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Story by Logan Triglia

You may have heard: Gavin Newsom has a new girlfriend.

SFGate.com, a seemingly respectable news Web site had the revelation as its lead story on Oct. 15.

The news factor, or tidbit that makes a story like this worth reporting is that Newsom’s new love interest is a 20-year-old model by day, hostess by night who may or may not have been drinking a the grand opening of the Westfield San Francisco Centre.

A 20-year-old drinking alcohol? I’ve never heard anything crazier!

Photos of Brittanie Mountz holding a wine glass at the grand opening festivities were posted on Bay Area photographer’s website, but when a Chronicle City Hall reporter began asking questions the photos disappeared.

It started with the mayor letting his normal hairstyle, a gelled back fade go wild and free. This earth-shattering, life-changing news also made the front page of the Chronicle Web site.

My question is this: Who cares?

Why is the mayor’s private life any of my business and furthermore, why is tabloid journalism making the front page of the Chronicle website when there are congressional sex scandals to report on? Hmm.

So, is the concern that Mountz is a 20-year-old who drinks in public? Or are we supposed to be outraged that our ever so popular (not to mention attractive and single) mayor would dare associate with another attractive single person, let alone be in her presence while she allegedly breaks the law by consuming alcohol? The former is laughable, the latter an insulting assumption made by the Chronicle.

My plea so the Chronicle is this: Please, respectable news source, don’t sink to the level of so many other publications during election time (although not a mayoral election) and grapple with any piece of tabloid news you can dig up.

Please, stop reporting stories that are essentially how-to guides on utilizing San Francisco’s brothels (intriguing, local and relevant topic, tabloid delivery).

And while we’re at it, no more leaking grand jury testimony!

Stay classy, San Francisco.