Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods rescinds NO vote on F untill April 15, 2008.

At the Special Meeting held March 4, 2008 at the Community Room at Northern Station - the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN) - chose to listen to the Michael Cohen the Director of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and Workforce.

Since POWER and Chris Daly's office did not return calls - the CSFN chose to hear only one side and vote in favor of Proposition G.

Proposition G is Lennar Conceptual Plan that has no Environmental Impact Report , makes a lot of vague promises, and defies logic.

It was easy for the CSFN to go to the SF Department of Elections and see who the proponents were linked to Proposition F and contact them.

Even the San Francisco Republican Party did that - and so I could address them and take on Carmen Policy, Johnnie Carter, Denise LaPointe, and Kofi Bonner.

The CSFN chose to side with Micheal Cohen and the Mayor. Someone, was behind this move and it behoves that come investigation be done to see - how this mess took place in an otherwise well known organization know for its sound process.

The CSFN chose to go one step further and endorse a paid NO vote on F. This will be rescinded and rightly so.

Well, at today meeting the NO on F was rescinded.

Further it was voted on in the majority that any language on behalf of the CSFN was to be removed and not appear in the Voters' Manual.

That will be done by the President - Judith Berkowitz as soon as possible - who can be reached at 415.824.0617 for any further clarification on this pertinent matter.

Kudos to Joan Girardot, Espanola Jackson, and others who saw the need for the members to hear both sides of the argument and learn first hand about both Propositions.

Of course Lennar Corporation had its paid consultants trying to vie and influence and even today at the session where only members could participate - breaking the rules the Lennar consultant - Johnnie Carter was asked by President Judith Berkowitz - for his opinion.

During the vote and discussion - non-members are asked to step out. This rule was NOT strictly followed today. Non members should not be permitted to engage in any discussion and follow the voting process - when they are asked to leave the room.

The Coalition that once stood for fair play and decency has now resorted to taking orders from dubious sources - one of them is the Mayor's Office and Room 200. This nonsense must stop at once.

Both Proposition F and Proposition G must be brought before the Coalition of San Francisco Neighborhoods and the merits discussed. Then leave it to the members to vote on what they think is best for San Francisco.

It does not behove the CSFN to have only one side speak and not make the best effort to reach the other side - in this case two CSFN members Espanola Jackson and Francisco Da Costa.

Well, Lennar has been using its tactics and money to buy influence and I saw this coming.

The CSFN did right today by rescinding the NO vote on F and have both proposition F and G come before the CSFN again for a fresh vote.

Enjoy the photographs:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/franciscodacosta/sets/72157604156262466/show/

Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy