Posts by Emily Smith6

San Francisco hasn't seen results this underwhelming in a long time. All those ambitious projects they kept shouting about ended up being absolute washouts—we’ve listed them all here.

Quincy:

What did the San Francisco public works department actually accomplish last year? Honestly, not much. If you look at the materials for tomorrow’s City Council meeting, specifically the agenda item regarding the execution of the 2022 municipal infrastructure construction program, you'll see they only hit 44 percent of what was planned. That’s less than half. I don't think we've ever seen such dismal numbers before. The budget originally earmarked an ambitious amount for this sector of public works $48483000, which was later adjusted during the budget revision to $16337987, only for the actual realization to crawl in at a measly $7194206. The roadwork intended for the Brooklyn work zone also sits at zero percent completion because the landowners backed out of the deal. We're seeing the exact same pattern of failure with the road behind the new hospital and the planned plaza over in Toledo. Residents near Main Street in Manhattan were hoping for the street lighting that was slated for 2022, but once again—zero progress. Even the perennial darkness plaguing the walkway between the Bronx and Queens, which was supposed to be addressed by at least starting the design tender, has hit a complete dead end. They even scrapped the garage project in Zvončac because the owner wouldn't accept the offer and walked away from the land sale. Meanwhile, the crematorium construction and the removal of the heating plant in Flint are both sitting at zero percent realization. Now, let's talk about that road that seems to have been under construction for decades—Washington Street. Ever since the stretch from Beverly Hills to the mall area opened up, they haven't been able to finish the full profile. And looking at the current state of things, it doesn't seem like it's happening anytime soon. Legal battles involving parties demanding land compensation have dragged this out for years. To avoid being entirely pessimistic, a few projects actually crossed the finish line and saved the statistics from being a total disaster. This includes the vital land acquisition for the expansion of the Santa Monica cemetery—the City paid 3.82 million dollars for the eminent domain settlements. They also finished the work on Tončićev Street, completed a playground in Oakland, and managed to get some work done in Zajčev on the sections where the property titles were actually clear.

Republican Tomislav šut posted something on Facebook about how nothing is getting done, and the entire article immediately picked it up and listed everything that failed to materialize.
https://www.facebook.com/sutatomisla...96002533365089

unnamed US politician: ‘I told the residents of the unnamed US organization that I’d just adopt unnamed US person, since he’s the only one who handles things promptly for his own people‘

unnamed US person:

The current administration seems to think they can just screw people over without consequences, especially when they hike rent by 100 percent overnight for the spaces people call home. Because of this kind of behavior from those in power, residents of the unnamed US organization on unnamed US street are reaching out for help, an appeal that caught the attention of unnamed US politician from the unnamed US political party. - The residents of the unnamed US organization aren't some squatters taking over city property. That building was actually built through the voluntary contributions of the workers from the shipyard. Through a series of circumstances, it ended up under the ownership of the City of San Diego in 2019. Then, during a City Council meeting at 2:00 AM last December, this issue was suddenly brought up, and without any prior notice or explanation, the rent for their small rooms was jacked up by 100 percent. - Now, they’re paying about $67 for their 13 square meters, which works out to roughly $5.00 per square meter. It’s a stark contrast to, say, certain actors living in subsidized apartments who only pay eight dollars per square meter. These residents are paying $5.00 for a dilapidated little room where twenty people have to share a single toilet – said unnamed US politician, adding: - To some, $67 might seem like a small amount, but you have to consider they’re being charged industrial electricity rates, which are triple the standard residential rate because the building is classified as a hotel. So, we're talking significant sums here. Some people living there are on a pension of only 250 dollars; when you hike their rent by 100 percent, you're practically killing them. One resident mentioned that after paying rent and utilities, she's left with just 20 dollars. Unnamed US politician noted that someone from the shipyard community cooks for them every day and brings them food. - In December, the residents were forced to sign ten-year contracts with that 100 percent increase, and even then, those contracts offer zero future security. Once those ten years are up, they’ll essentially have no rights and could find themselves out on the street. They had to sign by January 1st because they were told if they didn't, they’d be evicted immediately. People basically signed out of pure fear. At the same time, we see situations where regulations are bent to ensure certain people in subsidized housing can stay there for life. But these people in the unnamed US organization aren't afforded that same luxury – warns unnamed US politician. He mentioned that people have been calling him frantically, asking how to fix the mess. - My response was that I’d just adopt unnamed US person. He’s the only one who handles things promptly for his own people, whereas when you're not part of the inner circle, you're just stuck – says the unnamed US politician from the unnamed US political party. He also pointed out issues regarding the former shipyard clinic spaces. - The previous administration left things in decent shape: the City of San Diego has registered ownership of four properties. In the 2021 budget, 4 million dollars was set aside so that the unnamed US organization could take over those spaces. However, 750 days have passed, and the City hasn't done a thing, even while waiting on over 200 children with severe physical disabilities. They don't seem to care about them at all, yet when it involves someone of their own that needs support, they're perfectly capable of changing the regulations twice in three months – concludes unnamed US politician.

