finally, criminilazation of the homeless has brought me to the point where I can no longer sit on the sidelines.

If elected, you can be certain that I will not be a rubber stamp. I will inform you of any government attempts to further undermine your ability to continue to live in San Francisco. When faced with difficult choices in the future, and they will come, I will make sure that you have the facts from which to make an informed decision.