Rage Against the Machine

Aging and defense, among other things, Ammiano concludes. And after three takes, he offers a solution destined to make the morning news: "I might have to suit up."

Ammiano then rushes to his seat at the supervisors' meeting with a minute to spare. Banging his gavel, he calls the meeting to order and it is business as usual. Except for the yawning. But Ammiano is far from asleep on the job. After a long-winded reading of an item of new business awaiting a vote, Ammiano catches a mistake, questioning Supervisor Gavin Newsom if he forgot about an amendment.

Paul Trapani

Paul Trapani

Details

RELATED PHOTOS

Picturing Ammiano on the campaign trail

RELATED MEDIA

Ammiano Speaks
Listen to Joel P. Engardio's uncut interview with would-be mayor, Tom Ammiano.

(Files require RealPlayer)

RELATED LINKS

SF Runoff Election
Reasons NOT to vote for Willie Brown for Mayor

RELATED STORIES

Mecklin
Ammiano's Surprise, and Promise
By John Mecklin
October 20, 1999

Breaking Ranks
Union leaders endorsed Willie Brown, but the rank and file has other ideas
By Lisa Davis
November 10, 1999

Mecklin
No Joke
By John Mecklin
November 10, 1999

Related Content

• Supervisor John Avalos Claims He Talked to Harvey Milk's Ghost
  May 23, 2012
• Happy Harvey Milk Day: Have a Milkshake
  May 22, 2012
• Medical Marijuana Activists Occupy the Capitol
  May 22, 2012
• San Diego Claims Harvey Milk as One of Its Own
  May 10, 2012
• Save California, Pro-Family Group, Demands Kids Skip School on Harvey Milk Day
  May 17, 2012

More About

• Willie Lewis Brown, Jr.
• Tom Ammiano
• Win Tom
• Politics
• Elections and Voting

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

"Yes, there is one," Newsom replies, realizing the oversight. "That's why you're president of the board."

Laughter fills the chamber. Everyone knows the subtext to the joke: If Ammiano has his way, he won't be president of the board much longer.

Later, the supervisor admits he has already started thinking about moving into the Mayor's Office. Though it is uncertain that Ammiano's rage against the Brown machine will prove successful, his relationship to City Hall will never be the same, whatever the outcome.

"I tend to think this is, if anything, an ibid.," Ammiano says. "History is not linear. I would just like it to mean that this was a seed, which grows into telling establishment corporate campaigning to get a grip. But there's no guarantee."