Finding Aid to the Gavin Christopher Newsom Papers,
2004-2011,
SFH 496
Finding aid prepared by Tami J. Suzuki
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2019
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Gavin Christopher Newsom Papers
Date (inclusive): 2004-2011
Date (bulk): Bulk 2004-2010
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 496
Creator:
Newsom, Gavin Christopher, 1967-
Physical Description:
20 Cubic Feet
(17 boxes, 1 manuscripts boxes, 1 oversized box)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: This collection documents the mayoral career of Gavin Newsom, who served as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco, from Jan. 8,
2004 to Jan. 11, 2011.
Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items. Photographs can
be photographed but cannot be photocopied.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Gavin Newsom Papers, (SFH 489), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
Marriage Equality/Proposition 8 correspondence was received from City Hall in 2010. Additional paper records were transferred
on Jan. 7, 2011. Video records were transferred from SFGovTV on Dec. 4, 2010 and Oct. 3, 2011, and from the library's Government
Information Center on Oct. 13, 2017.
Related Material
Researchers are encouraged to see the San Francisco History Center's subject and biographical files, other Mayoral Papers,
and Mayoral Gifts; and to check the library catalog for related materials. See also SFH 89, San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder
Same-Sex Marriage Licenses for the same-sex marriage licenses issued from Feb. 12, 2004 to March 11, 2004 and later invalidated.
Processing Information
Processed by Tami J. Suzuki.
Conservation Note
During processing, the collection was re-housed in acid-free boxes and folders.
Separated Material
The photographic book,
We Do, A Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Marriage,
c2004, was transferred to the library catalog.
Biographical Note
Gavin Christopher Newsom is a businessman and Governor of California (2019- ). He was the state's Lieutenant Governor (2011-2019).
He served as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco (2004-2011), and prior to that, as a San Francisco supervisor (1997 to 2004).
The future politician was born October 10, 1967 in San Francisco to William and Tessa Newsom. His father was an attorney and
later, a state appeals court judge, with longstanding political and financial ties. The Newsoms divorced in 1972. Gavin played
baseball at Santa Clara University and graduated with a degree in political science. Soon after, he and investors including
longtime family friend Gordon Getty founded the PlumpJack Associates and opened the PlumpJack Winery.
He got his political start in 1996, when then-Mayor Willie Brown appointed Newsom to the Parking and Traffic Commission. The
following year, he was appointed to the Board of Supervisors, serving to January of 2004. Newsom described himself then as
a social liberal and fiscal watchdog. While supervisor, he supported the controversial but successful 2002 "Care not Cash"
ballot measure, which replaced cash payments with in-kind services for homeless adults.
Campaigning for mayor as a "problem solver" and stressing customer service and efficiency by city departments, Newsom won
the Nov. 4, 2003 runoff election with 53 percent of the vote as a moderate, over Matt Gonzalez, the progressive board president
and Green Party candidate. Newsom took office on Jan. 8, 2004 at the age of 36, the youngest in 100 years. He cut his financial
ties to his San Francisco businesses after he was elected.
One month after taking office, he authorized legalization of same-sex marriage, in violation of state law. He was heralded
as a new star of the Democratic Party. Heated national debate followed, and he is widely credited with accelerating the marriage
equality movement which led to the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide 11 years later.
Newsom was included in
Time Magazine's
"People Who Mattered" in 2004. Charlie Rose,
60 Minutes, and
Newsweek highlighted the mayor's inaugural year. The
New Yorker profiled him (Oct. 4, 2004) in "Going Places, An ambitious young mayor takes San Francisco," calling him a policy wonk who
was proud of bringing about dramatic change.
During his first year in office, he appointed the city's first female police and fire chiefs, and shared his "Ten-Year Plan
to End Chronic Homelessness." He went on to create Project Homeless Connect and the Homeless Outreach Team to deal with chronic
homelessness. In 2007, he launched Healthy San Francisco, the first universal access health care program in the country.
He used labor concessions, higher fees, reduced overtime, and 350 layoffs to address an historic $483 million budget deficit
in 2010.
Early in his mayoral career, Newsom revealed to students with dyslexia that he suffers from the same disease but works hard
to overcome this challenge. He has since shared that the learning issue caused him to strengthen other skills, and has given
him empathy.
In 2007, Newsom admitted an earlier affair with a married staffer. He sought and received alcohol counseling. He recently
called the transgression the great regret in his life.
