Circular Firing Squad on the Left Strikes Again
So Beyond Chron took on Supervisor Mirkarimi for his legislation regulating the pot clubs and suggested that he was abandoning his base on this issue. For the record, I do not support Supervisor Mirkarimi’s legislation on the pot clubs as drafted; however, I do not think that Sup. Mirkarimi has suddenly abandoned his base. When progressives bash other progressives over disagreements on public policy issues, it is simply embarassing.
Some might argue, and some did, that Sup Mirkarimi is not following the sentiments of his base. Well, I beg to differ. Again. Sup Mirkarimi follows his base 98% of the time and while I disagree with his decisions on this legislation, I believe they are good faith differences of opinion and that occasionally, differences will happen. Does that mean that Sup Mirkarimi has abandoned his base? No. And to suggest so is insulting to the decades of work that he has done on this and other progressive issues.
I’m sorry to say that is slightly predictable. The circular firing squad of the left strikes again. Have a public policy debate without resorting to attacks for a change. None of us are perfect in this regard, but I think we can do better than this. To suggest that Supervisor Mirkarimi is unaccountable, inexperienced and a rookie is a personal attack. The most experienced legislator can have a difference of opinion with others.
We have to have more space in the progressive community for civil discourse that doesn’t resort to personal attacks and allows for differences of opinion.
November 2nd, 2005 at 10:13 pm
The problem is Chris Daly evidently doesn’t want any regulation of the pot clubs at all. Ross is right on this one. That Ross was actually talking to and negotiating with the mayor seemed to bother Daly and Shaw more than anything. Daly has 17 pot clubs in his district, and he doesn’t want to lose a single one because of zoning, which is ridiculous.
November 3rd, 2005 at 9:45 am
Actually, I think Chris’s point was that under the proposed regulations, pretty much the only place pot clubs would be allowed in the city would be in South of Market.
November 3rd, 2005 at 9:57 am
Well, I have no problem with Sup Daly’s perspective, my point was that Beyond Chron jumped to all kinds of negative conclusions about Sup Mirkarimi that were more personal in nature and not about the issues involved, arguing that Mirkarimi was unaccountable, inexperienced, ect…
I think they should have grandfathered in existing businesses in the legislation. If you are going to treat it like a business, then treat it like a business.
November 4th, 2005 at 12:48 pm
What Supervisor Daly wrote on his blog is this: “I continue to oppose all of the zoning regulations that affect any existing or future dispensaries including those in the South of Market. To this end I will be offering an amendment to grandfather all existing dispensaries.” The map attached to his blog post shows that there are now 17 pot clubs in his district. Maybe he needs to offer another amendment and/or blog posting to clarify his position.