Sarah Palin Quits
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Happy 4th of July!
SFist Drinks: The Rio Grande Cocktail at 15 Romolo
This morning, we dragged our flu-ridden butts all the way out to the Richmond hoping to see what had all the makings of a circus. We didn't get it. What we got, instead, was a serious policy discussion about the homeless. How do you prevent a circus from taking place? You bore the crap out of everyone.
We have to give credit to Team Gavin. They diffused any potential for the meeting getting out of hand with two brilliant gestures. The first one was to have it early in the morning all the way out in the Richmond. We expected a full-house full of the usual suspects but didn't get it, partly, we think, because saying you're going to go out to the Richmond at ten in the morning and actually getting up and going out to the Richmond on a very, very cold morning at ten in the morning is a completely different thing.
The second thing they did was just completely overwhelm everyone in the audience with boredom. This was a serious-minded townhall, full of serious discussions about serious issues by serious people using serious statistics. It was mind numbing. Anyone who wanted to be starting something lost any sort of motivation to be starting something after statistic after statistic was brought out by either Gavin or Gavin's panel (Angela Alioto, Friar John Hardin, Ron Miguel, Ken Reggio, and Trent Rohrer). And it was typical Gavin-- he threw out detail after detail of every nook and cranny of some sort of city governance that there's no other option than getting lost in it all. We have no idea if anything Gavin was saying was right or not, but gosh, doesn't he sound smart?
More details of the event and more pictures by SFist Rita after the jump
Project Chicken Connect
Not that there weren't people looking to cause trouble. Picketers were out front of the Richmond Recreation Center calling for a liveable wage. And we saw a few people from the San Francisco People's Organization there, handing out questions for the audience to ask. Then there were the chickens-- four people from the SF Party Party who dressed in full chicken costume ready to cluck cluck there way into some publicity. But here's where Gavin's diabolical plan really worked-- half an hour into it, one by one of the chickens all gave up and left to go wander the hallways. It's hard to be a chicken when everyone's being wonky. And we'll say this for Gavin, he did not even bat an eye at the chickens. When one of them walked up to him to hand in a question, Gavin didn't even acknowledge the fact that he was getting a question from someone in costume. The only who did was Angela Alioto who said "instead of sitting around in chicken costumes, go do something."
Gavin's people also did a good job of controlling the thing. Any chance of things spiraling out of control was easily nipped at the bud as there really wasn't much in the way of give and take. For the most part, Gavin played MC and let his panel do the talking. The idea that people were going to ask questions didn't happen as the only sort of questions being discussed were one's that were written down and handed in. Then someone (supposedly Gavin) sorted through them and decided what was a worthwhile question to ask. So if anyone wanted to even ask a question about Question Time or anything that didn't deal with the homeless, there'd be no opportunity too.
We do have to say that in Team Gavin's defense, this definitely was a neighborhood meeting and that there were large parts of the audience who were into it. Other than the gawkers and the chickens and the large contingent of press, most of the crowd looked like people who lived in the Richmond. We have a feeling most of them were pretty satisfied with everything. Whatever issues they might have concerning the homeless in the park and in their neighborhoods, Gavin and the panelists tried to address. We think they were a lot more satisfied with everything than we were.
One more thing-- this type of townhall meeting actually proves one thing, that strip away the glamour and passion of politics, at its heart, it's actually pretty boring. We might not have cared as much about all the numbers and details, but all those people on the panel did. Better them and not us.
Gavin totally not reading anyone's questions
Chicken, table for one
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Just another point of view on this one -- so if the whole point of this was supposed to be that Gavin was going to bypass the Supes and take it directly to the people, I didn't really see so much of that.
There was no way to question Gavin directly -- you sent in your question on a card and he personally read it and decided whether to read it out loud or not.
He didn't actually really answer any questions either -- he mostly deferred to his panelists instead (though every now and then he'd say, "Now I could answer this one myself, but I won't, ha ha."
So I actually got my question selected to be read, sort of. My question was, "How can we assess either the success or failure of Project Homeless Connect when your administration has already admitted that they're not keeping complete statistics of the people using the system?"
