Gavin Newsom

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Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 8, 2004
Preceded by Willie Lewis Brown, Jr.
Born October 10, 1967 (1967-10-10) (age 40)
San Francisco, California
Political party Democratic
Spouse Kimberly Guilfoyle (divorced)
Profession Restaurateur
Religion Roman Catholic[1][2]

Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is the current mayor of San Francisco, California. A Democrat, Newsom was elected mayor in 2003, succeeding Willie Brown and becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years.[3] In 2004, Newsom gained national attention when he issued a directive to the San Francisco city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[4] The unexpected move brought national attention to the issues of gay marriage and gay rights, solidifying political support for Newsom in San Francisco and in the gay community, and causing several other states to change their laws concerning marriage and gay rights.[5][6]

Before his political career, Newsom graduated from Santa Clara University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He started the PlumpJack Wine Shop in 1992 that grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise. He was first appointed by Willie Brown to serve on San Francisco's Parking and Traffic Commission in 1996, and was appointed the following year as Supervisor. Newsom drew voter attention with his Care Not Cash program, designed to move homeless people into city assisted care. He defeated Matt Gonzales by 6% in his race for mayor in 2003. Newsom was reelected in the November 7 2007 mayoral election with 72 percent of the vote.[6][7]

As Mayor, Newsom has focused on development projects in Hunters Point and Treasure Island. He signed the Health Choices Plan in 2007 to provide San Francisco residents with universal healthcare. Under Newsom, San Francisco joined the Kyoto Protocol. In his personal life, he divorced Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2005 and had an affair with his secretary Ruby Rippey-Tourk - the wife of one of his campaign aides[8] - in 2006. He became engaged to Jennifer Siebel in December 2007.

Newsom is viewed in many political circles as a potential candidate for Governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election.[9][10] In late 2007 and early 2008, Newsom met with Democratic strategists and supporters to discuss a run for governor.[11] He endorsed Hillary Clinton for President in 2007, serving as one of her campaign's co-chairs and campaigning on her behalf in Iowa.[12][13]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Newsom is a fourth-generation San Franciscan; his paternal great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland in 1865. One of his maternal great-grandfathers, Scotsman Thomas Addis, was a pioneer scientist in the field of nephrology and a professor of medicine at Stanford University. Newsom's parents are retired state appeals court Judge William Newsom and Tessa (Menzies) Newsom, who died in May 2002 after a five-year fight with breast cancer. Newsom's parents broke up when he was two and divorced in 1972, and at age ten Newsom moved with his mother and sister to nearby Marin County.[14][15]

Newsom later reflected that he did not have an easy childhood.[15] Newsom attended kindergarten and first grade at the French-American bilingual school in San Francisco but transferred because of severe dyslexia that still affects him. The dyslexia made it difficult for Newsom to write, spell, read, and work with numbers.[15] He attended third through fifth grades at Notre Dame de Victoire, where he was placed in remedial reading classes.[14] Newsom graduated from Redwood High School in 1985. He played basketball and baseball in high school.[14] Newsom was an outfielder in baseball. His basketball skills placed Newsom on the cover of the Marin Independent Journal.[14] Newsom's childhood friend Derek Smith recalled Newsom as "one of the hardest working players on the team who became a great player because of his effort, instead of his natural abilities."[14] Newsom's father attended his games with San Francisco politicians that included John Burton and Quentin Kopp. Newsom's father had ties to several other local politicians.[14] Newsom's aunt was married to the brother-in-law of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.[15] Newsom's father was also a friend of Jerry Brown.[15]

Tessa Newsom worked three jobs to support Gavin and his sister Hilary Newsom Callan. In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Newsom's sister recalled Christmas holidays when their mother told them there wouldn't be any gifts.[14] Despite limited finances, Tessa opened their home to foster children, instilling in Newsom the importance of public service.[14][5] His father's finances were strapped in part because of his father's tendency to give away his earnings.[5] Newsom worked several jobs in high school to help support his family.[6]

