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. |