Bloom is off the rose for public garden at Feinstein mansion [California]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/28/BAGLSJ3NM11.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea ^ | May 28, 2006 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[ncountylee]

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.

steps' proximity to the house is a bit of a landscape oddity, and even some Feinstein friends questioned the couple's decision to buy the property.

But the real oddity came two weeks ago when, without warning, a landscaping crew showed up and ripped out the garden -- plants, hedges and all. When they were done, nothing remained but the dirt.

Even city officials were caught off guard.

"Any removal of plant material in a public right-of-way needs to be run through us for approval, and that wasn't done in this case,'' said Paul Sacamano, head of the Public Works Department's urban forestry division.

[Suzy Quzy]

It;s NOT wierd...she's a LIAR!! They had this planned!!! And the worst part is that NOTHING will happen to her and sh'll be able to do ANYTHING she wants with CITY OWNED PROPERTY!!! OUTRAGE!!!

[Torie]

[David Allen]

Well, isn't that just Fein-stein?

Do as I say, not as I do.

Does she know the federal judge with the Vietnamese gardener?

[debg]

Before

After

[tertiary01]

As an ex mayor I'm sure she knows where all the bodies are buried and she will get off by giving the city token compensation. But I agree, she probably had this planned, the details worked out and somehow she will end up as it's legal owner.

[Torie]

Bird's eye utility of the layout.

[The Westerner]

Thanks for posting the picture. She must have bought this very public house for fund-raising purposes. That's why the garden had to go...needed the space for people to mingle with their drinks and their checks.

[Torie]

By the way, you can drag the pictures on the utility with your mouse. Feinstein's house is above the house pictured.

[Brilliant]

I would like to know how many illegal aliens worked on this project.

[Beagle8U]

"She's above the law, doncha know...who CARES if she destroyed a PUBLIC GARDEN!!! sarc/"

I'm sure laws vary from state to state, but in most places the property owner still owns to the center of the road. A public "right of way" only covers the intended use of that right of way.

If it covers road traffic, phone and elec. lines, that is the limit of those public rights, you still own everything growing there, to do as you wish.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

16.5 million for a house....how nice. So is she going to claim ignorance to the city laws regarding public right away? Or that she is a Democrat and does not have to follow the law? Or? Who give s fig. Shes a rich delatante who claims to speak for the "working stiff" and her hubby is probably worth 100's of millions.

[calcowgirl]

Here's a couple places to look for background:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=richardblum

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/955487/posts
Chocolate Mountain.. The DiFi - Davi$ & more connection - The Great Gold Heist

[Waco]

Common ordinary riff-raff get 10 years in Quentin, tending garden for doing things like this.