It's Just A Question

We had an interesting conversation with Mayor Gavin Newsom this evening about the Baker’s Dozen controversy, and we thought it was important to stream the entire interview for a number of reasons. Primarily, it was the first time that he addressed the controversy in detail. We also took the opportunity to ask Newsom about a published report in the Chronicle Monday that claimed he was under the influence of alcohol and acted inappropriately when he visited the hospital the night SFPD Officer Bryan Tuvera was shot to death. No reporter’s been able to get a response to the report from Newsom, so I asked the question. I’m providing a transcript of the entire interview. Again, you’ll see two questions about the Baker’s Dozen, and then – about 3:45 into the exchange – the drinking question.

Dan: I’m asking about the attack on the Yale students over New Year’s and, you know, it’s kind of spreading across the country; a couple other, some news outlets in other countries are picking it up. I wonder, are you concerned at all about the image of the city?

Mayor Newsom: I think there’s, I think before everyone overreacts and I think a lot of misinformation’s been out there. Uh, and uh, a lot suggestions that I don’t think are necessarily founded are being put into play. People are hiring attorneys everywhere and there’s a lot of p.r. and spin that’s been provided. So, I’m hoping everyone tempers things, we have a professional investigation, investigations don’t happen overnight and they certainly don’t happen in the media. And, I think people need to be cautious before photographs are put on the air, before investigative reports are leaked, people need to consider does that help the investigation or does it hurt it. And I think it hurts it and I think we all should just temper and move forward. This stuff just flames the fire and then creates this media attention which some people like. I don’t think it’s good for the city, to answer your question, obviously it’s not, but you know, there’s still a lot of questions I have. Why were these kids, they’re all underage, why were they in a home with a lot of liquor, how’d they get the liquor, what the heck were they doing down there, why is everyone hiring an attorney, who’s culpable, who’s not? You know, I have confidence, I have spent the last two days with the investigators, spent an hour with them today, literally an hour, going again through every detail and all these assertions in the press, and I have confidence we’re marching down the right path. They’re going to be meeting with the uh, the uh Yale kids tomorrow down in Southern California where they’re already going to be and hopefully we’ll get closer to having someone identify a witness, not just someone who’s wearing a hat that they think necessarily was uh, or identify a culprit, not just someone they think was a culprit.

Dan: Okay, I appreciate that, I’m almost finished. I wonder if you have concerns at all about the police handling of this. There’s been criticism that they should have made an arrest early on, and they haven’t talked to the guys for ten days.

Mayor Newsom: Well, they uh, they’ve been trying. We were supposed to interview them today at three o’clock, but they decided they have a new attorney, Jim Hammer, of all people, it’s interesting, a friend of mine. Used to work with my wife—ex-wife, and uh they’re going to be doing it in L.A., so they’ve been trying to arrange that for some time. That being said, uh, you got to arrest people because people have identified people and have signed affidavits saying that person did it. You’re going to find there’s a lot of information, I’m not going to talk about it in the press, too much has been talked about, but based on what I know, I think people need to just take a deep breath, let the facts take shape, uh, challenge now is you got a lot of interesting nuanced folks, this attorney, that attorney, a new attor-, I think there’s three attorneys now.

Dan: Right.

Mayor Newsom: One’s a potential mayoral candidate who’s involved, I mean, this thing’s getting a little crazy, so just everyone temper. The sad thing is this poor family had your young kid beaten up badly, and we’re gonna have to find out who did that and we’re gonna do it in a professional and respectful manner. Someone will be held account, and if it’s more than one person, more than one person. Epithets that were apparently thrown out, if those are determined to be accurate, that’s disgraceful and outrageous, there’s no place in San Francisco and so I’m very disappointed in the behavior of all of these kids that were involved in this incident. Apparently, a lot of people were fighting on all sides and it’s a good reminder how important it is to remind our parents to be good stewards of underage drinking.

Dan: I appreciate that, the only other question I have is, it hasn’t been a very easy week for you, and I wonder whether you have any comment on the Matier and Ross story about the drinking.

Mayor Newsom: I thank you very much. That was a great cheap shot. (walks away) You can’t help yourself. (claps hands together) You cannot. Just know for the record, it’s increasingly impossible to have a conversation with you because I don’t trust you.

