Biography Art Agnos

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 political career
1.3 mayor of san francisco
1.4 post-mayoral career

biography
early life

agnos born arthouros agnos in springfield, massachusetts, greek immigrants. earned bachelor of arts degree bates college , master of social work florida state university. moved san francisco in 1966 , went work @ san francisco housing authority social worker senior populations.

on december 13, 1973, agnos, member of california commission on aging, attending meeting in largely black public housing project in san francisco neighborhood of potrero hill, in order discuss building publicly funded health clinic in area. after meeting concluded, shot twice @ point blank range; agnos being 1 of 2 victims shot day in series of attacks known zebra murders. perhaps first case of urban terrorism in united states, random shootings in san francisco resulting in 16 murders, , 8 ten wounded in waves of attacks throughout 1973 , 1974. attack perpetrated members of offshoot of nation of islam, in so-called points earned killing white person. agnos died in shooting.

early political career

agnos asked california state assemblyman leo mccarthy join staff in january 1968. mccarthy elected speaker of assembly in 1974 , agnos became chief of staff. during period, agnos helped obtain first-ever california state funding community-based mental-health services serving lesbian , gay community, helped pass nursing-home reform, , worked preservation of farm land.

in 1976, agnos elected in own right california state assembly, defeating harvey milk in democratic primary in 16th district, @ time covered eastern neighborhoods of san francisco. served chair of joint legislative audit committee , chair of health subcommittee of assembly ways , means committee. agnos served co-chair of joint committee on south east asian refugees.

agnos authored legislation received national attention innovative approaches challenges in health care, welfare , civil rights, among other areas. authored california’s model welfare reform, gain, matched work requirements funding job training, education, , child care. agnos authored of california’s response hiv/aids epidemic, working directly president reagan’s surgeon general, c. everett koop, m.d., , president of national academy of sciences, david baltimore, m.d.

although agnos arranged nation’s first joint legislative session on aids/hiv epidemic dr. koop , dr. baltimore, comprehensive approach epidemic failed muster majority of votes when governor failed support measure.

since then, aspects of agnos proposals have become law , policy in california. agnos authored laws provide support family caregivers, fair child-support payments calculation remains known agnos calculator, safeguards against brain damage in boxing ring, , legislation ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.

mayor of san francisco

in 1987, agnos ran mayor replace dianne feinstein, term-limited. agnos came behind defeat supervisor john molinari, garnering 70 percent of vote. agnos took san francisco in different direction, agreeing consent decree opposed feinstein opened way hiring , promotion of african americans , women in fire department. changed priorities redevelopment commission creating economic , business opportunities focus on housing, resulting in largest increase in affordable housing in twenty years. disbanded police unit had engaged in spying on demonstrations. empowered commission on status of women subpoena powers , independence, , named more minorities , lesbians , gay men top city commissions , department directors ever before. first mayor ride in annual lgbt freedom parade. during term, city won top bond ratings, ended deficit spending, , endorsed comparable worth , domestic partners, including health insurance city workers. following loma prieta earthquake in 1989, agnos refused move homeless people forced shelters until new housing available, led nine-month presence in civic center, changing earlier policy of moving homeless 1 place another. in 1991, agnos lost re-election bid former police chief promised put city “back on track” , supported firefighters , others opposed agnos’s policy initiatives. agnos’ liberalism ran counter other conservative interests. mayor, agnos , family became first ride in lesbian gay freedom day parade, appointed minorities, lesbians , gays high city posts, , ended city’s opposition court-ordered consent decree hire , promote minorities , women in fire department federal judge opined “out of control” due racism when agnos took office. agnos ended police department policy seen permitting spying on local political organizations , ended department’s tactical squad critics blamed abusing citizens. agnos strengthened civilian oversight of police department.

agnos best known leading city through recovery of loma prieta earthquake, worst since 1906, , decision tear down embarcadero freeway (sr 480), double-decker freeway along city’s embarcadero wall between waterfront , city. decision opposed chamber of commerce , chinatown community, found freeway convenience business purposes, , 25,000 signatures collected put measure on ballot repeal decision tear down freeway. once agnos obtained federal funding, opposition melted away. 6–5 vote @ city s board of supervisors paved way tear down freeway, led start of decades-long effort open san francisco waterfront considered 1 of best outcomes earthquake. however, agnos s 1991 opponent used decision play chinatown’s sentiments , indicated opposed tearing down freeway. in 1991, chinatown played significant role in failure win re-election. agnos lost in 51.5–48.5 election few thousand votes, same chinatown vote.

in recent years, agnos’s decision has been looked city leaders , elected officials in seattle , toronto, canada, agnos’ embarcadero result considered potential model replacing elevated freeways in urban areas. under agnos, waterfront transit system gained uninterrupted streetcar line historic trolley cars running fisherman’s wharf in north mission bay in south. agnos added waterfront laying plans city’s first public access pier, pier 7, allow pedestrians walk out bay. today, san francisco has dedicated new public pier, pier 14, honor agnos leadership in opening city’s waterfront.

agnos san francisco struggled homelessness, challenge faced number of cities in late 1980s. agnos convened task force of providers, homeless advocates, city agency representatives , others develop approach hoped end reliance on overnight shelters in favor of programs homeless individuals , families become self-reliant. plan, beyond shelter, won national recognition , awards.

