If you’re the sort who enjoys spending an evening or even an off-the-rails three day weekend pouring through reams of data secured through the Public Records Act to hold public agencies, their staff members and appointed and elected officials accountable (admit it, you’re reading Rostra aren’t you?), Christmas has come early for you thanks to the San Diego County Taxpayers …
If We Hurry, There’s Still Time to Screw Over The Voters
Thanks to some vigilent citizen watchdogs spreading the word, we learned that Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood called a special meeting of the Oceanside City Council today at 4 p.m. The meeting just barely met the minimum public notice required. Ask yourself dear Rostra reader why the council would be in such a big hurry to have an unscheduled meeting on …
City Of San Diego Serves Up Turkey to Taxpayers A Bit Early
For anyone still wondering why voters are so skeptical of political promises, look no further than the latest failure to enact reform by the City of San Diego. The San Diego County Taxpayers Association pointed out in a news release issued today that one of the ten reforms taxpayers were led to believe had been enacted prior to the November …
Three Types of Lies
Pollster John Nienstedt’s discussion on polling and the reasons polls fail to accurately gauge voter behavior (and what polls can and CANNOT do) has been a hit on the post-election poliwonk social circuit. Among the topics on tap, Nienstedt has provided his insight on the variance in results among the polls conducted over the past few months on Prop D, …
Taxpayers Champions Named for 2010
Maybe it’s a little early for a holiday celebration, but it didn’t stop the San Diego County Taxpayers Association from a festive lunch event at Jasmine Seafood Restaurant (highly recommended!) in which it named the recipients of the 4th Annual Taxpayer Champions Awards. Taxpayer Champion Honorees for 2010 include: • Robert “Camo” Gleisberg, Oceanside taxpayer • Jon Walz, Senior Director, …
Pull Those Political Weeds
I’ll say it right up front. I dislike political signs. I consider them litter. When I see them sprouting up like so many weeds in my neighborhood in the weeks before an election is held, I cringe. If I could restrict them to being in people’s yards or the windows of homes or businesses, I’d be a happy camper. Someday, …
The General and the Librarian
The latest salvo in the Proposition D campaign involves a mobile billboard, a four-star Marine Corps general, a librarian, and outrage about public pensions. The No on D campaign debuted its latest weapon by parking it right in front of the Jasmine Seafood Restaurant on Convoy Street as people arrived for the Asian Business Association Rice Club debate on Prop …
Got No Campaign Dough? Go Viral! (And Win Swell Prizes)
Everyone in politics knows the importance of money. Big campaign war chests scare off competitors, get you lots of TV time to say whatever you want, and fund the fees of every consultant in the universe which means your opponent can’t hire the big talent. So if you’re an underfunded campaign, you’ve got to rely on creativity. Thank God for …
No On D Puts On A Really Big Show
Having big funding for a campaign is dandy. But when you’re being outspent by the opposition, creativity must step in and take over. In the case of the campaign against Proposition D, San Diegans Against Government Waste doesn’t have the funds to make the big television ad purchase like the labor union funded campaign in favor of the sales tax. …
Calling All Would-Be Campaign Consultants: No on D Needs YOU
Think most political campaign ads suck? Think you can do better? Now you have the chance, and you could win a really swell prize too. The No on D campaign has opened up a viral video ad contest asking for people to submit their own “No on D” ads. There aren’t any formal rules, although I’ll advise you right now …
Start Getting Used to It
Wa-a-a-y back when Election Day 2010 was a distant mirage, I predicted in the October 9, 2009 post titled “Moonbeam Shining Bright In Governor’s Race” that as crazy as his chances seemed, former Governor Jerry Brown would succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today, poll results released by the Public Policy Institute of California, show Jerry Brown leading challenger Meg Whitman by eight …
San Diego County Taxpayers Association Publishes November Ballot Recommendations
Among the most coveted endorsements in San Diego politics comes from the non-partisan watchdog San Diego County Taxpayers Association. One of the Association’s most important functions is to provide voters with ballot recommendations that (in its own words) “satisfy its criteria for accountable, cost-effective and efficient government.” SDCTA has completed its review of the November 2010 General Election state and …
Major Business Groups Announce Opposition to Prop D
Concerned working business leaders representing a broad spectrum of diverse economic sectors employing hundreds of thousands of San Diegans came forward today to voice their opposition to a half-cent sales tax initiative in the City of San Diego. Businesses increasingly oppose Proposition D due to the harm it will cause to the local economy during the current recession. Leaders urged …
Hazel for Mayor (or Let’s Move to Mississauga)
I was recently introduced via video to an amazing woman, Mayor Hazel McCallion of Mississauga, Ontario. For those of you not exactly keen on Canadian geography, Mississauga is the sixth-largest city in Canada. Hazel has been re-elected 11 times, and her approval rating is 92%. How does she do it? Click here and see for yourself.
Art, Schmart
A robust public discussion (my favorite kind!) is taking place over the issue of public arts funding. Reporter Lynn Stewart of San Diego 6 aired a story last week pointing out that the City of San Diego had budgeted $300,000 for art at two fire stations, while at the same time fire stations were being shuttered in rolling “brownouts” to …
If We Say It Enough, They’ll Believe It
The Yes on D campaign in support of the proposed half-cent sales tax increase in the City of San Diego has finally ginned up its efforts, less than eight weeks before election day. I suppose it took that long for the public labor union checks funding the campaign to clear. Its first news release announced the campaign’s team members. It …
Second Lawsuit Filed Challenging Proposition D
This just in to Rostra: the “fiscal impact analysis” prepared for Proposition D, the City of San Diego’s half-cent sales tax initiative is being challenged under California Elections Code §9295 in a lawsuit which alleges that the required analysis provided by the City of San Diego is “not impartial, not accurate, and misleads the public.” “It’s time the voters are …
Alert the Media: San Diego County Taxpayers Association Opposes Proposition D
In a move that didn’t catch much of anyone by surprise, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s Board of Directors overwhelmingly voted to oppose Proposition D, the City of San Diego’s half-cent sales tax increase which will come before San Diego voters on the November 3, 2010 ballot. Proposition D imposes a half-cent sales tax increase on all eligible purchases …
“Dollar for Dollar” Proposes Match of Cuts and Sales Tax Dollars
Save a dollar, get a dollar. It’s a refreshingly simple approach to solving the City of San Diego’s budget problems proffered this morning by San Diego County Taxpayers Association President & CEO Lani Lutar. Lutar delivered this memo to Mayor Jerry Sanders and member of the San Diego City Council this morning. So far, Councilmember Carl DeMaio has reacted favorably …
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