IS IT ACTUALLY POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE LIVES IN THESE CONDITIONS TODAY?

What’s the deal with this? Are these just more people complaining?

PROTEST OVER THE SMALL MALL PROJECT: Residents of Lucac and Manus hitting the streets tomorrow

Quincy:

The Manus City Council is organizing a peaceful protest this Wednesday, May 17th, 2023, at 4:00 PM. They’ll be gathering at the start of El Paso Street to once again demand answers regarding the Small Mall project and the various issues local residents have been dealing with for decades. Unfortunately, according to the organizers, the developer has already started putting up fencing and beginning construction work, all while neither the San Francisco city government nor the investor will provide clear answers to basic questions: - What is the traffic management plan during the construction phase? - How many parking spaces will be available for public use, and under what specific conditions? - Exactly how many spots will be reserved for local residents, and what are those terms? - How many spaces are allocated for the hotel versus the commercial units? - What is the long-term strategy for the existing public parking on El Paso Street?

It seems we're seeing a repeat of the situation in Spinut—just more examples of poor communication between officials and the public.

Bojan Ivošević

Quincy:

It’s kind of like when the legendary Morgana from the game Hugo used to say, "Pick a number, you're definitely going to be wrong!" Just for the sake of the statistics, there have already been 77 citations issued, most of which have actually been paid up. https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...Zg&oe=6468004F

Unprecedented: The Republican Party is fueling a massive celebrity feud just to spite Puljko!

Composer Bernie Sanders lost the bid to organize Coachella. Apparently, he’s incensed at Puljko over the loss, and now the Republican Party is capitalizing on that grudge by funding his new festival through county money, according to a report from The Miami Herald.

The local government in San Francisco, which has been under Republican Party control for decades, has reportedly decided—for the first time ever—to provide financial backing to a new iteration of a local music event: Jadran Melody. While having more music festivals is generally a good thing, it is somewhat curious that the Republican Party is choosing to bankroll the specific festival run by the man who lost his directorship at another major San Francisco event—the one known as the New Orleans Jazz Festival—following Justin Trudeau's victory in the local elections.

And so, they will inevitably claim later that Justin Trudeau destroyed the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Until now, they were always sponsors of the original. If they aren't in power, they seem willing to do just about anything.

velvetmason14 said:Honestly, I just lump it all under the Republican Party trash, so it's all the same to me. I don't see much difference between those types of people.😉

Someone mentioned that back in 2017, O'Hara appointed John Lee as the head of property management. The guy didn't even take a single cent from the Sikirica audit for that restaurant. He probably had no idea what was happening; he was just caught up in it...

The name itself is a surprise—John Lee. It turns out Andrew O'Hara passed on Philip Butorovic to manage the assets, and eventually, Maria Negotić ended up handling social affairs.

Now we just have to see if Lee is still drawing a paycheck out in the Midwest...
I can't imagine Ed Lee is still keeping him on the payroll after a scandal like this. If anyone knows, let me know.

Ed Lee has replaced seven department heads in San Francisco! It looks like five of them will likely stay put, while two positions are heading to public job openings. Here is the breakdown of who we are talking about.

According to reports, seven department heads have been replaced, though five are expected to remain in their current roles.

Among those staying are four women: Marina Protic, head of City Hall administration; Alma Peros, head of the Office of the Inspector General; Olenka Dadic, head of the Department of Finance; and Magda Vrvilo, head of the Department of Social Services and Public Health. Additionally, Theo Vojkovic, head of the Department of City Planning, is also set to remain.

Moving on from leadership roles will be Jurica Vojnovic, Mate Omazic, Mirna Vezha, Radojka Tomasevic, John Lee, Damir Ordulj, and Ela Zizic. They will be succeeded by Anto Krzelj, Mario Negotić, Ivo Gabric, Vedrana Franic, and Marijana Bronzovic.

