Budget chair Tim Burgess’s plan for this year was to use two rounds of discussion to build most of the 2017-2018 budget by consensus, leaving today’s meeting to hash out whatever controversies remain. That is exactly how it played out, and even today’s meeting had few major conflicts.
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The war of words over more affordable housing escalates
Over the last two days, the argument over whether the city should use its bonding authority to plow more money into affordable housing has threatened to turn into a pitched battle, with both sides digging in their heels.
Continue readingMore affordable housing: the plot thickens
For several weeks now, Council member Sawant and her coalition have been pushing a proposal to redirect funds from the troubled North Precinct police station project to fund 1000 units on new affordable housing. This afternoon, a competing proposal was announced, introduced by six Council members — including Sawant.
Continue readingThe North Precinct and new affordable housing
Council member Kshama Sawant has been stumping non-stop for her plan to kill off the last vestiges of the North Precinct police station plan, and to divert the funds to build 1000 units of affordable housing. Her proposal came up for discussion in the Council’s budget discussions yesterday, and it didn’t fare well.
Continue readingLet the budget shell games begin: Sawant pitches 1000 new affordable housing units
Over the next eight weeks, the City Council members will be looking for hidden pots of money that can be used to fund new or expanded projects. And Kshama Sawant has already put forth her first proposal: now that the North Precinct police station is at least temporarily shelved, she wants to use that money to fund 1000 new units of affordable housing. But chasing the details of her plan takes us deep down the rabbit-hole of municipal finances.
Continue readingNews roundup: North Precinct, heroin task force
Yesterday’s announcement of a change in plans for the controversial North Precinct station dominates the news headlines this morning.
Continue readingNorth Precinct project falls apart as elected officials scramble for air cover
Yesterday afternoon, in a surprise move the Mayor and three Council members announced that the controversial North Precinct police station would be paused for reconsideration.
Continue readingNews roundup: Homeless camps, electric cars, and more
Lots of things happening this week, especially around the homeless crisis, encampments, and the Jungle.
Continue readingCouncil approves guidance on North Precinct project
The City Council this afternoon approved a resolution giving guidance to the city on a potential path to a new North Precinct police station. It was a chaotic meeting where most of the Council’s rules of decorum were obliterated by an angry group of #BlackLivesMatter and #BlockTheBunker protesters.
Continue readingNorth Precinct resolution moving forward this afternoon
Council member Lorena Gonzalez earned her pay this month. After she and Council member Debora Juarez met last week with representatives of the #BlockTheBunker group, and listening to the concerns of her colleagues on the Council, she appears to have found a path forward for the North Precinct station project that a supermajority of the Council can get behind.
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