SFist: Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

noshark

Tue, 22 May 2007 15:34:14 -0800

Sharky Laguna is a Prick. Talks great, but supports a confessed serial mortgage frauder, Casey Serin with ads and ideology. When did ripping people off and ruining the neighborhood become cool?

Brendan

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:46:05 -0800

whatever who cares about your stupid stuff

p2p

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 01:31:06 -0800

While I don't know the Tourks, from what I can read, Alex Tourk is a very noble, caring humanitarian. Alex Tourk is quoted in an article Bill Picture wrote in the September/Octoer 2006 edition of Benefit Magazine, as saying of Mayor Newsom: “I have great respect for him,” says Newsom’s Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Tourk. “It’s one thing to talk about the world the way it should be. It’s quite another to roll up your sleeves and actually [do something about it]. Anyone who questions his sincerity simply doesn’t know him.” (Note: Since leaving the Mayor's Office, Ruby Tourk is now the host of the weekly Benefits radio show where she interviews the people who are making a difference in local arts, culture, education, environment, health, and civil rights. Eric Jaye writes about Alex Tourks Legacy on the Mayor's Re-Election website: "One of the few good things about these past few weeks is that Alex Tourk is finally receiving the public recognition for his talent and his work that he has long deserved. He has shown that he is an organizer without peer in California politics. And his work on causes like Project Homeless Connect demonstrate that he uses his considerable skills to do more than just elect politicians – but to make profound social change. Alex’s Homeless Connect is a model for the nation. And it was his baby. I would occasionally debate him about its staying power. I would wonder if volunteers with the best intentions were enough. I would argue that the city needed to institutionalize these services so that they would go on after this administration is gone. Alex pushed back hard. “Just watch and wait and you will see we’re building something that will last,” he would say." This has been a difficult time for the Tourks (Alex, Ruby and their 3 year old son), for the Mayor, and for San Francisco. I hope that Alex Tourk receives recognition for contributing to San Francisco's Greatness.

FD

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:35:38 -0800

So far, no one's mentioned Ms Rippey-Tourke's role in all this. As consoler while he was getting a divorce? Maybe they had a better connection. Maybe Newsom realized she had a substance abuse problem and moved on? Was she neglected by her ambitious husband? Don't make the indiscretion all his. Last time I looked it took two to have an affair.

watchoutforpeterragone

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:58:52 -0800

Look what the San Francisco employee is doing with his time: Google: Peter Ragone TIC Ellis Act All the good guys have left. Now that we know who Newsom has been screwing (and screwing over) the question is who is Ragone screwing? Answer: You, Mr. or Mrs. San Francisco Taxpayer.

ashton

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:18:20 -0800

"yeah, i heard this ruby chick is a slut, bisexual, whore who was having sex with another guy in rehab before gavin. i feel sorry gavin got taken by her..." I'm afraid it takes two whores to tango. Apparently this young lady was fairly deep in her addiction and the insane choices that follow are always no less than baffling. The mayor, however, is THE MAYOR! And while both were adulterous, she was probably out of her mind on drugs. What was his excuse? He has none. He's not saying the he was out of his mind on dope. Was he so helplessly lured by her charm that he went ahead and screwed the wife of his wing man? I'm surprised that Alex Tourk simply confronted the man and resigned. Most people in his situation would have wanted to pitch the man off the roof of city hall. Gavin didn't get taken by this woman, the Mayor of San Francisco took advantage of a sad situation and this shows him to be a man of little character.

thisisnotpeterragone

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:02:56 -0800

Keep your eyes on Peter Ragone Has anyone looked into Peter Ragone's involvement with that Ellis Acted property? Did anyone see that BeyondChron article about that? Is anyone interested in knowing the truth behind that?

amers

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:22:49 -0800

yeah, i heard this ruby chick is a slut, bisexual, whore who was having sex with another guy in rehab before gavin. i feel sorry gavin got taken by her but fortunately he's with a great girl in jennifer siebel and has been since October and supposedly she's inspired him to clean up his act.

