Oral History Center University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. Willie Brown: Mayor of San Francisco, 1996–2004 Interviews conducted by Martin Meeker in 2015 Copyright © 2020 by The Regents of the University of California Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley ii Since 1954 the Oral History Center of The Bancroft Library, formerly the Regional Oral History Office, has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Willie Brown dated July 11, 2020. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://ucblib.link/OHC-rights. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Willie Lewis Brown, Jr., “Willie Brown: Mayor of San Francisco, 1996– 2004” conducted by Martin Meeker in 2015, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2020. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley iii Photo of Mayor Willie Brown used with permission Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley iv Abstract Willie Brown was the 41st Mayor San Francisco, serving two terms between 1996 and 2004. Prior to that, Brown represented San Francisco in the California State Assembly for thirty years, serving as that body’s Speaker for a record fifteen years. Brown was born in Mineola, Texas, in 1934 and moved to San Francisco at the age of seventeen in search of greater opportunities. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1955 and UC Hastings School of Law in 1958. The Oral History Center conducted a lengthy interview with Brown in 1991 and 1992, "Willie L. Brown, Jr.: First Among Equals: California Legislator Leadership 1964–1992," covering his upbringing, education, and most of his time in the State Assembly; the transcript is available to read online. This second oral history, conducted in 2015 and 2016 touches on his final years in the State Assembly and then focuses on his two terms as Mayor of San Francisco. Topics discussed include: Bill Clinton and Democratic politics in the early 1990s; election to Speaker of the Assembly in 1994; term limits in California; San Francisco mayoral elections of 1995 and 1999; first term agenda: economic development, homelessness, housing, Mission Bay development; appointments to the Board of Supervisors; second term agenda: Transbay Terminal, housing; “Progressives” in San Francisco politics; and the image of Willie Brown. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley v Table of Contents Foreword by Mike Roos ix Interview 1: February 11, 2015 Hour 1 1 Democrats in the 1992 elections — Bill Clinton’s arrival in California in late 1980s — Funding for kindergarten and Pete Wilson — Impact of Clinton’s Democratic nomination — Democratic Party’s relationship to Jerry Brown in 1992 — Maxine Water’s early support for Bill Clinton — Mineola, Texas — Female candidates — Relationship with Jack Henning and labor unions — Clinton’s economic summit in Arkansas — State of national economy in 1996 — Effects of Clinton’s economic policies on California — Education, agriculture, and technology in California’s economy — Statewide influence of Speaker of Assembly — Broad representation of San Francisco in district elections — Term limits and Democratic incumbents in the 1994 election — Dick Mountjoy in speakership vote — Impact of Peter Schabarum’s term limits law on California politics — David Roberti’s involvement in campaign against term limits — Personal views on term limits — Relationship with Paul Horcher Hour 2 17 Strategies leading up to speakership vote in 1994 — Dotson Wilson’s unexpected absence in speakership vote — Republican Party’s reaction to speakership election — Impact of term limits on speakership role — Impact of term limits on speakership role — Decision to run for San Francisco mayor in 1995 Interview 2: February 17, 2015 Hour 1 22 Impact of Proposition 140 on decision to run for mayor — Frank Jordan’s performance as San Francisco mayor — George Moscone as mayor — San Francisco after assassination of Moscone in 1978 — Application of lessons from state legislator to mayor’s job — Public reaction to Brown’s candidacy — Thoughts on working in private sector — Frank Jordan’s candidacy — Strategies on particular constituencies — Endorsement from fire fighters’ union — Relationship with gay and lesbian communities — African American community’s involvement in mayor race — Various ethnic communities in San Francisco — Rose Pak and John Burton’s relationship with Chinese community — Alliances with three Chinatowns of San Francisco — Fundraisers for mayor campaign — Impact of Frank Jordan’s “Showergate” — Frequent appearances in Herb Caen’s columns — Herb Caen’s influence in San Francisco — Endorsement from police officers — Discussion of homelessness during mayoral debate Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley vi Hour 2 37 Collaboration with Glide Memorial Church and organizations involved with homelessness — “Care Not Cash” program — Quentin Kopp’s support after BART to airport — Significance of building BART to airport in San Francisco — Election victory in December 1995 — First actions taken as mayor-elect Interview 3: April 18, 2015 Hour 1 41 Transition team from Speaker’ office to mayor’s office — Appointments made as mayor — Importance of Planning Commission — Role of Board of Supervisors — Vacancies in city offices — Opportunities of mayor position — Limits of mayor’s office — Appointment conventions and strategies — Working relationship with Chief Administrative Officer — Regular attendance in staff meetings with department heads — Exchanges between Planning and Redevelopment Commissions — Differences between Planning and Redevelopment Commissions — Challenges to staffing the mayor’s office — New recruits — Finance directors — Economic summit in 1993: attendees, main issues, impact, subsequent summits — Policies on public parks and open spaces — Mayoral role in economic summit — Rise of technology industry in mid-1990s — Economic incentives for art and tourism — Business partners of the city Interview 4: June 6, 2015 Hour 1 59 Characteristics of redevelopment areas — Relationship between executives of Planning and of Redevelopment Commissions — Process of developing Mission Bay — Challenges — UCSF expansion — Developers for UCSF expansion plan: Nelson Rising, Bill Rutter, Bob Burke, and Gerson Bakar — Efforts to gain support for developing Mission Bay — Affordable housing in Mission Bay — Nonprofit corporations in affordable housing efforts — Constituencies for affordable housing development — Nonprofit housing corporations — Protections and political connections of nonprofit corporations — Progress made with Glide — Beneficial competition among housing developers — Long-term delays in housing development — Housing density in Mission Bay — Lack of leadership in city planning — Politics behind moratorium vote — Proposition A affordable housing bond Hour 2 73 “The pass through” — Efforts to gather votes for Proposition A — General obligation bond — Organizations of landlords in San Francisco — Challenges to solving housing problem in SF — Commercial versus residential real estate — Current mayor’s relationship with the housing “cartel” — Approval of Giants Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley vii stadium in 1996 — Jack Davis as campaign manager — Reasons behind success of stadium ballot measure Interview 5: August 15, 2015 Hour 1 81 Six appointees to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors — Michael Yaki as a replacement for Terence Hallinan — Liberal’s method of campaigning — Leslie Katz as a replacement for Carole Migden — Shifts in diversity of San Francisco’s leadership — Influence of Phil Burton on San Francisco’s identity politics — Amos Brown as a replacement for Willie Kennedy — Personal background with Jones Methodist Church — Pastors over the years — Changes in congregations of San