April 11, 2007
Gavin in the Clear
The City's Atttorney's Office came out today to say that as far as they know, there was nothing improper about handing over thousand of dollars of "catastrophic illness pay" to Ruby Rippey-Tourk. The payment had become a bit of an issue because Ruby was able to get money reserved for "catastrophic illness" and nobody is quite sure why she needed it.
City Attorney Dennis Herrera declined to give a comment but just told everyone to check out the report. So here it is.
While the report says Gavin did nothing illegal, it did go onto say that there's still questions about all that time off Ruby got and whether she was given preferential treatment. In fact, the report says they weren't able to determine where Ruby went during all the time off or what problem she had. It might have helped if they were actually able to talk to either Ruby or Alex Tourk, her husband, but were never able to.
Reaction, of course, is all over the place. ABC 7 mainly says Gavin's free and easy these days, although Aaron Peskin says the whole thing "raises questions." In a surprise to no one, the Bay Guardian says that the report is "far from reassuring" that everything was on the up-and-up.
All of which means that there is just enough questions out there to make sure this issue might never go away.
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I suspect the monthly payments to the Tourks by the mayor were contingent upon their silence. Perhaps I'm off base, but the silence is truly amazing and seems highly suspect. I hope they were not strong-armed into a deal by the Newsom PR machine, but that seems to be his way. That's why it was particularly offensive to hear his dopey girlfriend verbally assault these people. The mayor got to screw Ruby, then Alex, and then his girlfriend got to do it too. The ruling class always wins.
Well, my sympathies to RRTourk. She must really be sick as Mitch Katz clearly states he wouldn't sign off on CIP for only substance abuse. And thank you SF, it's nice to know your employees can call in sick and get paid after a long night of binging. Cool!
No surprises here, looks like Dennis is banking on not rocking the boat and hurting his financing in the future, when he runs for the next public office and goes hat in hand to Gordon Getty or any other of Gavins rich friends for support. The only way we would ever know if any laws were broken would be if a review were held for all those people working for the city that were charged with timecard violations to see if they too were treated in the same generous manner. If they were white, connected and rich they probably got off too.
In other words,
Mistakes Were Made.
Right?
Campers,
Ed Jew says he wants a Board hearing. Peskin says ominously that the Board has the power to subpoena the Tourks. They wouldn't do something like that in an election year would they?
Follow the money. I'm betting you won't find a single canceled 15k monthly check from Gavin to Alex Tourk. Tourk turned down a job with Platinum Advisers (Run by Gavin's chief fundraiser) and went into business for himself. Says he's doing great.
Questions. What's the name of Tourk's new business? Who are all these new clients? Is he a registered consultant? If so, (don't laugh) but I think they have to file quarterly or something if they are.
Bottom line is that Alex should have around 4 million in non-returnable retainers from names like PG&E and Platinum Advisers to keep his mouth shut.
Marc Salomon for Mayor!
h.
I'd just hate to think the Tourks were under a payment gag order from Newsom while his little witch actress got to trash them in the press. I like h. brown's theory. If that's the case, at least Alex and Ruby got their quid pro quo.
Was their a stain on the dress or what? Are we impeaching? Oh wait, wrong decade and witch hunt
maybe that's what's in her sealed medical records--a little ripped-off square piece of a white evening gown with a stain on it.
Was any of it in coins?
did anyone notice an afterthought in the Examiner's April 12 issue about Alex Tourk now heading SF Connect? Hidden between a couple of commas way down the page is an interesting toss-in item. Here's the short paragraph:
"Tourk, who is now separated from his wife, will do the work for SF Connect through a consulting firm, Ground Floor Public Affairs, that he launched last month."
Notice the "who is now separated from his wife?" Interesting, eh? Sounds like Alex hasn't responded as Ruby may have expected when she read Step 9 literally and informed Alex of her affair. At least, her "amends" appaently were not enough for Alex.
I have believed from the beginning that she had no intention of informing Alex but had to do it before the news hit the papers in February.
This is a sad case,not for Ruby or Alex but for their child. The poor kid doesn't know what's happening now, but one he will, and it will stick with him for a helluva long time.
This is where our parking meter money has gone.
I agree with Robert G. above that she had no intention of telling Alex. Otherwise she'd be making a clean breast of these financial issues as well. Apparently step 9 doesn't extend to ripped-off taxpayers.
If only the public had as much "broad discretion" as the DPH and City Controller. Then we could revisit our votes in the last mayoral election similarly to Ruby Rippey Tourk receiving CIP funds prior to her leave.