So Gavin starts reading it, then stops, rephrases it incorrectly, and then says something in a derogatory tone of voice like, "Now -- this isn't even accurate, and how could someone say something negative about project Homeless Connect when over 1700 people have participated? We DO have accurate stats. Trent?"
Trent Rhorer then starts to explain how they've hired a new firm to fix the stats, and then gets drowned out by Gavin who then starts talking about how much volunteers enjoy participating in Project Homeless Connect.
I'm not saying that people don't enjoy working for Project Homeless Connect, and I honestly didn't mean it as a pejorative question (I mean, don't we all want to know how well the program is doing? Trust me, if I wanted to write a pejorative question on my card, I would have) -- but Gavin totally didn't answer the question!
If he can't take a question from me, no wonder he doesn't want to take questions from the Supes.
I know Jon said that people seemed pleased with the event -- but I do also want to say that it did seem packed with Newsom supporters (the first three rows of chairs were all staffers, for instance), Newsom seemed disappointed that his and Angela Alioto's big applause lines weren't getting the type of response he was hoping for, and after the event, I heard some grumblings of discontent that if Newsom was going to have this big event and say it was for people to directly voice their views, they were irritated that they didn't actually get a chance to do so.
Hey Kids
Coupla comments from the freezing roofdeck at SFPP HQ, look for video coverage of the event on YouTube in the coming days:
1) We don't see why the Mayor can't do his town hall meetings AND ALSO COMPLY with the wishes of the voters by attending question time once a month. Of course he's gonna talk to voters during an election year (too bad he hasn't been around to attend these meetings for the past 3 years), but using them to hide from question time is unacceptable. Gavin may get 50% of his money from Southern California, but 100% of his salary is paid by SF voters AND WE WANT HIM TO COMPLY WITH QUESTION TIME
2) Four chickens? We had six; now two of our chickens are stratching around in the dirt out back, feeling left out! Anyway, we didn't want to disrupt the event.... we like to see Gavin in town (even if its only to campaign for his relection) focusing on important issues. Our point was to show the public that Newsom is silencing criticism and open discourse.... pulling the classic George Bush move by lining the parade route with his supporters.
3) The Mayor concocted this whole Phil Donahue format after the SF Bay Guardian exposed his fear of unscripted situations and he knew that critical questions might be raised at the event. It was a classic chicken-shit move.
4) While it is true that Newsom didn't bat an eye when he received our questions, he also didn't answer them. We had 20 people in attendance (including our chickens), all of us submitted questions and NONE of our questions were addressed by the Mayor. Our exit interviews with folks will be available on YouTube in the coming days and no one we talked to were happy with the Mayor's efforts to script this event.
5) If it walks like a chicken, and talks like a chicken.... it's a chicken.
Answer the questions
SFPP
"We have no idea if anything Gavin was saying was right or not, but gosh, doesn't he sound smart?"
Aren't "we" journalists who are supposed to, like, you know, investigate these things?
Or is sfist.com just a low-rent Matier-Ross gossip column, apologizing for Newsom's ducking out of voter approved question time because you won't do the digging?
I was there and it was a joke, an absolute JOKE.
If there was ever any debate that Gavin was evading the will of the voters by holding these "town hall meetings" vs. actually meeting with the Supes, then there is debate no more.
At first I thought the chickens were making something out of nothing. But after attending this thing, I couldn't agree more that Gavin is indeed a chicken. This town hall was a waste of time, not to mention deathly boring. After what I saw today I think our mayor deserves getting pummeled by questions at the Board of Supervisors.
He personally answered NO questions today. He read through a stack of cards, picked what must have been the easiest questions, and then directed the questions to his panel instead of answering them himself. He was really just an overpaid, over dressed MC.
I asked many posts ago whether this would be a Bush-style event, and it was. At least my question was answered.
Although the opposition party may not agree with him, the Gav did show he's making progress on the most vexing issue in this city, and to be honest, the chickens sort of distracted from a serious discussion.
