Pelosi and the Treasure Island land grab
Speaker Mop & Glo made headlines for her call to investigate opponents of the Ground Zero mosque, but there was something else about her remarks that should have raised your hackles:
“There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded,” she said. “How is this being ginned up that here we are talking about Treasure Island, something we’ve been working on for decades, something of great interest to our community as we go forward to an election about the future of our country and two of the first three questions are about a zoning issue in New York City.”
Pelosi was speaking at a ceremony celebrating the Treasure Island land deal:
The deal has been signed to transfer man-made Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay from the Navy to San Francisco.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Gavin Newsom and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus signed the transfer agreement on Tuesday. In includes a section of neighboring Yerba Buena Island.
Payments to the Navy could rise to $105 million, funded by private companies and revenue from developing the former Navy base into a model 21st century neighborhood.
Pelosi has used her power to push the crony-infested project for years. She pushed aggressively for legislative language that would have forced the military to fork over high-value property at no cost to local communities. And as the Washington Times recounted last fall, she presided over a “den of corruption” to secure the coveted property:
…Treasure Island is not a case of a small town that has relied on a local military base for its livelihood for decades. It is a land grab by politicians for well-connected developers. Tony Hall, the former executive director of the Treasure Island Development Authority, told us the city’s effort to develop the island is a “den of corruption.” Treasure Island Community Development, the prospective developer for Treasure Island, was granted a no-bid contract by the city.
At the core of Treasure Island Community Development are high-powered California Democratic lobbyist Darius Anderson and supermarket magnate Ronald W. Burkle. Both are well-known financial backers of San Francisco’s Democratic Mayor Gavin Newsom…
…A proposed Treasure Island development plan slates 90 percent of the developed acreage for residential use, 7 percent for commercial property and 3 percent for parking. An illustration shows about a dozen high-rise blocks of shoreline condominiums with stunning views of the city, plus 300 acres of park and recreation land. This would hardly be “affordable housing,” the $5 billion investment that Mrs. Pelosi claims would have to be recouped by the developer. The only long-term jobs created from this plan would be for maids and doormen for the high rollers privileged enough to live there.
The Navy merits praise for holding the line in defense of a market-based transfer of Treasure Island. Cloaking this land grab under a measure to help local communities suffering the disruption of military base closure is disgraceful.
Fog City Journal shines more light on the Pelosi cronyism behind the deal:
After some very serious wrangling over control (see “more info” below), the fate of Treasure Island rests mainly with TIDA: the Treasure Island Development Authority. Just as with the Presidio Trust, the people who comprise TIDA are awfully critical. It is they who decide what gets developed and who gets to develop it – and profit thereby.
Likewise, the person who appoints the people on TIDA and similar boards is also a key player, for he or she must be guided to select members who can be trusted to vote favorably to one’s interests. That’s the entitlement portion of the Big Three: garnering approvals that entitle one to development and maximize profits by upzoning the land. (Upzoning means changing the rules to allow more profitable development than would otherwise be allowed.).
That’s why forming relationships between would-be developers and appointing officials is crucial. Lobbyists like Platinum’s Darius Anderson and Jay Wallace specialize in building those relationships, sometimes by finding sources of cash reserves for campaign contributions, or occasionally hosting key fundraisers. Wallace was at one time Pelosi’s campaign manager.
When Anderson held a fundraiser a couple of years ago to retire Mayor Newsom’s campaign debt, it raised eyebrows, but it is what lobbyists do. They specialize in creating access for themselves and for clients with the people who make appointments, sign or promote legislation, and grant entitlements to develop – all of which have big profit implications.
+ + +
It’s easy to conclude that clients are getting their money’s worth from Platinum and friends – especially when the client is Platinum itself. TIDA has granted to Platinum the uncontested contract to be the sole developer of Treasure Island. Or, to be exact, that exclusive contract has been granted to Platinum’s new entity, Treasure Island Community Developers, with the master plan component going to Anderson’s other company, Kenwood Investments…
…Considering the grand, incestuous family that is politics, maybe it’s no surprise that Platinum’s development entity has been handed the Treasure Island bounty. Given the Pelosi and Newsom history of enthusiasm for developing the Presidio, we should hope it’s not too late to keep a close watch and short leash on Treasure Island developments. Unfortunately, this means paying attention to the entire family. That would include even the new president on the Commission on the Environment, Paul Pelosi, Jr., who is Nancy Pelosi’s son and Gavin Newsom’s cousin. As for TIDA itself, all the members are appointed by the mayor; all but one is a City Hall official.