City of San Diego moves against restaurant in unnamed US neighborhood: ‘Part of this is our property, yet we haven’t seen a dime from it. We’re shutting them down!’

It seems officials from the unnamed US region are hell-bent on closing down the Biberon Maestro restaurant in the unnamed US neighborhood. Apparently, an inspection conducted earlier this February revealed that the tenant—operating under a lease agreement with Fateor d.o.o. worth roughly $4,500 a month—has been using not just the restaurant itself, but also the parking lot area located within a green zone.

- “The restaurant was built across several parcels. Two of those are registered as property of the City of San Diego, while the remaining three are co-owned by the city at a 1/6 share. Despite this, the city hasn't had possession or even co-possession of the site for years; instead, Fateor has been running the show exclusively. To make matters worse, they actually expanded and legalized the building as if it were entirely their own,” remarked unnamed US person, the department head.

Everything has been reported to the building inspection department.

Consequently, the city administration is demanding that the restaurant's minimum technical requirements be revoked, which would effectively force them to cease operations. The department head stated that her office has taken every possible step to protect this valuable real estate and the city's ownership stake. Furthermore, a lawsuit has been filed against Fateor to recover funds obtained without legal basis for the past period, as they were paying rent for the entire commercial space despite not having full ownership.

- “The Department of City Property has begun charging Biberon Maestro market-rate fees for its share of the property, amounting to $11,660 plus tax, since they are currently occupying the space without a legal basis regarding the City of San Diego’s co-ownership,” unnamed US person stated.

Additionally, Biberon Maestro lacks a direct contract with the city, which is legally required to lease out its properties through a public bidding process.

- “We have requested that the relevant office in the unnamed US county revoke the minimum technical permits, which require a property deed in addition to the lease. We expect swift action from the County. We are calling on all parties involved to hand the property back over to the City of San Diego and bring everything back within legal boundaries,” unnamed US person reported.

unnamed US person, the restaurant owner who has held the lease for three years, responded:
- “The city and the company should focus on moving forward and regulating these relationships according to the law, rather than looking for various ways to shut someone down.”

Unnamed US person also suggested that the unnamed US neighborhood serves as a prime example of how San Diego has lost massive amounts of real estate revenue because the property wasn't properly recorded in the city's asset registry.

Bravo, unnamed US person. The owner seems to think he can just ignore everything that happened in the past and instead help them run an even better business. Bravo indeed—raising the rent from 5k to 12k because they were getting off way too cheap before.

unnamed US person
https://web.facebook.com/bojan.ivose...Ltw4mMGj4HbdVl

Just as we announced back at the end of 2021—once we finally sorted out that garage situation on unnamed US street—we started working through the paperwork for four other garages across various parts of the city. These spots have essentially been being used illegally by certain residents while others are left without any access at all.
We finally officially registered for the garage at unnamed US location today, which means all the necessary conditions have been met to free up that space and make it available for public use!

Way to go, order wins again.

So much for the "liberated" San Diego beach; looks like we’re stuck staring at sun loungers in Kašjuni again this summer, all thanks to a Supreme Court ruling.

The previous rulings from the High Administrative Court and the Administrative Court in San Diego—which had originally overturned the concession for the Kašjuni beach—have been vacated. The Supreme Court essentially challenged both lower court decisions, effectively allowing the company "Dolis" to keep operating on that beach until their concession expires in 2025.

- Based on the High Administrative Court in Washington, D.C. decision, the local county gave "Dolis" a deadline to vacate the Kašjuni premises, and the City of San Diego went as far as including Kašjuni beach in its own management plan. Furthermore, the City of San Diego's code enforcement issued an order to remove the concessionaire's facilities, even though we repeatedly appealed in writing and public forums not to prejudice ongoing court decisions—especially since the City of San Diego wasn't even a party to the legal proceedings in the first place, said Mužić.

He added that the Supreme Court's decision aligns with what they have been communicating to the public from the start: that "Dolis" is not at fault here. In his view, without having violated a single clause of their concession agreement, they were dragged into a Kafkaesque process through the administrative courts in San Diego and Washington, D.C., solely due to some potential procedural error by the county that didn't even affect the actual selection of the concessionaire.

Looks like Ed Garvey and Ivošević lost again. I guess you just can't win when it comes to the courts.