He was easily reelected in 2007. In April 2009 he was the first candidate to announce a run for governor, but withdrew from
the race six months later. (Jerry Brown was elected governor in 2010.) Newsom then filed to run for lieutenant governor and
was elected in November of 2010. He took office on Jan. 10, 2011. (The following day, Edwin M. Lee, the city administrator,
took office as mayor to serve Newsom's remaining term.) In February of 2015, Newsom again became the first declared candidate
for governor, saying serving as mayor of San Francisco provided a good training ground. He was elected governor on Nov. 6,
2018, and sworn in on Jan. 7, 2019.
In his personal life, Newsom married Kimberly Guilfoyle, then a San Francisco assistant district attorney, on Dec. 8, 2001.
They divorced in March 2006. Newsom and Jennifer Seibel married on July 26, 2008. She is a film producer and actor; they have
four children.
Scope and Contents
Documents the mayoral career of Gavin Newsom, who served as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco, from Jan. 8, 2004 to Jan. 11,
2011. Included are policy initiatives, subject files, city government reports, constituent correspondence regarding same sex
marriage, and video recordings of press conferences. Speeches, press releases, photographs, and campaign materials are not
included.
Subjects include accountability, homelessness, Department of Building Inspection and Police Department reform, wireless broadband
networking and digital inclusion, universal access to health insurance, clean technology, African American out-migration,
Sanctuary City, water quality protection, Hunters Point clean-up, workforce planning, and affordable housing.
Arrangement
Organized into five series: Series 1. Legislative and Subject Files; Series 2. Reports; Series 3. Press Conferences; Series
4. Same-Sex Marriage Correspondence; and Series 5. Office of Protocol.
Legislative and Subject Files and Reports are organized alphabetically. Press Conferences and Same-Sex Marriage Correspondence
are organized chronologically.
Technical Requirements
Includes CDs and DVDs.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
City planning -- California -- San Francisco.
Homelessness -- Government policy -- California -- San Francisco.
Mayors -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government -- 21st century.
Same-sex marriage -- California -- San Francisco.
Urban policy -- California -- San Francisco.
Newsom, Gavin Christopher, 1967- -- Archives
Series 1
Legislative and Subject Files
2004-2010
Scope and Contents
Includes Executive Directives, policy briefs and other policy papers, Powerpoint presentations, and research files maintained
by more than one mayoral aide. Executive Directive matters include seismic strengthening of soft-story buildings, Sanctuary
City policy, and recycling and resource conservation goals. Includes the transition team's report to Mayor-elect Newsom,
and the mayor's "Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness."
Subjects include biotechnology, Department of Building Inspection reform, consolidation of city departments, technology matters
including wireless broadband networking and fiberoptics, health insurance, and green policy matters such as solar power and
composting.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically by subject.
box 1
Accomplishments-Citywide Consolidation
Accomplishments, 2004-2011
[2010?]
Affordable Housing Initiative
American Express Golf Championship
America's Cup: Economic Impacts
Athletic Field Permit Policy
Bay Delta Conservation Plan
Bayview Grocery Store/Fresh & Easy
Beacon Initiative (Youth and Family Centers)
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Instructions FY 2008-2009
Building Inspection (Department of), Reform
Candlestick Park, Naming Rights
2007 Census/Population Challenge
Chicago Landscape Ordinance
Children Youth and Families, Department of
Physical Description:
2 folder
Citistat Technology Systems
City College of San Francisco, Chinatown Campus
2009
Physical Description:
2 folders
Citywide Consolidation
2009
box 1
Civil Service Reform-Fiber Optics
Civil Service Reform
2005
Communities of Opportunity
Physical Description:
2 folders
Community Choice (Energy) Aggregation
Community Development, Mayor's Office of
Community Investment, Mayor's Office of
Congestion Pricing (for Driving)
Contemporary Art Museum (Fisher) Project
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Criminal Justice, Mayor's Office of, Public Safety Reports
Cultural Competency Task Force Report
Disabled Parking Placards
Economic Impact of Small Business
Elimination of City Positions
Emergency Room Statistics
Engineering Services Consolidation Findings
2005
Executive Directives
2004-2008
Physical Description:
2 folders
box 2
Film Commission-Pedestrian
First 5/Children and Families Commission
Foreclosure Legislation Veto
Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse Landmarking
2006
Golf Course Management Options
Grand Jury Reports (Civil)
2007
Green Landscaping Ordinance
2010
Green Policy Pledges
2005
Healthcare: Defined Benefits Plan
2006
Healthy Kids (Insurance) Expansion
2004
Healthy San Francisco/Universal Healthcare
2006-2009
Physical Description:
2 folders
Homelessness
Physical Description:
4 folders
Hospital Charity Care Report
Housing Authority
Physical Description:
2 folders
Housing, Mayor's Office of, and Redevelopment Agency Merger
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hunters Point Community Youth Park
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Immigration
Physical Description:
2 folders
Inauguration Program
2004
Japantown Malls Sale (Kintetsu to 3D Investments) Covenants
2006
John F. Kennedy Drive--Saturday Closures
Juvenile Probation Inquiry
2009
Legislation Introduced by Board, 2001-2003
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
McMillan (Sobering) Center
Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend
2007
Mayor's Public Transportation System Revenue Panel
Mental Health Board Presentation
Municipal Transportation (MUNI)
Physical Description:
3 folders
"Must Spend" Charter Amendment
[2010]
Neighborhood Business Investment, "San Francisco DrillDown"
Neighborhood Parks Council
Ocean Beach Vision Council
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Interconnection Agreement
2005
Parking Authority Business Practices Assessment
Parking & Traffic, Department of
Planning Department Report
2004
Plastic Water Bottle Ban
[2007?]