I agree with Robert G. above that she had no intention of telling Alex. Otherwise she'd be making a clean breast of these financial issues as well. Apparently step 9 doesn't extend to ripped-off taxpayers.
If only the public had as much "broad discretion" as the DPH and City Controller. Then we could revisit our votes in the last mayoral election similarly to Ruby Rippey Tourk receiving CIP funds prior to her leave.
campers,
I googled Alex's supposed new business: 'Ground Floor Public Affairs'. Hmmmmm, apparently, for a new firm that's doing so well, they are relying on word of mouth. Normally, a consultant firm is proud to list their clients. Alex hasn't even listed his firm.
This is a a shell-game for a payout. Only question is, who gets the most? Now that the Tourks are separated, I'd assume they'd have separate advisers and lawyers to guide them. So, Alex has the 'Ground Floor' thing (give us a location and number so we can send you some business, Alex). And Ruby has? I see fundraiser after her name on some document somewhere. Willie paid the babe he impregnated a million bucks during a similar period of a campaign (against Ammiano?). He listed her as a fundraiser entitled to an obscene percentage of take and nobody squeaked.
If this 'Project Connect' thing is Alex's only client, he's screwed. They've cut their projections for year's fundraising from a million down to half a million. Even if they give him 95% of the take, it ain't gonna be enough of a nest egg for him. Face it Alex, if Newsom wins in November, you are never going to work in this town again. Get tough, kid. The court's gonna hand you the child cause you're the best equipped. Get every dime you can in the bank by 2 weeks before the election. After that? Sam Singer is gonna ask: "Alex who?" when his secretary says you're on the other line.
I see at least 2 novels coming from this (I want to ghost-write at least one). I'd recommend they book time on Maury for their own DNA showdown.
And no Progressive politician has the nerve to run against this guy?
h.
It is a sad situation for the Tourk's, especially since there is a child involved. Newsom will bounce back, but these people don't have his wealth or connections, so this was so much worse for them. That's why I was so sicked by Newsom's idiot girlfriend's commentary in the press. She said disgusting things about a family already down for the count.
I find it really telling that the mayor continues his relationship with her. If Alex was such a good friend, and he was truly sorry, why did he let her get away with screwing him and Ruby too?
h. brown, interesting conspiracy theory, and I agree on the novels-- they're going to be great.
I hate to burst your bubble but Alex has more clients than just SF Connect. Here's his web site: gfpublicaffairs.com. His clients are Maria Shriver, CPMC, NPA, and SF Connect -- which was actually his 4th client.
According to your calculations, that means he's probably pulling in $500K, 5 X as much as when he worked for the city. You can probably stop losing sleep over his nest egg.
Apparently he's a highly competent person with 10 years of political work behind him in the Bay Area and not a single enemy.
As for Ruby, she still works at Benefit Magazine, where she's worked since she left City Hall. Quite a cover if she's been paid a million dollars.
The most plausible explanation to me for their silence is that their poor family has been devastated and they want to move on.
Besides, what should they say? Should the public know more private details? That the mayor was the seducer and the affair lasted for months? Who cares?
Newsom's enemies want the Tourks to come forward and vilify him. I think they're doing the smart thing by refusing to turn their personal lives into a tool for someone else's agenda. (newsom or his enemies)
h. brown, interesting conspiracy theory, and I agree on the novels-- they're going to be great.
I hate to burst your bubble but Alex has more clients than just SF Connect. Here's his web site: gfpublicaffairs com. His clients are Maria Shriver, CPMC, NPA, and SF Connect -- which was actually his 4th client.
According to your calculations, that means he's probably pulling in $500K, 5 X as much as when he worked for the city. You can probably stop losing sleep over his nest egg.
Apparently he's a highly competent person with 10 years of political work behind him in the Bay Area and not a single enemy.
As for Ruby, she still works at Benefit Magazine, where she's worked since she left City Hall. Quite a cover if she's been paid a million dollars.
The most plausible explanation to me for their silence is that their poor family has been devastated and they want to move on.
Besides, what should they say? Should the public know more private details? That the mayor was the seducer and the affair lasted for months? Who cares?
Newsom's enemies want the Tourks to come forward and vilify him. I think they're doing the smart thing by refusing to turn their personal lives into a tool for someone else's agenda. (newsom or his enemies)
i have a hunch the Tourks are going to need every penny received from Newsom and the citizens of San Francisco, plus a lot more, for legal bills before this thing is over, if that day ever arrives. Based on his client list, Alex is probably doing well, but now that he is separated from Ruby, she may need a raise from Benefit Magazine.