It was Thomas Jefferson who declared in an Aug. 4, 1801, letter: “Politics, like religion, hold up the torches of martyrdom to the reformers of error.” Oh, how we need in Washington, D.C. those “reformers of error.” Instead, we have a government of men and women (I mean you, Attorney General Pam Bondi) which creates fear among most of the governed.
In 2022, before “draft dodger” President Donald Trump, there were about 3.1 million federal employees and about 30,000 City and County of San Francisco employees in a then-municipality of approximately 874,000 residents. San Francisco’s population has now declined to about 827,000 and the number of its local government employees is approximately 30,000. Yet, some City Hall denizens spew propaganda that we need more housing. The mighty mayor, fresh from our recall of Supervisor Joel Engardio, demands “upzoning” of the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods plus the Marina and North Beach, meaning high-rise apartment and condominium buildings will be vacant in large part like Park Merced and its more than 500 empty units. Stonestown Galleria still hasn’t even broke ground on the 350 units for which it secured building permits three years ago.
Can we attribute the recall of SF Supervisor Joel Engardio as an example of gargling, then being excreted by District 4 voters? He must now live without the $175,370 per year salary, membership in the retirement system of the City and County, one-month paid vacation and four aides to keep taxpayers away. That’s what it costs us for the 11 beauties on City Hall’s second floor.
As summer fades, I’m reminded that the ideal summer resort is where the fish bite and mosquitos don’t!
Said an old lady to the Internal Revenue Service: “I do hope you will give my money to a nice country.”
James Madison expressed it best, meaning governmental power, in a Dec. 2, 1829, speech, to wit, “The essence of government is power, and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” (Incidentally, such words are inscribed in the Madison Memorial Hall, Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building, Washington, D.C. )
The author remains anonymous, but it could’ve been President Donald Trump or his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who only a mother could love, who declared: “In my whole life I’ve only had one client – my career.”
On Jan. 9, 1961, President-elect John F. Kennedy, not yet sworn in as president of the United States, addressed the Massachusetts legislature in Boston and uttered memorable words regarding the “high court of history” deciding fulfillment of responsibilities to our nation. He declared: “Courage – judgment – integrity – dedication – these are the historic qualities which, with God’s help … will characterize our government’s conduct in the four stormy years ahead.”
As our new mayor settles into Room 200 at City Hall, San Franciscans often ask me to grade his performance. He’s certainly chosen an extremely well-qualified person (Staci Slaughter) as his chief of staff, replacing Sean Elsbernd, Esq., a former Board of Supervisors member before ex-Mayor London Breed hired him. Slaughter is a long-time San Francisco Giants executive and daughter of Dan Walters of Cal Matters, who knows more about California politics and government than anyone in our state.
It’s been said that many politicians should beg for pardons instead of granting them.
It’s a New Year and you can count the herculean resolutions of all San Franciscans from Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie to your humble but not always pleasing scribe. Remember that a New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other!
Mark Twain once explained to readers in the 19th century: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
Many readers will be inoculated by this column’s volubility, and many will explore it for blunders which render my observations and information subject to judgment and even criticism. It has been observed that criticism from a friend is better than flattery from an enemy. I bear no malice because the person who is not criticized isn’t breathing. You might avoid criticism by saying nothing, doing nothing and being nothing.
… as a woman, I am so repulsed by Kopp’s digging up a story from 2019 where someone was upset that Ms Harris was demanding or had high expectations of her staff. Really? Is this trope of a strong, assertive woman is so played out. Once again, here is an older, white man disparaging a woman of color.
It was Adlai E. (for Ewing) Stevenson, then-governor of Illinois and the Democratic Party candidate for president of the U.S.A. for a second time who spoke via radio and television on election eve (Nov. 8, 1956) thusly: “Looking back, I am content. Win or lose, I have told you the truth as I see it. I have said what I meant and meant what I have said. I have not done as well as I should like to have done, but I have done my best, frankly and forthrightly; no man can do more, and you are entitled to no less.”
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 