October 14, 2006
Brittanie's Fake ID?
As we think fondly back on our college days, we've come to the conclusion that alcohol is never going to taste as good as it did before we turned 21. That, however, may not be true for poor Brittanie Mountz, who just got busted by the Chronicle's Cecilia Vega for possibly drinking with the mayor while underage.
According to Sunday's Matier and Ross (posted on the 'Gate Saturday evening, which is why this is going up now), the Chron did some investigating and has confirmed that, based on her voter registration forms in Sonoma County, Brittanie Mountz's birthday is Sept. 17, 1986, making her 20 years old as of three weeks ago. 1986! The Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill came out in 1986! (Also, and possibly more damning, Brittanie Mountz is a registered Republican. Ooooooh.)
Anyhow, so Cecilia Vega asked the mayor if he had been drinking with Ms. Mountz at the Westfield Mall opening, based on some pictures she'd seen from the event at DrewAltizer.com. (The pictures of Brittanie with a wine glass have since been taken down from the site.) Gavin then blew a gasket, telling reporters on Friday, "I've got to deal with all kinds of terrible calls from reporters doing horrible things that are mean-spirited."
However, spin doctor and mayoral spokesperson Peter Ragone is now saying as follows:
Brittanie is a friend of the mayor's. They did not attend the Bloomingdale's event together. Obviously there has been some uncertainty about her age. However, given what The Chronicle has dug up on her, if she was in fact drinking, that is a mistake.
Ragone also says that Gavin has never plied Brittanie with alcohol, and Gavin has no knowledge about whether or not Brittanie's ever drunk underage. "If she was drinking, the mayor didn't notice." You never know -- maybe it was sparkling apple cider she was having!
Update: An eagle-eyed reader of both SFist and the Nob Hill Gazette has found a picture of Brit with a wine glass.
Picture of Mountz courtesy of Drew Altizer, www.drewaltizer.com.
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Brittanie was also drinking at another event for Trevor Traina with Dede Wilsey attending. It was a photo with a huge glass of wine. Hear she was tipsy at the Levi's Lucky event also. Brittanie should stick with her College Friends when she busts out her Fake I.D. Doesn't look good for the Mayor.
"We've come to the conclusion that alcohol is never going to taste as good as it did before we turned 21" is a great line, Ms. Rita. And thank you, popo, for the Trevor Traina/Dede Wilsey aiding and abeting the delinquency of an underage drinker reminder. Wasn't it at that ghastly affair commemorating a Traina engagement at the deYoung where the Mayor was bowling Stanley Gatti flower arrangements down the staircase? Or am I getting this confused with yet another fabulous charity event?
Oh no, a glass of wine. The world will end :-)
When are you people going to get over this alcohol hang-up and realise that there are far more serious problems in the US than an adult having a glass or wine or a beer.
She can drive, get married, go to war (or be sent there), own a gun and vote, but she's not responsible enough to have a glass of champagne at a public opening party? Stupid law. Either ban all adults from drinking, or allow all adults the choice of whether they drink.
Since nobody seems to want to confront it, I will: Its totally creepy to see our mayor, who is THIRTY NINE, bumping uglies with Miss Barely Legal. There's barely grass on the lawn, for chrissakes.
I'll confront it for you, buddy: have a glass of wine, relax, and keep off the mayor's personal life.
There's barely grass on the lawn, for chrissakes.
Wow, I gotta remember that one!
Again, am I the only one who thinks her name bespeaks an intent to go into adult entertainment?
The law is the law, John, and even though someone who is 20 is technically an adult, drinking alcohol is still illegal. I agree that the drinking age should be lowered to 18, but that's not really the point, is it? What she was doing was illegal, and the Mayor knew about it. Peter Ragone is a complete idiot if he thinks we're going to buy that BS about Newsom being unaware of anything. We're not stupid.
The Chron did get something wrong, though: she's not an alum. According to her Facebook profile, she's in Sonoma's Class of 2008. Of course, if she were smarter she would've changed that when she changed her MySpace age, but whatever.
And I agree, it's really gross when a 39-year-old man is dating a teenager. More than that, it just doesn't look good. But I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.
I'll take you one farther Sarah. I'm half expecting a Vanity Fair spread with "Brit Mounts" in Catholic Schoolgirl outfit, in High School Cheerleader outfit, in Babysitter outfit, etc.
I suppose what's most disturbing is how the mayor keeps going out with these vapid types. It's said one can judge a man by the company he keeps. Well, hate to say it but I'm judging. And sorry, but personal life or not when a 40-year old man is dating a girl young enough to be his daughter, you have to wonder what that says about his agenda that determines the fate of our fair city.
Won't anyone think of the children?
Forgive my naivete, but is everyone sure this is an amorous, romantic relationship? If it is, it is gross given that he is 39 and she is 20. But is it possible they are good friends and she is currently his date to various events? I don't read the gossip columns that regularly so maybe I missed something, but is it possible Gavin is smart enough to know he will destroy his reputation if he sleeps with 20-year olds?
