For those of you outside of the Bay Area, we've been witness to a nasty test of wills between Mayor Gavin Newsom and recently sacked Budget Chairman and de facto progressive leader Chris Daly over the shrinking City/County budget. This week, the gloves came off and each brought their true feelings to the surface. First, Daly levels long-rumored charges of cocaine use by Newsom at Tuesday's bored meeting, followed by denials from Newsom
Mayor Gavin Newsom categorically denied ever using cocaine Wednesday and blasted Supervisor Chris Daly for raising the allegation during a packed Board of Supervisors meeting a day earlier, saying his City Hall archenemy had brought San Francisco politics to a new low.
Newsom, who earlier this year entered rehab for a drinking problem, angrily responded to reporters' questions about whether he has ever used the drug, saying, "Absolutely not."
"I am associated with something that I don't do, never have, not even in the realm of reason should someone even accuse me of this," Newsom said.
Daly, a former housing-rights activist who is loved by some for being a passionate advocate and disdained by others for having a heated temper, raised the allegations during an impassioned speech Tuesday at a board hearing on $6 million in proposed cuts by the mayor's office to next year's Department of Public Health budget.
The supervisor, whose district includes the city's Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, said Newsom was hypocritically slashing substance-abuse treatment funds for poor people while he "artfully dodges every question about allegations of his own cocaine use."
Granted, the point Daly tried to make was that Newsom can afford the rehab he's currently seeking for a "drinking problem" while programs are being cut. Valid point. But did Daly step over the line (no pun intended)? Rumors were circulating for some time that Newsom enjoys a little snowfall in The City, but Daly was also very clumsy given the bad couple weeks he has had. First of all, Daly let Newsom get the better of him when he canclled a City Hall rally scheduled on the same day as Newsom. Then he cancelled a budget hearing. Finally, on Friday, Board President and fellow progressive Aaron Peskin kicked him off the budget committee. And now, Daly's opponents Daly's opponents are hitting back with accusations that he abuses methamphetamines.
As I said before, San Francisco is a smalll town politically. Everyone know everyone's personal business. To my fresh eyes, Daly prefers a sledgehammer where a scalpel works best. And at a time when violent crime is afflicting his closest allies' districts, he is increasingly finding himself standing alone in the budget war. If he keeps thise pace, we may beat Ed Jew to the exit door.