Who else will benefit from the arrangement? Certainly Lennar Corporation will. They are a partner with Platinum’s Treasure Island Community Developers. Lennar has experience developing former military bases, and is one of the country’s largest residential housing builders.
By what could solicitously be called a coincidence, Laurence Pelosi was president of acquisitions for Lennar. He is Nancy Pelosi’s nephew, and currently works as executive director of Morgan Stanley’s real estate division…
But hey, it’s the opponents of the Ground Zero mosque who deserve to be investigated…
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Categories: Corruption,Nancy Pelosi
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The culture of corruption strikes again. Great reporting, Michelle. The sooner we vote these crooks out the better.
It’s nice to see Pelosi delivering so well on the wonderful ethics reform she promised us.
ah, a proper Nicolae Ceauşescu she is. Filth.
When I was younger, I remember going to the commisary on T.I. every few months with my parents. It was a fun outing going through S.F. and over the Bay Bridge, if only half-way across.
I also remember that after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, T.I. settled a bit more. The base for the statue of Pacifica was clearly visible through the asphalt. Which means, the liberals are going to make a lot of money by selling this “prime real estate” to a bunch of suckers that will lose it all when (not if) the next big earthquake hits.
The little people will get hurt and the liberals will make money. Just like old times.
Hell, on top of this – how bouts some investigative reporting on how many illegals are being used at her “Posh” hotel /resort as well as her vineyards.
Term limits.
That’s alllll I’ll say…
Term limits.
What will Pelocchio do when she learns that the money supporting the opposition of the Ground Zero mosque comes from 67% of the American private citizens? And what about those of us who are doing it free of cost?
Empty talk. Who is she going to investigate anyway? Fund a trillion-dollar IRS audit of every American?
From the end of the political spectrum that is NOT insane and corrupt…
http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2010/pdf/SolutionsForAmerica.pdf
Heritage has a paper on how grown-ups might reclaim our nation…
which could certainly use some reclamation.
Please–don’t give any of those fascists any ideas
Cordoba, the now Spanish city, which was in 716 AD was made the capital of the Islamic Caliphate. How quaint.
Kind of a unique name “Cordoba Center” don’t you think? Yes the spellings are different the meaning is the same.
It’s your money and she’ll spend it any way she wants to.
What she should have said.
Is it wrong for me to wish this old bat would just dry up and blow away? I just pray she gets the boot in Nov. as soth!
L
I’ve been talking about this for a long time. No one seems interested.
Just another special place to hide her casket for when she sleeps during the day.
I can’t wait for the left to get beat badly in the elections and become disenfranchised, while realizing that the land grab is not their land but ours (to sell back to the private sector).
This is your brain on botox.
Eh, I wouldn’t worry too much about those suckers. They’ll be okay when the government bails them out after the quake. Worry about the taxpayers who are going to get shafted all over again.
Someone should invite her over for stake sometime.
Actually, in the progressivesway of thinking, its ALL their money, regardless as to its current locations, i.e. your wallet, purse, bank account. The fact that they let us keep some for personal use is, to them, undeserved generousity.
If they could figure out a way to get control of all of our income for them to dole out as they see fit the progressives would do it in a heartbeat.
I thought was Obama said last weekend was the coup de grace on this subject. But along comes Nancy Pelosi and TOTALLY ensures that this lasts at least one more day in the new cycle. This comment is terrifying and hilarious at the same time. How much more can the Dems do to shoot themselves in the foot. Reid – Pelosi – Obama. All three has spoken up and made vulnerable Dems throw up their arms in frustration. Hopefully a GOPer stands up and says “Don’t worry America, I promise you your own government will not investigate you based on your opposition to this project.”
If she has done these things 100 years ago she would be in the jailhouse as we speak. Even the crooks of that era would have been apalled at her naked (sorry for the visual) hubris.
I posted this yesterday.
The Left views us as their principle enemy. The enemy of their enemy is their friend. The backers of this mosque are not anything like the Muslims where I live. They hate us, our religious beliefs and our way of life.
People like Pelosi see this and immediately identify with them.
