San Francisco's mayor Newsom seeks counseling for alcohol abuse

**AliceInWonderland** · February 5th, 2007, 07:19 PM

Everyone hop aboard the rehab train when you get caught for bad behaviour!

source: Newsom seeks counseling for alcohol abuse, sources say
San Francisco's mayor Newsom seeks counseling for alcohol abuse, sources say
Heather Knight, Cecilia M. Vega and Phil Matier, Chronicle Staff Writers

Monday, February 5, 2007

(02-05) 16:37 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told department heads this afternoon he is seeking counseling for alcohol abuse, sources familiar with the meeting told The Chronicle.

Newsom told members of his administration that the help he is seeking would not require him to step aside even temporarily as it might if he entered a residential rehabilitation program, according to the sources.

The move follows the revelation last week that Newsom had a sexual affair with an employee of his office, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who also is the wife of one of his former top political aides, Alex Tourk. Tourk, the mayor's former deputy chief of staff, resigned as Newsom's re-election campaign manager last week after confronting Newsom about the affair.

The mayor admitted the affair Thursday and apologized to Tourk, his friends and family and the residents of San Francisco. He has since declined to say anything about the scandal and has stated repeatedly that he wants to get back to work.

Newsom's alcohol use became an embarrassment for the mayor after witnesses reported he appeared to have been drinking prior to arriving at San Francisco General Hospital in December after learning a police officer had been shot.

He also faced scrutiny late last year for bringing a then 20-year-old woman out on dates, where she was reportedly seen drinking what appeared to be alcohol.

Newsom made the decision after meeting with friends and family over the weekend. He delivered the news this afternoon to department heads.

"He told us that he was going to stop drinking and would seek treatment -- that's about all he said,'' said one person who was at today's meeting.

"It was very heartfelt," said the attendee, who asked not to be named because he was not cleared to discuss the matter publicly. "It was also clear that he wasn't taking a leave from the office."

Newsom's chief political adviser, Eric Jaye, said, "Let's make it clear (the mayor) is not blaming alcohol for his bad behavior.

"This is not some kind of public mea culpa,'' Jaye said. "He understands that he has a problem."

Jaye said the counseling would be done by Mimi Silbert, head of San Francisco's famous Delancey Street Foundation.

"It's true,'' Silbert said. "I don't know if I would use the word 'counseling,' but I will be helping the mayor."

Silbert said Newsom had contacted her Saturday about getting help.

"No one comes to me or Delancey Street for any kind of help unless they are deadly serious," Silbert said. "We are no lightweight or B.S. program."

Silbert said she didn't expect the mayor to move into the group's Embarcadero building.

E-mail the writers at hknight@sfchronicle.com, cvega@sfchronicle.com and pmatier@sfchronicle.com.

See, i told y'all this guy was sick! when he first started dating that young girl!!! shame on him!

**celeb_2006** · February 6th, 2007, 12:03 AM

Just what I thought, surprised it took this long to go the "rehab/counseling" route.

**sputnik** · February 6th, 2007, 08:34 AM

oh for fuck's sake!!! no one misbehaves anymore... it's becuase they were drunk/high and needed rehab. what a load of bullshit

**xoxo** · February 6th, 2007, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by AliceInWonderland

Everyone hop aboard the rehab train when you get caught for bad behaviour!

so true alice!! in almost every case these days..

**sweetrebel** · February 8th, 2007, 09:42 AM

Man you know all the rehabs are loving this new "trend"...
Twenty years ago you went into rehab secretly and then for TREATMENT of an addiction. Not to take the heat off of you for being stupid or making stupid decisions.
**In no way am I saying that rehab is something that should be shameful or avoided. I think you should get help for an addiction, not use the rehab as a way out. Was just trying to make that point, and wasn't sure if I did without dissing rehab....

**KrisNine** · February 8th, 2007, 01:53 PM

I wish I would have known about this rehab card years ago...would have saved me a lot of headache. I could have just said "Look, man...I have anger/drinking/drug/eating/sex addictions and therefore must seek couseling. I'm not really responsible for anything I may say or do until that time. Thank you for your support

**AliceInWonderland** · February 8th, 2007, 04:16 PM

^

i know really; thats gonna be my excuse; i love how nobody takes responsibility for their actions anymore

AMERICAN SOCIETY is starting to really suck!

**xoxo** · February 8th, 2007, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by sweetrebel

Man you know all the rehabs are loving this new "trend"...
Twenty years ago you went into rehab secretly and then for TREATMENT of an addiction. Not to take the heat off of you for being stupid or making stupid decisions.

do you guys think it works tho..? does anyone really excuse poor behavior because someone checks into rehab?

**celeb_2006** · February 8th, 2007, 06:34 PM

We normal folk sure don't xoxo, but the celebuturds and their blind worshiping hordes sure think going to rehab makes everyting go right!

**Beeyotch** · February 9th, 2007, 01:22 PM

It's the doing of publicists and pr spin wizards. Just give the public something that projects a semblance of atonement and wanting to get better, and the unwashed, movie-going masses will think it's sincere and forgive. That way the publicists can say, "But at least he/she is *trying* to overcome his/her problem!"

As if.