By Steven T. Jones
For some good background links on Jim Sutton, SFSOS, Rob Black, and their attacks on Chris Daly, click here, here, here, here, here, and here.
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Politics Blog
The big SFSOS lie
By Tim Redmond
Even by the rather low standards of San Francisco political campaigning, this one is a whopper. SFSOS has been a part of a coalition that has put out a series of vicious attack pieces on Sup. Chris Daly. The pieces, and I think the total is now eight, are nothing but attacks that slam Daly over and over again and urge voters to elect Rob Black. It’s about the worst sort of downtown-funded negative politics I’ve ever seen in town. All of the pieces, of course, were produced by so-called independent expenditure committees — which means they weren’t subject to campaign contribution or spending limits.
Now SFSOS has put out a “breaking news alert” on its email list that — this is true — warns that Daly supporters might (gasp) do an IE of their own. Check out the language, from SFSOS field director Ryan Chamberlain:
“we now have evidence that Daly’s public employee union backers are racing to the printer to fund hit pieces against Rob. Unlike the strictly grassroots campaign that you’ve participated in, this will be classic machine dirty politics: Daly’s union friends will flout the $500 per entity contribution limit by sending thousands of slick last-minute mailers that simply defame Rob.”
Huh? “Unlike the strictly grassroots campaign?” Bullshit, Ryan. Much of the campaign for Black and against Daly has consisted of exactly the sort of “dirty politics” the SFSOS alert is decrying — slick mailers, paid for by groups that flout the $500 contribution limit, seeking to defame Daly.
I called Chamberlain to ask him how he explains this world-class hypocrisy, but I haven’t heard back. I’ll let you know when he calls.
A tissue for Newsom
By Steven T. Jones
Kudos for the Chron’s Cecelia Vega for debunking Mayor Gavin Newsom’s pity-party television interview, in which he said he may not run for reelection. Vega punches her story home with some great phrases like “20-year-old Republican girlfriend” and “Washington-size dose of political posturing,” but the real gems come from Bruce Cain and Gerardo Sandoval. Check ’em out. But I once again have to find fault with Vega and other Chron writers continuing to prop up Wade Randlett as if he’s some kind of party insider or astute political observer, rather than the discredited right wing bagman that he is. But for the Chron, this is still mighty fine work.
As for Newsom, suck it out or get out! Geez, talk about letting your sense of overentitlement show. If you want a carefree life of chasing tail in the Marina or playing the rich socialite, go to it. Your job is way too important for you to be as checked out and self-indulgent as you have been lately anyway. Sure, it’s a tough job, but there are lots of competent progressives in this city who would love to trade places with you, even with all the abuse that entails. Call Ross Mirkarimi, I’m sure he’d welcome the news that you’re stepping down and supporting him. Actually, come to think of it, maybe that is the way to go. It is a very tough job that’s only bound to get tougher, and you’re a young man who should be out there enjoying life. Get out while you can, my friend. You don’t need this shit.
Nancy Pelosi ducks same-sex marriage
By Tim Redmond
Lord knows, I’ve had my fights with Michael Petrelis, but he seem to have calmed down a bit of late, and his blog is actually interesting, although he made the mistake of Dan Savage too seriously. But he’s nailed Nancy Pelosi for her comments on 60 minutes about same-sex marriage: “Well, that’s an issue that is not an issue that we’re fighting about here.”
Spy tactics
By G.W. Schulz
The Chronicle got scooped badly in late September when A.C. Thompson at the Weekly published a feature-length story revealing that the San Francisco Police Department had spied on reporters working out of the press office at the Hall of Justice. (My computer is still giving me a lot of shit, otherwise I’d post the links. Find ’em yourselves, friends.)
The Chron finally followed up on it yesterday with an explanation for why they had failed to do any story previously when they learned that the police department was pulling phone records to see who had leaked a department memo to crime reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken. The memo showed how top brass knew Alex Fagan Jr. – best recognized for his role in the Fajitagate scandal – had a serious temper. Derbeken’s original reporting on the memo surfaced shortly after Mini Fagan and two other off-duty officers clashed with two civilians over a bag of fajitas in 2002.
Staying the course — huh?
By Tim Redmond
This is well worth watching, from Daily Kos.
Red-tape bandage
By G.W. Schulz
Both the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle ran large stories last week on problems in the workers’ comp system since Schwarzenegger so proudly initiated reforms two years ago as part of a major recall campaign promise.
