Because apparently that is a cool thing to call your Mayor. The Pro Tem nickname comes from one Tania Modic, owner of an Investment Firm in Incline Village, Nevada (which is not part of Mayor Lee's constituency, by the way). From the Chronicle's recap of a business luncheon at the City Club:
"I've dubbed you -- just watching you; this is the first time I've met you -- 'The Velvet Hammer,' " Modic said to rousing laughter and applause. "When you look in the mirror, we hope you revisit what you're thinking" about not running.
It sounds like the Temporary Mayor played it cool amidst all that rousing laughter and applause though, he's still insisting it would take "a lot" to get him to run for Mayor. And maybe he's just being political about it, but he won't endorse anyone else either. In the meantime, the Chronicle seems to take that as an implicit endorsement of David Chiu's fresh campaign, because Chiu has been tagging along to just about every one of the Mayor's public appearances lately.
Can we get "The Velvet Hammer" printed on some bootleg DVD cases? It could be a cool viral element to Lee's non-campaign. Bonus points if you include a random Jackie Chan DVD from a defunct Blockbuster.