Dan: Mayor, it was out there. Mayor, it was out there.

Mayor Newsom: Nah, you know, you just, so just know it’s not personal when I walk by you. You just send some other reporters; it’s going to be a lot easier now.

Dan: Mayor, it’s not personal here either.

Mayor Newsom: I don’t have any animus towards Channel 7.

Dan: I’m sorry?

Mayor Newsom: You, you keep missing consistently a lot of facts because your opinion is so enthusiastic to get in the way all the time. And Dan, let me tell you, the investigation was not helped by a lot of things that are in your report. Just stating that factually, as well.

Dan: It’s just a story, Mayor.

A few more notes on the Baker’s Dozen controversy…

The couple whose daughter hosted the party, Reno Rapagnani and Leanna Dawydiak, tell me no alcohol was served at the party; they had lots of food and soft drinks. But, some of the young men who were involved in the attack on the Baker’s Dozen apparently brought alcohol to the party, and weren’t sharing with other guests – some of whom reportedly asked for a beer. Rapagnani and Dawydiak were not there the night of the incident; they were celebrating New Year’s Eve at a hotel in the city. But, their home is connected to the townhouse next door, where adult family members were checking in on the Baker’s Dozen celebration.

By the way, we mentioned on the air the couple’s connection to the SFPD – they both worked in the legal division, and got swept up in the Fajitagate scandal. Today, the Bay Area Reporter had a good description of what happened:

“In 2002, Dawydiak and Rapagnani discovered their SFPD colleagues were mishandling evidence of police misconduct in the infamous Fajitagate case. Public Defender Jeff Adachi called for a Police Commission investigation into the matter after Rapagnani and Dawydiak told the San Francisco Daily Journal that they quit working in the SFPD legal office after discovering that such key information was being withheld, which did not endear the couple to their co-workers. Dawydiak and Rapagnani sued the city in federal court, claiming that after they publicly criticized the department, they were unjustly blamed for leaking an officer's disciplinary reports to the media. They were later cleared. Dawydiak resigned from the legal division, fearing she'd put her license to practice law at risk by providing incomplete officer personnel information to the courts. The department abandoned the misconduct charges and gave the couple $25,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming their colleagues had sought to punish them. Rapagnani, who worked for the department for 30 years, claims he was forced to retire in January 2005 after the department transferred him out of the legal unit and brought formal disciplinary charges against him.”

Comments

[Teddy Longorian]

Gavin Newsome should be ashamed of himself for two reaons: 1) This interview reveals what an utter idiot the guy really is; a poor command of the English language combined with a superficial command of the facts in the Yale case - embarassing for SF and California. 2) He clearly has the kind of short temper not fitting a politician of his "position."

Let's get rid of this imposter, and elect some real leadership next time around.

[Katy]

Great job Dan! Don't worry about the Mayor's comments. Love watching/reading abc7news. Especially I-Team and 7 on your side. Keep up the good work!

[Brenda]

That was stupid. Way to burn those bridges Dan. Like we don't have enough tabloid pseudo-journalism being shoved down our throats.

[dans a bum]

DAN NOYES LOW BLOW AT NEWSOM WAS A TOTAL CHEAP SHOT AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE YALE CHOIR GIRLS BEATING. NOYES HAS A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST NEWSOM THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF UNBIASED REPORTING. FINALLY, ABC'S STUPID AND THEY'RE JEOPARDIZING AN ON-GOING INVESTIGATION BY MAKING PUBLIC POLICE CAD RECORDS AND POLICE INCIDENT REPORTS FROM THE NIGHT'S EVENTS, INFORMATION THAT IS PROTECTED FOR A REASON. ALSO, MEDIA OUTLETS ARE BROADCASTING PICTURES OF THE ACCUSED BEFORE THE VICTIMS HAVE ID-ED THEM FURTHERMORE PREMATURELY CONVICTS THEM WHETHER THEY DID IT OR NOT. AS FOR RAPAGNANI, HE'S JUST COVERING HIS OWN ASS BY SAYING THE ACCUSED WERE THE ONLY ONES DRINKING ALCOHOL AT A NEW YEARS EVE PARTY, A NIGHT NOTORIOUS FOR RAMPANT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. OTHERWISE, HE COULD BE AT FAULT AT LEAST CIVILLY FOR ILLICIT ACTIVITY GOING ON AT HIS HOME. AS A HOMEOWNER HOSTING A PARTY, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR GUESTS. RAPAGNINI IS JUST JUMPING AT THE CHANCE TO EMBARRASS THE SFPD, SINCE HE FEELS THEY "DID HIM WRONG" DURING THE FAJITATE FIASCO. THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY LOVES TO FUEL CONTROVERSIES, ANYTHING TO SELL PAPERS AND BOOST RATINGS. BY THE WAY SACRED HEART HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PEOPLE'S TENDENCIES TO "BEAT PEOPLE FOR NO REASON" OR BE "HATEFUL TO HOMOS" AS OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED. RIP SEAMUS

