You know how Mayor Gavin Newsom is supposed to make a special guest appearance at the Board of Supervisors meeting? At least once a month? To listen to their complaints, demonstrate that he's taking an active interest in neighborhood politics, powder the Supes' tender bottoms, and such? Well, it looks like he might not have to anymore, even though you, the voter, said you wanted him there. Over at Sweet Melissa, we came across the following news:
Newsom's Attendance No Longer Required at Board of Supervisor Meetings?
Day Around the Bay
Someday, we'll all sit around and be able to tell each other just where we were when Anna Nicole Smith died.
-Board of Supes Rules Committee votes for grace period for paid sick leave.
Question Time Will Not Be Denied
You can run, Gavin, but you can't hide -- the Board of Supervisors sees your "community forum" play, Mayor Newsom, and raises in response!
California Catches Impeachment Fever
It looks like San Francisco's case of Impeachment Fever is catching on a state-wide level, a bill has been introduced calling for the House of Representatives to start with impeachment proceedings. Two key things about this one-- first off, it also calls for Cheney to be impeached too (which, by our reckoning would give us President Hastert. Unless it happens next year in which case it could mean President Pelosi!). The second thing is that somebody in Illinois did their research and discovered a little known clause in the House rules that says that state legislatures can call for impeachment proceedings. We're sure the House will get right to it.
It's a Municipal Horn of Plenty
When the Mayor's Office of Communications announced that the city was going to start offering podcasts of meetings, we were all, "AWESOME!" and then we were all, "wait ... where are they?" It takes some probing of the SF Gov TV website to find them, but fear not, citizens, the podcasts are there. Yay!
Police Commissioner Peter Keane Quits
Last night's Police Commission meeting [RealPlayer] started off with rollicking public comment from officers and the public. Officers were particularly upset over the termination of officer Anthony Nelson. Nelson was terminated after breaking the arm of an anti-war protestor and then filing a report with erroneous information about the circumstances. One of the two commissioners who voted against his termination was Peter Keane, who is also the dean of the law school at Golden Gate University (hence his nickname, "The Professor").
Who Reads Yesterday's Papers?
In case you've spent the past week doing nothing but contemplating whether John Roberts is either banaly evil or malevolently evil, here's what you might have missed from last week:
-The Rules Committee voted to let Robin Williams spend $80,000 to repair a median in his neighborhood and a city sighs with relief. Aftewards, Sandoval claimed that the shunting of the gift to a committee was just to make sure everything was on the up-and-up and not just turning down free money out of spite. In response, residents of Sea Cliff pledged to stop marching in the streets in protest.
Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth
About a month ago, everyone's favorite San Francisco homeboy, Robin Williams, thought he'd do something civic minded and gave the Department of Public Works a gift of $80,000. The money was supposed to go to repairing a retaining wall and median strip on Seacliff Avenue near his crib. Win-win for everyone involved, including San Francisco, right?
Sophie Maxwell Pisses Off The Blogosphere
Well, when we suggested that Sophie start a blog to help counter some of the diatribes by critics in her constituency, we were only partly joking. Sure, we were jealous that our friends in District Six have a blogging supe, and we don't. But really, we tend to like Supervisor Maxwell, being the child of activists ourselves. But her public perception is about to take a hit again, this time on an international level, and as usual, she doesn't entirely deserve it.
Meet the New Ethics Boss. Same as the Old Ethics Boss?
Although the confirmation has been delayed, it looks like San Francisco is all set to get a new head of the Ethics Commission. By a 2-1 vote, the Rules Committee of the Board of Supes voted for Eileen Hansen to replace current head Michael Garcia. Voting for her were Sophie Maxwell and Mini-Matt Gonzalez, Ross Mirkarimi, and voting no was Michaela Alioto-Pier. The vote before the full board was postponed for a week to await the return of a traveling Bevan Dufty. While Hansen's confirmation is considered to be a done deal, Michael Garcia is still fighting for his job despite mounting criticism of the Ethics Committee for not being watchdog-y enough.

