{"id":31536,"date":"2024-02-06T13:15:39","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T21:15:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=31536"},"modified":"2024-02-06T13:16:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T21:16:22","slug":"campaign-notebook-mahmoods-ethics-and-pr-problem-huge-billionaire-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/02\/06\/campaign-notebook-mahmoods-ethics-and-pr-problem-huge-billionaire-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Campaign Notebook: Mahmood\u2019s ethics (and PR) problem, huge billionaire money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>&#8230; and a new organization tracking the plutocrats. Our weekly roundup of news about the March election.<a href=\"https:\/\/48hills.org\/author\/tim\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <a href=\"https:\/\/48hills.org\/author\/tim\/\">TIM REDMOND<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FEBRUARY 3, 2024  (MissionLocal.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bilal Mahmood, who is running for both Democratic County Central Committee and District 5 supervisor, is having trouble keeping the campaigns separate\u2014which is required by law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates for DCCC can take unlimited campaign contributions; candidates for supervisor can\u2019t take more than $500 from any individual. So using money donated to a DCCC campaign for a supervisorial campaign is a potentially serious violation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4-1024x688.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-31537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4-1024x688.png 1024w, https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4-150x101.png 150w, https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4-768x516.png 768w, https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4-223x150.png 223w, https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-4.png 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bilal Mahmood admits a mistake\u2014but blames it on an underling. Image from his website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So: Mahmood sent out a district-wide mailer for his DCCC campaign (and that\u2019s expensive stuff), which included the Bilal for Supervisor logo. Here\u2019s what he said about that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My campaign is about delivering change. Change starts with transparency, especially when you make a mistake.<br><br>Today, our first mail piece for my DCCC campaign was sent to voters across AD 17. Unfortunately, a consultant working on my DCCC campaign mistakenly sent out the mailer\u2026<\/p>&mdash; Bilal Mahmood \u99ac\u767e\u6a02 (@bilalmahmood) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bilalmahmood\/status\/1752431225594409394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 30, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ethics Commission will investigate, and possibly levy a fine, but the damage is done: Mahmood used some of the large chunks of money he\u2019s received, including from Garry Tan, to promote his campaign for supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And here\u2019s the thing: I have been to many seminars on political communications, and talked to many experts on damage control, and they all agree\u2014Step One is to take responsibility. Don\u2019t blame an employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201cconsultant\u201d who made the \u201cmistake\u201d worked for Mahmood. But Mahmood is responsible for screening, training, and supervising the people he hires. His comments just make this whole thing look worse\u2014particularly when his online ad talks about ending \u201cthe excuses and finger-pointing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He just made excuses and pointed fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The billionaires are&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/48hills.org\/2024\/01\/the-billionaire-plutocrats-set-their-sights-on-controlling-sfs-democratic-party\/\">really, really trying to buy San Francisco<\/a>.<\/strong>&nbsp;Just one person\u2014Chris Larsen, the executive chairman of Ripple, whose wealth is estimated at more than $50 billion\u2014has poured more than $2 million into conservative candidates and causes, including $100,000 to elect Chip Zecher to the Superior Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zecher hasn\u2019t been in a courtroom in some time, the Chronicle asked him what this was about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked why he was running for judge, he cited a call from District Attorney Brooke Jenkins for someone to run against incumbent judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s pretty widely known in local political circles that Larsen is a big fan of Mayor London Breed, and gives money to causes she supports. Bred hasn\u2019t formally endorsed candidates in the judicial race, but it\u2019s hard to deny her direct connections here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zecher also has $20,000 from Republican-donor Bill Oberndorf, $10,000 from plutocrat Ron&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sfbgarchive.48hills.org\/sfbgarchive\/2012\/11\/27\/plutocrat\/\">Conway<\/a>, and $25,000 from\u2014yes\u2014the San Francisco Police Officers Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the San Francisco Bar Association, which issues independent evaluations of judicial candidates, ranked both incumbents, Michael Begart and Patrick Thompson, as \u201cwell qualified.