Well, it's April 19, 2006, and the goodwill created by celebrating disaster disaster has now officially dissipated. The Chronicle reports that numerous public officials are disgruntled at various protocol lapses that left them feeling insufficiently fawned over at the big 4:30 a.m. party.
There was predawn political infighting because some elected officials weren't offered a coveted spot on stage, an awkward moment when the master of ceremonies called into the audience to locate former Mayor Willie Brown even though he was standing not far behind her, and what should have been a memorable finale with the crowd singing a roaring rendition of "San Francisco" puttered out because many didn't know the lyrics.
For instance: Aaron Peskin was irritated that the Mayor's Office didn't ask him, the Board of Supes Prez, to sit on the stage with everyone else, and diva-ishly put in a request to move up (which was granted).
Peskin was the only one who was willing to talk on the record, but many people were described as "outraged and offended." The MC totally missed Willie Brown waving his hat to get her attention, Schwarzenegger declined to attend, and Tony Bennett, who was supposed invited to sing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," also didn't show up.
Like commenter Tiffany's noted -- maybe if you hadn't had the party at 4:30 a.m. in the morning, everyone would have been in a better mood!
rising above
