Look who's launched his "reelect me in 2007" website! (Thanks, Usual Suspects!) Mysteriously, Gavin and his handlers didn't choose the domain name gavinnewsom2007.com, but went with actlocallysf.com instead.
ActLocallySF.org is quite a multimedia extravaganza, with a Flickr page set up, a blog with entries about how Gavin loves the Niners (he's a sports blogger, just like SFist Christopher Rogers!), online polls, a blogroll (which is not up yet -- we hope we're included!), and a calendar of upcoming events, along with the usual exhortations to give money and volunteer for the campaign.
Our favorite section, though? Pet Peeves -- illustrated with a whimsical animated gif of a small terrier running back and forth on your screen, and where you're invited to email Gavin Newsom's campaign with "What's bothering you about San Francisco?" Ha!!
We took Gavin up on his offer -- and asked "Why won't you participate in Question Time?" We'll let you know if we get a response. And feel free to email him yourself!
(Incidentally, Gavin's currently-listed pet peeve is "It bothers me that you have to search far and wide to buy a fast pass. We're trying to fix that." We feel like we've discussed that around here recently ourselves. Gavin, are you reading SFist??)
Picture off flickr, by user GavinNewsom2007. We picked this one because it was the best shot of Gavin with the blue tie on.
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My god, did Gavin hire a color blind web designer? Worst color scheme ever? That page makes Viliam Dugovic's site look tasteful and restrained. Unfortunately that link is to a google cache because alas, thenovember7.info is no more.
And speaking of random campaign URLs, I have to consider actlocallysf.com to be solidly in second place behind thenovember7.info. Come on Viliam, let's see you take on Gavin like you did Rob Black and Chris Daly. Viliam for Mayor!
Am I the only one who doesn't care if the Mayor does or doesn't answer questions from the Supervisors in person? I imagine it would just be a bunch of grandstanding. Pro-Gavin members would kiss his ass, and Chris Daly would be, well, Chris Daly. Meanwhile, the crime rate would continue to climb, MUNI would still suck, and housing would continue to be unaffordable for a majority of San Franciscans. How about everybody just does their freaking jobs?
If the Board is upset that Newsom is ignoring the optional Q&A time, they should have made it required.
I have to agree with the above statement. I don't care if Gavin shows up for "question time" or not and I am one of the people in District 8 who voted against it. It was an immature policy statement put on the ballot by Chris Daly. Drop it already.
Count me as another who thinks the entire discussion is a huge waste of time. What we should be focused on is why crap initiatives can be put on the ballot so easily without even a hearing. Chris Daly and his followers should be ashamed.
A simple question was put to the voters and they approved it overwhelmingly.
Now what were we talking about again?
I think it was a great idea. Why should any mayor not answer questions asked by each disrticts rep? Have you ever wonder why Newsom does 11th hour veto's. Or wht does he wait until his election time to ramp up DPW
Flickr? C'mon, you'd think they'd be able to have their own online photo gallery.
I can design a better website with my eyes closed.
I agree that it should have been a binding charter amendment, and the fact that Daly couldn't get 5 other Supes to sign on to it shows how little balls they had back during the summer.
But claiming that it's okay for Gavin to ignore it because it's a "non-binding policy statement" is a cop-out. The voters clearly endorsed this. Gavin's blowing off the people who pay his check.
I'll also don't buy the line about how it'll be nothing a bunch of grandstanding. I'm hoping that they'll be some fun fireworks, but when do we ever get to see our elected officials have unscripted discussions? All we get are press conferences, quotes in the papers, and scripted events.
Is it really too much to ask for the Board and the Mayor to talk to each other in public for an hour or two a month?
This reminds me of a story my friend Doug told me.
Some time ago, Doug was managing some computer systems at a large bank in town. The hardware was provided by one vendor, say IBM, while the software was provided by another vendor, let's call it Oracle.
One day, the system had a problem. When Doug asked IBM what was wrong, they said it was the software. When he asked Oracle what was wrong, they said it was IBM's hardware. The vendors were always very responsive, but neither one could help Doug, who by now was working very hard to fix the problem on his own. He was perplexed, and the problem kept getting worse.
