The G & E Committee convened at Northern Police Station at 5:00 PM on March 14th to consider three June ballot propositions, the garbage rate increase schedule, and yet another proposal to close off Golden Gate Park to automobile visitors on Saturdays. Members present were Evelyn Wilson, Richard Shadoian, Joan Girardot, Judy Berkowitz, Doug Comstock, Emeric Kalman and Barbara Meskunas.
1. Charter Amendment – Homicide Prevention Plan: $30 million set aside for non-profits who claim they can stop the escalating murder rate better than the SFPD. There are no spending guidelines. It was mentioned that UCSF is currently doing an analysis of local violence prevention programs and this proposition is premature at best. G & E committee unanimously recommends that CSFN OPPOSE this Charter Amendment.
2. Change Procedure for Appointing Transbay Joint Powers Authority: Would give the D6 Supervisor more authority and another vote, and force the Mayor to attend meetings in person or forfeit his vote. Since CSFN was not impressed with the Transbay project, and believes Redevelopment to be a misuse of tax money in most instances, the G & E committee voted unanimously to recommend CSFN OPPOSE this measure.
3. Disclosure of Evictions Upon Sales of Property: CSFN does not take positions on landlord-tenant measures – G & E recommends NO POSITION.
4. Garbage Rate Increases: SPEAK will present a resolution for CSFN action and Linda Eggerth, Ratepayer Advocate, will be scheduled to present recent status as part of the G & E Report.
5. Closing Streets in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays for a Trial Basis of 6 Months: McGoldrick, Mirkarimi and Peskin once again flip off the voters who have twice rejected this nonsense, and cave to the bicycle lobby. G & E believes this legislation, like the others, to be anti-senior, anti-disabled, and anti-family, and recommends CSFN oppose it.
      Pro and con speakers will be invited to present Items 1, 2, and 5 at the March General Meeting. The next G & E meeting has not yet been scheduled.

...Barbara Meskunas (BANG) G & E Chair