Newsom attended Santa Clara University on a partial baseball scholarship and student loans, where he graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Newsom was a left-handed pitcher for Santa Clara but he threw his arm out after two years and hasn't thrown a baseball since.[16] He lived in the Alameda apartments which Newsom later compared to living in a hotel. He later reflected on his education fondly, crediting the Socratic approach of Santa Clara that he said has helped him become an independent thinker that questions orthodoxy. Newsom spent a semester studying abroad in Rome.[17]

Newsom credits Santa Clara University for teaching him how to learn. At the school, he continued to work through his dyslexia which made it difficult for him to read, write, and spell. He credits the disability for having taught him to apply himself with more focus and to develop different skills. Newsom walked at his graduation despite failing a Statistics class two times. After failing in his 3rd attempt during summer school at a community college, the University granted him a waiver for the requirement. Newsom has spoken at a number of top universities but has not been invited to speak at Santa Clara.[17]

[edit] Business career

Newsom's first job out of college was selling podiatric orthotics.[14] He later worked for real estate firm Shorenstein & Company where he worked as an assistant and performed a range of jobs that included cleaning bathrooms and removing asbestos.[14] He earned $18,000 per year.[15] Newsom also earned a real estate license.[14]

On June 14, 1991, Newsom and his investors created the company PlumpJack Associates L.P. In 1992, the group started the PlumpJack Wine Shop on Fillmore Street in San Francisco with the financial help of his family friend Gordon Getty. PlumpJack was the name of an opera written by Getty. Getty invested in ten of Newsom's eleven businesses.[15] Getty told the San Francisco Chronicle that he treated Newsom like a son and invested in his first business venture because of that relationship. According to Getty, later business investments were because of "the success of the first."[15] At the PlumpJack Cafe, Newsom gave a monthly $50 gift certificate to business ideas that failed because according to Newsom in 1997 "there can be no success without failure."[16]

One of Newsom's early interactions with government occurred when Newsom resisted the San Francisco Health Department requirement to install a sink at his PlumpJack Wines. The Health Department argued that wine was a food. The department required the store to install a $27,000 sink in the carpeted wine shop on the grounds that the shop needed the sink for a mop. When Newsom was later appointed Supervisor, he told the San Francisco Examiner "that's the kind of bureaucratic malaise I'm going to be working through."[16]

The business grew to a multi-million dollar enterprise with over 700 employees.[14] The PlumpJack Cafe Partners L.P. opened the PlumpJack Cafe, also on Fillmore Street, in 1993. Between 1993 and 2000, Newsom and his investors opened several other businesses that included the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn with a PlumpJack Cafe (1994), the Napa Valley winery (1995), the Balboa Cafe Bar and Grill (1995), the PlumpJack Development Fund L.P. (1996), the MatrixFillmore Bar (1998), PlumpJack Wines shop Noe Valley branch (1999), PlumpJackSport retail clothing (2000) and a second Balboa Cafe at Squaw Valley (2000).[15] Newsom's investments included five restaurants and two retail clothing stores.[14] Newsom annual income was greater than $429,000 from 1996 to 2001.[15] In 2002, his business holdings were valued at more than $6.9 million.[14]

Newsom sold his share of his San Francisco businesses when he became mayor in 2004. Newsom maintained his stakes in the PlumpJack companies outside San Francisco that included the PlumpJack Winery in Napa and the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. He is currently the president in absentia of Airelle Wines Inc., which is connected to the PlumpJack Winery in Napa County. Newsom earned between $141,000 and $251,000 in 2007 from his business interests.[18]

[edit] Early political career

Newsom's first political experience when he volunteered for Willie Brown's campaign for mayor in 1995. Newsom hosted a private fundraiser at his PlumpJack Cafe.[15] In 1996, Newsom was appointed by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown to a vacant seat on the Parking and Traffic Commission and was later elected president of the commission. In 1997, Brown appointed him to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat vacated by Kevin Shelley. At the time, he became the youngest member of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors and also the board's only straight white male.[19][20][21] Newsom was sworn in by his father and pledged to bring his business experience to the Board.[20] Willie Brown called Newsom "part of the future generation of leaders of this great city."[20] Newsom described himself as a "social liberal and a fiscal watchdog."[20][22] Newsom was subsequently reelected to the Board in 1998.

