THE DAILY KERNEL

From today’s Matier and Ross, this on the Presidio Trust’s Main Post SEIS meeting on Monday. (h/t to TDK Reader MY.)

Hundreds of people were turned away from Monday night’s packed, six-hour Presidio Trust hearing over Gap founder Don Fisher’s proposal for a contemporary art museum on the old Army base’s parade grounds.

There was no shortage of political orchestrating leading up to the big meeting, on both sides.

For weeks, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s chief political consultant, Eric Jaye, and community organizer Alex Tourk had been working for Fisher to drum up a big turnout of fans of his proposal.

Calls and letters went out to scores of nonprofits and community groups that have benefited from Fisher’s philanthropy, including the San Francisco Boys and Girls clubs, the African American Democratic Club and Friends of the Urban Forest.

On the flip side, foes led by the Presidio Historic Association mobilized a neighborhood turnout against the project - including posting talking points for opponents on the association’s Web site.

There was also some criticism from unexpected sources - such as Margaret Brodkin, the mayor’s own director of the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families. Despite having declared her support for Fisher’s museum, she dispatched a staffer to the meeting to raise concerns about its effect on a nearby day-care center.

For all the public hoo-rah Monday, the museum would sit on federally controlled land - and Fisher’s real battle may rest with the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The latter is warning that the building’s size, location and design would have “adverse effects” on the park.

–Doug Kern

Tags: Alex Tourk, Don Fisher, Eric Jaye, Gavin Newsom, main post, Margaret Brodkin, Presidio Historical Association, publicity, SEIS

Tags: Conflict, New Construction by Doug
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The public came out in droves last night to comment on the Presidio Trust’s controversial plan for the Main Post. Many were turned away. In addition to the many comments offered until the meeting finally closed at around midnight, two major things happened:

(1) The comment period for the Main Post SEIS was extended to September 19, 2008. We thank the Presidio Trust for the additional time to analyze the documents and develop comments on this complex proposal. There will be a second public meeting, as yet unscheduled, prior to the close of public comment.

(2) Mayor Gavin Newsom was soundly booed out of the building after appearing before the gathering and making an extended series of comments in support of the Museum proposal. While other museum supporters were given time, shown respect and lightly applauded, the mayor was actually booed.

Frankly, it was embarrassing to see a city leader appear so insensitive and uninformed about concerns voiced by citizens opposed to the proposal and clearly in the majority at the meeting. Perhaps it was his tone. Perhaps it was his dismissiveness towards museum opponents. Perhaps it was that he came out publicly in favor of a proposal prior to receiving his own staff’s analysis, but still offering that staff’s help. 

Whatever. The audience let him know that they were not happy with his performance.

My non-scientific estimate was that for every comment in favor of the proposal there were three strongly opposed. The meeting was recorded and we were told that the comments would be posted on the Trust website soon, so a more thorough analysis will be possible then.

–Doug Kern

Tags: Gavin Newsom, main post, public comment, SEIS

Tags: Conflict, New Construction by Doug
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