Something Wonky: Gavin's Money

Excuse us if we turn away from the latest scandals for a moment, but did you ever wonder where all of Gavin's campaign contributions come from? Well, we all know that of his money to retire the '03 campaign debt, 50% came from Southern California and almost 25% came from out of state. But how about the chunk that actually comes from the City?


How's that for a broad base of support? For you numbers people, here's the data:



$ per person is the average donation per resident of the zip code. The data is from both Gavin's 2003 and 2007 campaigns as of 12/31/2006.

Who the hell are the 374 people in the 94104, and how can we get us a piece of that action? At the other end of the spectrum, if you add up all the white areas, you find 347,235 San Franciscans who don't give $2.50 about Gavin Newsom--that's 44.7% of the City. Add in the beige, and it covers 541,656 San Franciscans, or 69.7%.

Unfortunately, we couldn't get any more granular on the data than the five-digit zip codes. If anyone wants to double-check our math, please have at it. We did our best, but we might have lost track of a few of Gavin's 22,370 contributions. We apologize for having to plop the data in as an image, but blogspot and tables are not friends, and our HTML gurus are out to lunch.

And if you're wondering if he's broadened his support since he became Mayor, here's how things look for his re-election campaign.

Who's City?

Gavin's Saga Continues

News from the Chronicle and the L.A. Times:

Matier & Ross tell a story of how Gavin Newsom came to admit he had a drinking problem: A meeting with John Burton, then an admission to friends and family, and then he dropped the bomb at a staff meeting. The dynamic duo also wax poetic with a description of a lonely, depressed Mayor's circuit of watering holes on the North side of town.

It's really kind of heart breaking. We're glad that Gavin has taken step #1. We just hope he doesn't let political calculations prevent him from fully coming to grips with whatever issues he has to deal with. Really, we don't hate Gavin. We just don't think he's a very good Mayor, and he'd probably be a lot happier as a dashing, philanthropic businessman.

And on a lighter note, those zany Bayview cops are dealing with Gavin's struggles with stoic maturity. See for yourself below. Actually the first 1:30 is a devastating comparison between Gavin's rush-to-judgement of the SFPD videos and his let's-not-rush-into-anything on GleeGate. After that, it's pretty much just a bunch of gloating.

Meanwhile, down south, the chickens made the L.A. Times! The Times also give a thoughtful overview of this whole mess, furthering cementing the tragic arc onto Gavin's story. (Why can't we have a paper like that?) Check out this quote from Bevan Dufty: "He has been profoundly unhappy in personal life and in aspects of his job, and that has shown," Dufty said. "He has taken umbrage at every turn. He's been disdainful of me and my colleagues. It's hard, especially since I viewed myself as an ally."

Somebody give Gav a big hug. And then take him on a long, relaxing vacation. Seriously. We don't know how much more of this we can take.

Gavin's Drinking Problem and Hush Money Problem

Update 4pm: SFist and the ChronBlog have virtually every link imaginable, including links to Le Blog de San Francisco whose design we're totally biting. Sorry about that. For a laugh, check out SFist's report on Gavin on facebook. We live in strange times.

Drinking Problem: Gavin Newsom announces he has a drinking problem and will seek counseling. Ken Garcia is at his crotchety best as he throws Gavin under the bus. SFist thinks this is another PR damage control smokescreen, but Rita still likes Gavin's blue tie. The SFGate chattering class is chattering and the SFGate 2 cents reminds us of the the onion. Fog City Journal reports that Diane Feinstein will ask Gavin to resign. (Update: Feinstein won't.) The Craigslist local politics forum is rocking.

Due to popular demand, we're reposting the video of Gavin's reaction to being asked about his drinking on January 11th:

KCBS has mp3s from Barbara Taylor and Phil Matier. Here's some excerpts from Barabara Taylor's comments:

• "Everyone knows that the Mayor likes to have a lot of wine in the evening."
• "We've all seen him on numerous occasions especially late in the evening in what appears to be an intoxicated state."
• "The assumption is that he got involved with (Ruby Rippey-Tourk) one night when he was drinking." Ouch.

Previously, Team Newsom tried to sweep his drinking under the rug:

• February 1st: KRON reports that Newsom press secretary, Peter Ragone avoided "more than half a dozen questions" before "finally insisted the Mayor doesn't have a problem with alcohol or any other substance."
• January 11th: Dan Noyes asks Gavin about his drinking. Gavin storms off and says ABC-7 should send a different reporter to interview him.

Hush Money Problem: Meanwhile, Dan Noyes reports that the City Attorney is investigating if Gavin is violating campaign finance laws by paying off Alex Tourk with campaign funds. The City Attorney needs more details on the arrangement before it can decide.

Watch the ABC-7 news to see Noyes get this classic quote out of Gavin: "I think I've said everything I was going to say and I think you heard I said everything I was going to say, so I respect your desire not to respect my opinions and respect my right to say everything I just said."

What Does It All Mean?

It's day three of this saga, and already we're sick of it. This whole business is sad and sordid and ugly and depressing, and we're pissed off at Gavin for putting us all through it. We've lost our appetite for scouring the Internet for links to all the angles on this mess. All you folks who got here by googling "Ruby Rippey-Tourk" can look elsewhere for pictures or juicy gossip. We'll leave that to the mainstream media.

Yes, we know that sex between two consenting adults is no crime. And no, we're not prudes or sensationalist media whores. But the real story is about trust and integrity. How can we trust our Mayor when he rewards his good friend and most loyal staffer by sleeping with his wife, and then hiding it from the poor bastard for a year and a half--even though half of the political insiders in town knew all about it? What other ugly secrets is he hiding?