[N.B.: It has since come to SFist's attention that the commenter posting under the name "John Avalos" here is not the John Avalos whose email address was provided to us. This is your warning; if it happens again, we'll delete any future comments made. Thanks. --SFist]
John, my friend
If Newsom wanted to show progress, he would have held this event in District Six where homelessness is most chronic. Instead, he held it in the Richmond, early in the morning on the saturday of a three day weekened, and filled the room with friends. A pathetic and sad, cowardly cop-out
Thank God for the Chickens... they made the only real statement in two hours of endless, boring, political posturing. And, to their credit, they we're quite respectful of the Panelists.... if clearly onthe warpath with the Mayor.
Seriously, whats next from the Newsom team? A 'serious discussion' of gang violence in Pacific Heights.
Ragone is making Newsom into a limp, ineffectual Grey Davis, and Gav is too self-obsessed with the idea of being Governor to see it
Pathetic!!!
Project Chicken Connect Rules!
john the chickens where representing a issue of 53%.
and newsom played the project connect card like a well herald political script.
The original post and a couple of commenters have stressed the meeting being "early in the morning".. but ten? I not sure why the meeting should have accommodated the concerned citizens who couldn't be bothered to get up before lunch time.
i went looking for the tailgate party.
Clearly there were many questions from the audience that were not addressed directly, and therefore a lot of animosity and potential confrontations that were deflected or averted. This had both pros and cons. Essentially, the mayor pulled out topics from the stack of questions and had the panelists talk about the various topics. I found the discussion at times lively and for the most part informative, except when Ron Miguel of PAR gave his opening remarks. I didn't know what to expect going in, and was not unduly dissatisfied with having spent two hours at the Richmond Rec this morning. In sum the information gained was better than sorting through bucket loads of position papers at sf.gov to get similiar information.
Here are a couple of points:
1) san francisco is a great city. chicken costumes, living wage handouts, richmond residents and, yes, public servants (we should be allowed to go to!)... democracy actually can be fun and not nasty and mean. it was good to see the chickens and their handlers actually talking to the richmond locals and sharing their side of things. it was also good to see some real policy experts talk about the issue that has vexed this city since art agnos' days twenty years ago. no threats, no sneering comments and no treating people with disdain. the protesters, while a small band, make this city rich and colorful.
2)this format WOULD BE A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER if the supes came. we urge them to come to the next one and we hope we can work on that with them. just an opinion.
3) rita, lighten up and stop just hating on newsom at all times. lets talk more...
4) the best picture i took yesterday was cecilia vega interviewing a chicken!
pwr
now that i know what a joke these townhall meetings are I'll not likely will attend sober.
"Although the opposition party may not agree with him, the Gav did show he's making progress on the most vexing issue in this city, and to be honest, the chickens sort of distracted from a serious discussion."
John, Oh, John. Discussion is a thing that happens between people with differing views when they, uh, talk to one another, amongst themselves.
The only talk that happened at the Richmond Rec Center was between people who mostly agree with Gavin Newsom, largely because they hold their jobs at Gavin Newsom's pleasure. They stuck to their scripts, talking amongst themselves, as in a fishbowl.
There was no discussion amongst Richmond residents, or between them and San Franciscans at large or city employees whose salaries we pay. Citizens literally sat silent for 2 hours watching others speak at a so-called community meeting.
Cecilia Vega interviewed me, Chicken McGreen, when I was in a chicken costume. If Peter, pwr, could post a link to that photo, I'd appreciate it.
Buck buck, b'gaw.
I'm sorry everyone found it so difficult to come out to our nighborhood at 10:00 AM. Where do you all live anyway? Berkely? Santa Cruz? Montana?
I'm also sorry you were bored by a serious, in depth discussion of THE major problem facing SF today. It's litterlly a matter of life & death sometimes. Gavin is the first mayor to even begin to get a handle on the problem and it really won't be helped by 1) Chris Daly showing off what a smart boy he is in monthly question time or 2) as a Angela pointed out, putting on a chicken suit.
i just wish i had a chicken suit
The great thing about Angela Alioto is: when she sells out, she sells out big.
