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Mon Nov 4 17:33:04 1996: Damayor enters.
Mon Nov 4 17:34:04 1996: Moderator says, "the mayor is in the house!"
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| Da Constituents Inquire | Da Mayor Responds |
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Mon Nov 4 17:33:29 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #3
from Sommers:
Does the city have plans to develop the South of Market area into a
multi-media "gulch"? | Mon
Nov 4 17:34:08 1996: Damayor says,
"Yes. We do. We have appointed a task
force made up of about 50 people from all walks of life in San Francisco. And
particularly from video, audio, imaging, and computer world." Mon Nov 4
17:34:28 1996: Damayor says,
"We have funded a survey contract that will
give us a map on how best to achieve that goal." |
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| Mon Nov 4 17:34:37 1996:
Moderator presents question #8 from Sistah:
Mayor Brown--Do you foresee city investment in multimedia education? | Mon
Nov 4 17:35:15 1996: Damayor says,
"I do foresee city school system
investing in multimedia education. That is already the case at San Francisco State
Univ and in part at the Community College (City College). There are
currently some programs in the high schools along these lines." Mon Nov 4 17:35:33 1996: Damayor says,
"The three pieces, however, are not coordinated. Hopefully the task force
will recommend a method by which the coordination can occur." |
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Mon Nov 4
17:35:35 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #12 from
Guest22:
What is the City doing to make it easier for small new media businesses to
survive in this competitive and very expensive environment? | Mon Nov 4
17:36:21 1996: Damayor says,
"The City is taking advantage of the Federal government
enterprise zone programs. The City is taking advantage of base closure
opportunities. And the City is using its own resources, as directed and
recommended by the small business network."
Mon Nov 4 17:36:33 1996: Damayor says,
"New entrepreneurs, particularly those
that are considered to be small businesses." Mon Nov 4 17:36:50 1996:
Damayor says,
"An effort wil also be made by the city to find sources of
capital for new and small entrepreneurs." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:37:03 1996:
Moderator presents the speakers with question #14 from Rohit:
Would you support plans to sustain the growth through measures such as tax-free zones for web/computer related industry? | Mon Nov 4 17:37:45 1996:
Damayor says,
"I would certainly support any of the recommendations that
would come from the task force. And I would guess that they will be
recommended, some form of tax consideration for multimedia industries and
businesses. That may include computer web site tax preferences." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:37:55 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #22
from Curt:
Mr. Mayor, what efforts will you be making in the coming year to
promote and foster San Francisco's nationwide dominance in the multimedia
industry? |
Mon Nov 4 17:38:21 1996: Damayor says,
"I believe that San Francisco must create a
physical environment to nurture the mutimedia industry that currently
exists."
Mon Nov 4 17:38:32 1996: Damayor says,
"Such physical environment must lend
itself to huge expansion opportunities." Mon Nov 4 17:39:02 1996: Damayor
says, "I believe San Francisco must encourage the venture capitalists to make
available funding for the expansion of the multimedia industry, and I
believe that the government regulatory process must be made user-friendly." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:39:12 1996: Moderator
presents the speakers with question #36 from Jennycool:
About multimedia education in school: Can we mandate connectivity for our
schools, so they can be on the Internet? | Mon Nov 4 17:40:04 1996: Damayor
says, "I believe that is already envisioned as a way in which to produce
quality education for youngsters in the San Francisco School District. The Net Day
activities heralded by Vice President Gore and President Clinton, plus the focused
effort being made to have computers available to every child in the San Francisco
school system is evidence of that effort." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:40:17
1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #28 from Guest33:
Wouldn't this computer museum, that I've heard the mayor likes, be a good
place for a sense of a multimedia community to develop? | Mon Nov 4 17:40:42
1996: Damayor says,
"A computer museum, I think, is a necessary part of a
community that wishes to advertise itself as being the multimedia capital
of the world."
Mon Nov 4
17:40:56 1996: Damayor says,
"Currently in San Jose, there's some form of
technology museum that concentrates in part on computers..." Mon Nov 4
17:41:15 1996: Damayor says,
"but it's not nearly as extensive as it needs
to be, nor does it carry with it the educational component that every
museum should carry."