DaveH01

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:19:36 -0800

Well here we go again the Midstream leftest media is going to pass on this one it seems. The big city that has those all so great "Values". Well you guys in Gayland USA should be happy at least he nor her are gay or lesbo or what ever the political correct way of putting it is. I laugh so hard at you people in Gayland USA. I'm glad to see this. I hope you nail the this guy to the wall and kick him out of office, just like you would if he was a Republican. Oh wait ya'll have double standards there I forgot. I'll be surprised if this post makes on the website as ya'll have such a double standard it will get screened

Dave H

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:05:58 -0800

rob b

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:46:34 -0800

Wake up. Gavin is amoral. He's a politician. Ragone is amoral, and he's the politician's butt boy. Hasn't anyone else noticed that most of the good, talented people that Gavin has hired have run screaming from the room like their wigs were aflame, from Marshall Foster to Steve Kawa, and everyone in between. Ragone does the "he goes or I go!" tantrum, and for some reason, the good guy goes while Ragone, supremely untalented and completely lacking in integrity, has remained. Makes me think that he has the goods on Gav. How else would a nebbish like Ragone survive? Word around city hall is that Gav is "partying too much" (whatever that means) and that many of the folks who were "grooming" him for his ascendant political career have given up on him. He certainly talks really fast, gets facts wrong ("my wife...no, my ex-wife...") and has public anger issues. Peskin for Mayor! I like it, and he's cute in speedos too.

Rob

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:21:09 -0800

It is going to be a tough week to be a Newsom, but I suspect this will blow over quickly. I believe Gavin is doing a good job. I believe Alex Tourk did a lot of good for San Francisco especially with his involvement in Project Homeless Connect- I hope that Alex finds a job helping a Democratic candidate become the next President of the United States- maybe the Obama or Clinton campaign. I also hope that Gavin changes his self-destructive behaivor. He has a lot of potential, and people will turn a blind eye to his past indiscretions, but he needs to get things DONE, and "keep it in his pants."

gale rail

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:26:21 -0800

How hot!! is it to fuck the shit out of the big boss man while your husband runs around like his little bitch. Eye contact during dinner, sneaking little ass grabs here and there.

joliejean

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:10:25 -0800

yeah i know about the 9th step. it would have been a graver injustice if ruby did NOT tell alex. takes a lot of balls to tell when she knew she wouldn't look good in this. who should she protect, alex or gavin?

Andyouknowthisman

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:45:14 -0800

So has Gavin officially conceded his California bid to Villaraigosa yet?

T

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:35:19 -0800

To all you people who don't understand why anyone would care about this and that this is a personal matter, I say BS. Please folks when you are an elected official everything is up for scrutiny, they know what they are signing up for. And guess what, to some people, moral character is a favorable quality in the people they elect into office, geez, what a novel idea. "It's nobody's business!", please, that's for each one of us to decide on their own.

AnonAnon

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:06:48 -0800

The 12 step rules taught in any rehab program are that you confess "except when to do so would cause harm to yourself or to others"... It seems like she went to far on this, causing harm to both herself and others. She is only going to hurt herself more. Sad.

murphstahoe

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:43:10 -0800

ChristyMs This is news because she was a subordinate. That is called harassment. Gavin has opened the city to a lawsuit. If you think this statute is inappropriate I am sure the rest of the women will thank you for suggesting we move women's right back 50 years.

ChristyMs

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:29:39 -0800

I cannot believe the comments posted here. What business is it of the public when anyone has sex with anyone else who is over the age of consent? I cannot believe the moral high-horses most people hop on and ride when it comes to human sexuality. Attractive powerful people have a lot of drive and a lot of access to sex. Why is this news?

Melissa

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:05:40 -0800

What man in "power" wouldnt do this? You all would!

c. r. arthur

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:27:57 -0800

Everyone is ripping Newsom which is fine, but what about Ruby? Doesn't she have a responsibility in this too. I just hate it when women in these situations are portrayed as a victim. If I were her husband I would divorce her and take everything from her including her dignity. He is obviously a scumball, and she is a drunk or druggie, whatever she was in rehab for!!!!!!!!!!

Jose Loot

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:04:30 -0800

Supervisor-subordinate sex is sexual harassment per se. If she brings suit, she can finance her own campaign for mayor.