In 1999, San Francisco's voters chose to exchange district-based elections to the Board for the previous at-large system, and Newsom was reelected in 2000 and 2002 to represent District 2, which includes the Pacific Heights, Marina, Cow Hollow, Sea Cliff, and Laurel Heights. He faced no opposition in his 2002 reelection. His district had the highest income level and the highest Republican registration in San Francisco. Newsom also had author Danielle Steel and actor Robin Williams as constituents.[23]

As Supervisor, Newsom gained public attention for his role in advocating reform of the city's Municipal Railway (Muni).[24] He was one of two supervisors endorsed by Rescue Muni, a transit riders group, in his 1998 reelection. He sponsored Proposition B to require Muni and other city departments to develop detailed customer service plans.[25][15] The measure passed with 56.6% of the vote.[26] Newsom sponsored a ballot measure from Rescue Muni; a version of the measure was approved by voters in November 1999.[24]

Newsom also supported allowing restaurants to serve alcohol at their outdoor tables, banning tobacco advertisements visible from the streets, stiffer penalties for landlords, and a resolution to commend Colin Powell for raising money for youth programs that was defeated.[24] Newsom's support for business interests at times strained his relationship with labor leaders.[24]

Gavin Newsom in 2006 during a visit to Senator Dianne Feinstein in Washington D.C.
Gavin Newsom in 2006 during a visit to Senator Dianne Feinstein in Washington D.C.

During Newsom's time as Supervisor, he was pro-development and for smart growth along with being "anti-hand out."[27] He supported housing projects through public private partnerships to increase home ownership and affordable housing in San Francisco.[27] Newsom supported HOPE, a failed local ballot measure that would have allowed increased condo-conversion rate if a certain percentage of tenants within a building were buying their units.[27] As a candidate for Mayor, he supported building 10,000 new housing units to create 15,000 new construction jobs.[27]

As Supervisor, the centerpiece of Newsom's efforts was a voter initiative called "Care Not Cash (Measure N)," which offered care, supportive housing, drug treatment, and help from behavior health specialists for the homeless instead of direct cash aid from the state's General Assistance program.[27] Many homeless rights advocates protested against Care Not Cash.[28][29]The successfully passed ballot measure raised the political profile of Gavin Newsom and provided the volunteers, donors, and campaign staff to helped make him a leading contender for the Mayorship in 2003.[27][30][31][15]

[edit] Mayoral races

[edit] 2003

Newsom placed first in the November 4, 2003 general election in a 9-person field. Newsom received 41.9 percent of the vote to Green Matt Gonzalez's 19.6 in the first round of balloting, but he faced a closer race in the December 9th runoff when many of the city's liberal groups coalesced around the campaign of Gonzalez.[30] The race was particularly partisan with attacks against Gonzales for his support of Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election and attacks against Newsom for contributing $500 to a Republican slate mailer in 2000 that endorsed issues Newsom supported.[32][33] Democratic leadership felt that they needed to reinforce San Francisco as a Democratic stronghold after losing the 2000 presidential election and the 2003 recall election to Arnold Schwarzenegger.[33] National figures from the Democratic Party, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Jesse Jackson, campaigned on Newsom's behalf.[33][34] Five supervisors endorsed Gonzales while Newsom received the endorsement of Willie Brown.[30][31] Newsom's campaign spent over $4 million dollars, outspending Gonzales 10 to 1.[30][33]

