S.F. mayor apologizes for affair

[FVZA_Colonel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_re_us/sf_mayor_campaign_manager



S.F. mayor apologizes for affair
By LISA LEFF

SAN FRANCISCO - Mayor Gavin Newsom apologized Thursday for having a sexual relationship with his former campaign manager's wife.

"I'm deeply sorry," Newsom said during a brief news conference at City Hall the day after the aide resigned. Newsom appeared poised but visibly emotional. He spoke for about a minute and left without taking questions.

Alex Tourk, 39, resigned Wednesday after confronting his boss about his relationship with his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, 34, who once worked as the mayor's appointment secretary.

Newsom acknowledged that he had the affair first reported Wednesday night on the San Francisco Chronicle's Web site and apologized for what he called "a lapse of judgment."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. So, does that mean if Bill Clinton from the getgo said "I'm sorry", then

we never would have had these past 6+ years of hell on earth? It was that easy?

[Ignacio Upton]

Well

While Clinton boinked a young chubby intern who was totally into giving him a blow job, Newsom screwed his campaign manager's (and close friend's) wife. While Hillary was hurt by what Bill was doing, at least Monica wasn't going through any of the problems that Newsom's friend's wife had.

[booley]

3. yeah probably

While the Cons were willing and eager to engage in a withc hunt, Clinton too often gave them ammunition.

IF he had just admitted the obviouse, the air would have gone out of that con baloon just like so many of the other "investigations"

[lancdem]

4. No

Clinton was under assault from an "independent" counsel intent on removing him from office by any means necessary. Newsom, I gather, is not.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. They still would have gone after him...

but if admitted the affair, sincerely apologized, and clearly stated that it was between he and his wife (hell, throw in God if it would have helped), we may have never lived through the blue dress debacle.

[darkstar7646]

67. Maybe. Which see Gennifer Flowers.

People knew this guy couldn't keep it in his pants from the February or so before he was elected the first time.

[Parche]

2. apologize

Why does he even need to apologize?

There is nothing wrong with having an 'affair'

[lancdem]

6. ??

Innocent people get hurt.

[Parche]

17. marriage

Marriage is so overrated


There is nothing that says you cant go out and have some fun.................

[RiverStone]

26. Fun is great - but cheating on a wife or partner or girlfriend....

Is not about fun, but about not having enough guts or integrity to be honest with someone you theoretically made a commitment too.

If someone feels marriage is over-rated - they should not get married.

[Parche]

28. cheating

I dont see anything wrong with 'cheating' as everyone puts it if you
happen to be married...........

[damntexdem]

41. Or get unmarried, or unattached.

Divorce is easy enough.

[rinsd]

8. Fucking your friend's wife who also works for you has nothing wrong with it?

I'm sorry the guy is a douche on several levels.

I like his policies but I no longer like the man.

[jarab]

9. You jest, surely!? eom

...O...

[AngryAmish]

18. Fucking an underlings (and friend's) spouse is a douchbag move.

His personal ethics leave something to be desired.

[IronLionZion]

20. He betrayed his friend

And that probably hurts like a bitch. He doesn't have to apologize to anyone except the people involved.

[LanternWaste]

27. Nothing wrong with an affair?

Nothing wrong with an affair? Maybe you can explain your position on that with a little more depth, 'cause I'd really like to hear this justification...

From where I sit, it goes tdirectly to the core of trust, honesty and integrity between a married couple. And if that premise is correct, then you appear to be saying that there's nothing wrong with breaking a trust, lying and infidelity. Is that correct? If not, how so? If correct, how do you justify it?

[Parche]

29. affair

Well Aslan told me.....................or was it the 'White Witch'??


Ok it was Mr Tumnus....


To me marriage is nothing more then a piece of paper, not a law.
nothing wrong with going out, having an 'affair' like some people call it
you can either tell who you happen to be married to, or keep it to yourself.

[LanternWaste]

30. Pretty funny stuff

Pretty funny stuff about Aslan, et. al. Snicker-Snicker-Chuckle-Chuckle

You didn't address the point re: trust, honesty, etc. You believe these are not part and parcel of marriage?

[Parche]

34. marriage

Ok I dont want to be a 'marshwiggle' about the subject

Honesty and trust are in every part of life, but marriage is too overrated
and it isnt a matter of trust when you have an 'affair'.

Prince Caspian has had affairs his entire life


And for your honeymoon, can I interest you in a voyage on the Dawn Treader????

