Peter Ragone, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Communications Director, today called my request of his boss to attend tomorrow’s Budget and Finance Committee to present his “Violence Response” supplemental appropriation a “publicity stunt”. San Francisco’s premier spin-doctor failed to address any of the material criticisms of the legislation lodged by the universally respected Budget Analyst, Harvey Rose.

In the past few weeks, I deferred to protocol by waiting until the Budget Analyst was able to prepare a report on the supplemental before calendaring the item in Committee. While the Mayor’s Office and Departments were either unable or unwilling to get the Budget Analyst the basic information necessary for the Budget Analyst to write his report, Ragone used this opportunity to accuse me of “playing politics with the City’s public safety.” This despite my commitment to calendar the item as soon as the Budget Analyst was able to complete their report. In another great moment of irony, Newsom recorded a political phone message on the topic that was used in the District 6 Supervisor race.

Sometimes a little humor is a great antidote to the grind of politics. In this vein, I have this to offer.