February 13, 2007

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

What were your thoughts when news broke about San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s affair with Ruby Rippey Tourk, his former appointment secretary and the wife of his top aide? Has this changed your opinion of him as mayor? Do you think he should resign?
(Asked at Via Valiente Plaza)

“Gavin Newsom was not very smart. It hasn’t really changed my opinion; I already had a pretty seedy opinion of him. No, I don’t think he should resign. It’s a personal matter and it doesn’t impact his ability to do the job.”

Kathleen Garcia, 39
Almaden
Hewlett Packard


“I thought it was a shame. I guess I’m not surprised anymore by anything I read or see. The fact that she worked for him adds another element to the story, but no one has mentioned sexual harassment. Up to now I haven’t had much of an opinion of him, but I always thought of him as really clean and boyish. Guess that doesn’t fit him now. No, he shouldn’t resign.”

Naomi Pascale, 57
Almaden
Retired


“It reminded me of the Clinton situation. I thought it was a pretty dumb thing to do. He obviously wasn’t thinking when he did it. No, it hasn’t changed my opinion of him. I think he’s still a good mayor and that he has done a lot of good things for San Francisco. I just think it’s a shame he had to do that. No, he should not resign.”

Diana Keith, 47
Almaden
Retired


“It’s kind of a disappointment. It’s silly and a dumb thing to do. It’s somewhat changed my opinion. I don’t believe in his policies anyway—I’m a reformed Democrat. He should not resign, whoever they choose would be worse.”

William Cassidy, 81
Evergreen
Retired


"I wasn’t totally surprised because nowadays so many of these things go on. No, it hasn’t changed my opinion. I didn’t particularly like him in the first place. Yes, I think he should resign.”

Siu Yeung, 30ish
Almaden
Business planning manager


"It’s a trust issue, I just found out a friend of mine from out of town has been having an affair for a couple of years. When a person is in the public eye and you do something like that to your best friend, then people lose trust in you. He should go, human beings make mistakes, but he should still go. It’s sad because he was doing a good job. Some people can hide it. Yes it did change my opinion, I thought he was a decent guy."

Amand Kancherlapalli, 49
Almaden
Health care


“I haven’t heard about it. I don’t watch the news that much. But it shows his character is lacking. He’s not of man of integrity. Things like that matter."

Mary Anne Tanner, 54
Almaden
Disabled


“It was not a good thing, not good at all. He did this to his campaign manager and a good friend. It doesn’t set a good example for the people [of San Francisco]. Infidelity is not a good thing. I didn’t really have an opinion of him because I don’t follow San Francisco politics. I think it’s up to the voters whether or not he should resign. They voted him in. He needs to decide if he can still get support from the citizens of San Francisco.”

Betty Newkirk
Almaden
Substitute teacher