The fight over redevelopment in California is still far from finished, but Democratic lawmakers on a key state legislative committee took a step that could hurry the death knell along yesterday. The conference committee voted to approve the governor's proposed budget that cuts Adult Day Care, limits doctor's visits for the poor, and kills redevelopment agencies in cities across the state. They took the added step of sending the budget along for a vote by the full Legislature, which could happen as early as Wednesday, months ahead of schedule. The plan also include $14 billion in new taxes. more ›

We know most of you are probably not on the edge of your seats waiting to see how Jerry Brown's threats to kill redevelopment in California shake out, but we thought we'd keep reporting on the issue because we think it's important, and because Jerry's banking on voters not really caring either way because they don't understand it. Redevelopment has become a political pawn, something beloved by mayors and city economic development departments but not often understood by the public, and occasionally misused by cities and occasionally corrupt city officials. more ›

Another line item getting nixed in Jerry Brown's proposed budget is the state's Division of Juvenile Justice, potentially saving the state some $242 million but potentially costing some pain at the county level, where the worst offending juvenile inmates will now have to be sent. Some feel counties can and should do a better job rehabilitating juveniles, given that the state system is broken, with just four broken down buildings, and afflicted with an entrenched gang culture. more ›

Muni is holding a hearing today to discuss/debate the restoration of more than half the service cuts they made this past spring, which they say can happen by September. They're crediting "stronger than expected revenue streams, operational efficiencies and new grant opportunities" as reasons why they can restore some service. In other words, all those fare evasion tickets and their FastPass price hikes must be paying off. Now if only they can only run enough outbound trains and buses to accommodate the commuter traffic between 5 and 7 — and keep the system from completely melting down at rush hour — we'll be golden. [SF Appeal] more ›

Despite Gavin's threats of "real consequences" if they didn't vote his way, Muni bus, metro, and cable car operators voted 747 to 548 yesterday last Friday to reject the proposed contract concessions aimed at closing a $19M budget gap and restoring trimmed services. more ›

And in useless news today, the Board of Supervisors is "in limbo" about whether or not to reject Muni's latest budget, even though this amounts to a "largely symbolic" vote on the part of the Supes, i.e. a political middle finger in the direction of the MTA. You see, the city is obligated by voter mandate to fund Muni, so whether or not the union accepts the mayor's negotiated concessions, they'll get their money anyway. Board President David Chiu threatens to reject the budget if Muni refuses to restore service cuts by fall, the result of which would just be the Supervisors sitting and pouting and refusing to transfer $7M in tax revenue into Muni's accounts, even though they have to. [Chron] more ›

The Board of Supes is holding a hearing tomorrow to decide whether to reject Muni's latest budget, which includes a City Charter-mandated 9% raise for union members on July 1, which totals about $9 million. Gavin's been fighting to make sure the union accepts some labor concessions (like the oft mentioned overtime pay issue) which would amount to about $9 million in savings, and therefore balance out the pay increases. more ›

Muni received $4.8 million and BART $2 million in state funding for capital projects this week. BART is said to be using the money to fund the Warm Springs extension in Fremont, while Muni will be using their chunk to put toward new light rail vehicles and the Central Subway line. Wait, don't those metro cars cost like $3 million apiece? [CC Times] more ›

The recent glut of Muni fare enforcement officers on metro trains and platforms is slowing down, at least temporarily, after immigrants' rights advocates have been raising concerns about profiling by the officers. They say that non-English speaking immigrants, who often don't understand what they're being cited for, are being unfairly targeted, and as the Examiner reports, the officers also, "issue tickets for fares that expired just minutes before the saturation took place." more ›

SFist received a call from the LGBT Center over the weekend regarding our and the Chronicle's stories about their financial difficulties, which they say were grossly misrepresented. more ›

