"Jeff Gannon, Jamal Smith, More Scandal..."Feb. 06‚ 2007Paul, You wrote: "When explaining to me his involvement in various local media, one politico nicknamed Gaskin the 'Jeff Gannon' of San Francisco – referring to the discredited reporter who the Bush Administration allowed access to the White House press conferences so he could ask them softball questions." You are wrong about me being "discredited" and also the allegation that the White House somehow allowed me access for the purpose of asking softball questions. No one has ever successfully challenged the veracity of the 500 articles I wrote while a reporter for Talon News. Further, I have always been an independent conservative journalist taking direction from no government official. You can read more about this in my forthcoming book. Cheers, Jeff Gannon Dear Editor, For the second time in NINE days, 2 blocks from my home, I have seen Eddy and Laguna closed off to police tape after a shooting of a young person in BROAD DAY LIGHT. It is Deja Vu of the worst kind imaginable. January 27th's tragedy was fatal for 20 year old Jamal Smith. Today's shooting of a 17 year old has not proven fatal so far, thankfully. But we have a Mayor so sidetracked with his adolescent whims, that he cannot govern this city. I realize today he announced he is seeking rehab, but since he states this is no impediment to being Mayor, then this is certainly not going to become an excuse for his lack of leadership, creativity and resourcefulness in addressing the crisis in my community the last few years. Back in July I emailed Newsom and implored him to declare a state of emergency due to the tragic homicide rate amongst our youth. I did not even get a response! After the media bombshell last week, I now know why; he is battling his inner demons of being a shallow, self centered narcissist and he doesn't possess any true concern for us. We would have been so much better off if Matt Gonzalez had won! Stop playing cheerleader to your incompetent boy wonder, and provide real journalism to the voters of San Francisco. We need a Mayor with the maturity and skill set to govern this city. It is just like Kanye West said about George Bush, Newsom (and his staff) do not care about Back people! Tami Bryant Editor, As someone who is now not a fan of the mayor, I think the Chronicle is doing us all a favor and responding to the ethos of the city and its readership, by covering matters that really affect the citizens of the city. As a population, we're done with this scandal, we don't need any of minute details you seem to be suggesting. Who benefits from a reading of these time sheets and whose going to pay for their reading? The thoroughness you seem to suggest in the quest for justice reads like looking for blood by someone who really hates the mayor and further focus on this will only recast the Mayor as a sympathetic character daunted by ferocious foes for whom he can do no good. I do not want to see this occur. Right now, I don't see how this stains anyone more than the mayor so I don't concur with your interpretation that the woman bears the burden here. She has a marriage and recovery to work on but she can heal. The mayor now carries this with him forever. Presuming he wants to move up the echelons of power, this will always now be part of his narrative. Also as a fellow nonprofiteer I find it curious that you can serve as an Executive Director of Tenderloin Housing and have the time to get knee deep in this morass and write about it. Wouldn't your consituency be better served by going to meet some donors? Incredible Daze You can submit letters to the editor by clicking on this link: rshaw@beyondchron.org or by writing to: Beyond Chron 126 Hyde Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415-771-9850 (phone) 415-771-1287 (fax) |