Mon Nov 4 17:41:30 1996: Damayor says,
"It is my hope, as we go about
producing such a museum in San Francisco, that it will reflect all those qualities."
Mon Nov 4 17:41:49 1996: Damayor says,
"Currently in San Francisco, we have the
Exploratorium, which some people refer to as a museum of technology. But
for me, that is not the case."
Mon Nov 4 17:41:58 1996: Damayor says,
"My vision of such a museum is
dramatically different."
Mon Nov 4 17:42:17 1996: Damayor says,
"As a matter fo fact, in such a
museum, there would be regular sessions for screen-side chats, not only
with the mayor,"
Mon Nov 4 17:42:25 1996: Damayor says,
"but with other persons of political
importance from all over the world." |
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| Mon
Nov 4 17:42:37 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #34 from
Jefferson:
Will there be a day when San Franciscans can vote absentee "online"? | Mon
Nov 4 17:43:20 1996: Damayor says,
"I do not know if that technology
currently exists. I would assume it does, because if you can do numerical
transfers of funds, including the acquisition and disposition of
securities, you ought to be able to cast your vote thru the same process,
using similar technology."
Mon Nov 4 17:43:53 1996: Damayor says,
"The registrar's operation in CA,
from the Secretary of State down to all the sub-units, authorized to record and
count ballots, seem to be in the late 60s and early 70s as it relates to
computer technology and computer efficiency." Mon Nov 4 17:44:09 1996:
Damayor says,
"At this stage in my life, I'm not willing to risk a vote
count from my registrar of voters as if it were an ATM."
Mon Nov 4 17:44:17 1996: Damayor says,
"That is not to say I don't think
it's possible." |
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| Mon
Nov 4 17:44:23 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #39 from
Curt:
Mr. Mayor, where do you stand regarding free speech and the Internet? | Mon
Nov 4 17:44:45 1996: Damayor says,
"I am for free speech, period. Whether
it's on the internet, or by way of the Guardian, Examiner, Chronicle, or on
the stump."
Mon Nov 4 17:44:59 1996: Damayor says,
"Free speech carries with it a
responsibility for utterances that must be vigorously respected." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:45:13 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #38
from Pants:
What is the city's position on making ground on providing equal access to
all San Francisco citizens? |
Mon Nov 4 17:45:50 1996: Damayor says,
"I don't believe the City is
currently doing anything in that regard--except making sure that some of
our City agencies, departments, and units are on-line. Whether or not
individual citizens of San Francisco tap into that is an option exercised by the
citizens."Mon Nov 4 17:46:00 1996: Damayor says,
"We are doing support services for
such organizations as City Search."
Mon Nov 4 17:46:15 1996: Damayor says,
"We are also doing in the Department of
Public Works some serious mapping processes for various City services."
Mon
Nov 4 17:46:44 1996: Damayor says,
"Hopefully at some point, you will not
only be able to determine the status of permits, but ought to be able to
get the MUNI schedule, the street closure schedule, and any other actions
by City government that is of great significance." Mon Nov 4 17:47:04 1996:
Damayor says,
"That means that ultimately, by way of the fiber optic
process... opportunities for connections for the maximum amount of
information." Mon Nov 4 17:47:24 1996: Damayor says,
"We are in the process of staffing a
Department of Telecommunications, and one of its functions will be to complete
the projects that I just outlines."
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Mon Nov 4 17:47:42 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #50
from Guest79:
Hey Willie, what are your plans and visions on the developement of
MultiMedia oriented offices on the Piers--especially those displaced by the
new Ballpark? |
Mon Nov 4 17:48:08 1996: Damayor says,
"That matter of whether or not we'll
house some parts of the industry on the piers has just come to my attention
in the last 10 days. I don't know whether it's a good idea or not."
Mon Nov 4 17:48:37 1996: Damayor says,
"I do know that I want our piers to
do maritime activities. If we do office buildings there, since I'm casting
about for physical space for the multimedia industry, I'm certainly open to
dialog..."