Newsom won the run-off race, capturing 53 percent to Gonzales's 47 percent, and winning by about 11,000 votes.[30] Newsom ran as a business friendly centrist Democrat and a moderate in San Francisco politics; some of his opponents called him conservative.[30][33] Newsom claimed he was a centrist in the Dianne Feinstein mold.[27][35] He ran on the slogan "great cities, great ideas" and presented over 21 policy papers.[31] Newsom pledged to continue working on San Francisco's homelessness issue.[30] Newsom was sworn in as Mayor on January 3, 2004. He called for unity among the cities political factions and promised to address the issues of potholes, public schools, and affordable housing.[36] Newsom said he was "a different kind of leader who "isn't afraid to solve even the toughest problem."[37]

[edit] 2007

Main article: San Francisco mayoral election, 2007

San Francisco's progressive community attempted to find a candidate to run a strong campaign against Newsom. Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Chris Daly considered running against Newsom but both declined. Matt Gonzales also decided not to challenge Newsom.[38] When the August 10, 2007 filing deadline passed, the discussion around San Francisco shifted to talk about Newsom's second term. He was challenged in the election by 13 challengers that included George Davis, a nudist activist, and Michael Powers, owner of Power Exchange sex club.[39] Conservative former Supervisor Tony Hall withdrew by early September due to lack of support.[40] The San Francisco Chronicle declared in August 2007 that Newsom faced no "serious threat to his reelection bid." Newsom raised $1.6 million for his reelection campaign by early August.[41] He won reelection on November 6, 2007 with over 72% of the vote.[7] Upon taking office for a second term, Newsom promised to focus on the environment, homelessness, health care, education, housing and rebuilding S.F. General Hospital.[42][43]

[edit] Mayoralty

[edit] Same-sex marriage

Main article: San Francisco 2004 same-sex weddings
Newsom during the 2007 Gay Pride Parade
Newsom during the 2007 Gay Pride Parade

Newsom decided to act on the issue of same sex marriage when he attended the 2004 State of the Union address as a guest of Nancy Pelosi. In the address, President George W. Bush voiced support for a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. In the weeks following the address, Newsom asked his staff to gather background information and to explore how the city could start issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples without alerting the media. Before the first marriage was performed, Newsom's office informed Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and national Democrat Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe. Gay Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank told Newsom that it wasn't the right time.[44]

On his 36th[6] day in office, Newsom issued a directive to the San Francisco city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, claiming that the California Constitution's equal protection clause gave him authority to do so.[44] Approximately 4,000 same-sex couples were issued licenses in San Francisco from February 12 until March 11, 2004 (when the weddings were halted by the California Supreme Court), bringing international attention to the Mayor and the City. On August 12, 2004, the California Supreme Court voided those licenses, declaring Newsom had overstepped his authority.[45] Following this decision, San Francisco and nearly two dozen gay couples sued the state of California on the issue of same sex marriage. In 2005, Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer agreed with the city, but the decision was overturned by the state appeals court. The case was heard by the California Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.[46]

Many prominent Democrats such as Dianne Feinstein criticized Newsom for issuing the directive for same sex marriage licenses, claiming it had contributed to John Kerry's defeat in the 2004 presidential election.[5][6] Barack Obama declined to have his picture taken with Newsom at a fundraiser in 2004.[47] Obama's deputy campaign director, Steve Hildebrand, denies the story. The 2004 same sex marriages increased Newsom's popularity in San Francisco to the level where he faced no serious opposition to his reelection in 2007.[6][47]

The Award Winning Documentary Film Pursuit of Equality, which was directed by the Mayor's brother-in-law, Geoff Callan, chronicles this historic time in San Francisco and across the nation.