[cosmicone]

43. What's the big deal?

Gavin Newsom was single at the time ... if (and a big IF) there is someone to blame it is the woman who was married at the time. Obviously her husband wasn't giving her what she wanted. She chose to have her cake and eat it too.

[fujiyama]

92. True, the woman shares the responsibility as well

but considering it was his friend he screwed over, that's pretty low...

But then again, this isn't really any of my business. It's amusing gossip at best, but unless this affected his job performance I really wouldn't care.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

46. while i think there are ethical issues about affairs its his private business

and i wish we stopped interfering in the sex lives of our politicians.

[Xithras]

53. I will NEVER vote for him if he tries for higher office.

I don't care if people have affairs. I don't care if people have affairs with married people.

But when you #$(@ the wife of your #1 top aid and your BEST FRIEND, it displays a certain, completely evil, lack of ethics and personal responsibility that disqualifies him for any position higher than dog catcher. I think you'll find that there's a very serious difference between the views of men and women on this subject. This was a man-code violation of the highest order, and nothing short of a bloody beating is in order.

I'm only half-kidding.

[pokercat999]

75. I asked my wife about that............she disagrees.

[JVS]

77. Fucking your subordinate's wife is wrong

[kestrel91316]

5. Oh dear..............to be a fly on the wall when this went down.......

"........Alex Tourk, 39, resigned Wednesday after confronting his boss about his relationship with his wife.........."

[lancdem]

7. lol

[Mz Pip]

11. How things change

I remember when Newsom got married to Kimberly Guilfoyle a few years ago. It was covered like it was some royal wedding. Very high profile, so much in love blah blah blah. Wasn't long after that she moved to NYC and they were going to have a bi-coastal relationship. :eyes:

He was touted as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

What a difference a couple of years makes.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Justitia]

13. Yup, she went to work for Fox News Corp & dumped him not long after, IIRC

Only two months after the divorce, she married an old-money trust fund baby. She now has a baby w/the new hubby.

Maybe going thru that affected Newsome's better judgment (reportedly this took place towards the end of their divorce proceedings).

[ahimsa]

12. Bummer for the Tourks...

According to the OP article the affair was about a year and half ago (in 2005), yet according to this web page (http://www.joefire.com/archive/mmm/2004/april/mmm04262004.htm), the Tourks had a baby in 2004. Pretty sad.

[Justitia]

14. Apparently she confessed this now, as she is in substance abuse treatment. -nt

[IronScorpio5]

31. uhhhhh.......what specific substance is she addicted to?

i'm afraid to hear the answer.

[Justitia]

32. dunno - I haven't heard anything referenced, except for that she's in some kinda rehab. -nt

[IronScorpio5]

33. You missed the joke....

she has an affair and then checks into a certain substance abuse program...

maybe shes addicted to.....forget about it.

[gauguin57]

50. She is obviously addicted to hair product.

Hizzoner uses waaaay too much pomade/gel/mousse/Brylcreme in his hair. Good-lookin' man, goopy hair.

This quote was in the story, from the man-on-the-street reaction to the affair:

Tom Abbott, 36, an executive recruiter, said that having an affair with a loyal aide's wife was "a total slimeball move.

"Any guy who puts that much mousse in his hair can't be trusted," Abbott said. "You don't screw over your own boys."

[Shine]

15. Well, at least he copped to it. Still, he showed a major character flaw.

bad form to screw with your friend's wife. I'm disappointed in him, to say the least. :thumbsdown:

[AlCzervik]

16. way to treat a friend.

not.

[EFerrari]

19. Why is this any of my business?

[pampango]

21. And if Bush did this?

[EFerrari]

22. Why would that be any of my business?

[pampango]

23. Fair enough.

[xchrom]

35. i just paid $600 at the pharma for a prescription.

and newsome's affair impacts me how?

i don't care!!!

[EFerrari]

38. Unless you bought another whole head, that's horrendous!

:(

[xchrom]

39. well -- imagine MY surprise.

that's a good down payment on the facelift i'd REALLY like to get.

i've become a woman of a certain age --

sigh sf -- i can't believe i paid that much -- i was like are you sure? -- shouldn't this be like heroin or something.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

24. My #1 Life Rule:

Never, ever, ever mess with a married woman. Wife of a friend, wife of an acquaintence, wife of a stranger. It is poison. Poison for your soul, poison for your reputation, poison for her reputation, poison for the hubby's reputation, poison for any children in the mix and entirely too much poison for the gossips of the community to wield.

