So, you know that booze tax that the Board of Supes approved last week but which Gavin says he'll be vetoing? Well, proponents of the tax, which would put a $1 levy on every gallon of wine sold, 35 cents on every gallon of beer, and $3.20 on every gallon of hard alcohol all of which revenue would go toward offsetting the city's expenses related to alcohol abuse are gathering today outside PlumpJack Wines in Noe Valley (4011 24th Street) in order to encourage the mayor not to veto the measure.
Rally organizations like American Indian Movement - West, Asian-American Recovery Services, and the Bayview Hunters Point Foundation support the tax, and want to call attention to Gavin's supposed conflict of interest in this matter, given that "The Mayor has significant financial interests in the alcohol business... [including] 2 wineries, 8 bars and restaurants, and 2 wine shops." The only thing is, this is actually misleading, because Newsom sold all of his shares in the San Francisco-based branches of PlumpJack when he became mayor in 2004, maintaining his ownership in PlumpJack's Napa-based winery, the PlumpJack Squaw Valley resort, and other non-local holdings. He no longer receives income from the San Francisco wine shop.