April 30, 2007
Passive Gavin
We all know how effective suggestion boxes are, right? Gavin's tacked one up in city call in digital form on his "blog," or "web log." He's asking citizens to submit lists of "peeves," so he knows what he ought to be taking credit for fixing -- including stuff in which he didn't actually have any involvement.
In a newsletter, Gavin's blog editor writes, "One of the original Peeves on ActLocallySF.org was about the inability to buy a MUNI Fast Pass online. Guess what? That's something that has been fixed." That's nice, but what's with the passive voice? Well, it's probably because online passes were in the works loooong before Gavin's website ever went up. And how about this: "We also heard that you wanted NextBus technology extended to other MUNI lines during one of our first Pet Peeves on the Street segments. This too has happened, check it out online now. That's also nice, but the MTA's been promising they'd get that online since February -- and they've been working on the NextMuni rollout for years. So, if you think there's any causality between your peeving at Gavin and Muni's improvements, think again.
So far, Gavin's site has received 1,500 submissions (including our plea to stop taking credit for other city employees' hard work). So that's 2 peeves down already, and the mayor didn't even have to lift a finger; now there's just 1,498 to go.
|
I think it is a great idea. Where else would suggestions come from but Joe Public. Kudos to Gavin, (and his hardworking employees)....
it stands to reason that if the gav gets the blame for stuff that goes wrong in the city whether or not his hands physically touched that item, he should also get credit for stuff that goes right even if it is tasks largely or entirely executed by other people. (do you really expect the mayor of any major city to get down to writing up the code for a muni fast pass website and setting up the distribution system for sending out purchased fast passes?)
this sounds more like trying to find anything possible to fill a quota of one daily go-after-newsom item.
Let me get this straight: you're blaming Gavin for using the passive voice and not taking credit for the things that have been done, and you're simultaneously blaming him for taking credit for everything.
Wow.
Okay, Passive or Agressive Gavin is running against his own shadow.
I actually reccomend sending an email to Brian the webpage guru over at Newsom re-election HQ because of the following
1) Gavin in one townhall meeting says 311 has been "his baby" for 9 years yet in another townhall meeting Gavin states 311 has been in the works for 7 years. Yet the only policy paper from Gavin's office is dated 2005 that's two years ago.
2) Gavin keeps getting confused on when he was appointed to the Parking Commission it was 1997 then he was appointed to the BOS in 1998 That is 10 years ago not the 12 he keeps harping about.
3) Over and Over Gavin has said throughout his years as Supervisor and as Mayor Muni is getting his full attention. Now if I got a dime for that one I'd be a millionaire too.
I know Gavin has dyslexia I just think his mathmatics is a little fuzzy too.
Mary, please read the post more carefully.
I did. Just because you get called on inconsistency does not mean your readers don't understand.
Grinding an axe isn't the same as making a valid point, and you are definitely not making a valid point!
I'm all for calling bullshit, but I just can't find the part of the post where I criticize him for not taking his due credit.
You're right that it would be hypocritical if I had done so, though; so I do agree with the way you've assessed your interpretation of the post.
I wonder how many of the people posting above are Peter Ragone?
Gavin is notorious around city hall for absconding supes ideas, and then scheduling an earlier press conference and claiming the idea was his own. Go work at city hall for a spell. you'll get a clearer view on how dysfunctional the newsom regime is.
So much so that he won't even follow the public mandate and meet with the supes once ion a while. I'm voting for the guys in the chicken suits.
Meanwhile, go to Gavin's website actlocallysf.org and post something negative about him and see how fast it disappears! This censorship can only be the work of Peter Ragone, one of the greatest minds in politics alive today.