Competitive Edge Research and its President and founder John Nienstedt are best known for their spot-on research about political candidates and ballot measures. But once in a while, Nienstedt admits he’ll indulge his curiosity and add a few questions on a topic of personal interest. In February he asked people in a nationwide poll what they thought about Denver Broncos …
Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave after SDCTA Breakfast Forum
Five people who have a lot to do with the news you read, hear and see on a daily basis in San Diego got up early to talk about the role of news media organizations as advocates. What they had to say may surprise you… especially if you’re still living in the era of Walter Cronkite. The San Diego County …
Really, We Can’t Make This $#!X Up!
We’ve gotten Jerry Sanders dropping f-bombs and then it was Ben Hueso doing an impression of Stevie Wonder. Last year, it was SDPD Chief Bill Landsdowne gleefully (my description) aiming his Taser at Councilman Carl DeMaio’s… uh… let’s just say he hit way below the belt. All of this has been good clean fun in the service of calling attention …
Belly up to the bar: The San Diego Rostra Mayoral Debate Drinking Game
For true San Diego poliwonks, New Year’s Eve was just a warm-up act. We know many of you have been saving yourself for the real deal: Political Debate Season 2012. Starting Friday, January 13 with the first official San Diego Mayoral Debate of 2012, we will soon be subjected to a seemingly endless series of candidate debates and it will …
How about a healthy serving of pork for Thanksgiving?
In Poland it’s called “election sausage” In the Czech Republic, it’s known as “goulash.” It’s called “sweetener” in the UK. In the USA, we call it pork. But everywhere including on San Diego Rostra it means government waste and it’s a turkey for taxpayers no matter how you slice it. We serve up plenty of pork around here. Now the …
Oceanside City Councilmember Jerry Kern Honored by Builders Group
Oceanside City Councilmember Jerry Kern received an Excellence in Leadership Award for his pioneering support of fair and open competition from the Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego at its annual Excellence in Contracting Awards on November 17. “We only recognize one political figure each year, and this year the choice was clear,” said Philip Piel, ABCSD Board Chairman. …
Is a Lynch Mob Coming to the San Diego Union-Tribune?
While the blogosphere and Twitterverse foams at the mouth over the spectre of hotelier Doug Manchester’s reported purchase of the San Diego Union-Tribune today, far more attention should be paid to the other key player on this team: former radio station owner and executive John Lynch. When it comes to newsroom operations, John Lynch is likely to have far more …
Breaking, Part II: KOGO Changes Becoming Clearer
As originally reported and updated on Rostra, big changes are coming to KOGO-AM Radio, San Diego’s foremost news and talk (make that talk with a sprinkling of news) radio station. Several sources including afternoon host LaDona Harvey have confirmed to this KOGO alumna the following lineup, starting on Monday: 9 a.m. – 12 noon: Rush Limbaugh (No change here, KOGO …
Wonk Wednesday Welcomes Sean Karafin to the San Diego Scene
Rostrafarians, isn’t it just like a cool breeze on an unseasonably warm evening when you find out there’s a new wonk at work in San Diego? In a fittingly timed announcement on Wonk Wednesday, Sean Karafin has been named Economic Policy Analyst for the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA). Karafin brings formal education in economics, and experience working with …
Fair and Open Competition Initiative Qualifies for the City of San Diego 2012 Ballot
Backers of an initiative that would prohibit project labor agreements (PLAs) on City of San Diego construction projects were notified by San Diego City Clerk Elizabeth Maland that the signatures submitted are sufficient to qualify the measure for the next citywide ballot. (The required minimum was 62,057). So it seems voters in the City of San Diego will have the …
San Diego’s Mayoral Candidate Hit Parade
I’m not the first political pundit to focus on the importance of social media in the political campaign mix. What’s also become increasingly important is search engine results. A political candidate used to consider it a coup to be on the front page of the daily newspaper. It’s still a plus, but the modern version of the “front page” is …
The Good, the Bad, and the Costly
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association recently took a look at the new labor agreements approved in a number of cities within San Diego County setting terms for wages and pension benefits as part of new budgets for this fiscal year. SDCTA reviewed these new agreements to determine how they stack up against their pension reform recommendations. Better them than …
Attention, Class: This WILL Be On The Test Monday
Rostra columnist Jim Sills posted a question on my recent post “Calling San Diego Taxpayers: Oppose the “Jobs Tax” asking San Diegans to oppose a proposal by the San Diego City Council to double linkage fees. Sills had the courage (and the smarts) to ask an obvious question. What the heck is a “linkage fee”? I called on Chris Cate, …
Calling San Diego Taxpayers: Oppose the “Jobs Tax”
The San Diego County Taxpayers calls upon San Diegans to voice their opposition to a proposal by the San Diego City Council to double the so called “linkage fee” charged to construction projects in the City of San Diego. This fee is yet another short-sighted job killer and SDCTA is strongly opposed to this increase. The Council will also consider …
Rostrafarians, Give the President the Bird
President Obama is expanding his outreach to the American public with the first ever White House Twitter Town Hall on Wednesday, July 6, at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. Moderated by Twitter founder and executive chairman Jack Dorsey, the President will answer questions about the economy and jobs submitted via Twitter using the hashtag #askobama. North County Times editor Dorrine Mendoza, …
Meet San Diego’s Next Generation of Straight Shooters
The National Rifle Association recently held its annual “Youth Education Summit” in Washington, D.C. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for 40 high school students from across the country to learn about the nation’s governance, meet policymakers, and tour the great monuments and sights of our nation’s capitol. The students come away understanding the importance of being an active, …
Comic Relief for Rostrafarians: Thor Rocks
San Diego’s annual cultural carnival Comic-Con is less than a month away. One of this year’s star attractions promises to be Rostra’s own Mighty Thor. Author and artist Walt Simonson, who produced “The Mighty Thor” for Marvel Comics for 25 years has produced a limited artist’s edition which will make its debut at Comic-Con. A preview is available on the …
No June Gloom for Leaders in Albondigas Meatball Poll
Albongidas members like their politics spicy. The Mayor’s race in the City of San Diego is tailor made for this bunch and it remains the hot topic of monthly gatherings by members of the San Diego Chapter at Cafe Coyote in Old Town. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis made the first official visit by a declared mayoral candidate on Friday, June …
Heidi Klum’s Take on the San Diego Mayor’s Race
Do I know what will drive Rostra reader traffic, or what? While Mrs. Seal hasn’t technically made any direct comment, her admonition to contestants on her reality show “Project Runway” applies nicely. As in fashion, in politics one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. In a few short days on June 5 when fundraising can begin, all …
Rostra and Albondigas Get MSM Shoutout
San Diego Union-Tribune city columnist Tom Blair gave a shout-out to San Diego Rostra and the latest Albondigas Meatball Poll on the San Diego Mayor’s race in Sunday’s column. It’s the last item. I’m not sure what I’m more amused by: the fact that these decidedly unscientific poll numbers saw newsprint time, or that I was identified as a “political …
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