\u201d Zecher and fellow challenger Jean Roland didn\u2019t respond to the BASF questionnaire, so got no rating. I have never in 40 years as a reporter seen candidates for judge decline to participate in the BASF process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Among Larsen\u2019s other big checks: $500,000<\/strong>\u2014yes, that\u2019s a cool half million\u2013to the Yes on E campaign. Prop. E would override the Police Commission and allow more surveillance (including drones), more high-speed chases, and less information about the use of force against people of color. He\u2019s given $200,000 to Prop. F, which would mandate drug screenings for people who seek welfare payments from the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This, people who actually understand the reality of the life of low-income people say,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reducesfhomelessness.org\/\">will increase homelessness in the city<\/a>. (I also have to ask: How many tech CEOs would pass a drug test if their income required it? Just saying.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those initiatives are Breed\u2019s pet projects, designed not to solve any problems in the city but to boost her dwindling prospects of getting re-elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019s also given a stunning $100,000 to Marjan Philhour for DCCC. That\u2019s entirely off the charts for an election to the Democratic Party\u2019s policy body\u2014but Philhour is also running for District 1 supervisor, and contributions to a supe campaign are limited to $500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A big ad blitz with her name on the West side of town would be a major benefit to her supe campaign. It\u2019s legal, but a huge loophole in the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, and by the way: he also gave $20,000 to the Bilal Mahmood for DCCC campaign. See above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The right wing of the mayor\u2019s race keeps getting more crowded<\/strong>. Now the SF Standard reports that Mark Farrell, a former conservative supervisor from D2,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sfstandard.com\/2024\/02\/02\/former-san-francisco-mayor-mark-farrell-will-challege-london-breed\/\">is going to join the race.<\/a>&nbsp;If that\u2019s true, then Breed, Daniel Lurie, Sup. Ahsha Safai, and Farrell will all be fighting for votes from the right. Breed, Lurie, and Farrell don\u2019t have a lot of policy differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The progressive lane is wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There\u2019s a new organization that\u2019s going to be monitoring the billionaire attack on San Francisco<\/strong>. It\u2019s called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.phoenixprojectnow.com\/\">the Phoenix Project<\/a>, and its stated goal is to shine a light on the dark money network of special interest groups funded by a handful of tech and real estate billionaires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the group\u2019s press release:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>The Phoenix Project will track organizations like Grow SF, Abundant SF, Together SF and Neighbors for a Better SF, investigating and publicizing their true funding sources as well as the hidden agenda of their major donors. These groups have raised and spent at least $17 million in the last three years, using loopholes in campaign finance law to hide much of their true source of funding and donors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have tracked down and will continue to follow the true source of funds and the real agenda of these organizations,\u201d said Jeremy Mack, who will serve as Executive Director of the Phoenix Project. \u201cAccording to our research, 70% of the total funding for these interconnected groups comes from just 20 extremely wealthy individuals and corporations, who have a net worth of over $21 billion.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe phoenix is a potent symbol of San Francisco\u2019s remarkable history of resilience in the face of adversity,\u201d said Julie Pitta, a retired journalist from the Richmond District who will serve as President of the Phoenix Project.&nbsp; \u201cAlthough they masquerade as public interest groups, the agenda pushed by these shadowy organizations prioritizes corporate gains over our city\u2019s needs \u2013 compromising public school funding, rent control, and affordable housing development.\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/48hills.org\/author\/tim\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/48hills.org\/author\/tim\/\">Tim Redmond<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; and a new organization tracking the plutocrats. Our weekly roundup of news about the March election. By TIM REDMOND FEBRUARY 3, 2024 (MissionLocal.org) Bilal Mahmood, who is running for both Democratic County Central Committee and District 5 supervisor, is having trouble keeping the campaigns separate\u2014which is required by law&#8230;. <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/02\/06\/campaign-notebook-mahmoods-ethics-and-pr-problem-huge-billionaire-money\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1784],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31536"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31536"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31539,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31536\/revisions\/31539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}