Jordan vs. Jordan

There are two kinds of candidate promises - to get something done, or a promise not to do something.

This week's promise from the secret Jordan stash is from the "won't do" file.

In 1991, candidate Frank Jordan was asked whether he supported a major charter reform effort.

"In practical terms, no," was Jordan's written response. "While there are certainly areas of the City Charter that need revision, the voters have rejected the concept of major reform three times in recent memory (the last time was 1979). In real-world terms, it just isn't in the cards. Charter changes are going to have to be taken up on an individual, case-by-case basis."

Two years into office, Jordan needed an alibi for why he wasn't delivering on his (other) promises. The answer: Major Charter Reform!

In 1993, Jordan asked voters to OK a ballot measure creating a charter rewrite committee with Jordan himself as chair.

"Your Yes Vote on Proposition N will send a strong message that now is the time to reform city government," Jordan wrote in a paid argument in the 1993 Voter Handbook.

When the Board of Supervisors rejected the new charter reform committee's work the following year, Jordan denounced them for failing to obey the people's wishes.

This year, Jordan approved a $100,000 appropriation for yet another try at major charter reform, despite his plan to make cuts in city services because he says the city can't afford them any longer.

Next week's broken promise: Jordan on the Redevlopment Agency.