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Oh, Hank. When you deliver, you do it in spades.
Earlier this week, when Newsom held a press conference in Noe Valley to push the actually impressive Shop SF, an incentive plan begging city residents to shop in SF only, CBS 5 reporter Hank Plante asked Newsom why his most visible purchase all year -- his Chevy Tahoe Hybrid SUV -- was bought at a car dealership in Colma.
Newsom gave Plante this Sarah Palin-like retort, "I have no idea. I just candidly -- thanks for the gotcha question -- I don't have a clue."
While this purchase may seem trivial, Ellis-Brooks Chevrolet on Van Ness Avenue is now shutting down its new car business after 69 years due to the failing local economy. "I think it's wrong for any of our city officials to buy anything outside the city," Marie Brooks of Ellis Brooks Autos tells CBS 5.
And the best of this PR mess? Newsom wouldn't get back into his SUV while the CBS 5 camera was rolling. Instead, he just walked around Noe Valley, aimlessly. Aw.
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I have the distinct pleasure of sitting near Hank at CBS 5, and I got to hear him make the call to Gavin on this story.
Let's just say this seat is choice.
brittney: lucky!
I bought my car in Concord, and they had to order it from Dublin because the Concord dealership didn't have the one I wanted. That said, the SF Nissan dealership... um... doesn't exist.
Not only should San Francisco officials to buy anything outside the city if it's available for purchase here, I don't get why Gavin Newsom, the supposed "green mayor" with all his fancy, sci fi, tidal power, photovoltaic cells all over the Civic Center near the vegetable farm ideas is doing buying, not just a car, but a suburban assault vehicle. He should be force to endure Muni like the rest of us. They all should!
Oh, but it's a HYBRID suburban assault vehicle. Totally green, doncha know?
Gavin Newsom's stupidity and cluelessness never ceases to amaze me.
I would have bought my Honda at SF Honda but it was over a grand cheaper at Stevens Creek.
Fiscal responsibility!
SO good. I love it.
Cut the guy a break. Not only is Ellis-Brooks notoriously expensive, it is going out of business. And besides, the sales tax revenue goes to San Francisco anyway!
Gavin's "hybrid" SUV gets a pathetic 20 miles to the gallon. So it's just as gas guzzling as other guzzlers. If he wanted to go all green he'd endure the pain of MUNI like the rest of us, or at least buy a car that gets real gas mileage not this piddly silliness.
Then that way when they drive it to Montana or something, it'll not cost as much....
He didn't want to be seen in the car, so he "walked around Noe Valley aimlessly"? You know, Gavin, we DO have a bus system.
This story reminds me to go punch the woman who told me she voted for Newsom "because he's so cute."
Yeah, we have a bus system, but if he doesn't want to be seen in his own car, don't you think he wouldn't be caught dead on a bus?
@ jacksevanroo: how does sales tax revenue from a car bought in Colma go to San Francisco County when Colma is in fact San Mateo County?
Wasn't there some occasion 5 or 10 years ago when city officials took Muni some day to acquire understanding about what people go through? I think Willie was involved, so it may have been while he was DA MAYOR.
I think you pay state sales tax (not necessarily county) when you buy a car, but I could be wrong.
Newsom is the Democrat version of Sarah Palin. Dumb as a post, married to a right wing republican, avoids the press at all costs, surrounds self with cronies and yes men. Sees every question from the press that has not been pre-screened by Ballard as "gotcha" question. Earth to Newsom: The press is not simply a tool for your p.r. people, their job is to call you on inconsistencies and your gross incompetence!
sfsoma, can I steal that description of him as Palin? So true!
bluecanary, punch your friend for me too.
All your sales tax goes to the state unless you're buying in a county that has its own sales tax on top of what the state charges. I think most counties do. An auto mall like Colma's can be a big revenue generator for them. None of the revenue there would go to the city of San Francisco.
I would personally buy Newsom a Muni pass every month if he would agree to sell his car(s) and only ride Bart/Muni from now on.
I don't get it.
Are we supposed to hate Newsom because he's rich enough to have someone arrange vehicle purchases?
Or because he didn't instruct that someone make those purchases are locally?
Re: sales tax on cars ~~~ some years ago it became obvious that many residents of SF were going outside the city limits to buy cars (and other large ticket items) so that they would be charged less sales tax (because SF is the highest) so the state changed the rules so that tax is charged based on the residence of the buyer, and the sales tax goes to that county. Yes, I worked in the business, and also I bought a new car recently (not while I worked in the business).
impeach him!
Did he wink and say "I'll look into and get right backtaya?"
What a useless waste of oxygen and expensive hair products.
Again, why is this guy still the mayor of SF???
Oh yeah, he's pretty...because that is clearly a qualification.
Maybe he can get with Sarah Palin's younger daughter and bring into the world more useless retarded babies.
/ rant over
RobInSF: Let's not go overboard. Palin's retarded baby has a use.