SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The man appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom at the airport to attract international tourism was denied a salary Wednesday by a Board of Supervisors committee, the latest rift in the strained relationship between the mayor and the board.

The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee refused to release $92,890 for the six-month salary of Bill Lee, who serves as the airport’s International Economic and Tourism Development director.

In 2005, Newsom ended Bill Lee’s long stint as city administrator by picking Ed Lee to take that post, and then appointed Bill Lee to the newly created position at the airport, where he remains. At the time, the creation of the airport position drew criticism from some supervisors, including Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin.

Lee is a longtime city employee who has strong support in the Chinese-American political community. He was appointed city administrator by former Mayor Frank Jordan in 1995, then reappointed to the post by former Mayor Willie Brown in 2000.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who serves on the finance committee, criticized the Newsom administration for not providing adequate information about Lee’s post at the airport. “We have a two-paragraph letter that simply says release the funds and that’s it. Frankly, I find it insulting,” Dufty said. “I have no basis to support this position. I am not going to vote for a position based upon community politics.”

When asked to explain Lee’s position, Peter Nardoza, assistant deputy airport director, said Lee has helped attract new airlines and new flights to the airport, particularly from Asian countries.

“I have great personal respect for you,” Peskin said to Nardoza. “This is so much hooey. You know it, I know it.”

Newsom spokesman Peter Ragone said, “It appears Peskin and the board are going after an individual, a public servant with a great amount of public service in his career. It’s sad this kind of politics, personal destruction, continues here at City Hall. We hope that the Board of Supervisors will bring that to an end.”

Last year, the Board of Supervisors eliminated a job created for another Newsom appointee, Annemarie Conroy, who was put in charge of The City’s emergency planning. Her qualifications came into question following a critical city audit. Conroy resigned at the end of the year.

It is expected that Lee will remain at his post and another funding source will be found to pay for his salary.

Comments from Examiner Readers

1:36 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Smile, city government, you�re on webcast camera"

Examiner Reader said:
$131k per year to implement...how about if the Supervisors kick in portions of their own salaries to cover the cost?

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7:46 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Smile, city government, you�re on webcast camera"

Kimo Crossman said:
The ordinance only requires digital recording. SFGTV on it's own initiative is expanding that to audio webcasting in August 2008.

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3:57 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Outgoing supervisors vie for sway"

Examiner Reader said:
Mayor Newsom is hardly a stranger to political power plays.

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3:46 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 9, 2008 re: "S.F. eateries may start counting calories"

turtle head said:
How in the world would it help make people healthy? If you don't know deep fried food makes you fat, you are likely fat because you are too stupid too be able to read.

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3:04 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 19, 2008 re: "Modicum of moderation on the way?"

King of the Dynasty said:
Chris Daly endorses David Chiu in D#3. Voters need to remember that connection when they vote. Do we want more of the same political dysfunction?

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6:39 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Modicum of moderation on the way?"

CRS said:
Sabatini states: "Moderates are looking to break the current progressive majority on the Board of Supervisors to give Mayor Gavin Newsom the four allies needed on the 11-member board to assure veto power on legislation." This is not particularly so. The mayor already has his veto power. Moderates are running with no reference to the mayor. They're running because they feel the need to bring some sanity and responsibility to the supes' side of the second floor, that's why. Andrew Ferguson

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1:46 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 7, 2008 re: "S.F. eateries may start counting calories"

Native San Franciscan said:
I sometimes wonder if Tom Ammiano isn't going to be happy until every restaurant in San Francisco is closed and either turned into a homeless shelter or crack house. So now were going to turn every restaurant menu into a document the size of the Tokyo phone book putting yet another cost on San Francisco restaurants in order to inform people of something they should take the individual responsibility to learn themselves. Why anybody whould want to own a restaurant in San Francisco with the current pinhead on the Board of Supervisors is beyone me.

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