Why give them the opportunity for all that fun?

I do not care how attractive, seductive or "compatible" a married woman is, I will be nice, I will be friends, I will even accept her confidences up to a certain point, but as long as she is married, she is sexless, as far as the mechanics of sex goes. Moreover, considering the dynamics of divorce, she remains as above for at least one year after any divorce takes place. Seperation is just like being married, only living in different houses.

I recommend this tack to any single or divorced heterosexual male. Especially politicians. It saves a lot of grief.

[Psephos]

76. Wise and ethical advice. n/t

[slackmaster]

25. OMG - Gavin Newsom isn't gay?

:argh:

[xchrom]

36. in MY mind he is.

nothing i've seen here changes that.

[slackmaster]

49. The damage is already done, his political career is toast

:nuke:

[xchrom]

51. nah -- politicians can survive affairs.

[slackmaster]

52. It's not the affair per se

I am convinced that a large majority of San Franciscans were under the impression that Newsom was homosexual, and that belief was part of the foundation of his political capitol. Now he's bisexual at best. It's going to hurt him. Maybe not enough to unseat him, but he will never look the same to people.

[xchrom]

56. i live here -- and i don' know ANYBODY who thought he was gay.

and that's some REALLY far out reasoning you got goin there.

[slackmaster]

57. Nobody in San Diego thought he wasn't gay

But since we don't vote for him here, it doesn't matter.

[superconnected]

37. I was expecting it to be gay... guess the repukes have left their mark

[damntexdem]

40. This is a terrible scandal:

he had an affair with a woman!

Not since a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence married a woman has there been such an outrage in SF! ;-)

[ButterflyBlood]

42. Too bad.

I wanted to see him run for Governor in 2010. This pretty much puts a fork in his chances.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

44. SF Mayor Should Resign.

Ya just do not act this way.

Sure illicit affairs happen. But leaders are held to a higher standard.
This was the wife of a trusted friend and aide.

This guy looks to me like a sexual predator...not someone who should be trusted to high office.

[Puglover]

45. I'll just bet

you were all over Bill Clinton to resign during the Lewinski thing. Yeah, Gavin Newsome looks like a sexual predator. :sarcasm:

Oh and a big fat welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

48. your week long stay if that.

[darkstar7646]

65. Actually, I think he should've...

If we had gotten Al Gore, chances are he might've saved it for the Dems in two years.

What we have now is a Hillary Clinton whom, in my opinion, has been bought and paid for by PNAC because of her megalomania.

But Clinton should've been tossed for the perjury, yes. (Not to mention that any CEO caught doing what he did probably would've had to resign in disgrace anyway.)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. a sexual predator? he had an affair with a woman his age and all of a sudden hes a predator?

bull fucking shit!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

54. I live in San Francisco...

so he's my Mayor, even though he has never been my personal candidate. He's not the first Mayor to have an affair, nor will he be he last.

The media is trying to make is sound as if it is a "scandal" that is "rocking the City". Frankly, no one I've talked to here gives a shit about his affair. :shrug: San Franciscans tend not to have a problem with consensual sex between adults, even extramartial. Newsom has never presented himself as a paragon of "moral values" not have I ever heard him bemoan the sexual transgressions of others, so he isn't being a hypocrite.

But, by your screenname, I'm guesing that you know what's coming next.

[xchrom]

59. oh lets face it -- this thread is full of some weird

replies.

apparently evreyone in san diego thought gavin was GAY -- and not being gay lessons his chances as a politician.

:eyes:

there are some tripped out people in the world.

[Xithras]

62. Actually, that's not what the media are saying.

In fact, nearly all of the media reports I've heard on this have declared that the scandal will NOT have any serious impacts on him in San Francisco. The city has a very unique brand of "anything goes" sexual liberalism which pretty much precludes any serious backlash.

What many San Franciscans often fail to realize is that their brand of sexual liberalism is in the extreme minority across most of the rest of the nation. Newsom has often been cited as a Democratic rising star in recent years, with most pundits predicting a career path which will carry him into state or federal offices.

While San Franciscans may not care about this, most Californians will. FWIW, it's been a topic of discussion here in the Central Valley, and NOT ONE PERSON, not even our most liberal local talking heads, have been willing to offer any kind of support for him. Hell, I'm a bisexual man married to a bisexual woman, my wife and I have BOTH slept with people outside of our marriage, and yet we were STILL appalled that he'd do something so low. Even from my sexually progressive viewpoint, he crossed a line that shouldn't even have been approached. The consensus is that his career, for the next decade at least, is DONE. Whether or not you agree with it, the moral outrage over his behavior crosses party lines and offends the vast majority of liberals and conservatives.