In fact, the pendulum has swung startlingly fast in the other direction away from what was viewed as a bloated system that encouraged excess and fraud. My computer’s operating very slowly this week, otherwise I’d post the links. You’ll have to find them yourself. The reporters are Marc Lifsher at the Times and Tom Abate at the Chron.
Doug Chan, PG&E’s man at City Hall
By Tim Redmond
Matt Smith, the SF Weekly columnist, did a little investigative reporting last week and discovered that Doug Chan, candidate for supervisor from District 4, does, indeed, live in the district, has a messy house and hasa neighbor who complains about him hogging the laundry room. But after what appears to have been a brief conversation (summarized in a couple of paragraphs), Smith concludes that Chan is really a hell of a guy, and would be a fine supervisor. (He main claim to fame, according to Smith, is that he thinks “ideology is killing San Francisco.”) What an ass.
Smith’s bang-up investigation, however, missed a little fact that’s easily accessible to anyone who checks some state and local public records. Chan is an attorney for Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
In fact, California Public Utilities Commission records show that Chan’s law firm, Chan, Doi and Leal, has received more than $200,000 in legal fees from the utility in the past two years. Chan himself, as a partner, has pocketed at least $10,000 of that money, according to his economic interest statements.
It’s hard to figure out what Chan has done for PG&E — he clearly doesn’t do utilities law (or much else that fits PG&E’s needs, according to his own website.)
Should the city elect a candidate who has derived a substantial amount of his personal income from one of the greatest lawbreakers in town, a company the city is fighting now over public power in Bayview Hunters Point and will be fighting bitterly over citywide public power in the next few years?
Matt?
Reforming democracy
By Steven T. Jones
Wtih ranked choice voting up and working well in San Francisco, four other communities around the country are poised to approve it in the upcoming election. In addition to Prop. O in Oakland, ranked choice is on the ballot in Davis, Minneapolis, and Pierce County, Washington.
“I see these four elections as key. If we can sweep them, that’s a tipping point,” activist and former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic said last night at a Prop. O fundraiser in the law office of Matt Gonzalez, who championed the San Francisco measure while serving on the Board of Supervisors.
Novoselic got involved in politics back in his Nirvana days, fighting to overturn a Seattle law that prevented people under 18 from attending concerts.
“Along the way, I got enthusiastic about democracy and participation,” he said. But even among those working on his campaigns, many felt their votes for candidates didn’t count. Reading SF-based democracy reform leader Steven Hill’s book, “Fixing Elections,” he learned about the concept of the “surplus voter” whose preference for a candidate other than the Democrat or Republican is essentially discarded. With ranked choice, voters can cast a ballot for their favorite candidate and also for the lesser of two evils, thus allowing minor parties to gain support. As such, Novoselic called democracy reform “the Holy Grail of the Green Party.”
Hill said he is cheered by the current situation. “It’s starting to happen, but these things take time. It’s a big country, but we’re making progress.”
Macy’s loses
By Tim Redmond
Sometimes you settle a lawsuit, and sometimes you roll the dice and fight.
Back in 2001, the San Francisco supervisors voted to cough up some $80 million in cash to pay off a group of big corporations that claimed the city’s business tax was unconstitutional. It was a close call — the city attorney warned that if the city fought and lost, the potential liability could have reached $500 million.
There were a few crazy dissenters — Matt Gonzalez and me, and not a whole lot of others — who said, in effect, let’s take the chance: These assholes wanted to soak the city for a bunch of money at a time when corporate America was rolling in the dough, thanks in part to Bush Administration tax cuts at the federal level. Fuck ’em — we’ll see you in court.
But cooler heads prevailed, and the city settled with all but one of the 52 companies. One holdout — Macy’s (the greedy pricks) — decided not to accept the settlement and to push the case and squeeze every drop possible out of the taxpayers. Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled in Macy’s favor, awarding the company $13 million. It looked as if the supes had done the smart thing settling with everyone else.
And then yesterday, the Court of Appeal overturned Macy’s award, saying that the $13 million refund was excessive. The giant retailer — where I will never again shop, by the way — gets only pocket change, a few hundred grand.
Of course, the court didn’t re-instate the tax; this was only a small part of the case. But still, Macy’s lost, big. Makes me wonder what might have happened if we’d never settled with any of the Filthy 52.