It's not a shocker that the not-quite-vibrant LGBT Center (you'd think it would be, it has a nice building, but it's not exactly a well-frequented space) is facing some tough times eight years after opening to great fanfare. The Center, which is a city-subsidized non-profit, plays host to a variety of HIV-awareness, arts, and community meetings, but it hasn't found much income from renting out its spaces to community groups and the like. The city spent $5.7 million on the Center's building (which was also partly funded by a large donation from its namesake, Chuck Holmes, the founder of gay porn pioneers Falcon Studios). But according the Chron they are now seeking a $1M mortgage bailout, which supervisors David Campos and Bevan Dufty both support. more ›

Faced with a $113 million cut in San Francisco Unified School District's budget over the next two years, which is greater than cuts experienced during the Great Depression, pissed-off parents have organized a town hall meeting tonight moderated by Michael Krasny, host of KQED Radio's Forum. more ›

You'll recall how BART was recently under threat of effing themselves out of that $70M in federal stimulus funds if they didn't come up with a better report regarding potential discrimination in their plans to build and operate an airport connector? Well, they are now effed and the money is going to be redistributed to other transit agencies. We don't completely understand the details, but the $6 that riding the thing was going to cost, along with whatever proposed hiring/contracting plans they had, allegedly were not satisfactory in terms of proving that poor residents of Oakland were getting equal treatment under the Federal Civil Rights Act. more ›

Upon losing $18 million of its operating budget, CCSF is searching for ways to cut costs. They've already implemented many cost-saving measures, including canceling their summer session, to the disappointment of many, and now they're asking students to brainstorm with them for more solutions. See CCSF's "Cost-$aving$ Ideas Contest" page and contest rules for more info, and submit your ideas here. more ›

The NYT is reporting on the "punishing slate" of service cuts by the New York City MTA, which is facing a $400 million budget shortfall. They're eliminating two train lines, reducing service on dozens of bus routes, and phasing out a program that provided free fares to students. The cuts will still need to be approved again before taking effect in the spring, and there's bound to be some public outcry before then. But rest assured that our little Muni system isn't the only one cutting services and suffering at the hands of this Great Recession. But we're pretty sure New York's subways still don't back up and/or break down during rush hour twice a week. more ›

In addition to raising the car toll another $1 come 2013, the board of directors of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District is considering charging bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the bridge following the completion of seismic upgrades to the pedestrian walkways. The board meets today to review these proposals, which are meant to close a projected $132 million deficit over the next five years. more ›

Facing a $150 million budget deficit this year due to cuts in state funding and higher operating costs, UC Berkeley has hired Bain & Co., a Massachusetts-based consultant with offices in San Francisco, for a hefty $3 million fee, plus expenses, to help the university find long-term ways to save money. As Fark.com aptly puts, "Somehow, cutting consultant fees from the budget isn't likely to make the list." more ›

The cruel, cruel Governator is expected today to use his line-item veto power to make further cuts to social programs--particularly those serving the poor--as he signs off on the State of California's latest budget. To highlight his cruelty, local news stations have concentrated on possible cuts to in-home care for people with cerebral palsy, and to insurance for poor families with cute little children like Jacob in the video above. As KCBS reports, even these cuts are not expected to improve the state's shitty credit rating (currently a BBB while most states have AAA or AA), because the budget is "filled with accounting tricks" too. more ›

In this clip from Russia Today, an English-language news program based in Moscow, the suave and accented anchorman speaks with an American correspondent about the fiscal crisis in California and the "meaningless pieces of paper" the state is now issuing to vendors in lieu of cash. Is it just us, or does this dude have a certain smirky, bemused attitude toward the idea that this state with the 8th largest economy in the world is bankrupt? more ›

ABC 7 brings us this report about how Oakland may try to solve its budget crisis, in part, by becoming the first city in the nation to directly tax marijuana dispensaries. The city would impose a 1.8% levy, which would mean that the four official pot clubs would have to pay $18 for every $1,000 sold -- currently, through standard business taxes, the city collects $1.20 for every $1,000 sold -- and would potentially raise $400,000 for the coming fiscal year. This measure goes onto a special election ballot being voted on this month. more ›