[Jeff]

CHEAP SHOT is what it is!! DESPERATE journalist - will do anything to get a pat on the back.

[Paule]

This is ridiculous!! KGO-TV may be so desperate to allow this attack on Newsom in an effort to boost their rating? It is such a turn off!!! Focus,Focus, focus....the interview is regarding the Yale choir

[sf native]

i think mayor newsom is absolutely accurate in his statements and should be commended. people need to realize that dan noyes is telling (as he put it) "a story" and not presenting facts. all he is doing is making things worse than they already are. i am very happy with the way mayor newsom handled himself in this situation. dan noyes probably used the same ambush tactics on the aicardis when he first went to their house to interview them! i would bet my life on it... it would not surprise me one bit if that is why they delined an interview. he should be working for a tabloid, not a news team. in fact, i am going to give US weekly a call right now and tell them they have a new candidate for their gossip column regarding stories that get blown out of proportion that dont need to be (like paris hilton twisting an ankle in the bedroom or something of the sort.) GOOD JOB MAYOR NEWSOM!

on a side note, the matier and ross thing was ridiculous in the first place. he was at a christmas party! if he had a couple drinks so what? its the holidays. im sure drinks were being served. the fact that he left the social event to visit the family in the hospital is something that sould be applauded. lets not be hypocritical people.
again... kudos to newsom.

[sf native]

i just went through the i-team archives and found out that good ol dan noyes is the guy who blamed the firefighter in october for the death of that suicidal kid in the city who fell from the rooftop. that bugged me back then but it bugs me even more now that i see how slimy dan noyes can be. as if i didnt think this guy wasnt credible in the first place that just put me over the top. give it up danny... youre not the solution, youre the problem.
good day

[SF Taxpayer]

Dan Noyes is a sensationalist jerk who takes great pleasure in promoting biased stories and obnoxiousness. I hope his career goes down in flames someday and he is exposed for the scum of the earth that he is.

Dan's biased reporting ruined the life of one of my best friends, who ultimately committed suicide. To this day, I am not sure how he sleeps at night.

I long for the day that he leaves our City alone and goes somemplace else for good.

[Jim]

Start reporting the truth Jim. From what I have heard your entire investigation is built on lies and fabrication. I hope ABC 7 can find a more competent person to fill your position.

[Charlie Manuel]

What about the cowardly postings here that think that the SFPD and Gavin Newsom are not in need of exposure on this issue? Did the guy who had his jaw broken in two places make it all up? Did the other members of the Yale singing group fake their injuries? It should be of concern to all residents of San Francisco if the SFPD did, indeed, completely mishandle this case and let a gang beating occur without taking appropriate legal action. You apologists for the Mayor Newsom are dead wrong.

[Matt]

Not a cheap shot at all. It was perfectly appropriate--after all, Newsom was talking about underage drinking at the Bakers' Dozen party, so he should expect criticism of drinking with his underage girlfriend.

[Joe]

Having read the Matier & Ross piece, I fail to see how it relates to this story. Mayor Newsom's reaction was justified.

Dan, your airing it in connection to this story is purient at best, un ethical at worst. Maybe you should go back to anchoring the new and leave reporting to those who know what they are doing.

As for Jim's comment, let's let the investigation play out before jumping to conclusions. We can be thankful to Dan for breaking the story, but not for the hype...

[Concerend]

Don't quit Dan, and don't let Newsomes paid shills posting here hold you back. Keep this story alive, don't let SanFran natives hide what a hole their cesspool has become.