The Cordoba Project. If you want to investigate something, investigate why this mosque is called the Cordoba Project.
This is what happens when one person/group/political party obtains almost absolute power. They throw around that weight and be damned anyone who stands in their way. You reap what you sow.
Reason 3,893 to make sure the Dems lose at least one House of Congress, if you want this crap stopped dead in its tracks.
Spot on!!
I’m not big on the kharma thing but I hope it lands on these people with claws extended.
Hosea 8:7
and I’m sure she did.
Treasure island isn’t the only land transfer that is going on. Hundreds of base closures will eventually be sold to developers.
I disagree with the process that enriches a few politicians and their backers at taxpayers’ expense.
But explain to me why it is bad to have the property in private ownership. I’m not sure the argument against the transfer jibes with the land grab exposed in previous recent articles about BLM, etc.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Which is why progressives are more properly referred to as oppressives.
Absolutely.
It has taken nearly 250 years but the intent of the Founding Fathers has finally been thwarted.
The United States of America now has de facto rule by royalty and noblemen. We have the ruling families and then the rabble. Political positions are passed down the lineage like titles in Europe. Wives get their husbands jobs when they die. Children are nurtured and groomed to take the seats of power. Name recognition is everything and character is nothing. Rule by the people is a laughable cliche. The few are born to rule and the many are born to serve. At least in the old country it was upfront and out in the open.
It’s clear that SanFranBotox has a tin ear when it comes to symbolism. Her knuckleheadedness is about to bring her down, whether she gets reelected or not.
***
Possibly a floating footbridge could be built from the new Treasure Island Utopian City over the bay to Folsom Street.
***
The Brave New City must be “user friendly” to the Frisco Denizens–homeless, drug users, GLBTwhatsus, etc. that may not have enough money to pay the Bay Bridge fees to get to their new homeland.
***
Plant lots of petunias on the bridge. Enjoy your new neighbors, rich folks.
***
John Bibb
***
Please California…..FIRE HER!!!!
Likely the many of the same funding sources who sent all of the unaudited credit card donations to the Obama campaign starting in August 2008, when the Obama campaign opened the flood gates.
This just lauched the “She’s a Witch” skit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail in my mind.
If Pelosi weighs the same as a duck we can use her to build the bridge.
let them build let them sink into the bay and let them deal with it. Can we get all the liberals and power players on to TI and remove on ramps to the bay bridge ?
What i want to know is if they are going to put toll booths up so these new people on ti have to pay to use the bay bridge too ?
No free rides from their new homes to sf ,
If i have to pay just because i use the bridge from the east bay the need to pay too .
As ballast? At last, she’d be doing something useful.
Power corrupts, Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I saw her comments about an investigation as a veiled threat against anyone that would openly challenge something this regime has endorsed. And, that, boys and girls should chill everyone of us to the bone.
ballast? I don’t think so. I’m guessing she weighs roughly the same as Thutmose III.
Treasure Island was awarded via a NO BID process. Bad when Republicans do it. Bad when Democrats do it. This is not private ownership. It’s crony/government/statist ownership. Definitely jibes with my other land grab articles…corruptocrats overseeing corrupted process.
This is pretty funny. I’ve been around the block this morning and it seems that many conservative bloggers are now flagging themselves to Pelosi voluntarily on this issue. Where is Hot Air’s Crowder on this? Shouldn’t he have a video out already?
Sure, but aren’t you making the big assumption that the Federal Government doesn’t exist to enrich Pelosi and her cronies? :O
Investigate away. After November 2, Lord willing we get our turn.
Her shredder and her reformat hard drive routine had best be in working order. For her sake, I hope she does not have a Carbonite account.
I think we should give more face and air time to Pelosi / Reid / Obama / Democrats.
The more exposure to their inner brains working, the easier for the electorate to make voting decision on November 2, 2010.
To: JP_Texan
Bingo! This is a perfect description of the situation in San Francisco.
And it explains why San Francisco has become the most intolerant city in the country.
When I was stationed on Alameda, we used to drive over to T.I. for the Admiral’s weekly briefing.
Why anyone would want to live on that cold, windy rock in anyone’s guess.
Yes… the views are spectacular but that cold, bay wind in unrelenting. Not to mention the earthquake dangers due to soil liquefaction.
