Can Matt Gonzalez Reunify San Francisco’s Left?

But Daly acted before securing approval of his proposal from some of his progressive colleagues, including fellow Budget Committee member Ross Mirkarimi. When Mirkarimi challenged some of Daly’s budget cuts, the District 6 Supervisor took offense, storming into his onetime ally’s office to denounce Mirkarimi for betraying the progressive cause. Lacking the Committee votes to advance his plan, Daly cancelled the June 13 Budget hearing. The progressive split over the budget then became public when Board President Peskin removed Daly as Chair of the Budget Committee. Last night, Matt Gonzalez met with core supporters about the mayor’s race. Can a Gonzalez mayoral campaign unify San Francisco's fractured political left?

It did not take long after the June 2 Progressive Convention for the event’s strategic limitations to become clear. It is easy to take the stage and announce support for “progressive” principles or a “progressive” agenda, but what these terms actually mean in the real world of politics is a different story.

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