Louis Troy Dixon

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:04:27 -0800

Myra, I lived in France for quite a while - didn't like adultery there and I don't like it here. (Did you see Berlisconi's wife has complained, openly, about his flirting?) It's amazing that a San Francisco resident, someone from a city that shows so much compassion for everything under the sun, to decide that a husband - Ruby's partner and Gavin's loyal aide - deserves nothing more than sad looks from the rest of you as you continue to throw your loyalty behind the man that would destroy his life. (And don't doubt for a second that Alex Tourk is wondering what kind of man - and city - he's been working for, based on this,...) Alex Tourk is going through hell right now, brought on by a very powerful man - and you've got his back - so, while it's expedeint to portray it as "not as big a deal as say, corruption" - the truth is a form of corruption is precisely what we have here and you don't have to be a prude to see that. Gavin Newsom's been lying to his friend. Gavin Newsom is not what he appears. Gavin Newsom deserves to be banished. Gavin Newson is no leader.

Raul

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:42:46 -0800

The mayor of a large city who caught betraying his loyal worker and friend having an affair with his wife. How can this be blown out of proportion ??? It is what it is!!! Anyone who does not think this is really ogly has totally mutated into social perversion...if nothing else, you don't betray your friends and loyal workers...EVER! Anyone who thinks this is OK for a Mayor to do, I feel sorry for you.

gary

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:27:53 -0800

What is she in rehab for?

tonya

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:26:54 -0800

Ruby has always been a whore and this was not the only guy she screwed while married. She also likes it up the ass while on coke. True story

boohoo

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:21:26 -0800

Not been the best six months for Gavin. Add the Doug Chan and Rob Black Campaigns, the continued cluster-f*ck involving the police, the yale singers, pretty much anytime the the Chief of Police's name is in the news, Britteny-gate, Comment-Gate, and now this. Yet, despite all of this, I'm very curious to see the result. Unless a credible challenger steps forward, or he resigns, I doubt he'll be toppled in November. Even if he is elected, there is no way he is going to be able to beat Villegarosa for governor, I think its safe to say that his career, beyond San Fran is more or less finished.

Myra

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:53:26 -0800

This may be a human story. And interesting simply as a human story. But lets not get carried away. His affair -- if it was consensual -- is not something that affects anyone's daily life, except of course, his own, the lady he's had an affair with, and her husband. Things happen. People do make mistakes. And in most countries across the world, where people aren't as puritanical about sex, they understand that an affair is not as big a deal as say, corruption. Here, anything about sex is blown out of proportion. Maybe, people who think this is a big deal need to travel to some other parts of the world, and see how the distinction is made between personal and public lives?

Patrick Monk.RN

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:35:57 -0800

Comments can be sent to the Mayor's new site for his re-election campaign, presumably set up by Alex, at the following address:- info@actlocallysf My 2 cents. Dear Alex, A cruel and despicable betrayal. As on old Texan compadre of mine used to say. "Buddy-fucking is unacceptable behavior". I sincerely hope you and your family find a way to work through this and find resolution. It sounds like Ruby is confronting her 'issues', and I know from personal experience how much we need the support, understanding and forgiveness of those we love at such a time. You don't know me but I wish you all well. To the Chicken. RESIGN OR GET PLUCKED !! Patrick Monk.RN. Noe Valley.

T.E. Lawrence

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:20:15 -0800

ABC 7 will stream the mayor's news conference live at 11:30: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news&id=4290505

joliejean

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:18:46 -0800

yeah i know about the 9th step. but hey, the rumors were circulating for months, it would have been a graver injustice if ruby did NOT tell alex. takes a lot of balls to tell when she knew she wouldn't look good in this. who should she protect, alex or gavin?

Robbie boy

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:10:09 -0800

That's what we should expect for voting for Gavin in the first place. For as much as San Franciscans like to think of ourselves as sophisticated, but you Gavinists voted for him on looks and charm alone. I guess we're not that much different than middle america? Let me ask you this, what the hell as he done while in office? Any major accomplishments? What happened to the passionate commitment to solving the homless problem? He's just another typical Marina frat boy who's a little more articulate. I hope this scandal bites him in his ass hard.