I’m surprised the main admin and hanger buildings made in through ’89′s Loma Prieta intact.
are you still talking about Pelosi’s face?
What’s next?
Condos on Ford Island?
Cabanas on Parris Island?
Motels on Mare Island?
Barney Frank on Fire Island?
Thanks for the clarification, Michelle. I don’t expect this to stop while the current gang is in office, but exposing the corruption and the No-Bid machinations adds ammo to the arguments against this BS.
been there
done that
got the butt plug
and where have the Republicans been-military land is Fed land-so-Rs and Ds should have had a say in it—
BTW-looks like the R leadership are making light of the nancy P threats to ‘investigate’ those who speak out against the Ground Zero mosque…
Just an head up!!!
C-CS
In the picture accompanying this thread, it looks to me that Pelosi is wielding a croquet mallet.
madshark–it’s a ROQUE mallet!
REDRUM
REDRUM
REDRUM
Every dog has his day (in this case, her day).
such a mindblower that the people of san francisco elected pelosi to represent them.
And just who of these pro-mosquers are being promised a lucrative lobby job by the Saudi royal family? A method by which the Saudi’s gain favor.
I did shipboard firefighting and damage control classes at Treasure Island.
Hard to merge back onto the bridge in a US Navy van.
I assume someone is going to get rich selling the property for fancy condos or some such on the island, and Pelotox will be richly rewarded. They’ll want to redesign the on ramps if they do. Someone can rich off of that. And kick some back.
*Been over a decade since I have been on that bridge, maybe the on ramps back to Oakland/Alameda have been fixed by now
I think they use bay water in the USS Buttercup sinking ship simulator, and holy schmokey, that water is cold!
Drove through TI twice a day for work for over a year and always thought it would make a great area for homes or a park. I don’t like the idea of pelosi’s family cronyism. In this economy and money scarce, I don’t want private companies using any bailout money, illegals or tax incentives to develop it. Also a high rise would be awful there.
Yep, term limits……
Okay, so where’s the Ethics Committee? Too afraid to bring an investigation against the all-powerful Speaker? The corruption of this Congress boggles the mind…and she keeps on getting reelected.
The republicans better not be doing any of this monkey business as it’s going to hit the fan in October. MM, you watching them too?
For decades, just like;
Education (over 40 yrs. in my memory.)
Fixing Social Security
Securing our border with Mexico
Energy Independence
Yeah, they’ve been working on these things for decades, thrown money at the issues, and have failed miserably!
Tried and true campaign issues for decades, for sure, but when will these things be actually fixed? Never…as long as progressive dogma exists.
Conservative voices need to raise credibility as an issue. Just because a progressive says that this or that is so, doesn’t mean that it is true. They need to be called on it, and their feet held to the fire!
Actually, it’s the perception of conservatives and anyone with common sense that the left has failed on these issues, when it fact, its more likely the left has succeeded in what they’ve wanted to accomplish in these issues acording to their plan.
Pelosi is use to getting something for nothing whether that something is money or land. It’s only stealing from the American public and in DC there is nothing wrong with that.
Please, this is not an island, it’s a Bay Control Structure.
Odd, comments are closed on the Russell Simmons thread. He’s my goto guy when I need questions answered – and my doorknob is in use.
Charles Krauthammer nailed it last night on Special Report/FNC, when he said Pelosi’s statement seeking an investigation of the financing behind the G/Z mosque’s detractors appears to suggest 9/11 families will only speak out if paid.
And IMHO, that’s not a winning statement for Democrats this fall.
Obama was not available for comment. He’s on another vacation…again.
Any more recovery like the Recovery Summer being promoted by Joe BiteMe and a model 21st century neighborhood will resemble one of Valerie Jarrett’s slum projects in Chi-town.
TooMuchTime, I won’t argue about liberals making money, they’ve got all the bases covered in the Bay Area, but I don’t see little people getting hurt. None of our kind will be stepping up for the privilege of paying the 7 to 8 figure price tag that bay view real estate will demand. Then, again, maybe you were referring to the maids, gardeners, etc. who will lose their jobs when the whole thing sinks in the next earthquake.
She is who they are.
Is the future full of Ironic or Moronic tendencies? I hereby nominate Janet Napolitano to be the Treasure Island Grand Mufti for Security.
Her, and Blinky, the syphilitic whore from the Tenderloin District would make the world a much safer place.