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.

[ncountylee]

Check the status of the landscaping crew. Feinstein loves illegal aliens almost as much as the communist Chinese who, indirectly, bought the house for her.

[mtbopfuyn]

I could have used it. "Now I have to do a whole new sprinkler system."

It's all about Dianne.

[AprilfromTexas]

Sounds like this is going to fall under 'It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission'.

[ncountylee]

"Some security is obviously important, and yet we want to do it in a way that it doesn't take away" from the public space, Feinstein said.

No "virtual" fence Feinstein, she values her security and safety (has a rare CA CCW). The hypocrisy never ends.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

$50 says the landscaping crew is all criminal, illegal aliens.

[Suzy Quzy]

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

[NonValueAdded]

And the couple were actually working up plans to give the area a total makeover -- including putting up a gate and fence around the Lyon Street entrance.

Riiiiiight ... we're fencing it in for the good of the people. And who, pray tell, will have the keys to that gate? Sounds to me like DiFi is simply "reclaiming" part of her front yard. Let's have some mixed use housing in that area and move a few of SanFran's urban outdoorsmen into the park.

[Suzy Quzy]

MAKE THEM PAY TO PUT IT BACK JUST AS IT WAS!!

[Hildy]

Sounds like the liberals in San Fran are all alike. Remember this from just yesterday??

JUDGE PAYS FOR CUTTING TREES

[apillar]

I guess San Francisco didn't get the memo that says members of congress aren't required to follow laws like the common man. I guess Hastert will have to make a call...

[Signalman]

Limousine liberals don't have to abide by the rules.

[llevrok]

They did not change the landscape. They are modifying a riparian zone for the enhancement of the envioronment, silly.

So it's ok.

[ncountylee]

Feinstein's (and Bloom's) net worth has gone from around a half million to about a Billion dollars, largely from the ChiComs, while she has been in the Senate.

What are the odds of this occurring had she not been a Senator?

[Cinnamon]

this is just sickening.. something Hillary would do as well.. they're all cut from the same cloth

[stillonaroll]

The uber-rich Sen. Feinstein rips up green, city-owned open space to benefit her own property? Typical liberal hypocrisy.

By the way, my definition of environmentalism: urban liberals imposing their morality on rural conservatives.

[Bommer]

"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.

Nobody, however, was more surprised than the senator herself.

"I went ballistic,'' Feinstein told us. "I didn't want to take it out. ... I could have used it.

"Now I have to do a whole new sprinkler system."

NO NOT A NEW SPRINKLER SYSTEM?????

DAMN YOU ILLEGALS ALL TO HELL!!!!!!

[KamperKen]

"Feinstein's (and Bloom's) net worth has gone from around a half million to about a Billion dollars, largely from the ChiComs, while she has been in the Senate."

Would you provide some background or links on this? I'm curious. TIA

[Lancey Howard]

Feinswine is above the law. Ask Denny Hastert.