Frank Sullivan

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:03:57 -0800

As someone who worked on the mayor's campaign four years ago and was a big supporter, this news of this affair with his campaign managers wife, is a major disappointment. This guy could have dated any single woman he wanted, why did he find it necessary to betray Alex Tourk and do this? This is a sign of a real character flaw. Many of us felt and still feel the necessity of having a moderate in the mayor's office to temper the so-called "progressives" on the Board of Supervisors. If Gavin goes and we end up with Peskin as mayor or even worse, Matt Gonzalez, you can kiss San Francisco's quality of life and economy goodbye. I suppose the only good thing about this scandal from Newsom's perspective is that it happened in January and not October. Whether he can turn this around and survive will be a real test of his political skills or lack thereof.

maddog

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:00:09 -0800

The City attorney won't seek legal action against Gavin, but Ruby Tourk can. If she does this situation moves from "sex scandal" to civil lawsuit - the judgment for which will be paid for with taxpayer dollars. Even if they reach some confidential settlement through negotiation in advance of her actually filing a lawsuit, every mayoral candidate will be screaming to find out how much this affair cost the City and taxpayers. His bad judgment could cost the City millions. That is relevant, much more so that a simple sex scandal. If Ruby and Alex had been private citizens this would barely be news. But Gavin made the decision to sleep with a subordinate while in public office. Bad, bad decision. This is all going to be about his judgment.

Frank Sullivan

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:58:22 -0800

Dave

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:47:33 -0800

Everything complaining that "its just sex, this San Francico, blah blah blah" is kind of missing the point. This isn't about sex - it's about integrity. He didn't just have sex with someone, or have just any affair. He slept with a subordinate (a secretary!) who was someone else's spouse, who just so happened also to be, not only an employee, but his campaign manager. I realize everyone thinks SF is Sin City, but its not 1968 anymore around here and, even if it was, the majority of the public actually kinda take the whole "vows of marriage" stuff kind of seriously. Now, this COULD all blow over is the Gavster had something to fall back on. But he doesn't. He can't point to any major accomplishment since he's been Mayor. His Care Not Cash scheme pre-dates him being Mayor. The gay marriage thing is pretty far in the past, and since the courts overruled him, it look half like a publicity stunt at this point. Project Homeless Connect? - a once a month volunteer-a-thon is NOT something to hang your hat on, esp. given it doesn't seem to have visibly improved things. Rudy Giuliani had an affair - yes. But no one cared because there were rumors of it for a while, and more importantly, Rudy was already a perceived by New Yorkers as a major prick anyways. But voters were willing to overlook his faults because he was seen as having completley cleaned up New York. There were massively visible signs of improvement in terms of street crime as well as the general cleanliness, appearance, etc. of the streets of New York. The lights, literally, were back on Broadway. Same thing with Slick Willy - the public thought he was a slimy, back room operator. But, he also got shit done. Willie got those deals and bundles of fundings like nobody's business. Again, he DID things. Gavin, despite what his supporters crow, has been pretty much an empty suit his entire mayoralty. Those high approval ratings have no real support - its one reason why he had no coattails in the last election - his guts lost and instead the public elected Fidel Castro and the second coming of Tony Hall. He cuts deals for community benefits from developers and then individual supervisors like Daly turn around and cut better deals behind his back. The union strike at the hotels lasted forever, and Gavin's "help" to the union was pretty much useless. He's all hat and no cattle. That's why this is such a bigger deal for him that it might otherwise be. He's all image. Without that, he's got nothing. The public, slow on the uptake, is still smarter than the average snarky pundit.

Daithi

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:13:11 -0800

This is going to blow over, Gavins approvals are going to go from 70% to 60% for a while, and then go back up. No San Francisco politician is going to lose over sex. Now will he decided not to run? that is a fair comment, but if he does he wins....

T.E. Lawrence

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:03:46 -0800

Gavinwatch.blogspot.com is down, could it be a denial of service attack by a Newsom supporter or are a ton of people trying to get on their site? stp: then maybe we'll see this play out in the courts.

heywood jablome

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:00:50 -0800

This is obviously a contrived scandal invented by Gavin, Ragone and Tourke to quash the rumors that Gavin is gay, which surfaced as his "marriage" of electoral convenience to Kimberly Guilfoyle (sp?) evaporated a month after his election. I don;t know why this nitwit Gavin thinks you have to be straight to be elected mayor in SF, but his silly antics to prove he is not gay are going over the top. Will the voters elect a competant uncorrupt person for once?

stp

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:49:47 -0800

TE Lawrence: Willie Brown's fundraiser was an independent contractor, not a City employee. Thus, Willie Brown was her client. Plus, she never had to leave her job, never had to go to rehab, etc. etc.

