Tourk payments investigation clears and questions

By Steven T. Jones
The City Attorney's Office this morning released its investigation of payments the city made to Ruby Rippey-Tourk after she left her job as appointments secretary to Mayor Gavin Newsom, with whom she had an illicit affair, to enter substance abuse treatment. The report found no wrongdoing by any city officials and indicates Rippey-Tourk can keep the $10,000-plus that she received. But it also highlights the special treatment that Rippey-Tourk received and notes that investigators were hindered by her refusal to waive medical privacy rules.

The report concluded that the city's Catastrophic Illness Program, under which she received the money, gives the Department of Health Services (and its director Mitch Katz, who approved the payments to Rippey-Tourk) broad discretion in approving applications, although investigators found that no city employee has ever received it simply for substance abuse treatment and no employee has ever received payment after terminating their employment with the city, as Rippey-Tourk did. Mysteriously, the report also noticed there were two different forms of handwriting on the doctor's note that was included in her application. But because she wouldn't consent, investigators were prevented from delving into whether her claims were authentic and whether her condition could be considered life-threatening. It was only through media reports, including these in the Guardian, that the report mentioned substance abuse treatment.
Investigators did question top officials about whether the word came down to give Rippey-Tourk special treatment and all denied discussing it or her relationship with the mayor, which Newsom had an obvious interest in trying to keep secret at that point. But it does indicate that Phil Ginsburg (then head of human resources, now Newsom's chief of staff) and Katz discussed a request by Alex Tourk (who refused to speak with investigators) about getting some money for his wife, who at that point was about two months into her unpaid leave, and that Katz suggested the CIP program. Whether or not all concerned knew Rippey-Tourk had been having an affair with Newsom, they were certainly aware that she was close to the mayor and was married to the mayor's deputy chief of staff.
So, while this report contains no smoking guns and will likely bring this matter to a close -- at least officially -- it is far from reassuring that public funds weren't used as hush money.

Comments (3)

amosmag

The final report of the Timesheet Caper and Related Matters has been issued by Newsom-appointed city attorney, Dennis Herrera. Everyone gets a clean bill of health except Ruby and Alex.
So, what else is new? Did anyone really expect the city administration to thoroughly investigate itself and blame any of its own?
If you believe that, I know a guy down at Third and Mission who is selling discounted lifetime memberships to the Pacific Club and a free trip to the Land of Oz which, come to think of it, is located in Room 200, San Francisco City Hall.
This “final” report, all 31 pages, is a complete whitewash of the Newsom administration and a complete condemnation by inference of Alex and Ruby Rippey-Tourk. In fact, her name appears on almost every page, usually accompanied by a cop-out phrase like “Ms. Tourk would not cooperate in our investigation.” Conclusion: It’s all her fault that we had to write this “final” report.
Why would Rippey-Tourk cooperate? Why would any fool voluntarily raise the bet in Texas Hold ‘Em when the cards have tiny identifying dots on them visible only through night goggles, and you’re the only one at the table without the goggles?
This report goes far beyond it’s legalistic language and style. The report is all over the media and the internet, and the message is clear: Ruby Tourk is guilty of something, Newsom is guilty of nothing.
Jennifer Siebel characterized Ruby as the “culprit” for sins of commission (she showed up drunk at Gav’s door). Now Herrera by insinuation characterizes Ruby as the “culprit” for sins of omission (she refused to cooperate). Translation: She must be hiding something. Either way, Ruby loses.
The logic used to absolve Newsom and the rest of his administration is equally tortured, but it is also a common bureaucratic con game. The simple version goes something like this: unless someone tells me I can’t do this specific thing, then I can do it.
The rule applied in this case might run something like this: there’s no city policy on who is specifically authorized to approve the disbursement of public funds. Therefore, dish it out to anyone who wanders in the door.
In a way, I feel sorry for Alex and Ruby. When you play with fire, you get burned. There is no such thing as a fire-resistant reputation in the game of power.

Posted by amosmag | April 11, 2007 08:40 PM

wideye

dennis herrera was elected to his position - not appointed by the mayor

Posted by wideye | April 12, 2007 12:38 PM

my error. rushes to judgement are filled with pitfalls. thanks for the correction.

i like the "wideye." apt identity.

Posted by amosmag | April 12, 2007 01:55 PM

Tourk payments investigation clears and questions

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