Politically, he's only going to be able to climb into higher office if he gives this time to blow over, and it will take many years for that to happen. That loss of momentum will cripple his political aspirations, and this subject is now guaranteed to be an issue in EVERY election he is involved in for at least the next 20 years. That's where the outrage comes from. He had so much potential, and it's aggravating as hell to realize that he squandered it over a blowjob and a few quickies.

[darkstar7646]

66. No one on the rank and file populace might, but consider:

There's an election scheduled in about nine months.

Don't you think that the tourism/hotel cartel which put Newsom in on a "boot the homeless" platform (and probably, as a result, have been reevaluating Newsom ANYWAY) would have to think that this guy is not fit for a second term, and may not have done much in the first in the first place?

He has no trust from his staff now. No one in right mind could.

[darkstar7646]

64. I agree that he should be forced to resign, and I live in San Francisco...

Seriously, the only thing this man has done in three years is be a media whore and get the city to stop paying GA to the homeless so they then rob and pillage and threaten their way through.

The streets aren't safe, the police have no power, and Gavin doesn't care.

Realistically, even Gavin's supporters on the right (and there is a big-money Right in San Francisco, fool yourselves not) should order him to quit the job now (Aaron Peskin, the President of the Board of Supervisors, would get the job until the election (if one occurs) next November).

He has no trust in his constituency, his staff, nor the Board. Time for Gavin to go.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

70. Then let it be for doing a poor job...not for having sex.

Why send the message that the only way incompetence can be battled is via sex scandals?

[darkstar7646]

72. It's for _who_ he had sex with...

This is much worse than Clinton -- Newsom betrayed the trust of his aide by f---ing his wife behind his back.

And since we pretty well know incompetence can't be battled in the ballot box...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

74. Not that it wasn't sleazy, but

unless this affair disrupted his perfomance as mayor; I can't see forcing him to resign.

Incompetence can be battled in the ballot box if the voting system is not corrupt. We really need to put an end to the monkey business that got Clinton impeached.

That said; yeah, the guy was stupid to have an affair with anybody when he holds public office.

[Psephos]

79. How can you think this doesn't affect his performance as mayor?

First, he slept with a subordinate. The woman was his appointments secretary. Second, he slept with his chief-of-staff/campaign chief's wife. Third, he slept with his close friend's wife. That they were all three the same woman makes the risks he took look even more heartless and reckless. The woman had substance problems during the affair. More bad judgment. He has exposed the city's coffers to a major lawsuit, should the woman choose to file one. So he was rolling dice on the craps table but using the city to cover his bets. The word on the street right now is that some very pricey attorneys have been dispatched to smooth things over with the woman, who already has a $exual harra$$ment suit ready to be filed. There may be an abortion involved too, which ain't going to play in Newsom's favor before a jury already disposed to see the woman exploited by her boss.

Meanwhile, his staff has been demoralized. In particular, his "homeless czar" has long been excoriated and loathed for loyally doing the mayor's unpopular work to move homeless off the street and into treatment. Do you think his job just got easier? When a politician disgraces himself and shows that his word means nothing, it increases the stress and reduces the effectiveness of those who work for him.

Newsom has just jettisoned chances for larger offices, too. Hell, I feel cheated. I thought he had something to offer, but the rules of big politics say you can't haul footlockers of baggage around.

This may not matter to you, but it matters to lots of people. What matters to lots of people is exactly what the business of politics is about.

If Newsom was a private citizen, this would not be in the papers. But he is a public servant in a position of leadership. No definition of "leader" includes doing what Newsom did to a compromised woman, did to his best friend, did to his staff, and did to his own future. He's shown that he is untrustworthy and deceitful to those closest to him. Others have rightly asked, if he does that to people he cares about, then what is he capable of doing to those he cares nothing about?

If a dog bites you after you first offer your hand, it's your own fault if he bites you a second time. Many will feel that way in the voting booth, too.

Peace.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

80. The fact that people are making such a big deal of it may affect his performance as mayor

but his affair did not.

Let the woman file sexual harassment charges if she feels she was harassed. But if the affair, for her part, was the result of poor judgement and substance abuse, she should just get some therapy, and let it go.

