Petty Political Posturing by City Hall costs SF jobs

Michael Denny for Mayor Media Release

San Francisco, January 26, 2004
For immediate Release

Contact: (415) 986-7677 x123

Petty Political Posturing by City Hall costs SF jobs

Continuing a tradition of supreme disregard for the jobs and welfare of
working Americans, some San Francisco's Supervisors and their political
allies at City Hall have been vilifying Bechtel Corporation, which has
been headquartered in San Francisco for decades. Recent media coverage
has encouraged the grandstanding.

Following a path already taken by many other employers, Bechtel
announced yesterday that it is relocating half the high-paying jobs at
its San Francisco headquarters to the Washington DC area. They follow a
well-trod trail of other San Francisco institutions such as Chevron,
PacBell, and BankAmerica, which have chosen to vote with their feet, and
departed the anti-business local political environment. While the City
and Bechtel are soft-pedaling the significance of the move, this is
another body blow to workers in the City who must scramble for fewer
private sector jobs. Over the last 3 years, over 30% of City jobs have
been lost, leading to a commercial vacancy rate still over 20%.

"When will City Hall put the interests of workers and businesses ahead
of petty political posturing?" Denny demanded

With a drop in City government revenues resulting from the business
downturn and the self-inflicted hostile environment for business, the
City has set up a "Revenue Advisory Panel", charged with coming up with
new and increased fees and taxes to impose on property owners and the
fewer remaining businesses. They need the money to pay for the only
sector to have increased staffing levels over the last 5 years --
government and the organizations in the nonprofit sector, many staffed
by political insiders and campaign workers.

San Francisco has a City budget of about $ 5 billion per year, which is
$ 6,500 per man, woman and child in the City. This is almost twice the
next-highest per capita cost for a City-county combination in the United
States, which includes such notoriously high-cost cities like Honolulu
and Denver.

"City Hall politicians can't improve our economic environment but they
sure can destroy it." said Denny. "It's time for San Franciscans to
start taking personal responsibility and stop sending their bills to our
businesses. Why should businesses be taxed for providing jobs and
services to our community? Our businesses shouldn't have to, can't and
will not pay."

noon8window.pdf (36 Bytes)

Dear Mike:
Forgive my obtuseness, as I am so busy with teaching, studying, research, attending class, working and the like, but does this announcement mean that you are running for Mayor in 2008?
Leilani

Mike Denny <mike@...> wrote:

Michael Denny for Mayor Media Release

San Francisco, January 26, 2004
For immediate Release

Contact: (415) 986-7677 x123

Petty Political Posturing by City Hall costs SF jobs

Continuing a tradition of supreme disregard for the jobs and welfare of working Americans, some San Francisco�s Supervisors and their political allies at City Hall have been vilifying Bechtel Corporation, which has been headquartered in San Francisco for decades. Recent media coverage has encouraged the grandstanding.

Following a path already taken by many other employers, Bechtel announced yesterday that it is relocating half the high-paying jobs at its San Francisco headquarters to the Washington DC area. They follow a well-trod trail of other San Francisco institutions such as Chevron, PacBell, and BankAmerica, which have chosen to vote with their feet, and departed the anti-business local political environment. While the City and Bechtel are soft-pedaling the significance of the move, this is another body blow to workers in the City who must scramble for fewer private sector jobs. Over the last 3 years, over 30% of City jobs have been lost, leading to a commercial vacancy rate still over 20%.

�When will City Hall put the interests of workers and businesses ahead of petty political posturing?� Denny demanded

With a drop in City government revenues resulting from the business downturn and the self-inflicted hostile environment for business, the City has set up a �Revenue Advisory Panel�, charged with coming up with new and increased fees and taxes to impose on property owners and the fewer remaining businesses. They need the money to pay for the only sector to have increased staffing levels over the last 5 years -- government and the organizations in the nonprofit sector, many staffed by political insiders and campaign workers.

San Francisco has a City budget of about $ 5 billion per year, which is $ 6,500 per man, woman and child in the City. This is almost twice the next-highest per capita cost for a City-county combination in the United States, which includes such notoriously high-cost cities like Honolulu and Denver.

�City Hall politicians can�t improve our economic environment but they sure can destroy it.� said Denny. �It�s time for San Franciscans to start taking personal responsibility and stop sending their bills to our businesses. Why should businesses be taxed for providing jobs and services to our community? Our businesses shouldn�t have to, can�t and will not pay.�

Mike,

  A perpetual campaign! Cool! 8)

            <<< Starchild >>>

Michael Denny for Mayor Media Release

San Francisco, January 26, 2004
For immediate Release

Contact: (415) 986-7677 x123

Petty Political Posturing by City Hall costs SF jobs

Continuing a tradition of supreme disregard for the jobs and welfare of working Americans, someSan Francisco’s Supervisors and their political allies at City Hall have been vilifying Bechtel Corporation, which has been headquartered inSan Franciscofor decades. Recent media coverage has encouraged the grandstanding.

Following a path already taken by many other employers, Bechtel announced yesterday that it is relocating half the high-paying jobs at itsSan Franciscoheadquarters to theWashingtonDCarea. They follow a well-trod trail of otherSan Franciscoinstitutions such as Chevron, PacBell, and BankAmerica, which have chosen to vote with their feet, and departed the anti-business local political environment. While the City and Bechtel are soft-pedaling the significance of the move, this is another body blow to workers in the City who must scramble for fewer private sector jobs. Over the last 3 years, over 30% of City jobs have been lost, leading to a commercial vacancy rate still over 20%.

“When will City Hall put the interests of workers and businesses ahead of petty political posturing?” Denny demanded

With a drop in City government revenues resulting from the business downturn and the self-inflicted hostile environment for business, the City has set up a “Revenue Advisory Panel”, charged with coming up with new and increased fees and taxes to impose on property owners and the fewer remaining businesses. They need the money to pay for the only sector to have increased staffing levels over the last 5 years -- government and the organizations in the nonprofit sector, many staffed by political insiders and campaign workers.

San Franciscohas a City budget of about $ 5 billion per year, which is $ 6,500 per man, woman and child in the City. This is almost twice the next-highest per capita cost for a City-county combination in theUnited States, which includes such notoriously high-cost cities likeHonoluluandDenver.

“City Hall politicians can’t improve our economic environment but they sure can destroy it.” said Denny. “It’s time for San Franciscans to start taking personal responsibility and stop sending their bills to our businesses. Why should businesses be taxed for providing jobs and services to our community? Our businesses shouldn’t have to, can’t and will not pay.”

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