Some GOP leaders & Willie Brown agree -but both wrong

11/14/10

Editor Former Mayor Brown and some Republican leaders oppose the plan by the Governor and Legislature to sell and leaseback the Gov. Edmund Brown Building on Van Ness," and the San Francisco Civic Center Complex which houses state offices on Golden Gate Ave, and the Supreme Court on Mc Allister St.. Their opposition does not require much expertise; most sale-leasebacks stem from a financial crisis and a need for immediate cash; the leaseback often costs more than the sale price. The plan to sell these three building and eight more in four other California cities is the consequence of irresponsible Democrats in Sacramento.They approved excessive health and pension benefits for themselves and the state employee unions that funded their elections. These benefits are unsustainable; they equate to a virtual bribe, they plunder the general fund and are an abuse of the taxpayers. California now has a $25.4 billion deficit and the worst credit rating of fifty states. It cannot continue to spend, borrow and tax. The state owns and maintains 22,272 buildings and structures, the business of the state is to provide services-not manage property, more state buildings should be sold, including the crime-ridden Cow Palace. Mike DeNunzio President, S.F. Building Authority Chairman, S.F Republican Assembly