Finally, after a great deal of effort, Doug had an idea. He summoned reps from both companies, and brought them to a room. He told them he was going to leave them in the room and shut the door for half an hour. At the end of the half hour, the problem was either going to be fixed, or Doug would cancel both of their contracts.
Doug went back to his desk and relaxed for 30 minutes. He went back to the room, opened the door, and the problem had miraculously been solved.
newsom had a good idea for question time: do it in the neighborhoods. the supes chickened out when they were faced with actually having to talk to real people. kinda proves they just wanted newsom to come down there for their usual antics.
What is this, Newsom shill night? School is out this week, apparently.
Gavy had plenty of time to put his cute idea on the ballot too. He didn't. End of story. I wouldn't mind if he did, but he didn't, so it's time to face the music.
I get to talk to my neighborhood supervisors fairly frequently, in unscripted and fairly frank dialogue. Newsom, not so much. He's at a disadvantage compared to the supes who have been working their districts 7 days a week, but he's chosen to bury his head in the sand rather than try to make up the gap.
My understanding on why the Richmond neighborhood Question Time isn't happening is that the supes can't all be there and talk city business without making it a board meeting, pursuant to California state law. And to make it a Board meeting would have cost around $15,000 (TV crews going out there, getting the stenographer, overtime for the clerks, setting up the equipment, and other associated expenses of that type).
Though I'm sorry the Richmond event's not going to be a board meeting, I can't fault the Board for not wanting to spend $15,000 to end up in a situation that's still not what the voters asked for.
However, this Jan 13 event is still going to be awesome. The only people crazier than the SF Board of Supervisors are the SF citizens who show up to local politics events. I'm so there!
This whole situation is such a waste of time. The ballot measure should have been binding if the purpose was to force a Q&A between the board and the mayor. The measure explicitly gave Newsom an out, and he took it, and now everyone's crying foul? Besides, the problems facing this city aren't the result of a lack of face-to-face dialogue between the board and the mayor.
And, no. I'm not a Newsom shill, thank you very much. The mayor and the board have been acting like 1st graders throughout this process, and it's embarassing for everybody involved (including me now, I guess).
Did anyone take notice that Newsom is picking the location AND the topic. eg... homelessness in the Richmond. Whats next, probably crime in Pac Heights followed by a lovefest talking about Gay Marriage in the Castro? Its no coincidence that he's not talking homelessness in D6 or homicides in D5, or 9, or crime & housing in D10. Thats quite an interpretation of the voters intent with Prop I.
Newsom has his spin-machine in overdrive on this one, trying to act like he is not campaigning (as he did with that cheeseball Howard Dean inspired actlocallySF.org)
We want Question time because at least one day a month, Newsom will be forced to focus on SF business, here - in SF, without his spin machine. His 'govern by press release' approach of traveling around chasing money and photo-ops.... gunning for that big senate seat, isn't getting the job done here at home.
His vetos are out of control...it shows he's out of touch. Newsom has done 7 in 3 years, compared to Willie Brown's 3 in 8 years. Whats worse... 1/3 of Newsom's vetos have been overturned by the Board or the Voters. He is disengaged and ineffective.... Muni and homicides have gotten worse every year under his administation, yet he opposes the ideas coming out of the board (Prop A, Prop E, Foot Patrols, etc)
To put this in context: Newsom lied and said his veto of the six month trial of car free space in Golden Gate was to comply with the will of the voters.... knowing that a trial had never been voted on and that voters were only split on the TIMING of a permanent car free space (eg before or after the parking garage was built). Now there is a CLEAR directive by the voters, aimed SPECFICALLY at him and he wants to squirm out of it????... its time Newsom's George Bush-esque bubble!
Answer the questions!!!
SFPP
PS see you on Jan 13... wouldnt miss this one for the world!
Campers,
So, you can't wait to go see Gavin's dog and pony show? You're a bunch of suckers enabling an ignorant shill (as him to explain what a Mello-Roos bond is). I'll attend one his staged events right after I finish reading OJ's new book.
h.