the 1989 earthquake resulted in loss of more 1,000 low-rent housing units, including units housing recovering homelessness. agnos championed changes in earthquake recovery programs federal , state government , red cross provided funds build new facilities , housing implement beyond shelter program , restore arts programs , facilities. in 1993, results named finalist in rudy bruner award urban excellence.

during 9 months took renovate , open beyond shelter multiservice centers, agnos allowed homeless individuals camp in park in front of city hall, saying alternative drive them neighborhoods , that, long in front of city hall, city leaders confronted daily urgency of crisis. critics dubbed result “camp agnos”, , called on him use police force remove them, agnos refused do.

agnos remained committed program of expanding affordable, low-cost housing in san francisco. city increased funding repair , rehabilitate public housing 300 percent, changing vacancy rate ten percent 1 percent. increased other affordable housing production 342 units when took office 2,240 units, winning san francisco’s first national recognition u.s. department of housing , urban development excellence in rental rehabilitation , special achievement award.

agnos signed law establishing domestic partner recognition lesbian , gay couples had been vetoed predecessor, became target of repeal efforts. in 1989, voters narrowly repealed domestic partner recognition. agnos moved forward family policy task force recommended broad changes san francisco policy , law, including health insurance domestic partners of city workers. in 1991, city formally adopted domestic partner health insurance rights city s 20,000 employees, largest employer @ time. in 1991, san francisco voters approved new domestic partners recognition law city.

agnos served chair of conference of mayors aids task force, organized lobbying effort resulted in passage of ryan white care bill. implemented policies advocated state legislator, including 98 percent increase in city’s aids budget. created mayors task force on aids/hiv epidemic staffed dr. don francis, national leader on aids/hiv , credited leading effort eradicate smallpox worldwide.

during tenure, agnos undertook major improvements city’s infrastructure. first lady of san francisco, agnos’s wife sherry co-chaired bond campaigns public school renovations , new main library @ civic center, , agnos designated existing main library become new home asian art museum had been located in golden gate park. in 1990, sherry agnos raised funds , oversaw construction of $2 million jelani house has become successful drug rehabilitation facility pregnant addicted women. agnos ended nation’s longest stalled public works project @ yerba buena develop cultural hub includes museum of modern art, yerba buena center , yerba buena gardens. agnos proposed waterfront site new san francisco giants ballpark, proposal narrowly lost in november 1989 weeks after loma prieta earthquake absorbed public attention. later giants ballpark sited @ location agnos designated , built same overall design architects , developers selected originally.

post-mayoral career

during clinton administration, agnos served regional director of u.s. department of housing , urban development california, arizona, nevada , hawaii. agnos served acting fha commissioner , acting assistant secretary housing, director of special actions office.

agnos led hud’s effort uplift san francisco’s visitacion valley, blighted twin 20-story high-rises supported hud , unsafe residents , community. agnos created partnership city, residents, local community leaders, , hud led demolishing of geneva towers in 1998 , new resident-led housing development of townhouses , apartments.

agnos crafted hud partnership teacher housing in san francisco , communities excess land set aside schools. under program, hud financing supported construction , rental assistance housing dedicated teachers. san jose, california has similar program in effect.

agnos worked city leaders throughout region create first funding homeless coordination between neighboring cities address concerns services not matched in need.

agnos led effort combat predatory lending aimed @ minority homeowners , repeal “racial covenants” barring non-whites living or staying overnight in many california communities.

agnos worked mentor former california assembly speaker , lt. governor leo t. mccarthy establish leo t. mccarthy center public service , common @ university of san francisco. has been called upon state department, national democratic institute, asia foundation , other international bodies provide leadership development on democracy building, including in russian far east, kurdish regions of turkey, zaire, sierra leone, angola, korea, , 1 of first official arrive in bethlehem offer disaster assistance after palestinian-israeli army siege of church of nativity ended on may 10, 2002. sought speaker on disaster preparedness , recovery.

in 2007, agnos appointed receiver troubled san francisco housing authority. housing authority sued block court order, , matter went before california court of appeals. city still failed act 2 years, while appealing agnos appointment. april 2009, sf chronicle reported continued inaction while agnos appointment remained in court seemed jolt city hall action. agnos never took control of agency; instead, fortner resigned under pressure newsom, appointed mirian saez, director of operations @ treasure island, run agency on interim basis before hiring alvarez. under saez , alvarez, agency sold off properties satisfy judgments.

agnos recent projects include advising founders of open house, first senior housing planned elderly gay, lesbian, bisexual , transgender people in san francisco project working young families seeking improve neighborhood schools in neighborhood of potrero hill in san francisco, , has worked consultant minnesota-based cargill , arizona-based dmb associates on controversial plan develop bay salt pond in redwood city.

agnos has become involved restricting building of much-needed housing in san francisco, rents , housing prices continue rise record levels. opposed 8 washington condominium project in 2013, in support of no wall on waterfront . agnos prominent advocate proposition b, precedent-setting measure approved wide margin voters in june 2014 required developments along waterfront win voter approval if plan called height exceeded height limits established in waterfront land use plan first approved voters in 1990 , implemented in 1997. involved attempt block redevelopment of san francisco flower mart.