Gavin Newsom's Planning = Willie Brown All Over Again

The bloated, unbalanced, belabored plan originated in Brown's Planning Department in 1999 under Gerald Green. What was a progressive plan at the outset -- pushing new boundaries on parking ratios, livable streets and urban form -- changed behind the scenes after 2002 to become a hollow homage to transit-oriented development which obscured development business as usual.

The city's ruling class made its sentiments known with the Mayor's office represented in full force. The Planning Commission ended up approving the plan by a 5-2 vote, with all mayoral appointees voting in favor. With the exception of Commisioner Suguya -- who apparently had neither concerns with heights nor affordability -- the Board of Supervisors appointees voted against.

This really raises questions about Proposition D, which took Planning away from the Mayor. As we see at the MTA, department heads of independent agencies still feel that the Mayor is their boss rather than their appointed commissions. What will it take to insulate our commissions from big money lobbying?

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