If voters choose to elect someone else next time, so be it. I would still hope their reasons for not re-electing him would not have anything to do with sex, unless he is proven to be guilty of sexual harassment.

I'll hold my judgement on that until after a trial.

[darkstar7646]

83. How is this not a matter of trust between Newsom and all of his staff and the like??

I'd be interested as to why you think this is just local to the people involved...

[darkstar7646]

82. Exactly. And that's why he needs to quit or be tossed.

Who's going to trust this man now??

Who's going to trust him to be able to govern in anything approximating the best interests of San Francisco??

This isn't just the sex, but who he had it with. Period.

[fujiyama]

93. If his staff was so worried about trusting him

they'd all resign or try to force him to resign. So far the only one to resign is the one directly affected by him.

[Psephos]

94. Right, cuz they don't want any more paychecks or perks or political future.

If there's one universal among political staff, it's that they bond to the alpha dog early on and nothing short of what was done directly to Tourk will pry them away.

I remember how Clinton's staff responded after he stiffed 'em and made them repeat his prevarications to the press. I've seen it in spades in Bushco. I've seen it in my own experience with the staff of ex-Michigan governor James Blanchard.

They are like battered wives who shut up and protect their man. It isn't a job, it's a cult of personality.

My H.O., nothing less, nothing more. :-)

Peace.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

68. As if their sex lives had anything to do with their leadership ability...

:eyes:

He should apologize the his friend and his friend's wife.

It's nobody else's business.

[darkstar7646]

69. I disagree...

You're mayor of a major city, and you're screwing around with the wife of an aide -- and, apparently, this was a year and a half ago, so he was in office.

So I do think this is relevant, since it's also a matter of trust from his aides. If I were an aide of his, I'd either make him quit or quit myself.

[Puglover]

81. "Make him quit." ????

If you were his aide you would'nt be in a position to tell him how to take his fucking coffee.

:eyes:

[darkstar7646]

84. Yes, make him quit.

I wouldn't trust that man to continue to be an aide of his and I'd be working with people in City Hall that wish the same (and don't think there weren't already a few people in San Francisco City Hall who would want that BEFORE all this broke down...).

If he were to fire me, fine. I'd quit anyway if that s**thead were to remain Mayor after all this.

[Puglover]

86. As I said to another poster.

I'll just bet you were all over Bill Clinton to be impeached as well. Your posts tell me all I need to know about you.

And like I said to him....a big fat welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[darkstar7646]

87. Yes, in fact I was...

I believe no man, including the President, is above the law.

Perjury is a high crime and misdemeanor. Period.

The fact that he was not impeached gave the PNAC idiots all the political capital and cover they needed to pull off all the garbage they've been able to get away with.

Clinton should've been tossed -- this would've prevented us from having to worry about Hillary as well.

[LeftyMom]

89. Somehow I doubt your veracity.

Since you live in San Francisco (I don't actually believe this for a minute) I want you to prove it:

1. Name five neighborhoods in the city that aren't safe. Don't mention the Tenderloin because everybody knows that.

2. Where do you buy your groceries? What other grocery chains would a local know?

3. What's the current cost to cross the Bay Bridge? Which direction are you traveling when you pay? Ditto for the Golden Gate.

4. What changed in BART stations after 9-11 and hasn't been changed back?

5. What are the most successful strategies you've seen for homeless people to get tourists to cough up cash?

6. What unique traffic rule in much of San Francisco drives non-natives nuts?

7. The following five letter word is the fastest way to identify yourself as being from somewhere else:

8. The large building next to the Civic Center belongs to whom? What offices are housed there?

9. Name three places to eat across the street.

10. On the same block, what is the time limit for metered parking and how much will it cost you to buy it?

Bonus question: There was a big flap a few years ago when Nob Hill was going to stop taking ____ _______. This was before they were bought by _______, based out of ______________.

Bonus question 2: What color is the upholstery on BART trains?

Bonus question 3: What color is the upholstery on MUNI buses? What makes them unusual?

[Puglover]

90. I'll bet

google is going to crash from the frantic searchs. :rofl:

[LeftyMom]

91. You've had over 45 minutes to answer questions anybody in the area would know. Nothing.

Good job. :thumbsup: We can all now safely conclude you don't live within two hours' drive of San Francisco. Smart money is that you've never been there, even a tourist could have answered about half.

