02/12/08

Imagine a room pack (Joyce Beers center) full of angry citizens...a long table behind which we had the mayor, Atkins and Bill Andersen, all looking quite uncomfortable. The mayor was especially uncomfortable. He just made jokes the entire time about how he knew nothing about land use and planning issues (which I find quite interesting considering he wants that 75% mayor veto power to make such important land use and housing decisions). The mayor expressed that what we were experiencing were simply "growing pains" and that meant something right was happening. He insisted that Toni not be blamed for 301 University and that it was all his fault (I am not sure how he came to this reasoning). As usual, there was alot of political rhetoric double speak. The mayor expressed that we could simply not be unfair to these poor developers that had been waiting a long time in the que for their projects to get built. He said they had received their permits legally (to which I responded, no these permits were received illegally under CEQA law which required an EIR be conducted). And he said if we dont give them what they want they will sue us. Of course some one responded that we are now going to be the ones suing you.

Citizens expressed that the city had agreed that projects 65 height limit would be from Upas south and obviously there are huge projects happening from Brookes south. Andersen explained the difference between ministerial and discretionary to which an old lady screamed so 301 would be ministerial? They then explained how none of these projects would have triggered a CEQA review which was a bold faced lie and this is where we have to sue them.

The meeting was an obvious attempt at damage control before the next election. A man asked how development donations affect the campaigns. Mayor said, well I can only collect $350 a person while Steve francis is putting $5,000,000 of his own money into the campaign. If this is the case I don't understand why Sanders has given the developers so much power. Doesn't this make him feel awfully cheap and used. Todd Gloria (the newly polished developer golden boy) was also there, all smiles, as he seems to feel he is the inevitable next council rep. I would caution him to remember what is happening to Hillary.

I just wish Pat Flannery had been there to put it all on you-Tube.