[edit] Social policy

Implementation of Care Not Cash began on July 1, 2004. As part of his Care Not Cash initiative, 5,000 more homeless people were given permanent shelter in the City. As of October 21, 2007, about 2,000 people have been placed into permanent housing with support.[6] Other programs initiated by Newsom to end chronic homelessness include the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SF HOT), and Project Homeless Connect (PHC). SF HOT functions as a short-term intensive case management team, assisting the most disabled homeless individuals to access health, social and housing services. PHC consists of bimonthly events that bring together a host of public and private services at one location, making it easier for homeless individuals to connect with a number of services under one roof. Both of these programs have added to Mayor Newsom's success with regard to getting homeless people into permanent, supportive housing. In his 2004 State of the City Address, to highlight the issue of homelessness, Newsom declared that "homelessness has replaced the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable car as one of the city's most defining symbols."[45]

Newsom has worked to improve San Francisco public housing through Newsom's public private partnership initiative called SF HOPE.[3][48] Newsom has focused city resources on impoverished districts in Bayview-Hunters Point on San Francisco's southeast side, often arriving there without notice to follow through on city programs.[5] On one occasion, Newsom took several Hunters Point children to Burger King and to a San Francisco 49ers game.[5] The Baysview-Hunters Point project includes over 8,500 housing and 350 acres (1.4 km²) of open space.[49] Since Newsom became mayor, the city has put nearly $500 million into construction of affordable housing that house nearly 20 percent of San Francisco's families.[49] Newsom also worked on plans for 6,000 new homes and apartments on Treasure Island, new high-rise apartments and condominiums on Rincon Hill, and has worked on rebuilding the Transbay Terminal.[49]

Newsom helped secure $77 million to help some of San Francisco’s underperforming schools and worked to put more police officers in schools.[3] In February 2008, Newsom committed $30.6 million from San Francisco's budget reserves to help San Francisco Unified School District close a $40 million drop in state funding due to state budget deficits.[50]

[edit] Economic policy

Newsom at the 2007 San Francisco Annual Pistahan Days
Newsom at the 2007 San Francisco Annual Pistahan Days

During Newsom’s first term as mayor, tourism, air traffic, and hotel occupancy increased while unemployment decreased by 2.5%.[51][49] 57 new companies and 35 new biotech firms opened in San Francisco, including the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Stem Cell Institute.[3][51] Newsom supported biotech and clean industry tax incentives to bring more businesses to San Francisco. In 2005, Newsom implemented the Working Families Tax Credit, providing the average San Francisco family with an extra $300.[52] Newsom has made efforts to reach out to San Francisco businesses. In 2004, Newsom had a 100 in 100 campaign, meeting with 100 CEO's in 100 days to try to make San Francisco more business friendly.[53]

While the unemployment rate has decreased, San Francisco has 90,000 fewer jobs since 2000.[49] Rising costs of living, combined with the blue collar jobs leaving San Francisco, have made it harder for blue collar workers to live in San Francisco.[49] Newsom has worked to address these problems with affordable housing and has claimed that the new high tech companies will also bring some blue collar jobs to San Francisco.[49]

On October 27, 2004, during a strike by hotel workers on a dozen San Francisco hotels, Newsom joined UNITE HERE union members on a picket line in front of the Westin St. Francis Hotel. He vowed that the city would boycott the hotels by not sponsoring city events in any of them until the hotels agreed to a contract with workers.[5] The contract dispute was settled in September 2006.[54] Newsom's support of the workers angered some businesses who had been traditional Newsom backers.[6]

In order to help balance San Francisco's budget in 2004, Newsom supported Proposition J to increase sales taxes and Proposition K to increase business taxes. Both measures failed in 2004.[55] Newsom laid off hundreds of city workers and cut city services in 2004 to balance the city budget.[45] Newsom helped close San Francisco's budget deficit in 2004 by consolidating 6 city departments that reduced the city budget by $78 million.[3]

Newsom spent 18 months trying to make San Francisco a city wide free Wi-Fi Zone, but negotiations with the Board of Supervisors and EarthLink ended when Earth Link pulled out of the talks.[49] Newsom said he would continue to work for universal Wi-Fi.[49] Newsom's efforts to build a cruise ship terminal and put up a waterfront YMCA also were not achieved.[49]