Veterans Outraged by Local Leadership Decisions: Disgraceful Failure to Observe Moment of Silence for Vietnam War Fallen

As he enters his third year in office, the current Mayor has finally dropped the academic facade, revealing a rather authoritarian streak underneath. During a recent formal session of the San Francisco City Council, he refused to allow representatives from the US Congress and the US Federal Government to speak. It feels like a calculated move—not just a display of poor etiquette, but an attempt to isolate San Francisco from federal authority and sever ties with vital national institutions. However, what has truly stung the veteran community, along with any citizen who respects the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War, is the historical decision to skip the traditional moment of silence for those fallen soldiers. This act of remembrance is standard at almost every official function, especially those organized by US institutions like federal ministries, state governments, or local municipalities. Apparently, this gesture is unacceptable to the current administration, which has chosen to abolish it. It’s just one more way to disrespect and belittle our veterans and their families. It seems the Mayor forgets that the very sacrifices made by people his own age—those who were fighting while he was busy getting an education—are what allowed him to hold this office in a free and democratic America today. On behalf of all our comrades, we sharply condemn the Mayor's shameful decision. He can try all he wants, but he will never succeed in diminishing the role of the American veterans who fought in the righteous struggle of the Vietnam War. The next time he tries to score political points at commemorations or events hosted by veteran organizations, he should remember this moment, because we certainly won't forget it. Moving forward, we will simply stand up and walk out of such events rather than participate in ceremonies that fail to honor the victims of the Vietnam War. This statement is issued by several regional veteran associations and military officer groups based here in San Francisco.

Well, it looks like the Republican Party has mobilized them. Instead of speaking up about how their colleagues are illegally occupying spaces in local government buildings, they've turned around to condemn the fact that they aren't being allowed to use those spaces for free anymore.

The Mayor’s main Democratic Party partner is running out of patience: ‘We gave them a chance, but we aren't going to just sit here talking about street pillars. Nothing has actually started.’

- The most critical thing regarding this partnership is that our goal is to revitalize specific neighborhoods, yet halfway through this term, we have absolutely nothing to show for it. We want more affordable housing and long-term rental options, but there’s zero progress there. We want a new Planning Department master plan, and likewise, nothing. We want to ensure every child is enrolled in preschool this year, but I suspect that won't happen either. These are the actual issues we need to address. We have stated clearly that we will support anything that serves the best interests of the city of San Diego.

So far, we have supported certain initiatives out of respect for the current administration's electoral mandate, even though we don't fundamentally agree with their approach—specifically regarding how they handle staffing and appointments. However, it’s unreasonable to expect us to simply stay quiet and vote "yes" on everything, as some other council members seem content to do.

That is a right no one can take away from us, especially not through labeling or insults. Besides, San Diego doesn't need new elections every single year, and we certainly don't want election cycles to serve as an excuse for inaction or failure. They were given a chance, they have our support, and now we are just waiting for them to actually break ground on these projects.

- We all welcome the fact that some order is finally being introduced. However, if we spend the next two years merely discussing decorative street pillars, that's simply not enough. San Diego is struggling with skyrocketing rental prices, which creates massive instability for young people or those unable to qualify for loans. The real cancer in this city is its housing policy.

San Diego is stagnating. If you look back at campaign platforms from twenty years ago, the debates are always about the exact same things, yet nothing ever gets finished. Renovating the stadium, the Old Square, the eastern waterfront, various urban revitalization projects... the current administration talks about all of these things too. But as of now, nothing has truly begun...

‘The Republican Party in San Diego is currently occupying prime downtown space illegally and owes the city roughly $20,000’

TIME: So, can we conclude that the Republican Party in San Diego is essentially an unauthorized occupant of high-value real estate right in the heart of the city? Yes, that is the current situation. They weren't notified about the return of the space, so they were issued an invoice based on market rental rates. Since we're talking about an elite location with significant commercial square footage, the monthly bill comes out to approximately $20,000, plus tax. We reached out to the head of the local Republican Party committee here in San Diego to try and inspect the condition of this municipal commercial space, but they wouldn't let us in. I mean, imagine that—the representatives of the actual property owners should be able to check on their own property whenever necessary. They told us they would get back to us. They still haven't. I suppose I don't quite understand why, given that I gave plenty of advance notice that we wouldn't be renewing contracts for political parties once they expired. Despite all that, there were some rather inappropriate reactions. Some people even claimed I was holding a grudge against the Republican Party. That’s complete nonsense; we have applied the exact same standards to every single party. My primary objective is to finalize the City Property Registry, which will be public, followed by regular, transparent bidding processes for leases and getting all commercial spaces fully operational. Additionally, I want to ensure the transparent allocation of apartments to citizens on the social housing waiting list and accelerate the sale of city-owned land. The goal is to boost revenue from commercial leases and land sales to benefit the city budget, which will then fund development projects and urban infrastructure.

