SFist: Fake Question Time III- the Photos

ms magos

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:08:51 -0800

Okay, so yes the supposed “townhall” was more like Gavin Newsom’s infomercial and his question time was a live version of a sort of a pathetic FAQ on who is eligible for this new HAP. And even more annoying was that they could not even answer questions that could not have been self-answered if you had paid attention to the presentation. I mean the fact that they seemed to have a limited amount of knowledge of the one thing they were prepared to talk about – logistics of HAP was also frustrating. I mean Gav has to get back to us on whether a Presidio resident is able to participate or not. The information I received from the mayor and company I could have better received in a brochure. But then I would have missed him getting to mention about one thousand times that we will be “the first city ever….” However, much more informative in this meeting were the attendees. Somehow I unfortunately ended up in a clump of the loudest and most obnoxious ones. I was right next to the ones who kept interrupting and yelling about who knows what. They kept changing their issues. When the cameras got closer they got louder. Okay, I understand they did not want an infomercial, neither do I. Whoever said there is no such thing as a stupid question is wrong. Because when the guy next to me in his North Face jacket and brand name tennis shoes yelled out let’s talk about the unequal distribution of wealth, what are you going to do about that? I had to roll my eyes. I mean, sorry, who thinks that your elected governmental official is going to solve the nature of the beast? Get the fuck over it, buddy. So sorry to say this but enemy number one of townhall meetings: loud obnoxious “progressives” whatevers. I mean I can imagine if it had been opened up to the floor. It would not have become any sort of community dialogue by which I mean all sides having an equal chance to take the floor and have an uninterrupted chance to speak their mind but it would have been a parade of a small faction that spoke for a small minority. My favorite dissenters: the chickens. I never heard them cluck. They drew quite a lot of attention to themselves but did it quietly and cleverly. And they held up well-printed signs with quite a few different options for Mr. Mayor to enter into a dialogue with the citizens of the city.

KWillets

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:26:37 -0800

What about bird flu?

Adam

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:12:03 -0800

Where has it been reported that the chickens yelled at or disrupted Mayor Newsom's lecture? My understanding is that the chickens pride themselves on being well behaved.

bah

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:12:37 -0800

Sure he should take questions, but these assholes dressing up as chickens and trying to shout him down just look stupid. What is it about being a "progressive activist" that means you have to be a jerk?

Michael

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:57:03 -0800

Sigh. none of this would be happening if it weren't coming up on election season. Having a "town hall" meeting where no questions from the population are being taken and responded to is really duplicitous. But then again, loudmouthed & obnoxious "progressives" shouldn't be shouting and yelling at elected leaders. Is that any way to get voters sympathetic to your cause? I like the chicken suit approach better.

jonesy

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:30:12 -0800

Sadly there were reports of how ill kept and unsanitary conditions are at one of the few parks that offer comfort to the people who live in Chinatown. Lets ask Gavin how he can justify having departments hire their own press secretaries instead of having the Directors of those same departments handle media inquiries. These incredibly wasteful positions (all these individuals are civil servants and pull down close to 100k with benefits added in)should rightfully be eliminated and the savings spent on the taxpayers in upkeep, like at the parks. Why do the City Attorneys Office, Department of Public Works and now the Department of Building Inspection have these wasteful positions? Why do the heads of these Departments who each make close to 200k need this benefit, to hide from and shield themselves from the people they are hired to serve? Where's the best practices here?

?

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 21:03:21 -0800

This mayor is just used to always getting his way. He won't answer any questions he does not like on city issues, his affair, hush money, etc. He even lets his stupid girlfriend insult people in the press and we are all supposed to just put up with it and let it blow over?? He just gets away with it all, hiding behind his slick speeches like a southern preacher. How is his approval rating 70 percent?

eric lawson

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:48:41 -0800

Thanks for using some of my photos! This meeting was way more than intense than I expected. I took pictures of it for an assignment in my photojournalism class. You can see the rest of my photos here.

Jerry Jarvis

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:59:58 -0800

The meeting was packed wiyh city employees loyal to Newsom.Just look at the picture and I am sure you would recognize this fact.