During Newsom's time as Mayor, the San Francisco 49ers caught Newsom by surprise when they announced they would be moving to Santa Clara. Newsom received some criticism for being too hands off in the discussions, a claim Newsom denies.[6] In 2005, Newsom participated in the announcement of the 2007 Major League Baseball All Star Game that would be held in San Francisco.[56] He participated in the 2007 All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.[57]

Newsom's State of the City Address
Newsom's State of the City Address

[edit] Environment

Under Newsom, San Francisco joined the Kyoto Protocol. San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan is aimed at helping San Francisco meet its Kyoto Protocol targets. Newsom helped San Francisco implement green building standards and to improve open spaces. Newsom helped secure $8 million in federal and local funds to improve city streetscape.[3] Newsom's efforts have helped lead to the planting of over 17,500 new trees.[6] Newsom approved of a plan to convert the city's fleet of diesel buses and vehicles to biodiesel. On February 21, 2008, Newsom urged Bay Area cities and counties to write letters to auto-makers urging them to manufacture plug-in hybrid cars. Newsom said San Francisco would buy the cars if automakers produced them.[58] He also supports putting large turbines below the Golden Gate Bridge.[59] He supported a ban on city government purchased water bottles and he asked San Francisco businesses to stop selling bottled water.[60] Ha approved of legislation to convert San Francisco's taxis to low-emission vehicles.[61]

[edit] Immigration

On April 23, 2007, Newsom again drew national attention when he announced at a community action held by the San Francisco Organizing Project that he would do everything he could to discourage federal authorities from conducting immigration raids. "Our action is to stand strong in opposition to these raids... to make sure that we are not contributing in any way, shape or form," Newsom said. "Even legal immigrants are fearful. This just sends a chill to a lot of people. There are a lot of cities that want these raids. That's where the federal government should be spending their time."[62] Newsom supported city identification cards for illegal immigrants in 2007 to allow them access to city services and to be able to set up bank accounts in the city.[12] In April 2008, San Francisco undertook a $83,000 advertisement campaign to inform city residents that San Francisco is a sanctuary city as part of the identification card program.[63]

[edit] Health

Early in Newsom's first term, he worked to extend the city-funded health insurance program, started under Mayor Brown, to young adults, a program that had been previously offered only to children. Newsom's more ambitious plan on healthcare began to take shape in 2007. In his budget proposal for fiscal year 2007-2008, Newsom announced his intention to provide universal health care for all city residents, based on long-time City Supervisor Tom Ammiano's plan. The care will be provided through the San Francisco Health Access Plan.[64][65]

Newsom’s Health Access Plan, also known as Health San Francisco, shares the cost with workers and businesses using federal, state, and city funds and savings to provide healthcare insurance to all San Franciscans. The system plans to use more electronic referrals, focus on preventive care, and work to provide care to San Francisco’s 82,000 uninsured adults.[66] Newsom's proposal has prompted Oakland mayor Ron Dellums and San Mateo County's Board of Supervisors to look into possibilities for providing their own taxpayer-subsidized health care.[67][68]

In February 2008, Newsom, also a restauranteur, signed a measure, backed by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, to ask San Francisco restaurants to voluntarily ban trans fats from their kitchens.[69]

[edit] Public safety

Newsom began his first term by appointing San Francisco's first female police chief, Heather Fong, and fire chief, Joanne Hayes-White. He later vetoed legislation mandating a police foot-patrol policy in favor of police discretion that was overturned by the Board of Supervisors.[6] In December 2005, Newsom went public with a video that was made by a police office, which depicted police officers making mock calls that were racist, sexist, and homophobic according to Newsom.[6] Newsom admitted that reforms aimed at changing the culture of the police department had gone slower than expected.[6] San Francisco has experienced an increase in homicides during Newsom’s tenure as Mayor. Newsom has made efforts to lower the homicide and crime rates.[70][6] Rape, aggravated assault, and burglary have decreased.[51]

Newsom is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[71] an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino. The organization of mayors supports gun control and is especially strong on the advocacy to abolish the Tiahrt Amendment. Newsom opposes capital punishment.[45]