Dan

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:47:16 -0800

"...Tourk and Newsom have been friends for years and frequently socialized outside work...." -sfgate Callous betrayal of friends and supporters? gosh where have I seen this before... "...the only person who thought Rob Black would win was Rob BLack..." -sfgate

T.E. Lawrence

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:42:28 -0800

maddog: Not sure if City Attorney Herrera will seek legal action against Newsom... Brown had sex with a subordinate, got her pregnant and she kept the kid. I don't think Brown faced any legal action.

Jackson West

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:41:14 -0800

Now I'm no expert on recovery, but from what I understand the whole honesty thing can be handled with a little more subtlety than what appears to have happened here. Assuming she's working the steps, you are given a pardon on making direct amends that might hurt other people. She could have at least let Gavin know that she was going to come clean to her husband, and involved him in the discussion, for instance. I can't imagine any of this mess is helping her to stay clean and sober.

maddog

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:34:47 -0800

The real lasting damage comes if Ruby files a civil suit against the mayor and the city. Remember, she was an employee, Gavin was her superior, they had sex, then she left her job. Whatever the circumstances are, if a suit is filed every person in the mayor's office will have their deposition taken - under oath and under penalty of perjury. Realistically I do not see any way he can run a campaign while he and everyone in his office are being deposed on a weekly basis - that fact alone will keep it in the papers week after week. Gavin exposed the mayor's office and the City to some serious civil (i.e. financial) liability here. Morality aside there truly are laws involved here. my guess is that they reach a confidential (and substantial) financial settlement asap.

Stp

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:33:04 -0800

Hello! Having an affair is not the issue here. Committing an ethics violation by having an affair with a subordinate is the issue. Dennis Herrera will likely have to investigate the allegations. If they're true, then Mayor Newsom essentially broke a City Ethics Law - i.e. he committed a crime. ...yes, even though they're consenting adults this is considered a 'crime' according the the charter.

Greg

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:27:24 -0800

What's the deal with Benefits magazine? Are they the halfway house for Mayor Newsom's exes? I mean, Brittanie Whatsherbucket works there too! And , for all those fantasizing about a Mayor Gonzalez, please do recall that despite all the wheels coming off the bus with Newsom's team (who really deserve a high five from all us blogging shmos for providing more material to work with), Newsom still has like, over a million bucks in the bank.

h. brown

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:26:21 -0800

Campers, Now deal with the fact that she 'lost' a baby conceived around this time. You think the Pope will give him a pass on that one? It could be worse. A past mayor of New York had an affair with an aide. His wife found out and threw him out of the house. Gracie Mansion! Had a restraining order keeping the mayor out of the mayor's mansion! His name was Giuliani and he did OK. Married the aide. Running for president. Remember what King David did to his best friend and most loyal general? Screwed his wife, then had the best friend put in the front of a charge to be killed. At least Gavin hasn't had Tourk killed. Yet. h.

cv

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:18:57 -0800

Argh, I'm not seeing the stupid image. http://www.benefitmagazinesf.com/cover.gif

cv

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:14:58 -0800

Ruby Tourk is the radio host for Benefit Magazine. Here's the ironic cover. LOL

Adam

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:10:55 -0800

Wake up people, it's not about Newsom having an affair. He had an affair with an employee who also happened to be married to yet another employee. Alex Tourk was his freaking campaign manager!?!?! This is how loyalty is rewarded by Mayor Newsom? Hello, can you say gigantic mistake of judgment and betrayal of loyalty? All breaking on the day that Peter Ragone admits that he was lying when he told Dan Noyes, "Absolutely not. Absolutely not." on the subject of attacking critics and reporters? Sure the public's expectations tend to be low on integrity and ethics in its elected officials. But sorry, Marion Barry wasn't elected in San Francisco. Who is going to help bail him out? Mr. Newsom could not protect AnneMarie Conroy. Now he's done this to his campaign manager. What moron would be loyal to the Mayor after all of this? (Stop bringing up Byorn, damn it!)

