BIZ TO NEWSOM: We're Getting Nervous

Re-election Fundraisers Cancelled

By Daniela Kirshenbaum

February 2, 2007, 8:30 p.m.

As of Friday, a well-regarded South Bay capital finance firm has pulled out of two fundraiser events for Mayor Gavin Newsom's reelection, forcing the cancellation of one event and leaving the other in question.

Said one member of the firm: "Didn't this guy just make up his mind that he even wanted to run again? He needs to be more passionate in the office and less passionate in the bedroom!"

According to our source, who requested anonymity, business interests once felt confident in supporting Newsom because they felt they had access to him. They have grown dismayed by the list of shriveling business successes.

Our source recounted these business-related failures in the last three months:

· The potential loss of revenue with the proposed wi-fi deal

· Loss of the 2016 Olympics, blamed on the 49ers

· The 49ers imminent departure

· Planned development of "49er City" at Candlestick Point, no longer in the works

· Notices of violation on clean-up and remediation issues at Hunter's Point Shipyard

· The squeeze on small businesses city-wide

· A high homicide rate (also bad for business); questions regarding police department effectiveness; mayor opposition to constituent demand for foot patrols

· Poor relations with a majority of the Board of Supervisors

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