Chronicle Lets Newsom Off the HookPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Oct. 17‚ 2008It’s incredible to what extent the SF Chronicle will simply quote Mayor Gavin Newsom—without providing any context that would expose the irony of his statements. In Chuck Nevius’ October 4th column about the unwieldy number of local propositions, the Mayor laments how he “failed completely” at keeping the list short—although Newsom himself could have removed Propositions L or P. And in yesterday’s Chronicle story on Proposition B (the housing set-aside), the Mayor chided the Board of Supervisors for not redirecting more money to affordable housing—rather than placing a charter amendment on the ballot. Never mind that an 8-3 veto-proof majority of the Board redirected $33 million last year—only to have Newsom himself refuse to spend the money, and then de-appropriate it in the City budget. If the Chronicle’s going to favorably quote the Mayor (and editorialize in support of his positions), they owe it to their readers to at least provide an adequate context behind his statements. |