By Hope Johnson
April 30, 2009
FCJ felt right at home, like family even, at last weekend’s State Democratic Party Convention in Sacramento.
Family, Sopranos style, that is.
Larry Mazzola, Jr. took his childish resentment over his failure to qualify for the Golden Gate Bridge District Board on a road trip to Sacto, distributing anti-Chris Daly propaganda paid for by Mazzola’s daddy using precious union funds.
Flyers falsely claim the refusal by a majority of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to appoint a poorly qualified Mazzola is an “attack on labor.” But keep in mind, a lower Rules committee olive branched an unrequited request to labor leaders for submission of qualified applicants when Newsom allies maneuvered, instead, to force Mazzola’s appointment by recalling the item to the full Board.
A kumbaya moment with BOS Prez David Chiu,
Local 38 leafletter Larry Mazzola Jr. and Supervisor David Campos.
No reference is made in the flyer to the appointment of an extremely well qualified applicant, continuing the attempt by political opponents of the progressive Board majority to concoct an imaginary wedge between Progressives and labor.
Willie Brown joins in that propaganda machine in his Sunday column last week. Brown states: “fewer than 50 crossed the picket line” at Tuesday’s Democratic Unity Luncheon in protest to the Board’s appointment of another “supporter.”
FCJ photos reveal Brown is outright fabricating the truth, showing close to 200 attended the lunch. Brown purposefully mischaracterizes the actions of those attending lunch as confusion continues over the official status of the Construction Trade Union’s information line. Additionally, Brown’s reference to the qualified new Director, Dave Snyder, as “a supporter” is unreasonable. Snyder has been judged a transportation expert by Brown’s own conservative standards, hired by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) as its first Transportation Policy Director.
Refusing to be left out of the propaganda fun, the Examiner ran a public relations piece Sunday benefiting SPUR director Gabriel Metcalf. The article reveals little about Metcalf except that he is “a radical at heart.” C’mon, now, everyone in San Francisco is radical to the Examiner – they endorsed the ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin for the Presidency! It’s all most likely an attempt to repair damage done to Metcalf’s image when he admitted to the San Francisco Bay Guardian that, at labor’s request, he pressured Snyder to withdraw his Bridge District application.
Those opposed to progressive policies are clearly worried by growing progressive power, gearing up their moneyed public relations media hacks. Yes, FCJ was right at home. So much so, in fact, we joined Progressive activist Rick Hauptman on a tour of the State Capitol Building graciously provided by Senator Leland Yee’s office.
Sen. Leland Yee aide Jordan Curley,
Rick Hauptman and Hope Johnson.
San Francisco was indeed in da house, even on the State Senate legislative chambers floor.
Brown v. Bored of Edgy Newsom
Attorney General Jerry Brown hasn’t officially declared his intention to run for governor of California, but most of us assume the game is on. Why else would he choose the Governor’s manse to receive his guests and supporters? Plus he told FCJ he would announce “in a year.”
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced he’s a candidate for governor in every electronic way known to man.
The convention provided opportunity to observe emerging campaign style trends of the two well-known politicians. Newsom’s campaign feels insincere. A group of youthful sign-carrying campaigners maintained a constant wiggling vigil on the corner outside the convention center. Organizers with earpieces choreographed the cheerleaders, lending a contrived vibe to the clamor.
San Francisco First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom,
who told FCJ she is expecting a baby girl, joins Newsom sign carriers
outside the Californa Democratic Party Convention in Sacto.
Brown, on the other hand, was understated, traveling with a very small staff, mixing casually with anyone who wanted to say hello.
Their convention floor speeches went much the same direction. Brown used specific examples and spoke in a natural tone. Newsom stuck to the traditional generalities, claimed credit for ideas not his own, and lined the floor with his teenybopper sign-carrying entourage while Newsom spokesperson Nathan Ballard poodled after Newsom campaign conductor Eric Jaye.
 
Newsom koolaid teenyboppers busting some ear drums.
“I’m here to start taking on the big problems the Republicans want to ignore,” Newsom said. “I’ve had enough of politicians who say they care about liberty and then fight to take our freedoms away. I’m done with the excuses. I’m over the finger pointing.”
Newsom, over the finger pointing while refusing to admit
he’s bereft of original ideas.
“I say thank God that our President has brought out into the full light of day the horror of torture under George Bush,” Brown said. “I’m also sad to say that one of the authors of the torture, the legal craftsman who violated his oath as a lawyer to create the justification for these tortures, is now teaching at the University of California. That’s not the role model that I want to see for the lawyers of tomorrow. We want honest advocates for people.”
California AG Jerry Brown
On education, Newsom touted San Francisco Promise, a proposal to provide college grant and scholarship funding for low-income students. Brown offered across the board reform, with less focus on standardized testing.
“You know they talk about no child left behind,” Brown said. “I don’t want any creative spirit left behind.”
Most revealing was listener reaction. Newsom’s staged sign carriers screamed on cue their approval during every pause while a slumping audience responded with polite applause. When Brown spoke, the audience awoke and broke into loud cheering, standing several times.
It looks like Dems are in the mood for some substance over style in this campaign.
FCJ ran into Jerry Brown as he spoke with San Francisco’s own Supe Eric Mar at Brown’s Governor’s Mansion party. Brown agreed to a photo op but had one condition: “I expect to see this online with a pithy caption.”
Pithy caption? Aw, Jerry’s been reading FCJ!
Jerry Brown with Hope Johnson and Supervisor Eric Mar
at the Governor’s manse.
Close Encounters
Local public affairs specialist Gary Gartner works for Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi’s controversial campaign to replace Ellen Tauscher in Congressional District 10. Controversial in that Garamendi’s residence is located directly on the borders of both District 10 and District 3.
Gartner introduced FCJ to Garamendi as the politician exited a meeting with bloggers. Garamendi was the lone speaker to specifically endorse single payer health care reform as opposed to using phrases such as “access for all,” a subject of particular interest to FCJ Editor Luke Thomas. The two discussed Medicare overhead costs and Garamendi explained his belief the main challenge was educating the public on health care tax replacing high insurance premiums. No one likes to hear “new taxes.”
Garamendi campaign manager Gary Gartner
Lt. Governor John Garamendi
FCJ also bumped into Assemblymember Tom Ammiano as he and I realized we were both bolting from the frighteningly long Progressive Caucus. Those progs had at least 400 people attend their caucus only to crossly insist on an endlessly long parade of chair reports before voting.
True to form, Ammiano couldn’t resist a few jokes at their expense while several passersby yelled out, “Hey, didn’t I see you in Milk?”
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Eric “Doc” Smith and Hope Johnson.
Stay tuned.
Fun Fact
Oh, yeah, some officer elections took place, too. Here are some local winners:
John Burton: California Democratic Party Chair;
Hilary Crosby: State Controller;
DCCC Regional Director August Longo: re-elected;
Local District 6 Supe candidate Debra Walker: Northern California Vice Chair, Women’s Caucus;
Redevelopment Commissioner London Breed: Legislative Chair, Women’s Caucus;
San Francisco Labor Council “Head Honcho” Tim Paulson: Chair, Labor Caucus.
Luke Thomas contributed to this article.
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