Many of the progressive activists who worked tirelessly to pass Healthy Saturdays have probably spent the last couple days understandably dejected. Working for months on legislation, following it through the public process, and even compromising on some of its goals only to have it killed in the 11th hour can be devastating.
But the fight over Healthy Saturdays cemented a trend in San Francisco politics that should have environmentalists and social justice advocates cheering instead of mourning – progressives are once again controlling the debate in this town, leaving conservative forces reacting to the left’s agenda. And the fact that Healthy Saturdays appears headed for the ballot in November shows that trend will likely continue to grow stronger.
Ten years ago, the city’s progressives found themselves constantly on the defense. Then-Mayor Willie Brown’s pro-development stance and the dot-com boom left many activists spending all their time trying to stop gentrification and bad projects rather than proactively pushing their agenda for the city, and the city’s environmental groups weren’t nearly the force they are now.
Things have changed a lot since then. Mayor Gavin Newsom spends most of his time deciding how he will handle proposals brought to him by progressive groups and the Board of Supervisors rather than the other way around.
Consider the past year of political activity:
Tenant activists have made Ellis Act evictions one of the top issues of the city, with a constant stream of legislation and actions aimed at raising awareness about the issue. After forcing Newsom to veto two early proposals to slow evictions, tenants scored a major victory recently when the Board passed law that should stop the majority of speculative evictions.
Affordable housing advocates have put non-stop pressure on City Hall lately, working to secure a big chunk of this year’s budget surplus to provide homes for low-income people. The Board also recently introduced legislation increasing inclusionary housing requirements, which will keep the debate focused on solving the city’s affordable housing crisis rather than building more market-rate units.
Anti-violence activists also helped control the debate around the budget surplus, passing a large appropriation that will help stem the tide of murders sweeping the city. And a measure on this June’s ballot, Proposition A, could direct $10 million more towards progressive anti-violence programs.
Finally, environmentalists, bicyclists, and pedestrian activists have been consistently on the offensive. The Bike Coalition continues to fight for lanes throughout the city, Walk SF keeps pushing for more funding to make the city’s streets safer, and Transportation for a Livable City placed the Mayor on record as being against parking restrictions downtown. Public transit advocates stopped an increase to the Fast Pass last year, and this year proactively pushed Muni to seek new, progressive sources of revenue now rather than face hikes and cuts later.
Perhaps most importantly, all these groups put Healthy Saturdays at the center of the city’s political debate. By giving the Mayor a clear choice between public health, open space, and a healthier environment versus wealthy museum backers and Richmond NIMBYs, Healthy Saturdays revealed Newsom’s ‘green’ image to be a sham. Should the proposal go on the ballot in November, which appears likely, expect a spirited campaign with a solid chance at victory.
Even if Healthy Saturdays doesn’t win, and regardless of the Mayor’s recent veto, one thing remains certain: progressives are controlling the debate and setting the agenda in this city. By forcefully pushing their issues despite strong opposition, by tirelessly focusing on their goals and working towards them, and by refusing to compromise on their core values, progressives have recently reclaimed their position as the agenda-setters in San Francisco.
Instead of lamenting the loss of Healthy Saturdays, progressives should hold their heads high, keep fighting for its passage, and remember that the longer you keep the opposition on the defensive, the more likely you are to ultimately prevail.
