Apparently, the Newsom Administration has now confirmed this and other changes. I say "apparently" because I received the following press release from another source. Despite repeated requests to be added back onto their press list (after the Guardian was dropped, apparently because Newsom press secretary Nathan Ballard doesn't like us), solid caselaw barring discriminatory treatment of media outlets (including the opinion in JA Savage vs. PG&E that Newsom's dad, Judge William Newsom, wrote), and the fact that they are paid by taxpayers, Ballard and the rest of the Mayor's Office of Communications seem to see their job as being partisan hacks rather than public servants. Anyway, enough rant, here's the full press release (analysis to follow next week):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, January 4, 2008
Contact: Mayor's Office of Communications,
415-554-6131

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

GEARING UP FOR SECOND TERM, MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM INTRODUCES NEW TEAM
Police Chief Heather Fong Announces Command Staff Changes

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gearing up for his second term, today Mayor Gavin Newsom
announced that he has picked a slew of new department heads and staffers to
serve in his administration.

"Today I am proud to introduce a new team of 27 people that is a blend of
fresh talent, extensive policy expertise, and proven experience in
government," said Newsom. "I am confident that these dedicated
professionals will bring a new infusion of ideas and energy to San
Francisco during my second term."

Newsom stressed that today's news builds on eight appointments he has made
recently, including:

Fred Blackwell, Director, San Francisco Redevelopment Agency
John Rahaim, Director, Planning Department
Michael Cohen, Director, Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce
Development
Joyce Hicks, Director, Office of Citizen Complaints
Chris Iglesias, Director, Human Rights Commission
Micki Callahan, Director of Human Resources
Anita Sanchez, Executive Director, Civil Service Commission
Cristine Soto-DeBerry, Mayor's Liaison to the Board of Supervisors

Department Heads

Today Newsom announced that he has selected 10 new department heads to
serve in his second term:

Ed Harrington, General Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Kevin Ryan, Criminal Justice Director
Ed Reiskin, Director, Department of Public Works
Ben Rosenfield, Controller
Mirian Saez, Interim Director, San Francisco Housing Authority
Nancy Alfaro, Director, 311
Luis Cancel, Arts Commission Director
Adrienne Pon, Director, Mayor¢s Office of Community Development
Mike Farrah, Director, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services
Jordanna Thigpen, Acting Director, Taxi Commission

Senior Staff

Today Newsom announced nine senior staff appointments:

Catherine Dodd, Deputy Chief of Staff for Health and Human Services
Nancy Kirschner Rodriguez, Director of Government Affairs
Astrid Haryati, Greening Director
Dariush Kayhan, City¢s Homelessness Policy Director
Dwayne Jones, Director of Community Engagement and Communities of
Opportunity
Maya Dillard-Smith, Violence Prevention Director
Erin Hicks, State and Federal Affairs
Wade Crowfoot, Director of Climate Protection Initiatives
Jason Chan, Mayor¢s Liaison to Commissions

Newly-Created Roles

Newsom emphasized that five newly-created roles highlight his priorities.
Ryan's appointment elevates the Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal
Justice to the Deputy Chief of Staff level and wields wider influence.
Kayhan will direct the City¢s homelessness policy by coordinating with
multiple city departments and the Homeless Ten-Year Plan Council;
similarly, Crowfoot will spearhead the Mayor's climate-protection
initiatives interdepartmentally. And Jones¢ role has been elevated to the
senior staff level, as has Dillard-Smith's new role.

Police Command Staff

In related news, today Police Chief Heather Fong announced six new
promotions in the San Francisco Police Department's command staff:

Jim Lynch, Assistant Chief
Stephen Tacchini, Deputy Chief
Kathryn Brown, Commander
Kevin Cashman, Commander
Leroy Lindo, Commander
Sandra Tong, Commander

Today Fong also announced the promotion of four new Captains and 15 new
Lieutenants. She has also rotated seven new captains to different
assignments.

-30-

(See attached file: 01_04_08.Second Term Changes Press Release.pdf)

Joe Arellano
Deputy Communications Director/Liaison to Latino Media
Mayor's Office of Communications
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 291
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.554.6608 Direct
415.554.6131 Main
415.554-4058 Fax
Joe.Arellano@sfgov.org

Newsom's so called changes are solely designed to divert our attention from the real issue "budget deficit" that the mayor tried so hard and successfully avoided during his re-election campaign.

None of his role changes are actually based on any known objective analysis. If they are, his office should publish them. As a result of Newsom's decision, the tax payers will pay $500,0000 to Susan Leal.
Obviosuly, Newsom's decisions do not consider the cost impact to the tax payers. He just wanted to get even with his forer rival.

Neswsom is an arrogant rich kid, who is now in charge of our city's future.

The latest ax to fall is on MTA board member Leah Shahum, who was told Sunday night that Newsom is accepting her resignation. It was a hopeful move when Newsom named Shahum, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, to the MTA and a potentially worrying one now that she's been fired. As she told me, "I hope this is not a sign of what's to come."

Newsom's using his political capital to reshape the city's government in his own image. Frankly, I like that he's showing such initiative. Better that than maintaining the status quo by simply trying to please everyone. And if the city's progressives don't like what's happening then they should have taken the mayoral election a little more seriously. But the next test is soon to come. I can already hear the cannons being loaded for the Board elections in November.

Michael Yarne has accepted a position with the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development.