Sacramento owes something to Gov. Gavin Newsom, but I’m not sure what. Kings season tickets? A lifetime pass to the State Fair? Dinner at The French Laundry?
It’s not easy to quantify the gift Newsom gave when he lined up Mayor Darrell Steinberg for a seat on the state appellate court. From one perspective, the judicial appointment simply hastens the end of a miserable City Hall performance that would have closed next year anyway.
Then again, maybe not. Despite his public antipathy toward a third term, Steinberg has made stealthy preparations to run again. Given his influence over local unions and Democratic Party minions, plus his skill at raising money, it’s a good bet he could chase off legitimate candidates and coast to another four years.
Instead, he’s looking at one of the best, easiest and most invisible jobs on the state payroll. Fancy chambers near the Capitol. Staff lawyers to handle research and writing. Free time for tennis and long lunches. Salary of $264,542, almost twice his mayoral pittance.
I could quibble and point out Steinberg is wholly unqualified for the chores of a serious appellate judge. He has zero judicial experience. Evidence of legal writing under his name doesn’t exist. He barely practiced law. He’s a power broker and mediator, but that’s all.
He worked for a labor union soon after getting his bar ticket in 1984, and sporadically dabbled in legal affairs while awaiting political slots in the state Assembly, Senate and mayor’s office. Among his clients were the Maloof brothers, who subsequently tried to move the Kings to Seattle.
The mayor’s lack of familiarity with judicial details won’t hinder him. The state appellate court doesn’t run like normal courts. His learning curve relevant to law may be more problematic.
Judging from his behavior at City Hall, Steinberg seems to think Martin v. Boise, a federal ruling on homelessness, prevents cities from disturbing homeless people as they commit larcenies petty and large. Other cities don’t believe Martin v. Boise pertains to them. Might they be right?
Steinberg can argue that while he didn’t strenuously practice law, he spent years passing laws. True enough. And he saw justice from both sides. When he ran the state Senate, four colleagues under his rule spent time in jail.
But who’s complaining? The best part about Steinberg’s early exit is his removal from Sacramento politics. He’ll disappear inside those black robes.
While the former mayor will work Downtown and no doubt enjoy his relaxed schedule at local restaurants, most residents will never hear from him again. Unless you’re a lawyer or litigant, the state appellate system is a vortex of anonymity. For the joy of Steinberg’s public evaporation, we can thank Gov. Newsom.
Maybe I’m too cruel. There must be some positive aspect of Sacramento life that flourishes thanks to Steinberg’s six years as mayor. I’m just drawing a blank.
He ran for office in 2016 on a promise to eradicate homelessness, which reached unprecedented numbers after the recession. Citing legislative experience and connections, Steinberg sold voters on his ability to secure resources, cut bureaucratic red tape and get about 2,700 people off the streets.
His failure was monumental. Steinberg found resources and cut red tape and watched the homeless population explode to nearly 10,000. The mayor’s incompetence made Sacramento a global embarrassment. He put us on the map. Crime is up, quality of life down. There’s Steinberg’s legacy.
COVID-19 is no excuse. The pandemic produced gushers of federal and state cash, which Steinberg mostly squandered. His master plan to attack homelessness involved eight separate base camps, one in each City Council district, to spread pain across the city.
Like everything Steinberg touches, his homeless strategy was designed with politics, not people, in mind. Doomed from the start, the mayor’s brainstorm provoked predictable “not in my backyard” outrage. It collapsed at the starting gate.
Next comes a special election for mayor. Here’s where I get confident. Whoever wins will be better than the last guy.
R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