How can we trust a Mayor who does that to a friend? How can we trust a Mayor who refuses to answer any questions about the affair? Or any questions from the Board of Supervisors? Or any questions from the public unless he can pre-screen them? How can we trust anything this administration says when their Press Secretary blatantly lies on camera and then refuses to apologize?

We all love this City, and it deserves better. Gavin says that he's "committed to restoring (our) trust and confidence"? Prove it. Are you committed enough to come out of your bunker and face tough, unscripted questions? Are you committed enough to meet with the Board of Supervisors, like the voters asked you to? Are you committed enough to face questions from people who disagree with you?

It would be one thing if he had a strong record in office. But from public safety to police reform to MUNI, the Mayor's record is full of empty promises, leaving him nothing to fall back on except his now-tarnished image and reputation.

Update 2/3: SFist covers the aftermath on the "day after the day after," from national coverage to analysis of how this will affect the rest of Gavin's term to what it means for Gavin's credibility.

What's next?

Update 5:15pm: Fog City Journal reports that the City Attorney refered questions to a private attorney who said "if both parties are willing, there's nothing illegal about sleeping with a subordinate." SFMike paints a vivid picture in words and photos of the vibe in City Hall today.

Over at BeyondChron, Randy Shaw reports that "neither city department heads nor the mayor can have a sexual relationship with a subordinate under city ethics laws, as well as under state sexual harassment law. That’s what will likely lead City Attorney Dennis Herrera to file charges against Newsom by the end of the week."

Fog City Journal reports that "Sources reveal a sexual harrassment lawsuit is being considered by Ruby Tourk against the Mayor's Office and/or the City of San Francisco."

Ken Garcia contributes this tidbit: "Ruby Tourk took a leave of absence for nearly three months last year before returning briefly and then going off to work for Benefit magazine." If Ruby Rippey-Tourk is considering a retaliation lawsuit, we've been told that the statute of limitations is six months from when she left the job. Reportedly she left for the leave of absence around mid-May. That suggests that she left for good around August or September. That would place the deadline for filing a retaliation suit around February or March. If anyone has any clarification about any of that, please post in the comments. Stay tuned . . . .

What Can We Say?

TourkGate Blog Roundup 1:30pm: SF Republican intimates some bad things about Ruby. From the right, we hear from Houston Republican, RightWingCafe. From the gossip world, Popsugar.com and Starked SF. Then there's Viewpoint Journal and The Binary Circumstance. The Wall freaks out about finding another "Moderate" candidate. Watching the Wall freak out is such a guilty pleasure. Elsewhere, BoiFromTroy is sad to announce that Gavin is a breeder. Someone called Japadamus. Seth Gitell on Newsom vs. Boston Mayor Menino. Whew, this is exhausting. We might have to give it a rest for awhile. Okay, two more: the Mayor & the Hair offers to go out with Gavin and take him to Legally Blonde: the Musical. And Beth Spotswood takes the news hard but show serious resolve and gumption.

TourkGate Update 12:30pm: Press conference coverage is everywhere: SFist live blogs it, the SFGate news blog has comprehensive coverage. Also SFGate, ABC-7, and KCBS has a podcast, DailyKos has several posts. Steve Jones is somber. KRON piles on about the "underage girlfriend" and the "Scientologist," as well asthe olympics, 49ers, but ignores SFistGate and Question Time. KTVU blatantly appropriates "Gavin Newsom Watch." Hey KTVU, we called dibs. We're putting you on notice.

TourkGate Update 11:00am: Gavin is having a press conference at 11:30. The article includes quotes from Ed Jew and Ross Mirkarimi.

TourkGate Update: Wow. Gavin Newsom had an affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk (pronounced Turk), wife of his campaign manager, Alex Tourk, who resigned today. We're looking around and seeing that the whole world is watching Gavin, so for now, we're going to sit back and watch with them.

The Chronicle broke the story. Fog City Journal reports that Ruby Rippey-Tourk is considering a sexual-harassment lawsuit. CBS-5 has video coverage, including interviews with Phil Matier, Chris Daly, and Willie Brown. The Wall and the Junto have their say. So do SFist, the SFGate blog and NWZCHIK, with comments galore. The DailyKos community weighs in, and with the exception of a few comments, shows themselves to be predictably tone-deaf about San Francisco politics. The AP has picked this up, so check Google news to watch the story spread across the nation.

Daniela Kirshenbaum alludes to other even more sordid rumors that are out there and pleads with all the parties involved to come clean. We'll echo her sentiment. Please, can we avoid the bunker mentalities and the lawyering-up and the spin doctoring and deal with this mess in as frank and mature a manner as possible?

And to any Fox News readers who happen to stumble onto this corner of cyberspace, we ask you to not believe the hype. This has nothing to do with "San Francisco Values" or gay marriage. This is plain, old-fashioned human weakness. Original Post: Fog City Journal and the SFGate NWZCHIK are reporting that Newsom campaign manager, Alex Tourk is resigning for "personal reasons." First Steve Kawa, now Tourk. Whew, watching Gavin is turning into a full-time job. The brain trust seems to be down to Mike Farrah, Eric Jaye, and some guy name Byorn. Who's next?

Great Lies in U.S. History

Peter "Byorn" Ragone posted comments on local blogs using assumed names. He knows it, SFist knows, Dan Noyes knows it, we all know it. But he's making the controversy worse by refusing to admit it. Byorn, haven't you learned rule #1 of political damage control? The cover-up is always worse than the crime. Fess up, Peter.

UPDATE: KCBS reports that Byorn fessed up. Gavin is disappointed that he's being asked about "someone blogging" when he's trying to talk about "global climate change and the realities of waste water." Sounds like someone can't walk and chew gum at the same time.