Angela, herself, once rented a chicken suit to taunt Newsom when she ran against him for Mayor. Back then, it bothered her that Newsom shut down public discourse. She was offended that he refused to debate and she called him out. Back then she was a "progressive", she even got the Guardian's endorsement for Mayor.... promising to stand behind whoever ran against Newsom.
Ahhh... politics, money, power. When Matt Gonzalez beat her, she endorsed Newsom in the run off, in exchange for the Commission seat she gloated about on Saturday.
There were actually 8 chickens in that room: Six protesters, one Mayor, and one pathetic sell-out commissioner.
"Where do you all live anyway?"
District Six--The Tenderloin, South of Market and The Mission, where all the homeless people are.
A friend of mine was one of the chickens so I attended the meeting. The meeting sucked as has been stated. The chickens ruled.
I have been watching the coverage and it seems that ONLY the SFist thinks the chickens didn't make an impact. What special perspective did you guys have that you missed all the good stuff that every other news organization - big or small- saw?
Funny, I don't think I've ever posted to SFIST before. I usually find enough amusement from the stories and not the comments. So needless to say, I did not post comment #6 on this thread last night. I'm not sure who did. However, after being repeatedly badgered by Peter Ragone the Mayor's Communications Director at yesterday's "townhall" meeting, I wouldn't be surprised to find out this is just another case of Peter Ragone taking some cheap shots.
Peter Ragone? Is that you up above? How exciting!
Just to avoid any confusion, the post above is by SFist Jon -- I only provided the pictures; I'm not sure if you mean to address him or me in your comments.
But yes, I'm always happy to talk! Feel free to get in touch.
avalos: conspiracy theorist! i promise im not doing some kind of identity theft ring thing...
mcgreen: ill get you the pics
rita: i know you didnt post, didnt comment on the post. im talking about your full time newsom hater status. it is america, you are entitled to such feelings. im just saying maybe you should try to find some objectivity in the political sphere. might make you feel better about this great city!
pwr
looks like people from the wall and junto have jumped over
Funny, it was Peter Ragone who was frothing at the mouth to us chickens that "you all hate Gavin Newsom."
As Kathleen Turner said playing Beverley Sutphin, title character in John Waters' "Serial Mom:" "Hate is a very strong word."
Gavin Newsom was a nice guy when he was supervisor. But since he's become Mayor and Peter Ragone has played a cheap Karl Rove, Team Newsom has advanced divisiveness in 3 short years far beyond what the notoriously divisive progressive sect had managed to do over the previous twenty.
Gavin, or Peter thinking for him, is clearly afraid of the scrutiny. He is afraid that he cannot hold his own before his constituents, before the Board of Supervisors or before the press.
But Newsom's base is crumbling because he prefers to live the jet set life rather than bother himself with the boring nuts and bolts of governing the City and running the departments to serve taxpayers and citizens.
I'm Ashton Kucher, You, Gavin Newsom and Angela Alioto have been punked, and I am awesome!
Newsom's base is crumbling? The only reason I'm even reading this blog is that Monday is slow in the office. When will the underground realize that their publications, be it blogs, the Guardian, or the other seldom read outside-of-the Haight type of news sources represent a small fraction of the voting public? Mainstream press doesn't get much attention by the majority of this city, much less poorly written gossip rags. Real opinion and support has always been communicated via word of mouth. This Mayor is popular, and a bunch of foolish kids in costumes won't change that, but coming up with new ideas on how to solve issues will. Most of the people commenting here are the folk that voluntarliy got arrested during the war protests and ride around every Friday on their bikes to block traffic. I agree with Angela "instead of sitting around in chicken costumes, go do something."
Go do something? We do, we push all sorts of issues at City Hall.
And in doing that politicking, we travel outside our comfort zones all the time, unlike Gavin Newsom who only stays where Peter Ragone tells him it is safe.
And when we are outside our comfort zone, the refrain we hear, whether from the neighborhoods, from downtown and SPUR, from Newsom's own supporters, is that Gavin is not doing his job of governing and delivering vital city services.
