Nancy Pelosi...money is no object and it grows on trees

Pelosi's new office is House's costliest by far


Lilianna Oustinovskaya, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
San Francisco Chronicle

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has more than quadrupled the rent on her San Francisco district office, making the $18,736-a-month cost of her new South of Market space the highest in the House, according to a new report.

Her rent is nearly double that of the next-highest rent among House members. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., pays $10,600 a month for his Manhattan office, while representatives from Sacramento, Boston and Los Angeles pay nearly that much, the report said.

The financial data were compiled from public records by the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation and Roll Call, a political newspaper. Information from the database is not yet available online.

Pelosi moved in the fall from the federal building at 450 Golden Gate Ave. to the 18-story federal building at 90 Seventh St. She had been paying about $4,300 a month for her old office, Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said.

"After being based in the Burton Federal Building for over 20 years, we were no longer able to meet the needs of San Franciscans in the existing space," Hammill said in a statement. "The new office space is 3,075 square feet, nearly a third larger than the old space, which was of inadequate size. Additionally, the new building is more centrally located, right off of Market Street, which allows for easier access for constituents via public transportation.

In addition to the speaker's space needs, her new office is also more secure, Hammill added.

"As speaker, the security needs are different," he said. "The new San Francisco Federal Building offers enhanced security features, which were a major factor in the decision to move offices."

Grandpa: Nancy Pelosi loves spending money including the future earnings of our children and grandchildren. You occupied your prior office for 20 years Nancy. At what point during those 20 years did the amount of space become inadequate? Your lease rate amost triples and spending $616 per day for leased office space does not give you some cause for pause?

One of your new office features is that you feel more secure. Well Nancy, this grandpa will feel more secure when your $18,736 monthly bill arrives and you are using it for scrapbooking post the November elections.