[hogwyld]

55. Shame on you Gavin

The prime man laws are that you do NOT even look funny at your best friends wife, girlfriend etc. Hell, I won't even date my friends ex unless I get his blessing first. You just don't do that to your supposed "friends" Serious character flaw. And before I get flamed for my "RW" sexual views, I could care less if he had 1000 liasons, as long as they were both single, either male or female.

[northernsoul]

58. That ain't right - but how is Giuliani any different?

For every RWer who is morally outraged by Newsome's bad conduct, are they equally up in arms over Rudy Giuliani's very public adultery while he was mayor of NYC?

[Az_lefty]

60. I would have fucked that Mayor up before resigning...

low-life bastard.

[Savannah_H]

61. friendship

whatever happened to loyalty and friendship....
the power went to his, his......head :rant:

[CreekDog]

63. Newsom's apology (very unpolitician like)

Newsom said:
"I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true, and I am deeply sorry about that,'' Newsom said before a crowd of reporters. "I am deeply sorry, and I am accountable for what has occurred."

Everything you've heard and read (about me) is true. Makes me think Gavin will get through this after all. I don't think his career is over, he will probably get reelected and statewide office would probably not follow any SF mayorship anyway. Even Dianne couldn't pull that off.

What's strange to me is why folks think Gavin Newsom is gay. Nobody I know here in the Bay Area thinks that.

First, I don't know how they would actually know if he were gay.

Second, I wonder if they think he's gay simply because of his public stands on issues of importance to that community. Usually it's only people that are comfortable enough with their straightness that can stand up for gay rights without thinking or worrying that others will think they are gay for doing so.

Third, affair with his aide's wife is pretty bad but it is in the past and he did apologize for it without mincing words. In my whole life, I've never heard a politician say, "everything that you've read about me is true". It's disheartening, but that type of admission may mean there is hope for him yet.

[LeftCoast]

71. Gavin's my mayor and I just don't care about this

He's earned my vote if he chooses to run again. I'm pretty sure he would win if he does run. This might cause some problems if he wants to run for Gov., but then again that would be in 6 or more years and I doubt it'd matter much by then.

[darkstar7646]

73. How has he earned your vote, save maybe gay marriage?

That guy has accomplished NOTHING which doesn't satisfy his media-whore desires.

[Bark Bark Bark]

78. ...Really. (/sarcasm)

He's done more for SF than the astoundingly-corrupt former Mayor and that gaggle of shrieking attention-whores in the Board of Supervisors EVER did. (And by "for SF," I mean for everyone, not personal friends and fringe groups.)

And I could care less what he does with his dick. I'm sure the local media's own yip-yapping dogs (Matier & Ross, and Dan "Noise") who made schoolgirl gossip about the Mayor their top priority have joined hands with neocon crapsacks like Debra Saunders to click their tongues and wag their fingers in the mockest outrage. I'm just going to avoid picking up a Chronic for a couple of weeks until all these fools find something else to whine and sniff each other's farts about.

[darkstar7646]

85. Such as _WHAT_, please..

This man was put into office to expel the homeless from the streets of San Fran, and all he's really gotten in that regard is a retaliatory class war which makes it basically impossible to walk the streets in many tourist areas in SF (try walking the Castro or the Duboce Triangle in the evening for laughs) without being harassed or (at the least verbally) assaulted.

The streets of this city cannot be policed under the Constitution as it (even under the paper-thin pretense that would be left) would be enforced.

The police are on his butt, the Board has just about openly revolted on him before this.

I asked the other person in this thread for what he has done, save gay marriage, for this city. And I ask the same of you.

Remember: I live here. So I've seen a lot of this.

[CreekDog]

88. Retaliotory class war? No way, just common sense.

Part of the reason for dealing with the homeless situation in San Francisco was to deal with the public intoxication (alcohol and drugs), the abundance of the mentally ill on the streets, the public urination and the harassment by the homeless of people walking in San Francisco. And none of this freedom was doing the homeless any good anyway.

I work in downtown San Francisco and live just outside, but I walk the streets everyday. Cash not care was a refreshing change from what had been going on.

Before I walked past so many homeless people on the way to work, I had thought just give them money, they are poor and who am I to decide how they should spend what little they have.

Boy has that thinking changed. I can smell the alcohol on so many panhandlers, that I now contribute from every paycheck to St. Anthony's, the Shelter networks in my counties and food banks. I do not give money to people on the street --the chance of it doing them any good is fairly low, unless they are non-homeless commuter panhandlers (they are out there) in which case it is their living but not an honest one.