CityMama™

Mayor McHottie gets married

Let me be the first to congratulate Gavin Newson, Mayor of San Francisco and MOMocrats reader on his marriage to Jennifer Seibel.

Mayor McHottie and I go way back. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know we do. (And by the way, I'm allowed to call him that. In fact, I coined the term Mayor McHottie because, let's face it, he is pretty easy on the eyes.)

Over the years, I've blogged about his ex-girlfriends, his missteps (like paying retail for an engagement ring) and those of his new wife. I've definitely talked about his hair and by that I mean I have talked to Gavin Newsom himself about his hair. Mayor McHottie, I hope you know, I kid because I love.

I'm at the California Democratic Convention this weekend

Just a few random thoughts:

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived and I am not quite sure I have figured out what exactly goes on here. I think it's safe to say that nothing happening here is taught in the average high school civics class. I look at all the California Young Democrats and realize that they probably know more than I do about this process.

All the important state Dems are here from John Garamendi on down. Nancy Pelosi showed up. Mayor McHottie gave an amazing speech about San Francisco not waiting for Washington, SF is doing it anyway. Bill Clinton is due tomorrow. There are lots of parties and protesting and people selling books and buttons, but really it is one big shmooze-fest.

The delegates and super-delegates all wear badges indicating their delegate status. I've talked to a couple now, and asked them to clarify what exactly it is that they do, and every answer starts with, "Well, it's complicated..."

It is.  I still don't get it.

Mayor McHottie picks another winner

Just sos people will stop emailing me about it, I'm gonna give you my dos pesos on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's recent engagement to actress/philanthropist Jennifer Siebel. Yeah, remember her?

Recent news accounts of his second inaugural ceremony also included mention of Siebel's giGANtic diamond engagement ring. Three carats. $100,000+. From Tiffany. 

All other things aside, you know, the sex-scandal, the drinking problem, I can't help but wonder: How can a guy who doesn't know that you never pay retail for a diamond, especially a three-carat one, be entrusted to balance a city budget? I mean, if my mother taught me one thing, it's to get yourself a resale license or make friends with someone who has one.

This is a guy who says, "Yes, please! I'd love to pay three times the wholesale price for a diamond + the extra brand markup because I'm buying it at Tiffany." This is exactly how $100 hammers end up on a city's books and everyone goes, "What? Who would pay $100 for a hammer?!" Shoot. At least he could have chosen a San Francisco-based jeweler.

Yo McHottie, have you never seen this place which you could probably walk to from your office?

And that's all I have to say on the matter. Except, (grumble) congratulations, I guess.

On the radio this morning with Mayor McHottie, Gavin Newsom

Mayor McHottie finally called me!!! It's about time, baby. What took you?

You can hear it all on K101.com. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A bloggy double-whammy

My Silicon Valley Moms Blog post about the Four Season Hotel in East Palo Alto has been written up on Valleywag and my post about Mayor McHottie's dumbass girlfriend is linked on SFist.

It's good to live in an area that is rife with blog fodder. I swear these posts write themselves.

Mayor McHottie: It's time you got some "people"

Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle featured the most bizarre interview with with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's girlfriend, actress Jennifer Siebel. How she got clearance to do this interview I have no idea, but I consider it a coup on the part of the reporter that she got Siebel to open up as much as she did.

For those that aren't aware, Mayor McHottie recently revealed that he had an affair with his close friend's wife (both were on his payroll until recently), then checked himself into fake rehab, the kind of rehab where you have your meetings over the phone and they tell you it's okay to drink, just not so much. And maybe stick to white wine only.

Siebel stood by her man and essentially blamed Ruby Rippey-Tourk (the wife) for causing the scandal. Then she commented on the SFist site (when they called her out for being a total beeyotch) that she was misquoted and she didn't mean to say that (again, the mind boggles), but that, yeah, it was all Ruby's fault.

This is a woman who has a fancy degree from Stanford yet writes (about Ruby), "i just wish that she would leave gavin and i alone." *cringe*

Now Jennifer Siebel is sorry. No, sorry, "deeply sorry" for all of it.  The interview, the blog commenting, further hurting the players in this scandal...This is a mess. 

Gavin, Gavin, Gavin. Get yourself some people stat. No one's got your back, dude, and I find that sad. Shocking and sad. See if I were the one in charge of your media relations I would have someone babysitting your dumb girlfriend 24/7. I'd fill her to the brim with margaritas then toss her into Bloomingdale's for a good 8-9 hours at a stretch. And I'd definitely hide her laptop. Damage control, dude. Someone needs to be on it. Jen just hit the flush lever on your career. Call me!

P.S. Jennifer, if you are reading this, walk away from the computer, honey.