Mon Nov 4 17:48:46 1996: Damayor says,
"on the piers being used." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:48:52 1996:
Moderator presents the speakers with question #30 from Rohit:
Mr Mayor, do you own a personal computer? Mon Nov 4 17:49:15 1996:
Moderator says, "We're joking about Mac vs P.C. here..." | Mon Nov 4 17:49:23
1996: Damayor says,
"I do. It has every game you can think of. I seldom
interrupt surfing for games to get real information." Mon Nov 4 17:49:45
1996: Damayor says,
"I do news summaries thru the computer. And I
occasionally communicate with my grandchildren through email."
Mon Nov 4 17:50:07 1996: Damayor says,
"I don't consider myself a nerd,
because I haven't been able to figure out how to break into Fort Knox. But
when I do, San Francisco will never have a deficit again." |
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| Mon Nov 4 17:50:20 1996:
Moderator presents question #11 from Guest33:
What can damayor tell me about how he might promote a sense of localized
community for the multimedia and computer arts scene...dig? Mon Nov 4
17:50:30 1996: Moderator says, "LOL!" | Mon Nov 4 17:50:31 1996: Damayor
(laughs). Mon Nov 4 17:50:59 1996: Damayor says,
"I think if we are able to
put together the museum, a spin-off will be a number of opportunities for
computer-related displays whether they be called art or otherwise." |
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| Mon Nov
4 17:51:01 1996: Moderator says, "we're getting a lot of political
questions, so we'll shift to that topic next." Mon Nov 4 17:51:10 1996: Moderator presents
the speakers with question #9 from Bruce:
How will the internet effect San Francisco in the next 4 years? Mon Nov 4 17:51:49 1996: Moderator says, "The Mayor will be here til about
6:10 PST..." | Mon Nov 4
17:51:31 1996: Damayor says,
"In the next 4 years, the Department of
Telecommunications should have in place and operational all those things I
spoke of earlier."Mon Nov 4 17:52:13 1996: Damayor says,
"Whether they originate with
(various departments) or whether they originate with City Search, there
will be a menu of city services, both for one to partake, and in the
separate categories (Children, Youth, Adult, etc)." Mon Nov 4 17:52:36
1996: Damayor says,
"I would also hope that there could be, in the next 3-4
years, an opportunity for people to inquire for volunteering in community services
through the internet." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:52:43 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #20
from Guest46:
What's your guess for Prop 209? |
Mon Nov 4 17:53:12 1996: Damayor says,
"I think 209 is still in trouble,
and I think it's in trouble because California is basically a very conservative
state, and a state that's never really had a commitment to equal opportunity and
equal justice under the law."
Mon Nov 4 17:53:33 1996: Damayor says,
"If the turnout is high enough, then
people whose interest is best served by affirmative action will be
inattendance and they will prevail."
Mon Nov 4 17:53:47 1996: Damayor says,
"If the traditional turnout happens,
it always reflects the worst, and 209 will pass." Mon Nov 4 17:54:16 1996:
Damayor says,
"I don't believe the public opinion polls, because I don't
think a majority of the people would want you to believe they are basically
racists. So they will fudge on the answer to the question." |
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Mon Nov 4 17:54:27 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #54
from Citizenm:
Would it be possible for the city to simply issue more taxi permits
directly, avoiding the byzantine propositions we seem to get each election? |
Mon Nov 4 17:54:55 1996: Damayor says,
"Absolutely, and I've started to do
that. I think I've caused to be issued over 100 new taxi permits. Part of
those were paratransit. But at least 100 were general taxi permits."
Mon
Nov 4 17:55:39 1996: Damayor says,
"I also intend to see that the fare box
be adjusted to more appropriately reflect a fair return for the service
they render. And I suspect we can do that by setting a flat fee for the
airport, so that cab drivers will be encouragedto take the shortest cut
possible."