Police Department
Physical Description:
3 folders
Efficiency Plan, 2003-2006
Physical Description:
2 folders
Officer-Involved Shootings, Five-Year Study
2010
Organizational Assessment
2008
Physical Description:
2 folders
Racially Biased Policing Report
[2005?]
Violence Reduction Strategy
Policy Initiatives--Status
2004
Potrero Power Plant Retrofit Study
2008
Public Defender: Supplementary Funding
2009
Public Education Fund--Proposition H
[2004]
Public Safety Statistics
2006
Physical Description:
2 folders
Public Utilities Commission
Public Works, Department of
Ranked-Choice Voting Lawsuit
2010
Recreation & Parks Department
Reinforcement-Based Leadership
Respite Facility (for Homeless)
Retiree Health Coverage
2008
Same-Sex Marriage: Supreme Court Decision
May 15, 2008
San Francisco General Hospital Rebuild
Santana, Carlos, Art Award
School Children's Correspondence
Physical Description:
4 folders
School District
Physical Description:
1 folder
School of the Arts (SOTA)
Teacher Home Purchase Program
Truancy
Physical Description:
2 folders
Seniors and Disabled Adults
SF Safe City/Citysafe (Anti-Violence Initiative)
SFpark (Parking Management Program)
box 4
SFStat-Transbay Transit Center/Terminal
SFStat
Physical Description:
3 folders
Small Business Assistance Center
Special Events, Office of
Accomplishments
2005
Physical Description:
2 folders
Street Cleaning/SFClean Patrol
Streets and Sidewalk Repair Plan
Technology and Information Services (Department of, DTIS)--Reform
Thank You--Lunar New Year
Tourism Improvement District
Transbay Transit Center/Terminal
2007
Physical Description:
2 folders
box 19
Transbay Transit Center/Terminal Arts Program,
2010
box 7, folder 1-4
Transition Team Report to Mayor-elect
Jan. 7, 2004
box 4
Transit Center District-Yerba Buena Cultural Facilities
Transportation Agencies Merger
Treasure Island Development
Union (IFPTE)-City Partnership
United Nations Global Center
United Nations Plaza Construction
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Urban Wind Power Recommendations
Violence Prevention Statistics
Wireless Broadband Network
Workfoce Development, Office of Economic and
Yerba Buena Cultural Facilities
Series 2
Reports
2004-2009
Scope and Contents
Consists mainly of reports produced by City departments. Subjects include African American out-migration, homeless statistics,
water quality protection, and workforce planning.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically by subject.
African-American Out-Migration Response
[2009 or 2010]
Airport: Strategic Plan 2004-2008
2004
Balboa Park Station Area Plan, Public Review Draft
2002
Bay Bridge West Approach Seismic Retrofit Project
2008
Better Fields for Better Play
[2006?]
Bicycle Plan, Citizens' Guide to the
no date
Budget (Proposed)
2005-2010
Physical Description:
6 Volumes
Building Inspection Department: Business Process Reengineering
2007
Capital Plan, 2007-2011
Physical Description:
4 Volumes
Catastrophic Earthquake Response Plan, Administrative Draft
2006
Physical Description:
3 folders
Children and Youth Needs Assessment
2002
Physical Description:
2 volume
Children Under 5 Years of Age in Poverty in San Francisco, 2000
2003
Controller's Recommendations, Status Report
2007
Physical Description:
2 folders
Dementia Care Strategy
2009
Physical Description:
2 Volumes
Domestic Violence Accountability Audit
[2007?]
