War Profiteer Feinstein Razes Public Garden near New Mansion

[Yollam]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/28/BAGLSJ3NM11.DTL

Bloom is off the rose for public garden at Feinstein mansion
Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross
Sunday, May 28, 2006

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her mega-millionaire husband, Dick Blum, have a bit of fence mending to do with their soon-to-be neighbors in San Francisco's Gold Coast.

It seems that workers remodeling the Pacific Heights mansion that the couple just bought leveled all the green in the adjoining public garden -- without the city's approval.

And not just any green -- we're talking about a Tivoli-style garden just off the front entrance of the couple's $16.5 million abode, which sits at the foot of Vallejo Street, between the Presidio and some of the city's most posh residences.

The garden is actually part of the city-owned Lyon Street steps -- a favorite of joggers, walkers and tourists looking for a picture-postcard view, and even for teenagers looking to sneak a late-night drink or two.




DiFi's digs & garden before



After



To be fair, she didn't intend to rip up the garden, according to the article - it was a mistake. I just thought it was a good idea to remind people where the spoils of war (and "defense" spending) were going...





"Hey Frisco Kid, thanks for that IWR vote! I'll see if I can't get some more work sent URS's way. (snicker!)"
"Oh, it was nothing' Georgie. I've still got at least a good five years more I can get away with skating on my image as a "progressive" mayor! HA!"

More on DiFi's Carlyle-connected hubby...

http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/03/1811371.php

[stopbush]

1. I voted against her in the Dem primary (absentee ballot).

I'm tired of her.

[kansasblue]

7. She's one of ours! ..wait.... read on...

She ain't all that! I know we got to work for our people but for the good of the party we got to get better canidates when needed.

Like tossing Leiberman.

http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=651&search_string=feinstein

[NV Whino]

13. Me too.

It gave me great satisfaction.

[NYC]

2. Why would anyone even want to rip out the greenery?

Looks like hell now.

[Yollam]

3. Apparently, it was a mistake by the contractors...

...or so they are saying.


But I just posted this to take a swipe at DiFi, who cancels out so much of the good being done by Barbara Boxer (who won her seat back in 2004 in a LANDSLIDE).

[NYC]

4. Quite a mistake.

I would question before ripping out if I were the contractor.

[nancyr]

5. Ugh

Is that supposed to be an improvement???? Just another person with too much money and too little sense: a perfect politician.

[Yollam]

6. Feinstein promises it will be beautiful when it's done.

And I'm sure it will be, she can afford to spare no expense, thanks to the Carlyle Group.

[regnaD kciN]

8. Sure..."when done"...

...which, in the case of some of the torn-out trees, will be at least fifty years from now. :grr:

Feinstein -- an ass forever.

[Neshanic]

9. She left the bird bath. That's gotta count foe something.

[partylessinOhio]

10. It takes many years for plants, hedges, and trees to grow like that.

I am a gardener and I am very offended that a pompous person would destroy such a beautiful garden. If DiFi and her billionaire husband did not own it they had no legal right to destroy it. She should not have destroyed it even if she owned it.

I watch Feinstein's performance at Senate hearings. Many times she appears to be confused and very tired. I have wondered why she would want to spend such long hours there instead of retiring at her age. I see now that it is for greed for money and power. She will not live forever and one day she will leave this earth and her vast mansion. Someone else will tear apart what she has renovated. What goes around comes around.

[progressivebydesign]

12. It was a contractors mistake..

and those plants are all decorative, not native vegetation that was ripped out. It was a lovely garden, and I'd hate to see it ripped out, but it wasn't 200 year old trees.. just trained shrubs.

[progressivebydesign]

11. That looks like her front yard. Do you only own your doorstep there?

If that's her house, then I'd never buy something where the entire public was invited to sit on my doorstep.

[Canuckistanian]

14. Oh, how lovely. Is that Tuscan dirt?

It's all the rage these days.