(Good question – promoted by Julia Rosen)
On Wednesday night the Newsom Administration went public with their pressure on Susan Leal to resign from the PUC.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission chief Susan Leal has been asked to resign, the first major department head to be targeted for removal by Mayor Gavin Newsom, knowledgeable City Hall sources said… Leal received a telephone call Friday evening from Newsom’s chief of staff saying her services won’t be needed in his second term.
This has left a number of people asking “Why?”, and in response to the Mayor’s decision, I sent the following Letter to the Editor of the Chronicle yesterday afternoon.
To the Editor:
I am stunned to learn of Mayor Newsom’s request to the PUC General Manager Susan Leal for her resignation (“Newsom urges Leal to resign as head of S.F. PUC,” 12/6/07).
More below the fold.
To the Editor:
I am stunned to learn of Mayor Newsom’s request to the PUC General Manager Susan Leal for her resignation (“Newsom urges Leal to resign as head of S.F. PUC,” 12/6/07).
For years, the PUC languished under poor leadership and mismanagement prior to Leal’s arrival and is now in the process of implementing a $6 billion overhaul of our water and sewer systems, in addition to its ongoing responsibility for delivery of water to 2.5 million people, sewage conveyance and treatment for all San Franciscans, power delivery to MUNI and all City buildings, and operation of one of the greenest water systems in the world. Leal has brought with her a competent, determined leadership team that has saved the City millions, implemented strategies for greener, cleaner power, and given direction back to an organization that badly needed it.
That Gavin Newsom has decided Leal’s “fit” in some circle of friends is more important than the continued success of this invaluable organization speaks volumes to what a second Newsom term holds for San Francisco. During the Mayor’s re-election campaign, I at least felt that he couldn’t set the City backward, but now I am not so certain. How unfortunate for us all.
Luke H. Klipp, President
San Francisco Young Democrats
I appreciate anyone’s thoughts here.