by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

You know the drill:

by paulhogarth [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I wrote this for today's Beyond Chron.

Yesterday's Chronicle portrayed San Francisco as an elitist island of the fringe left - out of touch with mainstream American values.  Reporter Carla Marinucci used the recent commotion over Barack Obama's "bitter" comment at a local fundraiser to explain how the right uses San Francisco to hurt Democrats.  Even as polls out of Pennsylvania show the race unchanged despite Hillary Clinton desperately pushing this issue, the Chronicle couldn't help perpetuating the stereotype that we are the "land of fruits and nuts."  Marinucci did not quote any San Franciscans for her article - except for disgraced Newsom aide and Clinton supporter Peter Ragone, who repeated the line that only conservative places like the Central Valley matter in California politics.  Does the New York Times politically marginalize its hometown, because that is exactly what the Chronicle did.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by lukehk [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

On Wednesday night the Newsom Administration went public with their pressure on Susan Leal to resign from the PUC.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission chief Susan Leal has been asked to resign, the first major department head to be targeted for removal by Mayor Gavin Newsom, knowledgeable City Hall sources said... Leal received a telephone call Friday evening from Newsom's chief of staff saying her services won't be needed in his second term.

This has left a number of people asking "Why?", and in response to the Mayor's decision, I sent the following Letter to the Editor of the Chronicle yesterday afternoon.

To the Editor:

I am stunned to learn of Mayor Newsom's request to the PUC General Manager Susan Leal for her resignation ("Newsom urges Leal to resign as head of S.F. PUC," 12/6/07).

More below the fold.

by Mark Leno Campaign [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Last month, Brian wrote about the return of Proposition 90. This "Son of 90" initiative is once again rearing it's ugly head in California -- today marks the kickoff of the opposition campaign.

At noon, across the street from San Francisco's City Hall, Assemblyman Mark Leno will rally against this deceptive ballot measure with Susan Leal, General Manager, SF Public Utilities Commission; Ted Gullickson, SF Tenants Union; Barbara Blong, Senior Action Network; John Rizzo, Sierra Club; Tim Paulson, SF Labor Council and the League of California Cities.

The San Francisco Sentinel reports:

Opponents argue the Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property measure could displace 180,000 residents living in rent-controlled residences.

“If this measure were to pass, thousands of San Franciscans would be forced out of the city,” said Ted Gullicksen of the San Francisco Tenants Union.

“Seniors especially would be hard hit if they lost their rent control protections.”

Paul Hogarth has a long piece for Beyond Chron:

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

It might seem a bit weird to bring this up now, as he hasn't yet announced anything. But I have my reasons. Well, not anything so secretive really, I got a polling call centered around a hypothetical matchup between Gavin Newsom and Art Agnos.  Because SF is a city of people from other places, Agnos is an enigma for many San Franciscans.And hey, Art, if you (or a friend) is reading this, contact me. I'd be happy to do an interview.

Follow me over the flip...