[Morgan]

The Aicardis sure has a lot of friends posting here and a lot of friends in city hall and the SFPD. He and his brothers were identified by the photos taken during the beating and after they crashed the party. If they are innocent, why do they not come forward and in a public interview explain what happened? I

[J. Kelly]

wait a second! in the first report on this, Rapagnani said he heard the aicardi kid take out his phone and say "i'm 20 deep"...now it says Rapagnani wasn't even at the party, but at his own party at a hotel? WHAT?!

[Driscoll]

Removing the ad hominem attacks on Mr. Noyes's character from this argument, ask yourself this question: Is Mayor Newsom's response reasonable for someone in his position? Do you want all your publicly elected officials to behave in such a manner as to walk out on an interview when they don't like its direction?

Clearly, the mayor was surprised by the question about his drinking, but more than that, he appeared embarrassed. Further, he had no reasonable answer to the question. You would think that with the Matier & Ross article having been published days earlier, the mayor would have at least one if not several prepared answers to the question.

Increasingly, Mr. Newsom's public behavior is not in character with the image of a mayor for a major metropolis.

-Driscoll

[Officer]

HOW DARE YOU! The Yale story, who cares. Stupid drunk BOYS got in a fight with other stupid BOYS. There were no men involved here just juvenile behavior.

I am not a Mayor Newsom fan. However, an Officer was murdered in the line of Duty and Mayor Newsom cared enough to go to the hospital and comfort the family. Doesn't matter who likes or dislikes the mayor it is a show of respect to the family. I do not know of many mayors that would show up at the hospital during non work hours on a Friday night. WHO CARES if he had a few drinks or was drunk. He showed up and supported his Police Officers. How dare you ABC 7.This was not news, it was slander.

[John]

Whenever I see Dan Noyes, I remember the incident of a few years back where some guy was heckling him. Noyes got so peeved, he chased the guy down the street. All caught on tape.

[Adam]

With all due respect "Officer", bullshit. Dan asked about a published report by Matier & Ross. Ever heard of 'em? It's at least the second time Mayor Newsom's own drinking has been discussed in the Chronicle. We won't even go there about Brittanie Mountz's drinking in his presence. Dan asked for a comment on the story, didn't make any accusation of his own. That's what journalists do. If it was bunk, there's an opportunity for Newsom to discredit the story. Or rise above it and point out he was out late at night. The defensiveness and anger clearly suggests that the Mayor's conscience on the topic of drinking is not clear. That's why it's news. Deal with it.

[mattboi]

Adam you are a dumb ass. I actually do not really like Newsom but Noyes has once again gone way to far to further his own career. Matier and Ross are bullshiters too and spin stories left and right. Was HeatherFong at the hospital that night. Anyone on the police commission? Was Tom Ammiano or any one else on that useless board of supervisors? No. Newsom showed up to lend his support. I think Matier and Ross are real assholes to suggest that Bryan Tuvera's family did not want newsom there or that they did not appreciate the state he was in. They had him speak at his funeral a few days later so I don't think that they felt offended by Newsom being slightly intoxicated.

[Eve]

What's the matter with you people? Don't you want to understand the personal fiber of your mayor?

It's not an 8-hour a day job, it's 24x7. The City doesn't run 9 to 5, and neither can the guy who runs it. The decisions and actions of this person are continually and acknowledgedly open to criticism, and the ability to handle that is part of the job.

Is Dan Noyes taking a cheap shot to better his career? I doubt it. Folks, this isn't a career builder question, but I think it's telling that Mayor Newsom isn't capable of defending himself, and instead runs away like a little boy. You want to talk about juvenile behavior -- look no further.

Eve

[Adam]

Ok. Apparently I lick balls and am a dumb ass. How about we split the difference and say I'm a taint licker?

Feel free to return to the topic now. Newsom is hyper sensitive about his drinking. Why is that the case? Anyone?

[mattboi]

Of course this whole situation is a career builder for Noyes. Its either that or someone is paying him to keep this story relevant. This guy constantly goes after Newsom. they have a history of not liking each other. I'm surprised Newsom even commented on the Yale story, but I guess he was going to have to eventually. He did well though.

[cracKer]

Adam licks eves balls.