Gavin's in rehab. Damn.

I said, "Be original."  Even out-patient rehab is unoriginal these days.

Mayor McHottie is the a guy who invested in bars in the Triangle* and owns several wine shops.  Is the fact that he likes his booze a shocker to anyone? Shit, he's not a Kennedy for chrissakes.

I'm trying real hard to get worked up about this whole thing. I can't see how this affects anyone but the people involved. Get all hot and bothered over this whole "affair?"...Nope, can't do it.

*The Triangle n., a region in San Francisco known for boring bars frequented by former sorority- and fraternity-types, read: lots of "white-man's overbite." It had its heyday in the early '90s and peaked, oh, around 1993 or so.

Gavin Newson aka Mayor McHottie admits affair, San Francisco goes, "So?"

San Francisco's beloved Mayor McHottie (or maybe it's just my beloved Mayor McHottie) admitted today that rumors of him shagging the wife of his close friend and colleague were true.  The wife (his former appointments secretary, how convenient) admitted the affair (which happened a year and half ago) as part of her therapy for a substance abuse problem.

San Franciscans everywhere said, "Really? I thought he was gay? Is she having his illegimate child? No? Huh."  And then two seconds later they went back to their Proseccos and pissaladieres.

I wonder if more Columbian bam bam is passing through City Hall now or when Da Mayor was in office. Oh, I kid.

Don't get me wrong, affairs are serious and would be an absolute deal breaker for me, but San Francisco is used to our Big Mayors thinking with their "Little Mayors."

Gavin, Gavin, Gavin. What happened to your game, yo?  Is this 49ers move thing taking a toll on you? First your wife ditches out on you. Then you take up with a 19-year-old hostess. I can't help but think you're about to crack. What happened to the Gavin Newsom with the backbone that starting marrying gay couples in 2004? We want him back.

(I like blue ties on you, by the way. Your signature tie comforts in me in the same way that Donald Trump's comb-over does.)

Please be original and don't announce that you are checking yourself into rehab. Just get it together, dude.

[photo: Paul Chinn]

San Francisco Stories: "San Francisco Values"

Prior to the election, the San Francisco Chronicle ran several stories about how Republicans like Dennis Hastert and Bill O'Reilly were using the term "San Francisco values" to try and motivate their party faithful to vote. I don't know about you, but I find the terms "Iraq War," "protecting women's reproductive rights," and "corrupt hypocrites" much more galvanizing than "San Francisco values."

I don't think we'll see the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence welcoming dignitaries to state dinners or the gay marriage law enacted nationwide  (unfortunately) or April 20th being declared a national holiday any time soon, but "San Francisco values" is far from a dirty term.

As much as I enjoy "calling our city out" on its smugness, child unfriendliness, and any number of things that are bugging me on a given day, there are times that I'm proud to be a San Franciscan.

San Francisco is not a perfect city. It's expensive. People need to learn a thing or two about customer service. It's freezing in the summer time. San Francisco is like an aging Hollywood actor: radiant from a distance or through a gauze filter, but get up close and you start to see evidence of too many patchy cosmetic fixes.  Right now our city is being marred by horrific random acts of violence that have me scared shitless. Scared enough to have us contemplating moving again, but today, I'm proud to be here.

I'm proud to live in a city where our beloved Mayor McHottie said "Screw you, George Bush, " and married hundreds of gay couples, sparking a national trend. Obama-Newsom '08, anyone?

I'm proud to live in a city that Nancy Pelosi calls home.

I'm proud to live in a city that Dianne Feinstein calls home.  The senator received more votes than any other candidate running for office.

I'm proud to live in a city where 77% of voters said, "Keep your laws off of our sisters' bodies," and helped to defeat Prop. 85.

I'm proud to live in a city where rainbow flags fly proudly.

I'm proud of Joe Montana.

I'm proud to live in a city where civil discourse is encouraged. People protest and march supporting their issues everyday. Even if people don't agree with the issues being touted, rallies are peaceful.

I'm proud to live in a city where people go to the symphony wearing jeans and no one bats an eyelash.  We can be haughty, but we aren't fancy.

I'm proud to live in a city where people come to reinvent themselves or follow their dreams. Where anything seems possible especially if you are into computers or technology.

I'm proud to live in a city where San Francisco values are a reflection of me and the people that live here. We're quirky, fickle, and opinionated, but we're also inclusionary, compassionate, and independent.

And, you betcherass we'll fight to finish for what we believe in.

"Mayor McHottie" (the term) goes national

I can't believe ABC News led off a headline with the words "Mayor McHottie." I don't know whether to laugh hysterically or hang my head in shame.

I kid because I love. (Yes, I know I have a problem.)