Group censured for using [SF mayor] Newsom's image in pro-Scientology booklet

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/12/07 | Cecilia M. Vega

[TFFKAMM]

The smiling photo of Gavin Newsom and the city seal emblazoned on a booklet called "The Way to Happiness" sure make it seem as though San Francisco's mayor is heartily endorsing Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's writings.

The booklet's back cover even shows a letter of support purportedly written by Newsom that echoes some of the mayor's favorite buzzwords: San Francisco is "a city of innovation" and is "the finest city in the world."

But the giveaway is in the second paragraph, in which the fictitious letter from Newsom says San Francisco is home to "740,000 souls."

He usually prefers to call them residents.

After a box full of the booklets was delivered to Newsom's City Hall office this week, the city attorney's office promptly sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Southern California group distributing them, saying it was violating city and state laws by using the city seal and the mayor's endorsement without consent.

"The mayor does not support the unauthorized use of his image or the city seal on this booklet," Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard said Friday...

(snip)

Cities, churches and businesses around the country received similar customized copies of the booklets, and San Francisco just happened to be on the mailing list currently being used, Miller said. According to a story Friday in the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert also was not happy about seeing his ringing endorsement on a batch of booklets sent this week to his office...

[sinanju]

Maybe it’s just my own aesthetic sense, but I think that blow-dried amoralist would make a perfect poster-boy for Scientology.

[Brad from Tennessee]

“It’s not the first time Newsom has had to distance himself from a controversial use of the city seal. Earlier this year, he came under fire from conservative pundits when his office issued a laudatory proclamation honoring a local gay porn studio.”

You can’t make this stuff up.

[Eastbound]

Hahahaha! Two birds, one stone. Sounds like something the Doctor would like to have done. ;>

[Dick Vomer]

Newsom picture...maybe they used this one...

[olde north church]

Newsom is a scumbag, ‘nuf said.

[newzjunkey]

What happened to a separation between Church & State? Can’t the Scientologists be sued by the atheists for these antics? That’s a battle I’d like to see!