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Thumbnail image for Who Gave, Who Got, and How Much: Candidates, Ballot Measures and Independent Expenditures

Who Gave, Who Got, and How Much: Candidates, Ballot Measures and Independent Expenditures

by Larry Bush 10.20.2011

By Oliver Luby & Marc Salomon Data source: San Francisco Ethics Commission. Scope: The base data used for this article originate primarily from the campaign disclosures submitted as of September 29, 2011 (disclosing activity for the reporting period ending September 24, 2011). This article about the financing of San Francisco 2011 candidates follows our August [...]

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Thumbnail image for Ethics’ Dummy Investigation of Banned Contributions

Ethics’ Dummy Investigation of Banned Contributions

by Larry Bush 10.19.2011

Working hard or hardly working? Judging from reactions to the Ethics Commission by  San Francisco organizations, neighborhood representatives and ordinary citizens, the verdict is in. The city’s Ethics body is hardly working. It claims to be working so hard that it simply can’t find the time to enforce the city’s ban on contractors making contributions [...]

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Thumbnail image for Ed Lee: Freight Train or Train Wreck?

Ed Lee: Freight Train or Train Wreck?

by Larry Bush 08.11.2011

(Photo courtesy of Luke Thomas/Fog City Journal) Much is being made of the fact that Ed Lee promised that he would only serve as an Interim Mayor, filling out the remaining months in Gavin Newsom’s term of office. True, but that’s not what was important about the selection of Ed Lee by Newsom and a [...]

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Commissioners: Pay to Play?

by Larry Bush 06.22.2011

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Over 70 percent of City commissioners and appointees wrote checks totaling $433 247 to local candidates and ballot measures since 2007, according to a CitiReport survey released today. In CitiReport’s count, 230 city appointees out of 313 wrote checks in local political contests. Political contributions are only [...]

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Civil Grand Jury Report: Ethics Commission is a “Sleeping Watchdog”

by Larry Bush 06.20.2011

The San Francisco Civil Grand Jury today reported that the San Francisco Ethics Commission is a Sleeping Watchdog that abdicates its responsibilities, has failed to act on all 18 Sunshine violations referred to it for action, and is vulnerable to manipulation in assessing fines against politicians and political groups. It recommends several corrective actions, including televising [...]

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Thumbnail image for Treasure Island: Paradise or Purgatory?

Treasure Island: Paradise or Purgatory?

by Larry Bush 04.21.2011

Fifteen years into San Francisco’s effort to acquire Treasure Island, there has been no shortage of public discussion – in the press, in public hearings, in community sessions on Treasure Island itself. And it all amounts to the kind of coverage one would expect from a small town newspaper heralding the opening of a new [...]

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LINKS

by Larry Bush 03.17.2011

http://Cleanupcityhall.wordpress.com A new site offering research and links promising “investigation and education in order to promote good government by informing the public about money in politics and connections between lobbyists, corporations, special interests, and elected officials.” It’s first report, “Flying Through Loopholes” received widespread attention for details on travel expenditure contributions to San Francisco elected [...]

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