Mon Nov 4 17:56:30 1996: Damayor says,
"We also have to demand that an
electronic system be devised so that when a cab operator gets an
assignment, only that operator knows about that assignment. The tracking
process wil be such that the closest driver gets the call, rather than the
current system, where cabs race all over town, just to grab a fare, because
they heard it."
Mon Nov 4 17:56:54 1996: Damayor says,
"So all new cab permits should be
issued with a requirment for computer technology requirement in that cab.
And all existing permits ought to be required to come on line within 12
months."
Mon Nov 4 17:57:26 1996: Damayor says,
"At some point, we may wish to
encourage one of our genius multimedia friends to go in the business of
processing requests for cabs over the net, thereby creating a system that
cab companies would subscribe to."
Mon Nov 4 17:57:52 1996: Damayor says,
"This would be far more efficient--
if a citizen could call one number, and any brand of cab would show up. You
would begin to get a city that has a transportation system equal to none."
Mon Nov 4 17:58:12 1996: Damayor says,
"That is what I want to do in this
city with cabs, then you'll have no more greedy propositions on the ballot
expressing individual desires."
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Mon Nov 4 17:58:17 1996: Moderator presents question #23 from Guest108:
Will the mayor be discussing his position on proposition 211? | Mon Nov 4
17:59:04 1996: Damayor says,
"Prop 211 is a measure that is being
hard-fought by both the persons who are lawyers and those who own the
companies. On balance I think there is a threat to the corporate
headquartering in CA if 211 passes; therefore I conclude that that threat
outweighs the necessity for 211."
Mon Nov 4 17:59:28 1996: Damayor says,
"I do believe the courts can
determine when there has been some representation made, that turns out to be
fraudulent, by people who sell securities or public dollars." |
| Mon Nov 4
17:59:45 1996: Moderator presents question #25 from Jennycool:
Mr. Mayor, I was curious to hear a little about how your plans to improve
MUNI are coming. What changes can we expect in the coming year? | Mon Nov 4
18:00:07 1996: Damayor says,
"The plans to improve MUNI are taking longer
than I anticipated. The safety features (avoiding crime) have been
achieved...."
Mon Nov 4 18:00:33 1996: Damayor says,
"The complants about violence on
MUNI are down by over 50%. The advent of police officers riding the
buses, and former gang members being mentors, has added a great measure of
security."
Mon Nov 4 18:00:50 1996: Damayor says,
"The buses are also cleaner, I'm
told the roaches have been eliminated, and the drivers are a bit more
courteous now."
Mon Nov 4 18:01:19 1996: Damayor says,
"Training programs, however,
involving the drivers, will take a bit of time. The program involves
retraining every single driver on a regular basis, so their skills remain
upgraded to what the public demands."
Mon Nov 4 18:01:59 1996: Damayor says,
"The complaint process (and there
were > 3560 complains unresolved when I took over as mayor) has been
altered. I've secured a commitment from about 40 of the top lawyers with some
dispute resolution skills on a pro bono basis to clean out the backlog of
complaints."
Mon Nov 4 18:02:20 1996: Damayor says,
"When that's done, then we'll be in
a position where 4-5 dedicated hearing officers will be able to process every
complaint in 60 days."
Mon Nov 4 18:02:43 1996: Damayor says,
"The business of running the buses
on time, that has not been achieved. We're about 50% home." Mon Nov 4
18:03:03 1996: Damayor says,
"Most of the current problem is inadequate
equipment, no equipment, or a lack of personnel to operate the equipment."
Mon Nov 4 18:03:50 1996: Damayor says,
"We will change the schedules so
that in fact the published shcedule will be certain and not floatable, and
we will be taking delivery before the end of the year on new metro rolling
stock, so that the reliability of the metro ought to be 100%, and the time
schedule on the dedicated tracks will be met." Mon Nov 4 18:04:05 1996: Damayor says,
"By this time next year, in the
screen-side chat, I will be praised for MUNI..."