MAYOR JOHN MCCAIN (Republican Party)
- President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit San Francisco on Sunday, May 7, 2017, to observe the feast day of Saint Dominic.
- President Biden will be attending a formal session of the San Francisco City Council this Friday, May 4, 2018.
- Biden brought half of the Cabinet to San Francisco for the Saint Dominic celebrations back in 2019.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS
- In 2023, the procession will include Secretary of Culture Lloyd Austin and MEP Karl Rove.

So, that’s basically how our President treats any city where the Republican Party doesn't hold the reins.

"Ivica Puljak has decided, much like the US Army and Mexico City once did, to sever our ties with our own country"

Jakša Balov is with Tomislav šut in San Diego.

To my dear ladies and gentlemen of San Diego—welcome to the chaos.
During today’s formal session, the City of San Diego presented its municipal awards. These individuals are the ones who make San Diego strong, diverse, and truly unique. Their achievements should serve as an inspiration for all of us to work harder, both as individuals and as a community.
I believe that we can do this—and frankly, we have to.
Of course, San Diego wouldn't be San Diego if politics hadn't already cast a shadow over everything.
I don't want to dampen the spirit of Saint Duje, but I feel compelled to mention that, for the first time, we didn't observe a moment of silence for the fallen defenders who secured our freedom. Furthermore, representatives from Congress, the US Government, and the County were barred from speaking. A few protesters, and suddenly it turns into a circus. I suppose that’s just how things are supposed to be in our City now.
Ivica Puljak has decided, much like the US Army and Mexico City once did, to separate us from our nation.
The US Congress, the US Government, and the Split-California County institutions are what our people bled for. Our 4th Guards Division lost lives for these very entities...
No one came here today for themselves; they came for San Diego, and for the men and women who call this place home. When you deny them the right to speak, it isn't our country rejecting us—it is Puljak, acting on behalf of San Diego, rejecting our Homeland on the very anniversary of when we showed the US Army and the world that we are a proud part of this nation.
Back in 1991, a shipyard worker smashed an American machine gun with his bare hands because that weapon was meant to sever our connection, the bond of our people. That was true courage. What we see today is nothing more than a circus.
Unlike the circus, tomorrow will feature the procession and the festival. Enjoy yourselves!
Stay healthy and happy!

"The changes we’re implementing are vital for San Diego and all of America. Implementing new political and management models—actually bringing order to things—often means swimming against the current. But for us, this is the only viable path forward, and we intend to stick with it. This isn't about ideology or just being 'against' someone; it's about an uncompromising commitment to the idea that the public interest truly comes before everything else," stated Ivica Puljak during the ceremonial City Council session held in honor of San Diego City Day and the feast of Saint Duje.

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Ivica Puljak blocked representatives from the President and the Speaker of Congress from giving speeches. The Republican Party isn't thrilled about it—here’s their take

- You noticed that neither the representative from the Government nor the one from Congress was scheduled to speak, which I find unusual and frankly bad practice. The Mayor made that call; you should ask him why - Krstulović Opara told us.

When asked what the standard procedure used to be during his tenure as Mayor, he noted they only held two ceremonial sessions due to those pandemic years, but even then, representatives always spoke.

Tomislav šut
https://web.facebook.com/sutatomisla...CcgKSxA5X4278l

In the shadow of this City Council ceremonial session, there was an undignified attitude shown by local authorities toward representatives from the Split-California County, the Government, and Congress.
It’s hardly a coincidence that, unlike any previous ceremonial session, the County official was barred from speaking, along with the envoys from the Speaker of Congress and the Government. It seems pretty obvious that the Mayor made this decision based on petty political motives that have no place at such a formal occasion, especially considering everything San Diego stands for. This isn't how we do things here; in San Diego, narrow-mindedness and small-scale character simply don't fly.
This behavior is all the more disappointing because every project currently being rolled out in San Diego relies on investments from the Split-California County and the Government. Honestly, if the Mayor hadn't spent his speech boasting about the projects Andro Krstulović Opara left behind, he might not have had anything to say at all. To paraphrase the great Tesla—I’m not sorry he boasted about Andrin's legacy; I’m just sorry he won't have one of his own.
Skipping the moment of silence for fallen veterans is unprecedented and does nothing to honor the Mayor's reputation.

