Aaron Peskin and public policy

San Francisco Magazine

Heather Knight on Aaron Peskin:

Peskin announced he’s seeking treatment for an alcohol problem and apologized “for the tenor that I have struck in my public relationships.” That’s a good first step, and I wish him well on his road to recovery. But it doesn’t wipe clean the nasty culture he helped create at City Hall since first being elected in 2000....

Well, yes and no. Yes, we wish him well dealing with his alcohol problem. But no, the city's real problem isn't about "the nasty culture" he's represented at City Hall. That's an insider issue that doesn't affect those of us who don't have a personal or even public relationship with Peskin.

Instead, the real question is Where have Peskin and his "progressive" allies been leading the city? (Aaron Peskin leads from behind)

Peskin's political legacy so far includes many dubious policies he and the class of 2000 supervisors have inflicted on San Francisco, including trying to turn the city into Highriseville and the Ranked Choice Voting system.

Peskin should get credit for opposing the Central Subway boondoggle, though his opposition was safely too late to even delay the project. Just as important, he consistently opposed the dumb Treasure Island project.

But he supported the Bicycle Plan from the beginning, even though he and the supervisors were warned at the time that passing the ambitious plan with no environmental review was clearly illegal, as Judge Busch ruled a year later.

Peskin of course supports Congestion Pricing to punish those who insist on driving those wicked automobiles in San Francisco.

Knight quotes Supervisor Mandelman, who "thinks Peskin’s mark on the city has been positive overall." But Roboprog would say that, wouldn't he?

We can only hope a sober Aaron Peskin will take a fresh look at public policy in San Francisco.