Roscoe

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:08:26 -0800

So much for the rumors that the mayor is gay.

TinMan

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:03:06 -0800

Fine, so we now know that Gavin's a pretty ordinary guy and has done something that hundreds of thousands of American guys have done. Anything illegal? No. Anything immoral, dishonest, or plain ole tacky? Perhaps. Okay, I think this thing has had its fifteen minutes of fame. Can we move onto more important matters?

no comment

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:57:16 -0800

If Alex needs arms to run to, mine are open.

kevin

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:50:16 -0800

Yeah, it's messed up Chris. No doubt about that. All I'm saying is that it's not the most messed up you can get, especially for this town. Let's put things in perspective here, shall we? What would be more politically damaging to Gavin in San Francisco: everyone finding out about him screwing his campaign manager's wife while he was in the midst of a divorce (initiated by his ex-wife - sympathy points from the straight guy vote there)? Or ditching the next AIPAC meeting in favor of holding a reception/book signing for Jimmy Carter's new book? (And please, don't even go there, okay? You know what I'm talking about.)

Concerned Citizen

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:45:02 -0800

The prudishness irony here is how the mayors office is trying to block the Kink.com SF Armory purchase!

Chris

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:33:03 -0800

I hear you, Kevin, and I would normally agree and not care who he was sleeping with. Lord knows he's had questionable taste in the past. But banging your own campaign manager's wife? That's pretty messed up. Let's be real - it's hard to like someone after that, even when you know it's not relevant to their work.

kevin

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:25:43 -0800

I think everyone here is letting Gavin's dirty laundry mislead you into believing this will somehow sway his political supporters, and frankly I don't think it will...and why should it? This is, after all, a city that likes to fuck. And there are puh-lenty of people in this city, including some of you, who have cheated at one time or the other on your girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, husbears, lesbiwives, significant others, fuckbuddies, or whathaveyou. This is not the town that goes wagging it's finger at fucking on the side, so all of you hold your horses. Anyone who's going to beat Newsom still has to contend with the Democratic party machine and wealthy establishment who put him there, and will keep him there until a replacement they like comes along - but don't think for one minute they care about any of this shit.

Burks

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:19:51 -0800

Why is this even news?!?!? What is the fascination in the US with other people's sexual activities?!?! I would expect that in San Francisco, of all places, that this would be greeted with a smile and ignored for more pressing issues.

Chris

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:11:51 -0800

God. I really like Gavin, but he makes it pretty hard, lately.

Adam

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:05:25 -0800

Comments on this story are so going to be like partying on New Year's Eve, amateur hour all the way. Look, get a grip! All the grave pronouncements about Newsom being done so miss the point. Newsom has always been about spinning. He's just going to get out in front of the cameras looking all sexy with his bedroom eyes and stand there with Peter Ragone whispering in his ear... HOLY SHIT! Wait a minute, you could all be right!

a female sfist

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:04:31 -0800

I arrived a Gavin Newsom's campaign headquarters during his first mayoral campaign, to volunteer. While taking a tour of the office with the Volunteer Coordinator, I was introduced to Alex Tourk, who leered at me during the introduction in a way more crass and direct manner than a New York construction worker ever did. Granted, Tourk was only engaged to his fiance at the time, but I don't doubt there was betrayal of various kinds on both sides of that marriage. I suspect he resigned to save face, nothing more.

texas dem

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:30:57 -0800

Given that Feinstein took over when Moscone was shot, I'd assume Peskin would take over in the event of a resignation. Unless provisions have been made since that time for a special election instead. If I were Newsom, I think I'd just decline to run for re-election, rather than "resign in disgrace" (which is the phrase that would forever and ever attach to him). Ten years from now he could try for elected office again, if he wanted, after he was sensibly remarried... if he just waits out the rest of this term, that is. He has NO future if he resigns.

bill r

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:18:22 -0800

I heard it was anal sex, and they were high on cocaine.

