While he wouldn't say whether or not Cynthia Thompson will receive a much deserved ax, today Mayor Gavin Newsom did announce that he will hack away at some 1,000 city jobs as well as "limiting overtime costs and raising some city fees." Overall, 450 workers stand to lose their jobs. (And thus 450 sandwich artists are born.)
Newsom unveiled his shiny new 2008-2009 budget proposal over at the Hunters Point Shipyard this morning. During today's press conference, according to the Gate, Newsom boasted of the city finally meeting "its mandated goal of having 1,971 police officers on the streets," possible by September (which will presumably have little to no effect); wanting to hand Healthy San Francisco, the magical program that will give health care to uninsured city residents, a cool $37 million; bragged about our downtown (which, yeah, is kind of awesome); and "bristled"--bristled!!--at the mere thought that the city government is growing a wee bit too fast.
Aaanyway, the next must be done by July 1 in order for the the Board of Supervisors get all hysterical about it. The Board of Supes and city department budgeting? We can hardly wait.
In other news, San Francisco has culled in billions and billions of traveler dollars over the past year. The LA Times tells us that "that city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau reports that tourists spent $8.2 billion there in 2007, an increase of 6.2% over the year before and an all-time high." Oh my, indeed.