Arnold lovers
By Steven T. Jones
It was disappointing — but not entirely unexpected — to see the Chronicle endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger today. After all, both the Chron and Arnold are, as they describe him “economically conservative, socially moderate” (and I’ll leave off their next label, “environmentally progressive,” which is complete bullshit in describing a guy who owns four Hummers and watered down every environmental bill he’s signed, including the much ballyhooed global warming measure).
Yet what I do find truly amazing in this endorsement is the Chron’s failure to mention, among the two areas in which they’ve differed from the governor, Arnold’s veto of legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage. This was arguably the most important bill of Arnold’s tenure, one approved only thorugh the tenacity of our own Assembly member Mark Leno, one Arnold had previously pledge to support. This shameful and telling omission provides further evidence that the Chron is a paper of the suburbs and middle America, not this proudly progressive city.
Ignorance ain’t bliss
Today’s New York Times Op-Ed page had a fantastic piece by Jeff Stein suggesting the real source of ongoing conflict in Iraq is the chilling ignorance of our elected representatives and counterterrorism officials. Several interviewed by Stein failed to articulate the differences between a Sunni and a Shiite, or even define what either sect supports. This wouldn’t be so disturbing if it weren’t so believable.
Don’t go on the boat!
by Amanda Witherell
Seven protesters were disarmed of their placards and arrested Sunday when they crossed from public to private property at Pier 33 1/2. Arrests have been made for two weekends in a row as dozens of protesting union employees have continued to gather on the Embarcadero in front of the pier, which is the new launch and ticketing station for the ferry service to Alcatraz Island.
Signs that read “get a refund” and voices that shouted “don’t go on the boat” continued to pierce the air as two dozen police officers and a bevy of private security held back the protesters to let the paddy wagon through. At the outskirts of the crowd, union members spoke with visitors queuing in front of the ticket kiosk, trying to convince them to boycott the ferry and spend their tourist dollars more responsibly.
The seven were taken into custody for entering the landing area without invitations or tickets to ride the ferry. Though owned by the city and patrolled by the Port, the pier is leased to Hornblower Cruises and considered private property. Terry MacRae, owner of the ferry service, will be pressing charges.
Exposing SFSOS
By Tim Redmond
Very nice piece by Daniela Kirshenbaum in the latest Fog City Journal, detailing some of thenasty history of SFSOS, the group that’s pushing big for Rob Black for supervisor in District Six. Among her other interesting points: Wade Randlett of SFSOS (which loves to push for lax restrictions on condo conversions and TICs) is a founder and major stockholder of E-Loan, a company that’s pushing TIC mortgages.
On drinking
By Tim Redmond
There are all kinds of sordid (maybe sad is the better word) things you can say about the 39-year-old mayor dating a 20-year-old. But frankly, I’m not going to get all agitated about whether she has been drinking.
I was drinking when I was 20. Actually, I was drinking when I was 17. I those days, in New York State, the law was 18, and not tightly enforced. And guess what: Nothing terrible happened to me. In fact, I’d argue that the sort of binge drinking we see on college campuses now is directly related to the foolish 21-year-old age rule. When I was in school, it was perfectly normal to go to a local bar and have a beer — not 15 beers, just one or two. Now that a single damn beer is contraband, kids have more incentive to overdo it when it’s available, and less chance to develop a mature relationship with booze.
You can get married, go in the Army and get killed, buy a house … just about anything at 18. Except legally buy a beer. Pretty stupid.
On parenting
By Tim Redmond
It’s no surprise, I guess, that Jon Carroll has the most intelligent commentary on the whole Pete Wilson fiasco. His point:
“Every adventure in parenting is trial and error, generally performed by people totally unqualified for the task. I think of myself at 23, which is how old I was when my first daughter was born, and I think: Would I entrust an infant to this man? Absolutely not.”
Me, I think of myself at 41, when my son was born, and I ask the same questions. I ask them almost every day. And yet, as the always-encouraging Carroll points out:
“Here’s the thing: My wife and my older daughter both grew up into strong, well-mannered adults. Not perfect humans, but not felons or oil company executives either. The experiment worked; most of the experiments work. It is my belief that a lot of who the kid is and who she’s going to be is already there, in her nature. The best thing parents can do is provide food, shelter and a safe environment. Love your kids, teach your kids, play with your kids — and you’re doing it right. The kid will be who the kid will be; the fun part is finding out who she is.”
So much for Pete Wilson.
