Politicians must listen — and beware of FBI’s ears
When I was asked to to speak to a group of up-and-coming black politicians in San Francisco the other day, my first advice was to “listen to everyone.” And my last was to beware, because the FBI may be listening as well.
These days politicians, especially here in San Francisco, seem to surround themselves with people who agree with them, and no one else. They can’t sit down with anyone who holds a differing opinion. It is both shortsighted and limiting. I have Republican friends who worked with me back in the day for the simple reason that I gave them an audience.
You don’t have to agree with them, or vote with
them. But a courteous meeting and a fair hearing will be remembered long after you vote against them.
Of course, there are unpleasant realities that come with talking to people who might not be your friends. For starters, I told the young pols, you have to assume in this day and age that everyone you talk to — about anything — is wearing a wire.
And if anyone ever hands you an envelope, open it and pull out the contents in front of at least two witnesses. If there’s any money involved, announce clearly exactly what you intend to do with it — making sure it’s something legal.
And make sure you say it loud enough to be picked up by the wire.
President Trump’s flipflops are putting me to shame.
For years I was known as the master of double reverse politicos. But in just three short months, our president has raised the bar to a whole new level.
It turns out China isn’t a currency manipulator, NATO isn’t obsolete, and Syria is a worthy target for our missiles. Trump has explained these and other flips by pointing to “new information.”
It reminds me of the time I told a group at the Italian Athletic Club in North Beach one thing on a Monday and then took the exact opposite stance before a group at the Irish Cultural Center two days later. It turned out there was a woman who had attended both meetings.
When she called me out, I had a Trumpian explanation: “You’d be surprised how much wiser you can become in just 48 hours.”
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was spied having dinner at Boulevard the other night. Judging from the size of her Secret Service protection, she must have as many enemies as the president.
Mayor Ed Lee and the crew at City Hall held a great celebration for the Mission High School Bears basketball team after it won the state championship. It had all the pomp of an induction into the Hall of Fame, complete with certificates for every player.
Funny thing — none of the team members I talked with was from the Mission. They came from the Bayview, the Western Addition, the Excelsior, from all over the city. So they must really like the school.
These champs are true winners on and off the court, and it was great to see the city do them right.
San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer had quite the 60th birthday bash the other night at the Swig penthouse atop the Fairmont Hotel.
Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Barry Bonds were all on hand, as were Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her very healthy looking husband, Dick Blum. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul, concert promoter Gregg Perloff and other members of the city’s upper crust were there, too.
As always, Larry was wearing an orange tie. The guy must have the largest collection of orange ties in the world.
The party was scheduled to start at 7 p.m., so I went early in hopes of beating the fashionably late crowd. To my surprise, the place was packed. There was even a line for the elevator to get up to the penthouse.
I opted to take the back stairs, just as Marilyn Monroe used to do when she was sneaking in to visit JFK.
The mayor and I played co-hosts at a dinner for donors to the Chinese Hospital at the Broadway Grill in Burlingame. It was Monday night, which was Motown revue night. The place was packed, and the band, Preston Turner and Pure Ecstasy, was in top form.
I stayed for an hour and a half, and Ed was still riding the groove.
It’s earthquake anniversary time again. You can catch me leading the annual celebration at Lotta’s Fountain at 5:12 am. Tuesday. I’m not a survivor of the 1906 shake and bake, but I guess I’m close enough.
Speaking of early events, I’ll also help kick off Earth Day with former Rep. Pete McCloskey, co-chair of the very first celebration, at 8 a.m. Thursday at City Hall.
The other day I was talking with Bishop Alfred Johnson at Jones Memorial Methodist Church.
“Mr. Brown, you are what we call in the church a ‘C and E man.’ ” Johnson told me. “We see you at Christmas and we don’t see you again until Easter.”
Well, you will see me Sunday. Happy Easter. Hope it doesn’t rain.