Dear Marti, I read the following:
(From San Diego Magazine) THE POKING NOSE: With San Diego still struggling to stem the riptide of red ink, the city is “desperately trying to ‘refinance’ its debt,” according to one City Hall wag. “In other words, some want to stretch payments out longer for short-term savings. Sounds familiar,” she says. “Very much like underfunding the city’s pension yesterday to pass on the debt to our children tomorrow.” … Another one bites the dust? San Diego Social magazine has apparently stopped the presses. Calls to its listed phone number are going unanswered … City Council offices are buzzing about the recent abrupt departure of Councilmember Marti Emerald’s chief of staff, Xema Jacobson. (Former policy chief Don Mullen has replaced her.) A colleague says the departure is related to a new ethics complaint involving Emerald’s office, but Emerald says no. “Why would anyone start a rumor like that? Xema and I have been close friends for 20 years,” she says. “She made the decision to leave as part of a realignment of the office.”
“Realignment”? Don’t you think people from your office and the offices around you talk? Here is more what happened: there was an office ‘intervention’ where a number of the staff complained about the management style. Mullen threatened at the same time or thereabout to leave to go manage a Whitburn’s campaign against Ron Roberts. At first everyone thought Mullen was out the door. Then they saw Xema obviously upset and it was pretty obvious what happened. I could offer more details, but I think I’ll spare the people involved.
The real question is, of course, the ethics investigation… so here is a question for Marti: do you think the various people who brought public information requests were just fishing? Here is hint – they weren’t.
Comments 1
Dear Mr. Murphy,
This just in:
In the interest of government transparency, San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald asked to have her Ethics Commission Administrative hearing broadcast on the City’s television station. Mayor Jerry Sanders has now approved her request.
“This is good news for those of us who care about government that is open and accountable,” said Emerald.
The Administrative hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 8th, from 12noon-6pm. City-TV Channel 24 will carry the hearing live.
Councilmember Emerald’s goal is make sure the public knows absolutely everything related to the Commission’s claim that her campaign Treasurer made two paperwork mistakes in a post-election disclosure report. Ms. Emerald has also now obtained the entire audit and investigative files that looked at every accounting document in her City Council campaign.
During the Administrative hearing, Emerald’s attorney Robert Ottilie will present this newly-obtained evidence, offering a unique look inside an investigation that lasted more than a year.
“I want to thank Mayor Sanders for his support,” said Emerald. “Through this broadcast, we will be able to show the public the untold story behind this case.”
Just thought you’d like to know.