On April 9, 2008, Newsom and Police Chief Fong decided to use the alternative route for the Olympic torch run through San Francisco. The torch run drew thousands of protesters protesting against or for China and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Newsom said he made the decision to ensure the safety of people at the event.[72]

[edit] Government issues and Muni

Newsom has reduced the appearance of political patronage in city government that became more common during the Brown administration.[6] Many of Newsom's opponents on the Board of Supervisors credit him for reducing patronage in city government.[6] He launched a 311 hotline that provides 24 hour live operator assistance to San Franciscans concerning city services.[3][6]

In 2005, voters rejected Proposition D which would have decreased the Mayor's control over Muni and given that power to the Board of Supervisors.[73] During Newsom's time as mayor, Muni’s on-time performance improved 5%.[51] In 2006, Newsom publicly stated he believed Muni was pocketing fares after Newsom had rode Muni and wasn't given a receipt on several occasions.[74] Newsom considered making Muni fare-free, but he dropped the idea after a study he commissioned to investigate the idea showed it would not work.[75] Newsom has had several policy forums, one of which discussed Muni. In one 2007 forum, Newsom said he was a "Mayor who rides Muni".[76] Newsom appointed the "Transit Effectiveness Project" to conduct an 18 month review of Muni.[77] The task force conducting the review consisted of current and former government officials with backgrounds in transportation and public finance.[78] The review has investigated means to make Muni run more efficiently and increase its on-time rate that includes increasing Muni revenue by raising fares and advertising on Muni property.[79] On February 27, 2008, Newsom and Muni officials released the results of the review, which called for eliminating, shortening, and expanding bus routes to focus service on Muni's 15 busiest corridors that are used by 75% of Muni users. Muni will also continue efforts to hire more drivers and street supervisors and increase enforcement against motorists who block bus lanes. Newsom said at February 27th plan revealing: "Without dramatic changes we will not see dramatic improvements".[80] Newsom has also been a supporter of the Chinatown Subway plan, a $1.22 to $1.44 billion dollar subway line that links the Market Street area to Chinatown.[81][76]

[edit] Critics and criticisms

According the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsom is particularly sensitive to how he is portrayed in the media.[6][5] At times, Newsom has yelled at reporters, refused to answer questions from certain reporters, abruptly ending interviews, and has threatened to blacklist news outlets.[6] Newsom has been criticized for having a large number of press releases, made for TV news conferences, and catchy names to new initiatives that might be obscuring what is actually accomplished.[6]

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin's criticisms of Newsom have frequently been included in San Francisco Chronicle articles that discuss Newsom's policies and actions as Mayor.[6][82][42] After his reelection, Newsom was criticized by Supervisor Peskin for taking a vacation in Hawaii during the 2007 San Francisco Bay oil spill.[82] Newsom defended his decision to continue with his 3 day vacation plans, claiming that he was in constant contact with his aides and that other agencies were overseeing the crisis.[82] In February 2008, Newsom and Peskin's back and forth actions and comments led the Chronicle to conclude that the two were in a "war of words."[83] Newsom has also been criticized by commentators such as Bill O'Reilly and opponents of gay marriage for legalizing gay marriage in San Francisco. He was criticized by conservative pundits for issuing a proclamation to honor COLT Studio Group, a gay porn studio.[84]

[edit] Staff hiring

Newsom started his second term with a clean slate after asking for and receiving open letters of resignation from city commissioners and department heads prior to his 2007 reelection.[42][85] He replaced 3 of 7 members of the Municipal Transportation Agency.[85] Newsom also dismissed Public Utilities Commission General Manager Susan Leal. With projected city budget revenue shortfalls, Newsom froze city hiring, eliminated 1,700 city jobs, and ordered all agencies to cut their budget by 8%.[42][86][87] Newsom was criticized by some members of the Board of Supervisors when he hired new policy directors that included a director of climate protection initiatives, a homeless policy director, and former U.S. attorney Kevin Ryan, who was dismissed by the Bush administration, as his new criminal justice director to address San Francisco’s rising homicide rates.[88][86] The Board of Supervisors Budget Analyst conducted a report on the mayor's staffing salaries that concluded that over one million dollars in salaries were paid out of city department budgets.[89] Newsom defended these hires by claiming his office would come in under budget and that using MTA and other department funds to pay for the mayor's policy directors is common practice.[90][89] The additional cost to the city was $500,000 over the next 18 months.[86] A February 2008 opinion poll showed Newsom's approval rating at 67%.[91]