There may not be a progressive candidate "in the wings" waiting to swoop down and snatch room 200.
But as Newsom's administration continues to melt down under the weight of an abstinent, inebriate mayor, I am sure that more and more contenders each day are contemplating a run against Mayor Chicken.
"We do, we push all sorts of issues at City Hall."
What have you pushed? Proposition I? That's doing a lot to end poverty in the Tenderloin, Bayview and Western Addition.
"And in doing that politicking, we travel outside our comfort zones all the time, unlike Gavin Newsom who only stays where Peter Ragone tells him it is safe."
Not sure who this Peter guy is everyone keeps complaining about, but it's the Mayor I hear my friends and neighbors talking about loving. Maybe we don't represent the majority, but I tend to think those working professionals from the financial district who always vote and who always fund campaigns, probably have a better idea of who's in the mainstream.
"And when we are outside our comfort zone, the refrain we hear, whether from the neighborhoods, from downtown and SPUR, from Newsom's own supporters, is that Gavin is not doing his job of governing and delivering vital city services."
Oh? Did SPUR come out against the Mayor? That's interesting because I'm a member and I don't remember either voting to oppose the Mayor on our platform or our paid staff singling him out. We definitely agree the city has problems, but what lunatic would blame that on one person? It's easy to make unfounded claims.
"There may not be a progressive candidate "in the wings" waiting to swoop down and snatch room 200."
The only person that could have a chance, our beloved Matty G, has really been the one wearing a chicken suit. I'm not even that non-committal in the first 3 months of a relationship.
"But as Newsom's administration continues to melt down under the weight of an abstinent, inebriate mayor"
How are they melting down? Are staff and city employees leaving in droves? I'm sure Matier and Ross would have picked that up. Has the city fallen apart? Looks normal to me. Is your trash being picked up and are cars being towed from blocking your driveway? What is this false world you're living in? Everyone I know loves living in this city. Can city hall stop a bunch of rich kids from beating each other up or gang-bangers from shooting each other, and does it effect me? No. We're lucky to live here.
Good, Joe Constituent, keep on keepin' on.
Everything is going well.
The streets are in pristine condition.
DPW is keeping the streets clean.
The SFPD is doing $80,000 worth of work for each and every one of the almost 2000 sworn officers.
MUNI is performing off the charts.
Gavin Newsom has demonstrated that he has the moxie to make the big leagues after his performance on Saturday morning.
I'm sure he can handle the rough and tumble of the real world, just as Peter Ragone is sure that Gavin can handle Prop I question time.
for me the whole thing was amateur hour on BOTH sides. the Mayor's office shoulda blown off the whole thing since it's just an advisory measure, to do otherwise legitimizes a goofy idea. and for the BG and others to make it a Big Cause was silly.
you'd think that people who are paid well would have realized his and just ignored this strictly advisory measure. Remember the one passed "requiring" electeds to ride MUNI every day? Where's the legions of protestors on that one?
Oh wait, that's right. It's got no force of law, and as such isn't that big a deal. Funny, I guess people forgot that when it came to Prop. I.
Just like they forgot that politicians don't walk on water or turn water into wine. Until they do, they're just as fallible as anyone else...
Now that we know from the horse's mouth that the mayor is himself a SERIAL INEBRIATE, he can check into the Alder Hotel (free room, taxpayers' expense), get foodstamps, help for dealing with his addiction free of charge, free MUNI pass, and all kinds of job training at Project Connect, not to mention a haircut, dental care and a massage. No longer will he have to face a mob of citizens demanding that he clean up the city he promised he would clean up. God forbid that someone says he will do something, refuses to do it, and then evades any real questions on it. I had the chance to attack him on this issue when he "opened" the Alder Hotel for the first load of drunks and bums like himself. His first comment was, "Thanks for ruining my press conference!" I said, "Thanks for ruining my city!"
In all fairness, it has been ruined for years, at least as far back as Diane Feinstein's takeover. Bums ahoy!
Mary