Economic Strategy
2007
Physical Description:
2 folders
Emergency Management Department: Final Report
2008
Emergency Operations Plan, Part I: Basic Plan
2005
Financial Report, City and County
2005
Financial Report, City and County
2007-2009
Physical Description:
2 Volumes
Grand Jury Reports, 2006-2008
2006-2008
Physical Description:
3 folders
2007-2009
Physical Description:
2 Volumes
Homeland Security
2008
Physical Description:
2 Volumes
Long-Term Care Strategic Plan
2004
Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI): Response to Grand Jury Report
2004
Municipal Water Department & Hetch Hetchy System History
2005
Ocean Beach Task Force Status
2000-2005
Planning Department Annual Report
[2009]
District Station Boundaries Analysis
2008
Foot Patrol Evaluation
2008
box 6 and 19
Port: Seawall Lot 337 and Pier 48 Proposals
2008
Physical Description:
2 items and 2 volumes
box 6
Public Health Department-Social Services for Women
Acute and Long-Term Care Continuum
2005
Public Utilities Commission: Third Quarter Report
April 2008
Public Works Department: Landscape Architect
2005
Real Property Owned by the City and County of San Francisco
2005
San Francisco: A City Connected to the Arts
1998
School District Capital Plan, 2010-2019
2009
SF Safe City
2006
Physical Description:
2 Volumes
Social Services for Women, Directory
2005
box 7, volume 5
UN World Environment Day: Media Coverage
2005
box 7, volume 6
Violence Prevention Plan, 2008-2013
2008
box 7, volume 7
Water Quality Protection Plan
2008
box 7, volume 8
Workforce and Succession Planning Report
2009
Series 3
Press Conferences
2004-2011,
bulk 2004-2010
Scope and Contents
Contains video of press conferences, also known as press availabilities, produced by SFGovTV, the city's government television
station. Subjects include same-sex marriage, green/clean technology, Hunters Point clean-up, digital inclusion, accountability,
solar power, Sanctuary City, eviction prevention and affordable housing, free wi-fi (wireless local area network), and bike
sharing. Not all press conferences are covered by SFGovTV.
Notably, the 2008 State of the City message was released in ten segments, each approximately 45 minutes in length, on the
mayor's YouTube channel, youtube.com/mayorgavinnewsom. Many of his other press conferences are also available there, including
his comments on the California Supreme Court's ruling (on Aug. 12, 2004) invalidating same-sex marriages performed in San
Francisco. This press conference is in the collection on VHS, in black-and-white video.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically. Consult index for specific titles.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
On VHS videocassette (one) and DVDs.
Existence and Location of Copies
See https://www.youtube.com/user/MayorGavinNewsom/videos as many of the press conferences are available on the mayor's YouTube
channel.
Series 4
Same-Sex Marriage Correspondence
2004-2009
Separated Material
The photographic book,
We Do, A Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Marriage,
c2004, was transferred to the library catalog.
Historical Note
Mayor Newsom declared same-sex marriage legal on Feb. 11, 2004. Nearly 4000 licenses were issued by Assessor-Recorder Mabel
Teng until March 11, 2004, when the California Supreme Court halted the marriages. On Aug 12, 2004, the Court invalidated
the unions. However, the same court overturned the state's ban on gay marriage on May 15, 2008, making California only the
second state (after Massachusetts) to allow same-sex marriages. That November, voters passed Proposition 8, a state constitutional
amendment reinstating the ban. Same-sex marriage advocates sued the state of California. On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled in favor of a lower court's ruling to strike down the ban, legalizing same-sex marriages. Two days later, the
Appeals Court announced that same-sex marriages could resume.
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence received by the Mayor following his declaration of legal marriages between same-sex couples in 2004,
and following the California Supreme Court ruling on May 15, 2008, overturning the state's ban on gay marriage (of Aug. 12,
2004). The 2008 correspondence is largely E-mails congratulating the mayor. A few E-mails on other topics are included within
the 2008 messages.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically by year.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Includes two computer discs (CDs).
Related Materials
See also video of the mayor's press conferences.
See also SFH 89, San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder Same-Sex Marriage Licenses, for the same-sex marriage licenses
issued from Feb. 12, 2004 to March 11, 2004 and later invalidated.
box 18
Supreme Court Decision
May 15, 2008
box 18
Del Martin Memorial Program
2008
box 18
Lisa Spengel and Alana Morris Wedding, Performed by Mayor
2008
box 18
Mark Leno Repeal of Proposition 8, Senate Resolution 7
[2009?]
box 18
Proposition 8/Anti Same-Sex Marriage Letters
2008-2009
box 18
Letters Supporting Same-Sex Marriage, with Mayor's Response
2008
box 18
Letters Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
2009
box 18, box 7, folder 9-18
box 19
Certificates of Recognition
2008
box 15
Series 5
Office of Protocol
Scope and Contents
Gifts from the Mayor.
Holiday Ornaments
Physical Description:
4 items
Silk Scarves
Physical Description:
2 items