[edit] Personal

[edit] Religious beliefs

Newsom was baptized and raised Roman Catholic. He describes himself as an "Irish-Catholic rebel...in some respects, but one that still has tremendous admiration for the Church and very strong faith." When asked about the current state of the Catholic Church in an interview, he said the church was in crisis. Newsom said he stays with the church because of his "strong connection to a greater purpose, and..higher being.." He attends church infrequently but said he has a "strong sense of faith that is perennial: day in and day out."[17]

[edit] Marriage and relationships

In December 2001, Newsom married Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former San Francisco prosecutor and legal commentator for Court TV, CNN, and MSNBC, and who now hosts The Lineup on Fox News Channel. The couple married at the Getty mansion in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood. Gordan and Ann Getty paid $116,708 for the reception, half of the reception's estimated value.[15] Newsom and Guilfoyle appeared in the September 2004 issue of Harper's Bazaar, a fashion magazine, in a spread of them at the Getty mansion with the title the "New Kennedys."[6][92] Newsom and Guilfoyle were considered a glamour couple. On January 7, 2005, the couple jointly filed for divorce, citing "difficulties due to their careers on opposite coasts." The couple had no children.[93]

Newsom dated CSI: Miami actress Sofia Milos in 2006.[94] He accompanied Milos to the annual dinner of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group co-founded by the Church of Scientology.[95] Newsom later declared he was "not a Scientologist" and that Scientology was not discussed at the event.[95] In 2006, Newsom dated Brittanie Mountz, a then 19 year old model and restaurant hostess he met at San Francisco's Aqua restaurant.[94] Photos taken at the opening of the Westfield San Francisco Shopping Center, attended by both Newsom and Mountz, showed Mountz holding a wine glass.[96] Newsom's spokesperson later said, "Newsom has never provided Mountz with any alcohol, and if she ever had a drink in his presence, that's news to the mayor."[96] Mountz is a registered Republican.

Newsom began dating actress Jennifer Siebel in September 2006 after being set up for a blind date by a mutual friend.[97] On December 31, 2007, he announced that the two are now engaged, and will wed on an undetermined date.[98] They became engaged during a trip to Hawaii late in December 2007.[98]

[edit] Rippey-Tourk affair

On January 31, 2007, Newsom's campaign manager and former deputy chief of staff, Alex Tourk, resigned after confronting Newsom over a sexual affair the mayor had with Tourk's wife in late 2005.[99] At the time of the affair, Newsom was undergoing a divorce with Guilfoyle and Rippey-Tourk worked in Newsom's office as the Mayor's aide for commission appointments.[100] The San Francisco City attorney investigated Tourk receiving $10,154 in catastrophic illness pay, which is usually reserved for those who are terminally ill, in August 2006. Newsom and all those involved were later cleared of legal wrongdoing.[101]

Newsom apologized for the affair at a news conference on February 1, 2007, saying, "I hurt someone I care deeply about, Alex Tourk, his friends and family, and that is something that I have to live with and something that I am deeply sorry for." After being approached by concerned colleagues, he announced that he would seek treatment for alcohol abuse.[102] Newsom later said that the difficult times during the exposing of the affair refocused him and allowed him to better appreciate being mayor.[6]

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Kevin Shelley		 Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors District 2
1997–2004		 Succeeded by
Michela Alioto-Pier
Preceded by
Willie Brown, Jr.		 Mayor of San Francisco
January 8, 2004 – present		 Incumbent
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