Mon Nov 4 18:04:15 1996:
Damayor says,
"and its efficiency, and its friendliness." Mon Nov 4 18:04:38 1996: Damayor says,
"The bottom line is, we have the
infrastructure of the finest municipal transport service in America. The
shortcomings are being fixed." |
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| Mon Nov 4 18:04:45 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with
question #58 from Cuervo:
If President Clinton is reelected, how will this benefit San
Franciscans? | Mon Nov 4 18:05:39 1996: Damayor says,
"If President Clinton is
reelected, there will be a friendly White House and administration, and the
various secretaries at the Cabinet level hopefully will demonstrate the
same attention to San Francisco as Secretary Henry Cisneros has done, Donna Shalala has
done."
Mon Nov 4 18:06:35 1996: Damayor says,
"The importance of a friendly White
House and a friendly Cabinet was best demonstrated by the amount of homeless money
that Undersecretary Andrew Cuomo delivered to San Francisco, the amount of money that Housing and Human Services
delivered for Ryan White Care, and the amount of money hopefully that will come
for job creation; that is really the answer to the homeless problem." Mon
Nov 4 18:07:09 1996: Damayor says,
"If Clinton loses, San Francisco is really in
trouble: The diverse makeup of the people of this city, and their
propensity to vote Democratic, will stamp us as lepers in the Republican
world. We will receive almost no assistance..." Mon Nov 4 18:07:12 1996:
Damayor says,
"so Clinton has to win." |
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Mon Nov 4 18:07:23 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #78
from Rohit:
Brown/_____ in 2004 ? |
Mon Nov 4 18:08:12 1996: Damayor says,
"I don't think 2000 or 2004 are
possible. This nation doesn't deserve anybody with my talent. Because they
could never elect anybody with my talent. I'm far too candid for the
presidency."
Mon Nov 4 18:08:36 1996: Damayor says,
"You have to be kind of mainstream,
willing to go to the Dakotas and convice them they should all live in San Francisco. I
don't think that's possible."
Mon Nov 4 18:08:56 1996: Damayor says,
"Not just the Dakotas, could be
anyplace. I think I'm just suited to San Francisco. I'm going to confine my political
quest to this City."
Mon Nov 4 18:09:02 1996: Damayor says,
"Although the idea is not a bad
one." |
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Mon Nov 4 18:09:09 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #65
from Jennycool:
Given the number of years you served in Sacramento, how long do you envision
being Mayor of this fairest of cities? |
Mon Nov 4 18:10:11 1996: Damayor says,
"I would hope to complete this term in
2000, and if the voters will have me, I'd be willing to serve a second term. I
hope my 1st term will have been so impressive and productive and decisive
in promoting San Francisco that I wouldn't have any opposition. What a lovely
thought, to run for office on the basis that your performance has been
appreciated, rather than explaining why you've failed." |
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| Mon Nov 4 18:10:16
1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #70 from Guest108:
How do you feel about being referred to as "damayor"? | Mon Nov 4 18:10:52
1996: Damayor says,
"I love it. A lady friend of mine on election night
gave me a cap at the precise moment that the computers projected my
victory. I placed that cap on my head and it said "Da Mayor." Mon Nov 4
18:11:20 1996: Damayor says,
"That has become the nickname or the handle,
and when people get comfortable referring to you by nickname or handle, and
it's not derogatory, you know you've got it made." |
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| Mon Nov 4
18:11:30 1996: Moderator presents the speakers with question #64 from Rich:
What are your plans for damayor.org as a public facility? Mon Nov 4
18:11:38 1996: Moderator says, "LOL!!!" | Mon Nov 4 18:11:47 1996: Damayor
(laughs) Mon Nov 4 18:12:30 1996: Damayor says,
"I would hope we can stay on
line, not just have screen-side chats. My Saturday morning meetings with the constituency
are very limited by hours. Clearly such chats should be expanded utilizing
the electronic process. Particularly damayor.org!" |
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Mon Nov 4 18:12:34 1996:
Moderator says,
"Mayor Brown, thank you very much for spending time with
us..."
Mon Nov 4 18:12:46 1996: Damayor says,
"Thank you for having me. I enjoyed
it. Give the typist a hand."
Mon Nov 4 18:12:56 1996: Moderator says,
"The mayor is congratulating the
typist!!!"
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