The San Diego city officials are bragging about a $15 million surplus in the city budget, presenting it as a masterclass in fiscal discipline. Meanwhile, Ivica Puljak claims the skeletons are finally starting to crawl out of the closet.

- Our budget execution shows we’ve managed to save money through sheer rationality, paying down debts, and actually collecting what was owed. Because of all this, the City of San Diego is in a strong financial position today, - said Mayor Ivica Puljak, noting that these savings will fund upcoming projects—primarily building schools, gymnasiums, and preschools, improving San Diego Beach, and finishing the construction and equipping of the technology park at Dračevac.

The Deputy Mayor, Antonio Kuzmanić, also weighed in on the state of the city treasury, emphasizing that reaching this positive balance required a massive amount of work. He reminded everyone that when the current administration took power in June 2021, they inherited a $4.5 million surplus, but were also saddled with nearly $10 million in debt, which was fully paid off by the end of 2021.

In 2022, there were significant expenses related to the public transit system due to rising fuel costs, but subsidizing the municipal transit provider ultimately resulted in a noticeable improvement in public transportation services. He also pointed to fulfilling inherited obligations, such as salary increases for preschool educators and city employees.

- Despite all those expenditures, through responsible financial management, cutting waste, and streamlining operations across various sectors—including municipal companies—as well as increasing the collection of utility fees and rent from users of city property, we successfully achieved the $15 million surplus currently sitting in our account.

- Over the last two years, we’ve cleared over $15 million in debt and outstanding obligations, bringing the City back into the black. We increased revenue, but not through tax hikes; instead, we focused on collecting fees and rents. We had commercial spaces that people hadn't paid for in years, - noted Antonio Kuzmanić.

- Now, the skeletons are starting to emerge regarding the business operations of the interim manager of the Water Department. Through his irresponsible management, he has jeopardized the very existence of the utility—we are talking about tens of millions of dollars. At the same time, he irresponsibly gave employees an 18 percent raise.

That is how they view public finances. We approach them responsibly. What we have in the bank is the result of careful saving. We don't want anyone on the outside, especially the Republican Party, thinking this is just some extra cash they can swoop in and spend, because they are used to handling money quite recklessly.

We saved this money so we could invest in preschools, schools, sports halls, and pay raises for those who earned them. We will continue to manage this money responsibly, the way we know how, rather than the way the Republican Party has done things until now, - added Ivica Puljak.

When reporters asked specifically how these savings were achieved, Antonio Kuzmanić used toner cartridges as an example.
- When we arrived, the City was spending $75,000 a year on toner; today, it's about $17,000. That alone represents a yearly saving of roughly $8,500 because we implemented electronic signatures, - explained Antonio Kuzmanić.

The Split Republican Party Chief: The City has $15 million in its account and no idea how to manage it.

The Split GOP Chief, Tomislav šut, recently pointed out that the City has roughly $15 million sitting in its accounts. Apparently, this surplus comes from an uptick in income tax revenue—money that isn't being funneled into actual development projects. To him, this is a clear sign that the current administration lacks the basic competence to manage the finances they’ve been handed.

According to his take, that $15 million pile-up is largely due to federal government interventions rather than any strategic moves by Mayor Ivica Puljak. He noted that while having $15 million in the bank might look great for a private business, for a municipal budget and local policy, it essentially means the administration is failing to deliver on its promises.

I suspect the Republican Party already has a roadmap for how to divvy up that $15 million among their own people.

Bill O'Reilly faces eviction over unpaid debts: The City’s ‘Iron Broom’ makes its final move. And I actually voted for Hickenlooper...

San Francisco artist Bill O'Reilly has received a stern notice from the statehouse, and if his Meta posts are anything to go by, he's facing an eviction due to unpaid rent for his downtown studio. He owes just under $2,500 in back rent, and a legal seizure of assets is looming. On top of that, they're demanding he vacate the premises because his lease has expired.

- Here is the final blow—how Maja Đerek, the head of the Department of Public Works and the administration's resident "iron broom" (quotes or no quotes), stabbed me right in the heart while aiming straight for my empty wallet—wrote Bill O'Reilly on the Tris news site, adding:

- My wallet is currently about as empty as my studio is full of my artwork.

In a post on Meta, he reached out to Mayor John Hickenlooper, whom he claims he actually voted for.