I'm going to have to agree with the "Anonymous" comment. It's never been confirmed that they were ever a couple. Indeed, no one I know who is acquainted with the mayor seems to think they were ever dating at all.
Even if there was an initial romantic attraction, it certainly wouldn't be the first time a girl has lied about her age.
Personally, I think it looks like an embarrassing mistake on the part of our gorgeous mayor. Poor fella. Next time, do your homework!
I suppose it's possible that she lied to him about her age. It seems silly that she would think she could get away with it, though. This is the age of information. No one's personal business is private anymore.
http://citymama.typepad.com/citymama/2006/10/gavin_newsoms_s.html#comments
It is not so much the underage drinking that is the problem. It is the Mayor saying he never saw her drink, while standing there in a picture with her holding up a huge Chardonnay. Mayors shouldn't lie!!! Can we trust him now?
maybe he's just really bad at math.
I sure hope Brittanie wasn't a page for the Board of Supervisors...and please, Gavin, tell me you weren't IMing her!
Hmmm... But do we really know he was lying and how much of a big deal is this really? I understand that the press needs to make it's money somehow, but the reality is he was probably never dating her and they did not attend that particular event together.
All that said, is it possible that Gavin had more things on his mind than what was in her glass. I'm inclined to think so. Sounds to me like he just doesn't want to be bothered with the situation and who could blame him, it looks bad.
Ok I am a bit prejudiced (heehee), but doesn't what I'm saying carry at least some merit? In this day and age we get so excited about the slightest bit of gossip and are quick to jump on our high horse, but we forget sometimes that we're talking about people's lives here so insinuating the worst with almost no information to confirm it is just not fair.
Everyone who never touched the Demon Liquor before they were of legal drinking age raise your hands. Anyone?
For those that never did drink before they were 21, keep your hands raised if you've never broken any laws, especially minor ones. You've never driven over the speed limit. You've never crossed against a light, or jaywalked. You always wear your seatbelt when you take a cab, of course. You've never entered a public park after sunset or before sunrise.
(I trust you would never lie about this, either. Especially to people who could get you in trouble, or damage your reputation, or exploit it for their own gain.)
Since the number of people still with their hands up is exactly zero, I ask, "How can I trust anything you say, lawbreaker?"
The guy is a geek! He is socially inept and the young girls are evidence that he has no idea who he is. I know, pretty esoteric, but ask him to jump off the rhetoric wagon and you have nothing but a greased back politician.
In my opinion:
1. Britannie isn't thinking too much if she attends events with the mayor and drinks. She is old enough to know not to do this in front of him in public places.
2. The mayor should have asked her not to drink in his presence and not have lied about her drinking when it when the press made a big deal about it. Yes, he made a mistake but that, in my opinion, is not the issue. To me the issue is whether or not our 39 year old mayor is actually in a romantic relationship with a 20 year old. If he is, that doesn't show much in terms of judgement, maturity, or decency on his end. In fact, it would be, for want of a better word, "yucky".
Why is it all of us actually care about this and spend our time reading and posting on blog sites about this? Why don't we go out and get a life? At least to me, it is because we would like and expect our elected leaders to live their lives in a respectable manner. I know this sounds corny, but I don't want my city run by a man I cannot respect. I have liked Gavin up to this point and hope he and Brittanie are really just friends. If, on the other hand, they actually are dating my opinion of him will certainly decrease and I will think twice before I vote for him again. And until I know which of the two it is, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty, right?
I could not believe that even Jay Leno made a joke about this last night on his show...while insinuating Gavin was probably gay.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2581600&page=1
From the article: "Everyone expects him to have this big political career, but he makes alot of bad choices..... He lets his hormones take over."
He's on Jay Leno and making national news on abcnews.com!
whoa, 20 is a very good age. I see no problem in a guy who's 40, 50 or more going out with a 20 year old. from my experience it does get boring unless the 20 year old is particularly bookish, or creative, but seriously you guys out in their in your 30's 40's 50's, you wouldn't mind being with a 20 year old. I'm 40 and my last girlfriend was 19, and she was super hot, and it lasted 3 years. now my gal is 24...another advantage of getting them young (outside of the sweet bodies and open minds) is that they are less americanized...American women in general are rather insecure, and uptight compared to europeans, latin americans, and many asian women.
ok now on to real societal concerns.
You said a mouthful Andy! Like you and Mayor NEwsom,I have always dated young thangs. Since I have been about 55, I need to travel to get top notch 'dates'. Cambodia is best. Vietnam second best. Its all the same thing my money and influence as a westerner in Thailand is similar to Newsoms money and influence to a 19 year old restaurant hostess. I say the younger the better.
Go Gavin!!!!
To comments 24 and 25:
All I can say is how pathetic!!
omg!!!!!!!!!!! she was so using him to drink dat was so f***** slow!!!!!!!!!!!!