The Dufty baby boom
By Tim Redmond
The press conference denouncing Pete Wilson went pretty well, and got surprisingly good and positive coverage. Strange bit, though: Dufty, the guy this was all about, didn’t show up — and in fact, wrote an email to the radio talk-show host saying he hopes he doesn’t lose his job.
Which may seem to show Dufty has class and is above the fray and all — but it made his allies, who stood there on the steps of City Hall to denounce homophbia and support him and his family — kinda look like idiots.
Black interview
Listen to our endorsement interview with Rob Black, who is trying to replace Sup. Chris Daly with the help of downtown’s heaviest hitters, who keep doing attack mailers on Black’s behalf. The link is at the bottom of this page.
Gavin’s girlfriend
By Steven T. Jones
Mayor Gavin Newsom is now dating someone almost half his age: Brittanie Mountz, a model and restaurant hostess who recently turned 20 years old. And you can catch her in action thanks to some video that the Chronicle shot are last month’s opening of the San Francisco Symphony. Warning: the must-see part when she and the Gav talk to the cameras comes toward the end, so you’ll need to sit through some seriously nauseating high-society BS first (particularly creme-de-la-gag Dede Wilsey…ick). Even Newsom mocks the ostentation of the event before handing the mike over to his new sweetie, who sounds like…
Actually, you can just judge for yourself.
Nathan Nayman on the outs?
By Tim Redmond
The Committe on JOBS chief may be facing the axe, according to “rumors-a-swirling” reported by Luke Thomas in Fog City Journal. The problem: Nayman is too confrontational, and the downtown forces are sick of getting nothing done.
Dufty’s a conservative
By Tim Redmond
Well, not exactly — but a fascinating and incredibly detailed analysis of Dufty’s voting record, put together by Michael Poremeba in BeyondChron, indicates that he’s far more conservative than his district.
And while I’m on ol’ BC: I’ve had a lot of differences with Randy Shaw in the past year, but I must say, Paul Hogarth’s coverage of Prop. 90 has been excellent.
Now if only the big papers in the state would start doing stories like this.
The D6 sleaze reaches high tide
By Tim Redmond
For starters, don’t the over-funded losers who are attacking Sup. Chris Daly have anything better to do than keep on circulating the same old image?
This comes from one of six — count ’em, six — expensive attack mailers aimed at ousting Daly, one of the city’s most progressive and hard-working supervisors.
Before I get into the ugly politics, let me give a bit of background on the photo.
Even wrong when right
By Steven T. Jones
Even when the Chronicle gets it right, they get it wrong. Political writers Carla Marinucci and Tom Chorneau scored a great story by discovering that Amos Brown — the SF pastor and former supervisor — had been paid $16,000 by the Schwarzenegger campaign prior to deciding to endorse Herr Governor. It was disgraceful and should shred any credibility that Brown had left. But then they screwed up the story by alternately labeling Brown a “liberal” and a “progressive,” when he was neither. As a supervisor, Brown was conservative and a reliable vote for downtown, and since then, he’s been shilling for the Republican-funded SFSOS and selling out his flock to conservative nutball Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Marinucci and other Chron writers also regularly prop up disgraced SFSOS head Wade Randlett. It’s telling of the Chron’s worldview that they consider Brown to be left of center.
The paper also did some PR work for the Schwarzenegger this morning by writing about the party for Virgin Airlines, despite the lack of news. The company doesn’t yet have permission to operate and it seemed mostly about demonstrating Arnold’s bipartisan appeal by putting him next to Mayor Gavin Newsom, where they each claimed credit for “creating 1,700 jobs.” Too bad the actual total, as reported by Fog City Journal, is just 100 jobs. Oh well, can’t let those pesky facts get in the way of good politics.
Pete Wilson’s bizarre homophobia
By Tim Redmond
This one’s out of right field: Pete Wilson, who has a radio show on KGO, announced yesterday afternoon that Sup. Bevan Dufty and his old friend Rebecca Goldfader, should never have had a child. His argument: Since Dufty is gay and Goldfader is a lesbian, their co-parenting arrangement somehow isn’t as good as a “traditional” family in which the two parents are sleeping together. (I mean, having sex; if Dufty and Godlfader are like any other parents of a newborn, neither of them is sleeping much at all and when they do they’re playing musical beds — the baby’s here, the baby’s there, one of us is with him, or both of us, and nobody knows who’s going to wake up where.)
Left in SFhas the details, and a link to the show. Here’s what the station is saying about it, which is almost too strange to comprehend: