March 19, 2009

Mark Leno Vs. Pasta Gina

Uh oh.
Apparently state Senator Mark Leno is a major pasta fan, so much so that he can't imagine living in Noe Valley without local pasta shop Pasta Gina.

Or so says the openly gay lawmaker in an ad for the store in the March issue of the Noe Valley Voice. The shop apparently lifted the quote by Leno from an interview he gave the paper nine years ago when he served on the city's Board of Supervisors.

And it did so without the senator's permission, according to his office.

Leno was unaware his reply for where he liked to eat in the neighborhood was being used by the pasta shop to promote its business.

According to his staff, Leno does not typically make endorsements of private businesses, feeling it would be inappropriate to do so as a state senator. He planned to personally speak to shop owner Gene Ginsberg about the ad.
[eBar: Political Notebook]

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG...Mark Leno...not only "gay" but "openly gay"...

Well, I for one am glad you included that info in the article. It's much clearer knowing that.

Brian Leubitz said...

The original source is from an LGBT publication, thus the reference to his sexuality. I don't think it was meant as a slight.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for setting the record straight...I mean thanks for clarifying. I should have checked the link before commenting.

Anonymous said...

A small business like Pasta Gina shouldn't have to worry about Mark Leno and his giant white teeth coming in for a scolding. Let's keep this in perspective: we're talking about a store the size of a bedroom advertising in the Noe Valley Voice. Compare that to the illegal billboard I saw the other day, sponsored by Proctor and Gamble, with Leno's image and the greatly exaggerated endorsement: "I couldn't imagine having teeth this white without a frothy mouth filled with Crest"

murphstahoe said...

To tie two threads together, I think that Pasta Gina is more of a safety hazard to Noe Valley than Apple or Google. I've never had a problem with the shuttle buses, but the double parkers in front of Pasta Gina - grrrr...

Anonymous said...

The double-parkers are there for the school next door, not for Pasta Gina.

murphstahoe said...

At 7 PM at night? parked directly in front of Pasta Gina? arriving without kids, and departing with nothing more than a couple of pieces of Lasagne?

Unknown said...

If Gino hasn't changed over the years he could care less.

Unknown said...

I double park in front of there all the time. Im not sorry.