Treyman

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:11:33 -0800

If Matt Gonzalez runs again I'm starting a pool to pick what he will quit this time after he loses. $25 a pick.

stopragone

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:01:19 -0800

More Ragone: Google: Ragone TIC Ellis Act

Joe

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:04:28 -0800

Anyone remember the heidigate.com site? There has been speculation that Heidi had something over on Gavin in order to force Gavin to take the extreme measure of firing the Taxi Commission when they fired their executive director last summer. After all she was his "aide" when he was supervisor. Well, apparently the thief (Bettencourt) is back working in the Taxi Commission office doing "contract" work and approximately $100,000 in extra cash has been earmarked in the upcoming budget for Heidi to use as she wishes.

r

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:59:39 -0800

Holy Crap that was my reaction when I saw it on the news tonight

Matt Black

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:58:02 -0800

Re: the cabbie story -- this sounds WAY bogus. A clean-cut guy in his what -- 20s? -- comes out and tells a cabbie that if he doesn't leave, he's gonna call the cops?! For what? By what authority?! Pffff... Any cabbie I know would've told this whippersnapper to fuck off and get the guy who's been on his meter for 10 minutes (which would be more like $15, by SF rates).

SFist_Sarah_L

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:48:16 -0800

Have we forgotten the man who was mayor before Gavin? Willie Brown didn't have questionable romantic trysts EVER. Maybe Gavin's problem is he's tried (or folks like Byorn Ragone have tried) too hard to appear ethical. Willie had a history of being perceived as sleazy and corrupt before he became mayor, thus if something like this had happened to Willie, everyone would be shrugging, "What did you expect?"

Joe

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:42:55 -0800

From an taxi internet list (quoted material): "When I was driving for City Cab I answered a radio call at Plump Jack on Friday night. The car park guy went inside to check for me and came back out and asked me to wait while the patron finished his after dinner drink. I turned on the meter and waited for about 10 minutes and finally asked the car guy to check again. He came back a couple of minutes later and said that the customer had decided to have another drink and that I could go. I asked who was going to pay the $7 or 8 dollars on the meter and refused to leave until someone paid since they asked me to wait. The car park guy went inside again and a few more minutes ticked away. Finally Gavin came out and told me to leave before he called the police. This was before his political career started but, I already knew exactly how he felt about service providers based on the way he treated me."

Sharky Laguana

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:40:41 -0800

So what exactly is the line of succession if Newsome resigns? Does Peskin become Mayor, or is somebody else in line before him?

Legal Reader

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:33:48 -0800

". . . humping sexy unpaid interns as well" Now that's a fantastic idea! Reminder to self: Implement tomorrow.

chrissy

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:20:19 -0800

Where for art thou Matt?

sonofsoma

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:08:43 -0800

REVELATIONS TODAY ... REHAB TOMORROW Boring and predictable. Lean times are ahead for the city's liquor stores and coke dealers.

KWillets

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:49:54 -0800

FCJ is saying she's going for a sexual harassment lawsuit as well. I guess we know what he's been hiding now.

Voice of Reason

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:43:49 -0800

Run Matt run!

Dave

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:35:53 -0800

Yeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaawwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The mayoral race just went from a Newsom slamdunk victory to an actual, god-honest race. Bwahahahahahahaha. Its going to be sooooooo enjoyable watching that do-nothing, smug pretty boy learn a hard lesson about being a big city mayor - at the end of the day, you really do need to have accomplished something more than a series of press events.

T.E. Lawrence

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:52:08 -0800

Here's a juicy comment from sfwall.net... no doubt Newsom and Ragone are hitting the bottle tonight! Fuck Newsom This is bullshit. I spent a year of my life during Newsom's campaign watching Tourk be the first person to show up each morning and leaving when he was the last in the office. This is not how you treat the most loyal person imaginable. I hope Newsom doesn't resign, I hope he loses in the nastiest manner possible. http://p209.ezboard.com/Tourks-Out/fabledartsbathroomwallfrm21.showMessage?topicID=2518.topic

Jess Drake

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:44:31 -0800

Oh, geez. I can't wait 'til this gets blown out of proportion.

jenz

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:42:13 -0800

i've been refreshing for like, a half hour to see when you'd put this up... ...and this is what commentary we get?!?!

T.E. Lawrence

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:39:47 -0800

What a sleaze ball. I wouldn't be surprised if he was humping sexy unpaid interns as well. When will San Francisco get the a real mayor? Tired of his style of governing the City by press release and flashy press conferences.