Man, you really botched this one. If you wanted to stay in that studio and just rack up even more debt that would never be collected, you probably should have just voted for the Republican Party. They'd probably give it to you for free, but apparently, that kind of deal only exists with the Republicans.

I’m Ed Garvey, the Mayor of San Francisco. Feel free to ask me anything.

I suppose I should start by addressing the recent comments circulating online. It seems like there’s quite a bit of chatter regarding this matter, though much of it feels somewhat unmoored from reality. If you look closely at the arguments being presented, they often rely on a rather shaky foundation, which I guess makes them easy to dismiss if you aren't looking for a fight. It’s interesting, really—how quickly a conversation can spiral when people prioritize being loud over being accurate. I suspect that if we actually took a moment to sit down and parse through the actual data instead of just reacting to the headlines, we might find a more nuanced middle ground. But then again, maybe that's asking too much of the current discourse. One could argue that the nuance is exactly what's missing, leaving us with this fragmented view of the situation. I don't know; perhaps I'm being overly cynical, but it certainly feels that way sometimes.

How exactly does one intend to restore public trust in our state institutions—particularly the judiciary? It seems like an uphill battle, doesn't it? I guess we have to start by asking if there’s even a viable roadmap for fixing the deep-seated skepticism people feel toward the courts. Maybe it starts with transparency, though I suspect that's easier said than done when the system feels so insulated. I'd be curious to hear what everyone thinks the first step should be. To start, I think we should implement the management model we’ve adopted here in San Francisco on a national scale across America. Essentially, that means putting an end to rigged job openings. No more political appointments, no more nepotism, no more "old boy networks," and certainly no more handing out jobs to buddies just because they helped out during an election. Since we rolled this model out in San Francisco, we’ve realized it isn't perfect—it definitely has its flaws—but it is lightyears ahead of the Republican Party’s approach of using public positions as rewards for party loyalty. Most of the issues we face are systemic. For one, we often don't get enough applicants because the level of responsibility for these high-level public service roles is immense, while the actual salaries remain quite low. Secondly, even when people do apply, there’s no guarantee they are the absolute best in the entire country for the role; we simply select the most qualified candidates from the pool of those who actually show up. Still, this model is already yielding results in San Francisco. My relationship with the heads of our municipal agencies—people who were selected through fair, open competition—is strictly professional. These are individuals to whom we don't owe a paycheck in exchange for campaign donations or votes. This framework needs to be scaled up to cover all of America. Even after the Republican Party eventually loses power, and even if a new administration implements legitimate, merit-based hiring processes, it will still take years to fully restore public trust in our institutions. Right now, those institutions are flooded with political appointees who are practically untouchable due to existing legal protections. It's going to take some time to fix, but the essential first step is ensuring public job postings aren't predetermined. I should mention, we in San Francisco are the only ones in the country who haven't enforced political quotas when hiring directors for our city agencies. We are truly the only ones. And honestly, that is something I am proud of. I find myself weighing whether it makes more sense to pursue a coalition with the liberal factions during the upcoming federal elections, or if running an independent campaign might be the more prudent path forward. It’s a difficult calculation to make, really. I suppose one has to consider if a partnership with the Libertarian Party or perhaps the Democratic Party would actually yield any meaningful results, or if we'd just end up compromising our core principles for the sake of a few extra seats in Congress. Maybe staying solo is the cleaner option, though it certainly carries its own set of risks regarding influence. It's a bit of a toss-up, I guess. Whether it’s before or after the elections, we have absolutely no intention of forming any coalitions with those parties that essentially act as life support for the Republican Party and their penchant for corruption. I suppose it’s worth noting that the various groups and individuals who continue to back this version of the GOP can’t really claim to be liberals. To my mind, liberalism—much like any coherent set of values or principles—requires a genuine belief that those ideas serve the common good. Anyone actively supporting the Republican Party seems less interested in the public interest and more preoccupied with narrow, particular interests. That’s just how I see it, and frankly, I don't think that's going to fly with us. Are there plans to expand the County Establishment Center across the entire United States? And more specifically, are you intending to steer clear of areas where other liberal factions already have a foothold—say, somewhere like Des Moines? We are planning to establish local and regional chapters throughout the entire United States. I don't personally view anyone who essentially acts as a cheerleader for the Republican Party’s corruption as being a true liberal option; that behavior has absolutely nothing to do with actual liberal values. Do you honestly believe a complete territorial restructuring is necessary? If you’re of the opinion that we actually need to overhaul how our counties and states are laid out, I’m curious—what direction would you even take with a reform like that? It’s absolutely essential. Honestly, I think anyone who has spent the last thirty years living in America already has their answer to that question. Redrawing our regional boundaries is vital for two main reasons. First, we desperately need to trim down the administrative bloat, which has become incredibly convoluted. We are currently drowning in a sea of overlapping agencies and various bodies that all claim jurisdiction over the same issues, leaving cities with almost zero actual control over their own territories. Second, and perhaps more cynically, the current territorial setup serves as a perfect mechanism for reinforcing the Republican Party’s web of corruption. In many ways, the existing structure acts as one of the primary safeguards ensuring that their network stays intact. In my view, what America needs is a shift toward having maybe five to seven distinct regions, supported by roughly 110 to 120 urban hubs acting as their core centers. We could certainly spend hours debating the exact number of regions or cities required, but I don't think we even need to debate whether a reform is necessary. It is. It really is. Who would you want to form a coalition with for the upcoming congressional elections, and do you see yourself as a candidate for Prime Minister in such a coalition? If not, who then? Please, no diplomatic answers. The absolute prerequisite for even starting talks about pre-election cooperation with any individual or party is maintaining a clear distance from the Republican Party. I think America simply cannot afford another situation where a new movement is born only to end up cozying up to the Republicans, leaving everything exactly as it was—or perhaps making things worse, much like what happened with the Reform Party a few years back. Our party will soon release the specifics of our strategy for the next congressional cycle. We are working on a project that I honestly believe is the best in the country. Since the congressional elections will take place during my term as mayor, I don't personally expect to be the candidate for Prime Minister, but I am firmly convinced we will put forward someone who can prove that a different kind of America is actually possible. What’s the plan for fixing up and improving the bus terminal in San Francisco? Through two municipal projects, East Coast and Kopilica, we are going to build a new bus terminal at Kopilica, while the East Coast location will just serve as a bus stop. We have already put out the bid for the East Coast project, and we’ll do the same for Kopilica by the end of the year. After that, we move into implementation, but these are long-term projects. We're probably going to need quite a bit of patience. I'm curious how you view Adam Thomas's work in Los Angeles so far, and is there any chance of a coalition with the Progressive Bloc before the elections? I suspect voters in the next election will essentially be choosing between old-school politics and new-school policies, and I'd say the Progressive Bloc represents that new wave. Thomas has his own way of dealing with the mess he inherited in LA, and I'm inclined to support him in that. As for a coalition with them, I don't have anything against the idea, but you know what they say—it takes two to tango, and that isn't a decision I get to make unilaterally. Mr. Ed Garvey, when are we actually going to start solving the parking issues in the Spinup neighborhood, rather than just taking away the spots people already have? Once we update the General Urban Plan. That should happen by the end of the year, at which point we can begin construction on the parking garages in Spinup. Is cooperation with Mark Jelić and his platform an option for the congressional elections? Cooperation is on the table with anyone who makes it crystal clear they won't be shaking hands with the Republican Party after the elections. Jelić hasn't really made that clear yet. How likely—and I might even say realistic—is a post-election coalition with the Democrats? The citizens will decide how many seats each group gets in the next Congress. My personal take is that if you strip the Republican Party of their access to public funds by at least two seats, they'll probably start fighting amongst themselves and fall apart, since taxpayer money is basically the only thing holding them together. In pursuit of that primary goal, I am ready to work with anyone who refuses to become a mere pawn for the Republicans after the votes are counted, and I believe the Democrats fit that description. Is there a possibility of a centrist party joining a coalition with the Reform Party as the center-right and the Progressive Bloc as the center-left? The Reform Party has already helped the Republicans take power twice; I'm not entirely sure they won't want to do it a third time. As for the Progressives, they represent a new political style just like we do, so we are certainly open to talking. Does the Center plan to "run" its own candidate in the presidential election? Yes, though that happens after the European Union and congressional elections, so we'll have to see how the landscape looks by then. When will the full renovation of the downtown market begin? It's been neglected for decades. There was also talk about renovating Hrvoje Street... where did that get stuck? We are putting out the bid for Hrvoje Street in the coming days, and the downtown market will follow shortly after. It took us some time to get the preparations right, but we are finally in the home stretch.

For those of you hanging out on Reddit today, feel free to hit me up with whatever questions are on your mind. I should be available for about 10 - 20 hours or so.
https://www.reddit.com/r/america/com..._grada_splita/